Abydos Canon king list

The Abydos Canon, also known as the Abydos Table or Abydos king list is a list with the names of 76 pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.

It is still in place on a wall in the Mortuary Temple of Seti I at Abydos in Egypt. The Temple was discovered buried in sand and excavation began in 1859 under Auguste Mariette. Unfortunately the most of the reliefs suffered badly from islamic iconoclasts hacking of the faces the king around 1890.

The king list was part of a ritual where the spirits of the ancestors were invoked. The names on the list celebrated and memorialized "ancestors" of Seti I, and was not meant to be a historically correct chronological list. It shows only pharaohs that were selected as worthy of admiration and respect. Queen Hatshepsut and the Amarna period pharaohs were not included, nor any from the Second Intermediate Period.

Abydos Canon king list
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

The inscribed list of kings is found in the Mortuary Temple of Seti I, on the right wall of the passage coming from the second Hypostyle Hall, referred to as the Gallery of Lists. Seti I is on the left wearing the blue crown, holding a censor in one hand and gesturing towards the right with the other. In front of him, young prince Ramesses is shown holding a papyrus to read from with an accompanying text before him:

Reciting praises by the hereditary prince; the eldest of his body, his beloved (son), Ramesses, justified, true of voice.

The text runs in six vertical columns above Ramesses, and is the speech given by Seti I:

Words spoken by King Menmaatra. Bringing the god to his food offering, the making of offerings for the kings of Upper and Lower Egypt. Greetings to thee, Ptah Sokar, who is South-of-His Wall. Come, that I may make for thee these (things) which Horus made for his father Osiris.

The first fifty-six names shows an orderly progression of legitime rulers of Memphis. The kings who are not included are those whose rule over the Two Lands is questionable, or, who had some measure of political/religious bias towards them, like for example, not ruling from Memphis.

Abydos Canon king list drawing

Content of the list

The list consists of three rows of thirty-eight cartouches on each row. The upper two rows contain names of the ancestral kings, while the third row repeats Seti I’s throne- and birth-names. In all, seventy-six kings are mentioned. The hieroglyphics are read from left to right, the upper row is read before the lower. The cartouches of the kings are preceded by the words n nisu, which translates as "To king.....". The third row with Seti’s names is preceded by "By the gift of.....".

Cartouche of Narmer
Meni

mni

The established one(?)

Abydos Canon: 1
Cartouche of Aha
Teti

tti

Teti

Abydos Canon: 2
Cartouche of Djer
Ateti

itti

The sovereign(?)

Abydos Canon: 3
Cartouche of Djet
Ita

itꜢ

Ita

Abydos Canon: 4
Cartouche of Den
Sepati

spꜢti

He of the two districts

Abydos Canon: 5
Cartouche of Adjib
Meribiap

mri-biꜢ-p

The eternally beloved of the throne(?)

Abydos Canon: 6
Cartouche of Semerkhet
Semsu

smsw

The eldest

Abydos Canon: 7
Cartouche of Qaa
Qebeh

ḳbḥ

He from the north

Abydos Canon: 8
Cartouche of Hotepsekhemwy
Bedjau

bḏꜤw

The smelter

Abydos Canon: 9
Cartouche of Nebra
Kakau

kꜢ-kꜢw

Bull of bulls

Abydos Canon: 10
Cartouche of Ninetjer
Ba netjer

bꜢ-nṯr

The spirit of the god

Abydos Canon: 11
Cartouche of Wadjenes
Wadj nes

wꜢḏns

Fresh of tongue

Abydos Canon: 12
Cartouche of Senedj
Senedj

sndi

The frightful one

Abydos Canon: 13
Cartouche of Khasekhemwy
Djadjay

ḏꜢ-ḏꜢ-y

The head-man (?)

Abydos Canon: 14
Cartouche of Nebka
Neb ka

nb-kꜢ

Lord of the ka(?)

Abydos Canon: 15
Cartouche of Djoser
Djoser sa

ḏsr-sꜢ

The sublime protector

Abydos Canon: 16
Cartouche of Sekhemkhet
Teti

tti

Teti

Abydos Canon: 17
Cartouche of Hudjefa II
Sedjes

sḏs

“Omitted” (i.e. name missing)

