Amenemhat II in hieroglyphs

The third pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty, a.k.a. Amenemhet II

Amenemhat II's throne name is present on the Abydos and Saqqara king lists, but on the Turin Canon his name is lost due to damage, but can with confidence be placed at 6.22 based on the known succession of the Twelfth Dynasty. His name is also present in Manetho's king list as Ammanemes.

Precedessor
Senusret I

Successor
Senusret II

Reign of Amenemhat II
AE Chronology1878–1843
v. Beckerath1914–1879
Shaw1911–1877
Dodson1932–1896
Arnold1929–1892
Malek1918–1884
Grimal1928–1895
Franke1877–1843
Redford1929–1895
Turin King List10+x years
Manetho (Africanus)38 years
Manetho (Eusebius)68 years
Highest attestationYear 35

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Heken em Maat  The Dual King Nebu kau Ra  Son of Ra Amenemhat

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
Heken em Maat
ḥkn-m-mꜢꜤt
Horus who delights in Maat
H-k:n-m-C10
Funerary stele from Abydos (Cairo Museum, JE 12644, CG 20541)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:H1
Horus name variant
Horus name
Heken em Maat
ḥkn-m-mꜢꜤt
Horus who delights in Maat
H-k:n-m-U4:t
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 124 a14
Horus name variant
Horus name
Heken em Maat
ḥkn-m-mꜢꜤt
Horus who delights in Maat
H-k:n-m-mA:mAa-a:t
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 123b

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Heken em Maat
ḥkn-m-mꜢꜤt
He who delights in Maat
H-k:n-m-C10
Funerary stele from Abydos (Cairo Museum, JE 12644, CG 20541)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:N1
Nebty name variant
Heken em Maat
ḥkn-mꜢꜤt
He who delights in Maat
H-k:n-m-U4:t
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 124 a14-15

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Maat kheru
mꜢꜤt-ḫrw
True of voice
U1:Aa11-P8
Funerary stele from Abydos (Cairo Museum, JE 12644, CG 20541)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:G1
Golden Horus name variant
Maat kheru
mꜢꜤ(t)-ḫrw
True of voice
xrw*Aa11v*G5:nbw
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 123 a15
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:G2

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
Nebu kau Ra
nbw-kꜢw-rꜤ
Golden are the souls of Ra
ra:nbw-kA*kA:kA
Abydos Canon no. 61

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 123-124
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:T
Throne name variant
Nebu ka Ra
nbw-kꜢ-rꜤ
The soul of Ra is golden
ra-nbw-kA
Saqqara Canon no. 17
Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions , III, 481 (17)
Throne name variant
Name missing
Turin King List 6.22
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) V:22

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Amenemhat
imn-m-ḥꜢt
Amun is in front
i-mn:n-m-HAt:t
Niche-stela from Abydos (CG 20531)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:E2
Birth name variant
Amenemhat
imn-m-ḥꜢt
Amun is in front
i-mn:n-m-HAt&t
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 124b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 84-85, 3:E1

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus xii, 2 Aμμανεμης Ammanemes 38 years
Eusebius xii, 2 Aμμανεμης Ammanemes 68 years
Eratosthenes 33 Σταμμενεμης β Stammenemes II 23

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 284–294
  • 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: 58–59
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 23–25
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