Amasis in hieroglyphs

The sixth pharaoh of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, a.k.a. Ahmose II, Ahmose III

Precedessor
Apries

Successor
Psamtik III

Reign of Amasis
570–526
Dodson570–526
Manetho (Africanus)44 years
Manetho (Eusebius)42 years
Manetho (Jerome)42 years

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Semen Maat  The Dual King Khnum ib Ra  Son of Ra Iah mesu

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
Semen Maat
smn-mꜢꜤt
The one who has established Maat
s-mn:n-U1-Aa11:t
Daressy, Stèle de l'an III d'Amasis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 2
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 274p
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:H1
Horus name variant A
Horus name
Semen Maat
smn-mꜢꜤt
The one who has established Maat
s-mn:n-Aa11:t
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 274o
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:H2
Horus name variant B
Horus name
Semen Maat
smn-mꜢꜤt
The one who has established Maat
s-mn:n-C10A
Offering table from Abydos
Petrie, Abydos, I, plate 69 (2)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:H3
Horus name variant C
Horus name
Semen Maat
s-mn:n-nw:Z1-A1:t-H6
0
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:H4
Horus name variant D
Horus name
Semen Maat
smn-mꜢꜤt
The one who has established Maat
s-mn:n:Aa11
First year donation stele of Amosis, Louvre C 298
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:H5

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Sa Neith seped tawy
zꜢ-nt spd-tꜢwy
The son of Neith, who has restored the Two Lands
zA&R24-M44-N17:N17
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:N1
Nebty name variant A
Sa Neith seped tawy
zꜢ-nt spd-tꜢwy
The son of Neith, who has restored the Two Lands
n:t-R24v-zA-s-q-b-N17:N17
Daressy, Stèle de l'an III d'Amasis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 2
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:N2
Nebty name variant B
Sa Neith seped tawy
zꜢ-nt spd-tꜢwy
The son of Neith, who has restored the Two Lands
R24v-zA-s-p:d-M44-M127-wAD
Petrie, Abydos, I, plate 69 (2)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:N3
Nebty name variant C
Sa Neith seped tawy
zꜢ-nt spd-tꜢwy
The son of Neith, who has restored the Two Lands
R24v-zA-s-p:d-M44-M127-wAD
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:N4
Nebty name variant D
Sa Neith seped tawy
zꜢ-nt spd-tꜢwy
The son of Neith, who has restored the Two Lands
zA&Z1-R24v-t:t-s-b-d:N17:N17
First year donation stele of Amosis, Louvre C 298
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:N5

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Setep netjeru
stp-nṯrw
Divinely chosen
nTrw-stp
Petrie, Abydos, I, plate 69 (2)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:G1
Golden Horus name variant A
Setep netjeru
stp-nṯrw
Divinely chosen
s-d:p-stp-nTrw
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:G2
Golden Horus name variant B
Setep netjeru
stp-nṯrw
Divinely chosen
s-t:p-stp-nTrw
First year donation stele of Amosis, Louvre C 298
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:G3
Golden Horus name variant C
Setep netjeru
stp-nṯrw
Divinely chosen
(nTrw:stp)*G5:nbw
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 216-217, 5:G4

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
Khnum ib Ra
ḫnm-ib-rꜤ
The one who is associated with the mind of Ra
ra-W9-ib
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 274o
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:T1
Throne name variant A
Khnum ib Ra
ẖnm-ib-rꜤ
The one who is associated with the mind of Ra
ra-W9-m-ib
Petrie, Abydos, I, plate 69 (2)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:T2
Throne name variant B
Khnum ib Ra
ḫnm-ib-rꜤ
The one who is associated with the mind of Ra
ra-m&W9-ib
Daressy, Stèle de l'an III d'Amasis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 2

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Iah mesu
iꜤḥ-ms(.w)
Ahmose (Iah is born)
N62-ms-s
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:E1
Birth name variant A
Iah mesu
iꜤḥ-ms(.w)
Ahmose
N11-ms
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:E2
Birth name variant B
Iah mesu sa Neith
iꜤḥ-ms(.w) zꜢ-nt
Ahmose, son of Neith
N62-ms-H8:Z1-R24v
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:E3
Birth name variant C
Iah mesu sa Neith
iꜤḥ-ms(.w) zꜢ-nt
Ahmose, son of Neith
N11-ms-zA-R24
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:E4
Birth name variant D
Iah mesu sa Neith
iꜤḥ-ms(.w) zꜢ-nt
Ahmose, son of Neith
N12-ms-R24v-zA
Petrie, Abydos, I, plate 69 (2)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 218-219, 5:E5

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus xxvi, 8 Aμωσις Amosis 44 years
Eusebius xxvi, 9 Aμωσις Amosis 42 years
Jerome Amasis 42 years
Herodotus 172 Aμασις Amasis
Diodorus 1.68.3 Aμασις Amasis 55 years

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 113–131
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 216–217
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 166
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