Ptolemy II in hieroglyphs

The second pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, a.k.a. Ptolemaios Philadelphos

Precedessor
Ptolemy I

Successor
Ptolemy III
Reign of Ptolemy II
284–246
After two years as co-regent with his father, Ptolemy II pursued an aggressive and expansionist foreign policy with mixed success. Ptolemy II was instrumental in organising the kingdom's bureaucracy and economy, and the Ptolemaic kingdom was at its greatest extent during his reign. Known for his patronage of the arts and sciences, he oversaw the construction of the Great Library and the Pharos Lighthouse in Alexandria. He conducted many campaigns throughout his reign, often taking advantage of instability in neighbouring kingdoms.

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King

Horus Hunu qeni  The Dual King User ka Ra, mery Amun

Horus names

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
Hunu qeni
ḥwnw-ḳni
The brave youth
Qus monolith
Champollion, Monuments de l'Égypte et de la Nubie, notices descriptives, II, 293-4
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7g; Text IV 257-8
Horus name variant A
Horus name
Hunu qeni
ḥwnw-ẖnꞽ
The brave youth
Temple of Isis, Philae (room K 51)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7c; Text IV, 160
Horus name variant B
Horus name
Hunu qeni
ḥwnw-ẖnꞽ
The brave youth
Naville, The store-city of Pithom, plate 9:1
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , II, 84:6
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:H
Horus name variant C
Horus name
Hunu qeni
ḥwnw-ẖnꞽ
The brave youth
Mariette, Monument divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie (1872), II, pl. 45
Horus name variant D
Horus name
Hunu qeni
ḥwnw-ẖnꞽ
The brave youth
Brugsch, Thesaurus Inscriptionum Aegyptiacarum (1884), IV, 630

Nebty names

Nebty name

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

Nebty name
Nebty name
Wer pehty
wr-pḥtꞽ
Great of strength
Temple of Isis, Philae (room K 51)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7c; Text IV, 160
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:N
Nebty name variant
Nebty name
Wer pehty
wr-pḥti
Great of strength
Qus monolith
Champollion, Monuments de l'Égypte et de la Nubie, notices descriptives, II, 293-4
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7g; Text IV 257-8

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Nebty name
Sekha en su itef
šḫꜤꞽ-n-sw ꞽt.f
Whose father enthroned him
Qus monolith
Champollion, Monuments de l'Égypte et de la Nubie, notices descriptives, II, 293-4
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7g; Text IV 257-8
Golden Horus name variant A
Nebty name
Sekhaen su itef
sḫꜤꞽ-sw ꞽt.f
Whose father enthroned him
Temple of Isis, Philae (room K 51)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7c; Text IV, 160
Golden Horus name variant B
Nebty name
Sekhaen su itef
sḫꜤꞽ-sw ꞽt.f
Whose father enthroned him
Brugsch, Thesaurus Inscriptionum Aegyptiacarum (1884), IV, 630
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:G
Golden Horus name variant C
Nebty name
Sekhaen su itef
sḫꜤꞽ-sw ꞽt.f
Whose father enthroned him
Naville, The store-city of Pithom, plate 9:1

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
User ka Ra, <i>mery Amun</i>
User ka Ra, mery Amun
wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ mrꞽ-ꞽmn
The strong one of the ka of Ra, beloved of Amun
Qus monolith
Champollion, Monuments de l'Égypte et de la Nubie, notices descriptives, II, 293-4
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7g; Text IV 257-8
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:T3
Throne name variant
User ka Ra, <i>mery Amun</i>
User ka Ra, mery Amun
wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ mrꞽ-ꞽmn
The strong one of the ka of Ra, beloved of Amun
Temple of Isis, Philae (room K 51)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7c; Text IV, 160
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:T2
Throne name variant
User ka Ra, <i>mery Amun</i>
User ka Ra, mery Amun
wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ mrꞽ-ꞽmn
The strong one of the ka of Ra, beloved of Amun
Temple of Isis, Philae (room K 43)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 7b; Text IV, 159

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
User ka Ra, <i>mery Amun</i>
User ka Ra, mery Amun
wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ mrꞽ-ꞽmn
The strong one of the ka of Ra, beloved of Amun
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:T4
Birth name variant
Ptolemys
Ptolemys
ptwlmꞽs
Ptolemaios
Passim
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 8
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 2:E

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 222–245
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 234–235
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 178–179
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