Ptolemy IV 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

Hunu qeni sekha en su itef

ḥnw-ḳni sḫꜤi.n-sw-it.f

The strong youth whose father has allowed him to appear

H-wn:nw*W-A17-q*nw:Z9:D40-s-xa:a:n:z-t:f:p:f

Deir el-Medina temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 16a

Horus name variant A

Hunu qeni sekhaen su itef

ḥnw-ḳni sḫꜤi.n-sw-it.f

The strong youth whose father has allowed him to appear

H-wn:nw*W-A17-q*nw:Z9:D40-s-xa:a:n-sw-w-t:f:1:f

Mariette, Monument divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie (1872), II, pl. 26a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 4:H

Horus name variant B

Hunu qeni sekhaen su itef

ḥnw-ḳni sḫꜤi.n-sw-it.f

The strong youth whose father has allowed him to appear

H-wn:n-nw:W-A17-q*nw:D40-s-xa:a:n:z-t:f:1:f

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 15c

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Wer pehty, menekh ib kher netjeru nebu nedjty en henmemet

wr-pḥti mnḫ-ib-ḫr-nṯrw-nbw nḏti-n-ḥnmmt

Whose might is great, whose heart is beneficial with all the Gods, who is the savior of mankind

wr:r-F9:F9-mnx:D2-x:r-nTr-Z2:nb-Aa27D-t*y:A40-n:N8-A1:Z2

Deir el-Medina temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 16a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 4:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Sewedja baqet, sehedj gesu-peru semen hepu mi Djehuty aa, neb habu-sed mi Ptah-Tatenen ity mi Ra

swḏꜢ-bꜢḳt sḥḏ-gsw-prw smn-hpw-mi ḏḥwti-ꜤꜢ-ꜤꜢ nb-ḥbw-sd-mi-ptḥ-tꜢ-ṯnn ity-mi-rꜤ

Who has kept Baqet safe by illuminating the temples and establishing laws like the twice-great Thoth, possessor of Sed festivals like Ptah Tatenen and a sovereign like Ra

z:U29A-D10:t*O49-z:ra*T5-O71-O71-O71-z:U32*(h*p:H27:3)-G191-aAv-aAv-mi-nb:O23P-Z3-p:t-H-C18C:U7-A311-N6:1-m

Edfu temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, Text IV, 62
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 4: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 netjerwy menekhwy, setep en Ptah, user ka Ra, sekhem ankh Amun

iwꜤ-n-nṯrwi-mnḫwi stp.n-ptḥ wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-imn

The heir of the two potent gods, chosen by Ptah, the strong one of the ka of Ra, the living image of Amun

mnx*nTr-mnx*nTr-F44:n-p:t-H-stp:n-N-kA*wsr-C12\-C2-sxm-anx

Karnak monolithic temple remains
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 15c
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 4:T

Throne name variant

Iwa en netjerwy menekhwy, setep en Ptah, user ka Ra, sekhem ankh Amun

iwꜤ-n-nṯrwi-mnḫwi stp.n-ptḥ wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-imn

The heir of the two potent gods, chosen by Ptah, the strong one of the ka of Ra, the living image of Amun

mnx*nTr-mnx*nTr-F44:n-p:t-H-stp:n-wsr-kA-C2B\-C12-sxm-anx

Mariette, Monument divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie (1872), II, pl. 26a

Birth name

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

Birth name

Ptolemis ankh djet mery Aset

ptwlmis Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mri-Ꜣst

Ptolemy, living forever, beloved of Isis

p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-anx-D&&&(t:N17)-st:t-mr

Karnak monolithic temple remains
Mariette, Monument divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie, II, plate 26a
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 15c

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 263–274
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 236–237
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 180