Ptolemy III in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus names

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

Horus name

Heken netjeru remetj heref

ḥkn-nṯrw-rmṯ-ḥr.f

The one over whom gods and people have rejoiced

H-k:nw*W-nTr-H4:Z2-D2*Z1:f

Temple of Khonsu propylon at Karnak
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 9a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 3:H1

Horus name variant

Heken netjeru remetj heref em shesepef nesyt em a itef

ḥkn-nṯrw-rmṯ-ḥr.f m-šsp.f-nsyt-m-Ꜥ-ꞽt.f

The one over whom gods and people have rejoiced when he has received the kingship from his father's hand

H-k:nw-nTrw-H4:3-D2:Z1-f:Aa15-O42B-A9-sw:t-i-i-G20-t:f:Z1:f

Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , II, 121:10-11
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 234-235, 3:H2

Horus name variant

Heken netjeru remetj heref em shesepef nesyt em a itef

ḥkn-nṯrw-rmṯ-ḥr.f m-šsp.f-nsyt-m-Ꜥ-ꞽt.f

The one over whom gods and people have rejoiced when he has received the kingship from his father's hand

H-k:nw*W-nTrw-H4:3-D2*Z1:f-m-O42B:p-D40:f-sw-t-i-i-t:3-G20-t:f:Z1:f

Karnak debris
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, Text III, 40

Horus name variant

Heken netjeru remetj heref em shesepef nesyt em a itef

ḥkn-nṯrw-rmṯ-ḥr.f m-šsp.f-nsyt-m-Ꜥ-ꞽt.f

The one over whom gods and people have rejoiced when he has received the kingship from his father's hand

H-k:nw-Z3-nTr-nr:3->-D2*Z1:f:M-O42B-Z9:p-v/-sw-t-i-i-G20-t:f:Z1:f

Philae temple
Brugsch, Recueil de Monuments Égyptiens, II, plate LXXV (4)

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Qen nedjti netjeru ineb menekh en ta mery

ḳn nḏtꞽ-nṯrw ꞽnb-mnḫ-n-tꜢmrꞽ

The brave one who has protected the gods, a potent wall for The Beloved Land

q*nw:n:D40-Aa27D-nw:t-Z3-nTr-O36-mnx-n:N17:U7-r:O49*O5U

Philae temple
Brugsch, Recueil de Monuments Égyptiens, II, plate LXXV (4)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 3:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Wer pehty, ir akhut, neb habu-sed mi Ptah-Tatenen, ity mi Ra

wr-pḥtꞽ ꞽrꞽ-Ꜣḫt nb-ḥꜢbw-sd-mꞽ-ptḥ-tꜢ-ṯnn ꞽty-mꞽ-rꜤ

Whose might is great, doing that which is beneficial, Lord of the years of Jubilee like Ptah Ta-Tjenen, a ruler like Ra

wr:r-F9*F9:ir-3&Ax&x:nb-O23-Z3-p:t-H-C19A-C18C-mi-i-U33-i-i-A311-mi-N6:Z1

Philae temple
Brugsch, Recueil de Monuments Égyptiens, II, plate LXXV (4)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 3: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

Iwa en senwy netjerwy, setep en Ra, sekhem ankh en Amun

iwꜤ-n-nṯrwꞽ-snwꞽ stp.n-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-ꞽmn

The heir of the two divine brothers, chosen by Ra, the living image of Amun

T22A60&nTr-T22A60&nTr-F44:n-C12-C2-stp:n-sxm-anx-S3

Temple of Khonsu propylon at Karnak
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 9a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 3:T1

Throne name variant

Iwa en senwy netjerwy, setep en Ra, sekhem ankh en Amun

iwꜤ-n-nṯrwꞽ-snwꞽ stp.n-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-ꞽmn

The heir of the two divine brothers, chosen by Ra, the living image of Amun

T22A\60&nTr-T22A\60&nTr-a:a-F44-C12A\-C2A-stp:n-sxm-anx

Philae temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 12e
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 3:T2

Throne name variant

Iwa en senwy netjerwy, setep en Ra, sekhem ankh en Amun

iwꜤ-n-nṯrwꞽ-snwꞽ stp.n-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-ꞽmn

The heir of the two divine brothers, chosen by Ra, the living image of Amun

F44-nTr-Z3-T22A-C12A\-C2A-anx-Y18-stp:n

Brugsch, Recueil de monuments Égyptiens, II, plate LXXV (2)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 12d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 3:T3

Birth names

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

Birth name

Ptolemys ankh djet mery Ptah

ptwlmꞽs Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mrꞽ-ptḥ

Ptolemy, who lives eternally, beloved of Ptah

p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-anx-D&(t:N16)-p:t-H-mr

Temple of Khonsu propylon at Karnak
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 9a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 3:E1

Birth name variant

Ptolemys ankh djet mery Ptah

ptwlmꞽs Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mrꞽ-ptḥ

Ptolemy, who lives eternally, beloved of Ptah

p:t-l:W*M-i-i-s-C102A-anx-D&(t:N16)

Philae temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 12d

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 245–263
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 234–237
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 179–180