Ptolemy VIII 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, hekentu em ankhef her neset itef, mar sepu, djeser meskhauef hena hapu ankh

ḥwnw ḥkn.tw-m-Ꜥnḫ.f-ḥr-nst-it.f mꜤr-zpw ḏsr-msḫꜤw.f-ḥnꜤ-ḥpw-Ꜥnḫ

The youthful one, about whose life on his father’s throne one is joyful, successful of deeds, and whose appearances with the living Apis bull are sacred

H-wn:n-W:nw-A17-F18:k:n-D19:t-Aa56*anx:f-nw:x-D2:T28-1:pr-t:f:Z1:f-M30-O48:Z2A-D250:r-ms-xa:Z2:f-H-n:a-H-p:Aa5-anx-E1

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 39b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:H1

Horus name variant A

Hunu hekentu her nesut itef tit djeser net nesu netjeru setep en Amundjesef

ḥwnw ḥkn.tw-ḥr-nst-it.f tit-ḏsr(t)-nt-nsw-nṯrw stp-n-imn-ḏs.f

The youthful one, about whose father’s throne one is joyful, the sacred image of the king of the gods, chosen by Atum himself

H-M42:nw-A17-D19:t-D2:1-st-t:f:Z1:f-t:D17-D250:r-y*t:n-sw-Z2A-nTr-stp:n-t:U15-D&(z:f)

Kingston Hall obelisk
Gauthier, Le Livre des Rois d'Égypte, IV, 323 (LVIII C)
Budge, The decree of Memphis and Canopus, I, 137 (A3)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:H2

Horus name variant B

Hunu herytep pedjet 9 sa Usir mes en Aset shesep enef nesyt Ra em a itef

ḥwnw ḥri-tp-pḏt zꜢ-wsiri msi-n-Ꜣst šzp-n.f-nsyt-rꜤ-mꜤ-it.f

The youthful one, leader of the Nine Bows, the son of Osiris, whom Isis has borne, who has received for himself the kingship of Ra from his father’s hand

H-M42:nw-A17-D2:D1-pD:3*3:3-zA&1-st-nTr-B3A-n:st*(t:H8)-O42B:n:f-sw-i-i-t:D12-G20-t:f:Z1:f

Kingston Hall obelisk
Gauthier, Le Livre des Rois d'Égypte, IV, 323 (LVIII D)
Budge, The decree of Memphis and Canopus, I, 137 (A4)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:H3

Nebty names

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

Nebty name

Seheru ib tawy

shrw-ib-tꜢwi

Who has pleased the Two Lands

s-h:r-ib:Z1-M127-wAD

Edfu small temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 37c

Nebty name variant

Seheru ib tawy

shrw-ib-tꜢwi

Who has pleased the Two Lands

z:h:r-ib*Z1:N17:N16A

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 36+39b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Wer pehty neb habu-sed mi itef Ptah Tatenen it netjeru ity mi Ra

wr-pḥti nb-ḥbw-sd-mi-it.f-ptḥ-tꜢ-ṯnn-it-nṯrw-ity-mi-rꜤ

The one great of strength, a possessor of Sed festivals like his father Ptah Tatenen, the father of the gods, and a sovereign like Ra

wr:r-F9*F9:nb-O23-mi-t:f:Z1:f-p:t-H-C18C-t:f:(nTrw)-A311A-x:Z1-mi

Edfu small temple
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 37c
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:G

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

Iwa en netjerwy perwy setep en Ptah ir Maat Ra sekhem ankh en Amun

iwꜤ-n-nṯrwi-prwi stp.n-ptḥ iri-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-imn

Heir of the two gods, chosen by Ptah, who has accomplished the Maat (of?) Ra, the living image of Amun

nTr\-N8-nTr-F44:n-p:t-H-stp:n-ir:Aa11-C2\-C12-sxm-anx

Edfu small temple
Philae obelisk (columns A1 & A3)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 37c
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:T

Birth names

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

Birth name

Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah

ptwlmis Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mri-ptḥ

Ptolemaios, living forever, beloved of Ptah

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

Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 36d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 240-241, 8:E

Birth name variant

Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah

ptwlmis Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mri-ptḥ

Ptolemaios, living forever, beloved of Ptah

p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-anx-D&(t:N17)-(p:t-H):N36

Edfu small temple
Philae obelisk (columns A2 & A4)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 37c

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 307–335
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 240–241
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 182–183