Abydos Canon: 18
Cartouche of Neferkara
Nefer ka Ra

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ

The appearance of the perfection of Ra

Abydos Canon: 19
Cartouche of Sneferu
Sneferu

s-nfr-w

He has perfected me

Abydos Canon: 20
Cartouche of Khufu
Khufu

ḫfw

He protects me

Abydos Canon: 21
Cartouche of Radjedef
Djedef Ra

ḏd-f-rꜤ

Ra is his stability

Abydos Canon: 22
Cartouche of Khafra
Khaf Ra

ḫꜤ-f-rꜤ

He appears (as) Ra

Abydos Canon: 23
Cartouche of Menkaura
Men kau Ra

mn-kꜢw-rꜤ

The established one of the kas of Ra

Abydos Canon: 24
Cartouche of Shepseskaf
Shepses kaf

šps-s-kꜢ-f

His soul is noble

Abydos Canon: 25
Cartouche of Userkaf
User kaf

wsr-kꜢ-f

His ka is strong

Abydos Canon: 26
Cartouche of Sahura
Sahu Ra

sꜢḥw-rꜤ

Ra has endowed me

Abydos Canon: 27
Cartouche of Neferirkara I Kakai
Kakai

kꜢ-kꜢ-i

My ka is a (true) ka (?)

Abydos Canon: 28
Cartouche of Neferefra Isi
Nefer ef Ra

nfr.f-rꜤ

The perfection of Ra

Abydos Canon: 29
Cartouche of Niuserra Ini
Ni user Ra

ni-wsr-rꜤ

Who belongs to the power of Ra

Abydos Canon: 30
Cartouche of Menkauhor Kaiu
Men kau Hor

mn-kꜢw-ḥr

The established one of the kas of Horus

Abydos Canon: 31
Cartouche of Djedkara Isesi
Djed ka Ra

ḏd-kꜢ-rꜤ

The enduring one of the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 32
Cartouche of Unas
Unas

wnis

Unas

Abydos Canon: 33
Cartouche of Teti
Teti

tti

Teti

Abydos Canon: 34
Cartouche of Userkara
User ka Ra

wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ

The strong one belonging to the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 35
Cartouche of Pepi I
Mery Ra

mry-rꜤ

Beloved of Ra

Abydos Canon: 36
Cartouche of Nemtiemsaf I
Mer en Ra

mr-n-rꜤ

The one whom Ra has loved

Abydos Canon: 37
Cartouche of Pepi II
Nefer ka Ra

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ

The perfect one of the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 38
Cartouche of Nemtiemsaf II
Mer en Ra em saf

mr.n-rꜤ sꜢ-m-sꜢ.f

Loved by Re, [lacuna] is his protection

Abydos Canon: 39
Cartouche of Netjerikara
Netjer ka Ra

nṯri-kꜢ-rꜤ

The divine one of the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 40
Cartouche of Menkara
Men ka Ra

mn-kꜢ-rꜤ

The established one of the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 41
Cartouche of Neferkara II
Nefer ka Ra

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ

The perfect one of the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 42
Cartouche of Neferkara Neby
Nefer ka Ra Neby

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ nb-y

The perfect one of the ka of Ra, who belongs to his lord

Abydos Canon: 43
Cartouche of Djedkara Shemai
Djed ka Ra Shemay

ḏd-kꜢ-rꜤ-šmꜤi

The enduring one of the ka of Ra, the foreigner

Abydos Canon: 44
Cartouche of Neferkara Khendu
Nefer ka rRa Khendu

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ ḫndw

The perfect one of the ka of Ra, the wanderer

Abydos Canon: 45
Cartouche of Merenhor
Mer en Hor

mr-n-ḥr

Beloved of Horus

Abydos Canon: 46
Cartouche of Neferkamin I
Snefer ka

s-nfr-kꜢ

The one who makes the ka of Ra perfect

Abydos Canon: 47
Cartouche of Nikara
Ni ka Ra

ni-kꜢ-rꜤ

Who belongs to the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 48
Cartouche of Neferkara Tereru
Nefer ka Ra Tereru

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ tr-r-rw

The perfect one of the ka of Ra, the respected one

Abydos Canon: 49
Cartouche of Neferkahor
Nefer ka Hor

nfr-kꜢ-ḥr

The perfect one of the ka of Horus

Abydos Canon: 50
Cartouche of Neferkara Pepiseneb
Nefer ka Ra Pepi senbu

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ pi-pi-snb(.w)

