Pepi II in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Netjer khau  The Dual King Nefer ka Ra*  Son of Ra Pepi

Horus names

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

Horus name

Netjer khau

nṯr.i-ẖꜤw

Divine of appearances

nTr-xa-w

Sethe, Die Altaegyptischen Pyramidentexte nach den Papierabdrucken und Photographien des Berliner Museums, I, 7
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 64-65, 5:H

Horus name variant

Netjeri khau nefer ka Ra

nṯr.i-ẖꜤw nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ

Divine of appearances, the perfect one of the ka of Ra

nTr-xa-w-ra-nfr-kA

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 116a

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Netjeri khau

nṯr.i-ẖꜤw

The divine one of the appearances of the Two Ladies

nTr-xa-w

Sethe, Die Altaegyptischen Pyramidentexte nach den Papierabdrucken und Photographien des Berliner Museums, I, 7
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 116a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 64-65, 5:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Bik nebu sekhem

bik-nbw-sẖm

The powerful golden falcon

sxm*G5:nbw

Sethe, Die Altaegyptischen Pyramidentexte nach den Papierabdrucken und Photographien des Berliner Museums, I, 7
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 116a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 64-65, 5: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

Nefer ka Ra*

nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ

The perfect one of the ka of Ra

ra-nfr-kA

Abydos Canon no. 38
Saqqara Canon no. 23

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 113g

Throne name variant

Name missing

–

–

Turin King List 5.5
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) IV:5

Birth names

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

Birth name

Pepi

pipi

Pepi

p:p-i-i

Passim
Sethe, Die Altaegyptischen Pyramidentexte nach den Papierabdrucken und Photographien des Berliner Museums, I

Birth name variant

Pepi

zꜢ-rꜤ-pipi

Son of Ra, Pepi

zA&ra-p:p-i-i

Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , I, 114
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 64-65, 5:E2

Birth name variant

Pepi

pipi

–

p-p-i-i

Uncertain reading but Prisse show p-i, with traces of what could be another p-i.
Prisse d'Avennes, Monuments Égyptiens..., Plate I

Throne + Birth name

Combination of Throne- and Birth-name cartouches
probably only used for a special occasion.

Throne + Birth name

Pepi nefer ka Ra

pipi nfr-kꜢ-rꜤ

Pepi, perfect is the soul of Ra

p:p-i-i-ra-nfr-kA

Petrie, Koptos, plate V (7)

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): 169–176
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 64–65
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 43
• Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 295–297