Menkauhor Kaiu in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Men khau  The Dual King Men kau Hor  Son of Ra Ikau

Horus name

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

Horus name

Men khau

mn-kꜢ-w

Established of appearances

mn:xa-w

Cerny, Inscriptions of Sinai, I, plate 7 (12)
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Established of appearances
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 58-59, 7:H

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Bik nebu hedj

bik-nbw-ḥḏ

The radiant golden falcon

T3*G5:nbw

Kaplony, Rollsiegel des Alten Reiches, II, plate 84
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The radiant golden falcon
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 58-59, 7:G

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

Men ka Hor

mn-kꜢ-ḥr

The established one of the ka of Horus

G5-mn:kA

Saqqara Canon no. 29

Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 58-59, 7:T2

Throne name variant

Men ka Hor

mn-kꜢ-ḥr

The established one of the ka of Horus

G5-G7-mn:n-kA-Z1-G7

Turin King List 4.23
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) III:23

Throne name variant

Men kau Hor

mn-kꜢw-ḥr

The established one of the kas of Horus

G5-mn:n-kA*kA:kA

Abydos Canon no. 31

Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 58-59, 7:T1

Birth names

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

Birth name

Ikau Hor

i-kꜢw-ḥr

–

G5-i-kA-w

Derived from the Throne name, meaning it was likely not the birth name
Tomb of Seshemnefer IV (LG 53)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 80b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 58-59, 7:E1

Birth name variant

Ikau

ikꜢw

–

kA-i-w

Likely an abbreviation of Ikauhor
Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und altertumskunde, 85, pp. 79-81
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 58-59, 7:E2

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 130–132
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 58–59
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 40
• Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 198–199