The perfect one of the ka of Ra, Pepi is healthy

Abydos Canon: 51
Cartouche of Neferkamin Anu
Nefer ka Min Anu

s-nfr-kꜢ-Ꜥnw

The perfect one of the ka of Min, the beautiful one

Abydos Canon: 52
Cartouche of Qakara Ibi
Qa ka Ra

ḳꜢ-kꜢw-rꜤ

The exalted one of the ka of Ra

Abydos Canon: 53
Cartouche of Neferkaura
Nefer kau Ra

nfr-kꜢw-rꜤ

The perfect one of the kas of Ra

Abydos Canon: 54
Cartouche of Neferkauhor
Nefer kau Hor

nfr-kꜢw-ḥr

The perfect one of the kas of Horus

Abydos Canon: 55
Cartouche of Neferirkara II
Nefer ir ka Ra

nfr-ir-kꜢ-rꜤ

The perfect one is the one whom the ka of Ra has made

Abydos Canon: 56
Cartouche of Mentuhotep II
Neb hapet Ra

nb-ḥꜢpt-rꜤ

The Lord of the rudder is Ra

Abydos Canon: 57
Cartouche of Mentuhotep III
Sankh ka Ra

s-Ꜥnḫ-kꜢ-rꜤ

The one whom the ka of Ra has sustained

Abydos Canon: 58
Cartouche of Amenemhat I
Sehotep ib Ra

s-ḥtp-ib-rꜤ

The heart of Ra is content

Abydos Canon: 59
Cartouche of Senusret I
Kheper ka Ra

ḫpr-kꜢ-rꜤ

The Ka of Ra is created

Abydos Canon: 60
Cartouche of Amenemhat II
Nebu kau Ra

nbw-kꜢw-rꜤ

Golden are the souls of Ra

Abydos Canon: 61
Cartouche of Senusret II
Kha kheper Ra

ḫꜤ-ḫpr-rꜤ

The appearance of the manifestation of Ra

Abydos Canon: 62
Cartouche of Senusret III
Kha kau Ra

ḫꜤ-kꜢw-rꜤ

The appearance of the kas of Ra

Abydos Canon: 63
Cartouche of Amenemhat III
Ni Maat Ra

ni-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ

He who belongs to the Maat of Ra

Abydos Canon: 64
Cartouche of Amenemhat IV
Maa kheru Ra

mꜢꜤ-ḫrw-rꜤ

The righteous one of Ra

Abydos Canon: 65
Cartouche of Ahmose I
Neb pehty Ra

nb-pḥti-rꜤ

The Lord of the might is Ra

Abydos Canon: 66
Cartouche of Amenhotep I
Djoser ka Ra

ḏsr-kꜢ-rꜤ

Holy is the soul of Ra

Abydos Canon: 67
Cartouche of Thutmose I
Aa kheper ka Ra

ꜤꜢ-ḫpr-kꜢ-rꜤ

Abydos Canon: 68
Cartouche of Thutmose II
Aa kheper en Ra

ꜤꜢ-ḫpr-n-rꜤ

Great is the manifestation of Ra

Abydos Canon: 69
Cartouche of Thutmose III
Men kheper Ra

mn-ḫpr-rꜤ

Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra

Abydos Canon: 70
Cartouche of Amenhotep II
Aa kheperu Ra

ꜤꜢ-ḫprw-rꜤ

Great are the manifestations of Ra

Abydos Canon: 71
Cartouche of Thutmose IV
Men kheperu Ra

mn-ḫprw-rꜤ

Established manifestations of Ra

Abydos Canon: 72
Cartouche of Amenhotep III
Neb Maat Ra

nb-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ

The possessor of the Maat of Ra

Abydos Canon: 73
Cartouche of Horemheb
Djoser kheperu Ra setep en Ra

ḏsr-ḫprw stp.n-rꜤ

Holy are of the manifestations of Ra, chosen of Ra

Abydos Canon: 74
Cartouche of Ramesses I
Men pehty Ra

mn-pḥti-rꜤ

Eternal is the Strength of Ra

Abydos Canon: 75
Cartouche of Seti I
Men Maat Ra

mn-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ

Eternal is the Truth of Ra

Abydos Canon: 76

Gallery

Bibliography

  • Mariette, Auguste., 1869. Abydos description des fouilles, I. Paris: plate 43
  • Dümichen, Johannes., 1869. Historische inschriften altägyptischer Denkmäler, Vol II. Leipzig: plate XLV
  • Kitchen, Kenneth A., 1975. Ramesside Inscriptions, I. Oxford: 176-179, §77.
  • Porter and Moss., 1991. The Topographical Bibliography, VI. Oxford: 25 (229-230).
  • Frankfort, H., de Buck, A., & Gunn, B., 1933. The Cenotaph of Seti I at Abydos, 2 Volumes. London.
  • Redford, D. B., 1986. Pharaonic King Lists, Annals and Day Books. Mississauga.
  • 360 degree view of the list, courtesy of 360cities.net