Tafnakht in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Sia khet  The Dual King Shepses Ra  Son of Ra Tayef nakht

Horus name

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

Horus name

Sia khet

siꜢ-ẖt

The one who understands inner (feelings)

S32:X

Tefnakht stele in Athens
Spiegelberg, Die Tefnachtosstele des Museums von Athen, RecTrav 25 (1903): 191
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 202-203, 1:H

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Sia khet

siꜢ-ẖt-nbti

The one who understands inner (feelings)

S32:F51B

Tefnakht stele in Athens
Spiegelberg, Die Tefnachtosstele des Museums von Athen, RecTrav 25 (1903): 191
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 202-203, 1:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Bik nebu

bik-nbw

Golden Horus

G5:nbw

Tefnakht stele in Athens
Spiegelberg, Die Tefnachtosstele des Museums von Athen, RecTrav 25 (1903): 191
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 202-203, 1:G

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

Shepses Ra

špss-rꜤ

The noble one belonging to Ra

ra-A51-s-s

Tefnakht stele in Athens
Spiegelberg, Die Tefnachtosstele des Museums von Athen, RecTrav 25 (1903): 191
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 202-203, 1:T

Birth name

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

Birth name

Tayef nakht

tꜢ.f-nḫtw

Tafnakht

t&Af:n-xt:x*t

Tefnakht stele in Athens
Spiegelberg, Die Tefnachtosstele des Museums von Athen, RecTrav 25 (1903): 191
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 202-203, 1:E2

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 19 (1913): 407–409
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 202–203
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 158–159