Amenmesse in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Ka nakht mery Maat semen tawy  The Dual King Men mi Ra, setep en Ra  Son of Ra Amenmesse heqa Waset

Horus names

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

Horus name

Ka nakht mery Maat semen tawy

kꜢ-nḫt mri-mꜢꜤt-smn-tꜢwi

Strong bull, beloved of Maat, he who strengthen the Two Lands

E1:D40-mAat-mr-U32-n:N17:N17:N21*N21

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 204e
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:H3

Horus name variant

Ka nakht mery Maat semen [tawy]

kꜢ-nḫt mri-mꜢꜤt-smn-tꜢwi

Strong bull, beloved of Maat, he who strengthen [the Two Lands]

E1:D40-U7:i*i-C10A-s-Y1:n-Y1v-U32-[[-#b-N17:N17:N21*N21-#e-]]

Grapow, Ägyptologische Studien, VIO 29 (1955), 19
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:H2

Horus name variant

Ka nakht mery Maat semen tawy

kꜢ-nḫt mri-mꜢꜤt-smn-tꜢwi

Strong bull, beloved of Maat, he who strengthen the Two Lands

E1:D40-mAat-mr-i-i-mn:n:Y1-U32-M127-[[-#b-wAD-#e-]]

Grapow, Ägyptologische Studien, VIO 29 (1955), 19
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:H1

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Wer biaut mi Ipet-sut

wr-biꜢwt-m-ipt-swt

He who is great of miracles in Karnak Temple

wr:r-b-i-A-i-t-i-U16A:Aa15-i-p:t-st-Z2:O49

Kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions , IV, 198
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Aa khepesh, saa waset en mes su

ꜤꜢ-ḫpš sꜤꜢ wꜢst n ms sw

The one great of might, who has magnified Thebes for the one who bore him

aA:xpS-s-aA:a-R19-t:O49-n:ms*s*sw

Hardwick, The Golden Horus Name of Amenmesse?, JEA 92 (2006), 255-260
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:G

Throne names

Announced at the coronation and always written in a cartouche. The “official” name of the pharaoh. Also known as the Prenomen.

Throne name

Men mi Ra, setep en Ra

mn-mi-rꜤ stp.n-rꜤ

Eternal like Ra, the chosen one of Ra

ra:mn-mi-i-stp&n&ra

Valley of Kings, tomb KV 10, gate B
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 202e
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:T1

Throne name variant

Men mi Ra, setep en Ra

mn-mi-rꜤ stp.n-rꜤ

Eternal like Ra, the chosen one of Ra

U6\-C12\-C2-mn:stp&n&ra-mi

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 202d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:T2

Birth names

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

Birth name

Amenmesse heqa Waset

imn-msi-sw ḥḳꜢ-wꜢst

Amenmesse, the Ruler of Thebes

C12-ms-s-s-HqA-q-R19

Valley of Kings, tomb KV 10, gate B
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 202e
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5:E1

Birth name variant

Amenmesse mery Ra heqa Waset

imn-msi-sw mri-rꜤ ḥḳꜤ-wꜢst

Amenmesse, the beloved of Ra and Ruler of Thebes

C2\-C12-ms-z:z-HqA-R19-N36

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 202d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 158-159, 5: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): 127–130
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 158–159
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 123–124
• Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 50–52