Pharaoh.se

Ramesses XI in hieroglyphs

The tenth pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty, a.k.a. Ramses XI, Rameses XI

Precedessor
Ramesses X

Successor
Smendes I
Reign of Ramesses XI
AE Chronology1106–1077
v. Beckerath1103–1070
Shaw1099–1069
Dodson1094–1064
Arnold1100–1070
Malek1099–1069
Grimal1098–1069
Redford1111–1081
Highest attestationYear 28
The final pharaoh of the New Kingdom ruled Egypt for at least 29 years. A large number of important papyri written during Ramesses XI's reign have been discovered. He transferred the capital to Tanis, where he died and was buried by Smendes shortly thereafter. Smendes succeeded him but ruled only Lower Egypt, while the Theban High Priests of Amun effectively ruled Upper Egypt.

The High Priests controlled a massive portion of the economy, owning two-thirds of the temple lands and almost all ships, which made them rivals, or even superiors, to Pharaoh himself. In fact, the High Priests of Amun effectively became the rulers of Upper Egypt for the following 140 years.

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Ka nakht mery Ra  The Dual King Men maat Ra, setep en Ptah  Son of Ra Ramessu, kha em Waset, mery Amun, netjer heqa Iunu

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
Ka nakht mery Ra
kꜢ-nḫt mri-rꜤ
The strong bull, beloved of Ra
E1:D40-C2-mr
The Epigraphic Survey, The Temple of Khonsu, II, plate 201
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The strong bull, beloved of Ra
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 174-175, 10:H

Nebty name

Nebty name

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

Nebty name
Nebty name
User khepesh hed hefnu
wsr-ḫpš hd-ḥfnw
He whose blow is powerful, he whose attacks are countless
wsr-s-T16A-h:d-a:D40-I8:Z2
The Epigraphic Survey, The Temple of Khonsu, II, plate 205
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, He whose blow is powerful, he whose attacks are countless
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 174-175, 10:N

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
Wer pehty, sankh tawy, ity her maat, sehotep tawy
Wr-pḥti-s.Ꜥnḫ-tꜢwi-iti-Ꜥnḫ-wḏ-snb-shr-ib-MꜢꜤt-s.ḥtp-tꜢwi
He whose power is great, he gives new life to the Two Lands, life, prosperity, health, he reconciles the Two Lands under the majesty of Maat
wr:r-F22:t*Z5-A24-s-anx-N17:N17:N23*N23-i-A2-U33-i-i-A23-G7-anx-DA-s-h:r-Y1:ib-U5:a*Z1-Sw:Y1-s-Htp:t*p:Y1-N17:N17:N23*N23
Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions , VI, 754
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, He whose power is great, he gives new life to the Two Lands, life, prosperity, health, he reconciles the Two Lands under the majesty of Maat
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 174-175, 10: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
Men maat Ra, setep en Ptah
mn-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ stp.n-ptḥ
The justice of Ra is enduring, chosen by Ptah
ra:mn-C10A\-C102G-stp:n
The Epigraphic Survey, The Temple of Khonsu, II, plate 201
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 174-175, 10:T1
Throne name variant
Men maat Ra, setep en Ptah
mn-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ stp.n-ptḥ
The justice of Ra is enduring, chosen by Ptah
ra:mn-C10A-p*t:stp:n-H
Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions , VI, 701
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 174-175, 10:T2
Throne name variant
Men maat Ra, setep en Ptah
mn-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ stp.n-ptḥ
The justice of Ra is enduring, chosen by Ptah
ra:mn-C10A-C19C-stp:n
Fabretti, Rossi, Lanzone, Regio Museo di Torino, II, no. 6808
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 174-175, 10:T4

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Ramessu, kha em Waset, mery Amun, netjer heqa Iunu
rꜤ-msi-sw ḫꜤi-(m)-wꜢst mrr-imn nṯr-ḥḳꜢ-iwnw
Ramesses, he appeared in Thebes. Beloved of Amun, divine ruler of Heliopolis
ms:z:z-C2A\-xa:R19-C12A-r*r:mr*HqA*nTr*iwn
The Epigraphic Survey, The Temple of Khonsu, II, plate 201
Birth name variant
Ramessu, kha em Waset, mery Amun, netjer heqa Iunu
rꜤ-msi-sw ḫꜤi-(m)-wꜢst mrr-imn nṯr-ḥḳ3-iwnw
Ramesses, he appeared in Thebes. Beloved of Amun, divine ruler of Heliopolis
C2A\-xa:R19-C12A-N36:r:r-ms-HqA-nTr-iwn
The Epigraphic Survey, The Temple of Khonsu, II, plate 203
Birth name variant
Ramessu, kha em Waset, mery Amun, netjer heqa Iunu
rꜤ-msi-sw ḫꜤi-(m)-wꜢst mrr-imn nṯr-ḥḳ3-iwnw
Ramesses, he appeared in Thebes. Beloved of Amun, divine ruler of Heliopolis
C2\-xa:R19-C12-N36:r:r-ms-HqA-nTr-iwn-z:z
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 238a

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 19 (1913): 219–224
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 174–175
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 134–135
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 334–336
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