Nectanebo II in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Mery tawy  The Dual King Senedjem ib Ra, setep en Amun  Son of Ra Nakht Hor Hebit

Horus names

The oldest form of the name of a pharaoh, a falcon representing Horus is perched on the palace facade.

Horus name

Mery tawy

mri-tꜢwi

Beloved of the Two Lands

mr:N17:N17

Quibell, Excavations at Saqqara 1907-1908, III, pl. 52
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 287d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:H1

Horus name variant

Mery tawy mek Kemet

mri-tꜢwi mk-kmt

Beloved of the Two Lands and guardian of Egypt

U7:N17:N17-G20-k:km:t*O49

Offering table from Abu Roash (Cairo Museum CG 23115, JE 30581)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:H3

Horus name variant

Mery tawy mek Kemet

mri-tꜢwi mk-kmt

Beloved of the Two Lands and guardian of Egypt

-N36:N17:N17-Aa15:a:k-km:O49

Lefebvre, Égypte gréco-romaine, IV, ASAE 13 (1914): 222
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:H4

Nebty names

The “Two Ladies”, the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.

Nebty name

Seheru ib netjeru

shrw-ib-nṯrw

The one who has pleased the heart of Gods

s-h:r-ib:1-nTrw

Quibell, Excavations at Saqqara 1907-1908, III, pl. 52
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:N1

Nebty name variant

Seheru ib netjeru

shrw-ib-nṯrw

The one who has pleased the Gods' heart

z:h:r-ib:1-nTrw

Naville, The Mound of the Jew (1890), plate 2a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:N2

Nebty name variant

Seher ib netjeru teken khasut

shrw-ib-nṯrw tkn-ḫꜢswt

The one who has pleased the gods' minds by attacking the foreign lands

s-h:r-ib:1-R8-Z3-t:k:n-D54-N25:t:Z2

Offering table from Abu Roash (Cairo Museum CG 23115, JE 30581)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:N3

Golden Horus names

Horus perched on Gold, which was associated with eternity, but its meaning is disputed.

Golden Horus name

Semen hepu

smn-hpw

The creator of laws

s-mn:n-U32-h:p-w-Y1v-Z3

Quibell, Excavations at Saqqara 1907-1908, III, pl. 52
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:G1

Golden Horus name variant

Semen hepu

smn-hpw

The creator of laws

z:mn:n-h:p*W

Davies, The Temple of Hibis, III, plate 68

Golden Horus name variant

Semen hepu hui pedjut 9

smn-hpw ḥri-pḏt-9

The establisher of laws, who has struck down the Nine Bows

s-mn:n-h*p:Y1:Z2-H-A24-pD:Z2-Z2:Z2

Offering table from Abu Roash (Cairo Museum CG 23115, JE 30581)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:G2

Throne names

Announced at the coronation and always written in a cartouche. The “official” name of the pharaoh. Also known as the Prenomen.

Throne name

Senedjem ib Ra, setep en Amun

snḏm-ib-rꜤ stp.n-imn

Pleasing to the Heart is Ra, chosen of Amun

C2-C12-s-H-ib:Z1-stp:n-jmn

Lefebvre, Égypte gréco-romaine, IV, ASAE 13 (1914): 222
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:T1

Throne name variant

Senedjem ib Ra, setep en Hathor

snḏm-ib-rꜤ stp.n-ḥtḥr

Pleasing to the Heart is Ra, chosen of Hathor

C2A\-C9-s-nDm-ib:Z1-stp:n

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 287b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:T2

Birth names

Personal name given at birth. Also known as the Nomen.

Birth name

Nakht Hor Hebit

nḫt-ḥr-ḥbyt

The strong one of Horus of Hebit

D40-G5&O49-W4

Daressy, Notes et remarques, RecTrav 16 (1894): 126
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:E1

Birth name variant

Nakht Hor Hebit, mery Inher

nḫt-ḥr-ḥbyt mri-inḥr

The strong one of Horus of Hebit, beloved of Anhur

G5&1-n:D40-W4A-C95-N36

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 43a (column 3)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:E2

Birth name variant

Nakht Hor Hebit mery en Hor, si Hathor

nḫt-ḥr-ḥbyt mri-inḥr zꜢ-ḥtḥr

The strong one of Horus of Hebit, beloved by Horus, son of Hathor

C9\-C95A-H8:N36:D40-G5&W4-t:O49

Lefebvre, Égypte gréco-romaine, IV, ASAE 13 (1914): 222
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:E4

Birth name variant

Nakht Hor Hebit sa mery Hathor

nḫt-ḥr-ḥbyt zꜢ-mri-ḥtḥr

The strong one of Horus of Hebit, beloved son of Hathor

H8-C9-mr-D40-G5&W4-t:O49

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 287b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:E5

Birth name variant

Nakht Hor Hebit, mery Inher, si Bastet

nḫt-ḥr-ḥbyt mri-inḥr zꜢ-bꜢstt

The strong one of Horus of Hebit, beloved of Anhur, son of Bastet

C164\-H8-C95A-N36:D40-G5&W4

Naville, Bubastis (1891), pl. 47H
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 228-229, 3:E7

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 171–181
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 228–229
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 172–173