Pharaoh.se

Radjedef in hieroglyphs

The third pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, a.k.a. Djedefra, Djedefre

Radjedef was the first pharaoh to use the designation Son of Ra before his birth name. Normally, his name would be written Djedefra, with -ra at the end of the name, but both the translation of the name and the Manetho variants fits better with his name starting with Ra.

Precedessor
Khufu

Successor
Khafra
Reign of Radjedef
AE Chronology2482–2475
v. Beckerath2556–2547
Shaw2566–2558
Dodson2447–2439
Allen2528–2520
Arnold2520–2512
Malek2526–2518
Redford2584–2576
Turin King List8 years
Manetho (Africanus)25 years

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King

Horus Kheper  The Dual King Ra djedef

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
Kheper
ḫpr
The one who has manifested (himself)
xpr
Fondation Eugene Piot, Monuments et mémoires, Volume 25, p. 63
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 3:H

Nebty name

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Kheper em
ḫpr-m
Who has manifested (himself) by means of the Two Ladies
xpr-m
Fondation Eugene Piot, Monuments et mémoires, Volume 25, p. 63
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 3:N

Golden Horus name

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Biku nebu
bik-wi-nbw
The (divine) falcons are golden
G5*G5*G5:nbw
Fondation Eugene Piot, Monuments et mémoires, Volume 25, p. 63
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 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
Ra djedef
rꜤ-ḏd.f
Ra is his stability
ra-Dd-f
Abydos Canon no. 22
Fondation Eugene Piot, Monuments et mémoires, Volume 25, p. 63
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 3:E1
Throne name variant
Ra djedef*
rꜤ-ḏd.f
Ra is his stability
ra-Dd-Dd-f
Saqqara Canon no. 41

Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 3:E3
Throne name variant
Name missing
–
–
Turin King List 4.11
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) III:11

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus iv, 5 Ρατoισης Ratoises 25 years
Diodorus 1.64.1 Χαβρυην Chabryen 56 years
Eratosthenes 13 Ραυωσις Rayosis 13

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 83–85
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 52–53
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 35–36
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 81–83
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