Pharaoh.se

Neferirkara I Kakai in hieroglyphs

The third pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty, a.k.a. Nerferirkare I

Precedessor
Sahura

Successor
Shepseskara Netjeruser
Reign of Neferirkara I Kakai
AE Chronology2415–2405
v. Beckerath2458–2438
Shaw2475–2455
Dodson2373–2363
Allen2446–2438
Malek2435–2425
Redford2492–2482
Turin King List... years
Manetho (Africanus)20 years
Older therories thought Neferirkara I was a brother of Sahura, but it is now thought that they were son and father. His birth name was likely Ranefer, and is known to have had an elder brother named Netjerirenra.

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus User khau  The Dual King Nefer ir ka Ra  Son of Ra Kakai

Horus name

Horus name

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

Horus name
Horus name
User khau
wsr-ḫꜤw
Strong of appearances
wsr-xa-w
Borchardt, Das Grabdenkmal des Königs Nefer-ir-ka-re, plate 9
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Strong of appearances
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 56–57, 3:H

Nebty names

Nebty name

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

Nebty name
Nebty name
User khau
wsr-ḫꜤw
Strong of appearances (by means of) the Two Ladies
wsr-xa-w
Aegyptische Inschriften aus den Königlichen Museen zu Berlin, (16551)
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Strong of appearances (by means of) the Two Ladies
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 56–57, 3:N2
Nebty name variant
Nebty name
Khaem
ḫꜤ-m
Who has appeared by means of the Two Ladies
xa-m
Borchardt, Das Grabdenkmal des Königs Nefer-ir-ka-re, plate 9
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Who has appeared by means of the Two Ladies
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 56–57, 3:N1

Golden Horus name

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Nebty name
Sekhemu nebu
sḫmw-nbw
The three powers
sxm*sxm*sxm:nbw
Borchardt, Das Grabdenkmal des Königs Nefer-ir-ka-re, plate 9
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The three powers
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 56–57, 3:G

Throne names

Prenomen or throne name

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

Throne name
Nefer ir ka Ra
nfr-ir-kꜢ-rꜤ
He who has the perfect form and soul of Ra
ra-nfr-ir-kA
Saqqara Canon no. 32
Giza tomb G 6010 (LG 15)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 47
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 56–57, 3:T1
Throne name variant
Name missing
–
–
Turin King List 4.19
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) III:19

Birth name

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Kakai
kꜢ-kꜢ-i
kA-kA-i
Passim
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 56-57, 3:E

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus v, 3 Νεφερχερης Nephercheres 20 years

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 116–119
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 56–57
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 39
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 258–260
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