Pharaoh.se

Senusret II in hieroglyphs

The fourth pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty, a.k.a. Senusret II, Senwosret II

Senusret II is present on the Abydos and Saqqara king lists, and his name was likely present on the Turin Canon (6.23) where the name unfortunately is lost, only the record of a 19 year reign remain. Despite having the same name, Manetho's Sesostris refers to Senusret II's son and successor, Senusret III, who arguably was the most powerful ruler of the dynasty.

Precedessor
Amenemhat II

Successor
Senusret III
Reign of Senusret II
AE Chronology1845–1837
v. Beckerath1882–1872
Shaw1877–1870
Dodson1900–1880
Arnold1897–1878
Malek1886–1878
Grimal1895–1878
Franke1845–1837
Redford1897–1877
Turin King List19 years
Highest attestationYear 8

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Seshemu tawy  The Dual King Kha kheper Ra  Son of Ra Senusret

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
Seshemu tawy
sšmw-tꜢwi
He who leads the Two Lands
s-T32-w-N17:N17
Tomb of Khnumhotep II (Beni Hassan 3)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 125 (a129)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:H1

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Sekha Maat
sḫꜤi-mꜢꜤt
He who causes Maat to appear
s-xa:a:Y1-mAa:a:t-Sw
Tomb of Khnumhotep II (Beni Hassan 3)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 125 (a129)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:N1
Nebty name variant
Sekha Maat
sḫꜤi-mꜢꜤt
He who causes Maat to appear
s-xa:a:mAa:t
Stele Louvre C 170
Gayet, Stèles de la XIIe dynastie au Musée égyptien du Louvre, plate XXVII
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:N2

Golden Horus name

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Hotep netjeru
ḥtp-nṯrw
He who appeases the gods
(nTrw:Htp)*G5:nbw
Tomb of Khnumhotep II (Beni Hassan 3)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 125 (a130)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:G1

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
Kha kheper Ra
ḫꜤ-ḫpr-rꜤ
The Ka of Ra comes into being
ra-xa-xpr
Abydos Canon no. 62
Saqqara Canon no. 18

Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:T1
Throne name variant
Kha kheper Ra
ḫꜤ-ḫpr-rꜤ
The Ka of Ra comes into being
ra-xpr-xa
Birch, Catalogue of the collection of Egyptian antiquities at Alnwick Castle, pl. IV
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:T2
Throne name variant
Kha kheper Ra
ḫꜤ-ḫpr-rꜤ
The Ka of Ra comes into being
ra-xa:a-xpr
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 123d
Throne name variant
Name missing
Turin King List 6.23
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) V:23

Birth name

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Senusret
s-n-wsrt
Man of Wosret
wsr-s-r:t-z:n
Tomb of Khnumhotep II (Beni Hassan 3)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 125 (a131) + 123d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 4:E

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 295–301
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 84–85
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 59
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 394–397
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