Ptolemy XV in hieroglyphs

The sixteenth pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, a.k.a. Ptolemaios Philopator Philometor Caesarion

Precedessor
Cleopatra VII

Successor
Augustus
Reign of Ptolemy XV
Shaw44–30
Dodson41–30
Redford44–31
Technically the last pharaoh of Egypt, nicknamed Caesarion, meaning “Little Caesar”, after his father, Julius Caesar. He co-ruled with his mother Cleopatra VII from 44 BC until her death in 30 BC. He subsequently ruled alone, but only for a very short time, until Octavian (soon to become the first Roman emperor, Augustus) ordered his assassination. Octavian, whose claim to power was founded on his status as Julius Caesar's grandnephew and adoptive son, was directly threatened by Caesar's true son, despite that Caesar hadn't officially acknowledged him.

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

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
Hunu
ḥwnw
The youth
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 60b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H1
Horus name variant A
Horus name
Hunu nefer
ḥwnw-nfr
The perfect youth
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 65a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H2
Horus name variant B
Horus name
Hunu nefer bener merut
ḥwnw-nfr bnr-mrwt
The perfect youth who is sweet of love
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 61a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H3
Horus name variant C
Horus name
Ka nakht iakhu setut Ra Iah
kꜢ-nḫt ꞽꜢḫw-stwt-rꜤ-ꞽꜤḥ
The strong bull, shining like the beams of Ra and Iah
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 53a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H4

Throne name

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
Iwa pa netjer nety nehem, setep en Ptah, ir Maat Ra, sekhem (ankh) en Amun
Iwa pa netjer nety nehem, setep en Ptah, ir Maat Ra, sekhem (ankh) en Amun
ꞽwꜤ-pꜢ-nṯr-ntꞽ-nḥm stp-n-ptḥ ꞽrꞽ-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ sḫm-(Ꜥnḫ)-n-ꞽmn
The heir of the saviour god, chosen by Ptah, who brings forth the Maat of Ra, the living image of Amun
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 81-82
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:T

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Ptolemys
Ptolemys
ptwlmys
Ptolemy
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 60b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E1
Birth name variant A
Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
ptwlmys Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mrꞽ-ptḥ-Ꜣst
Ptolemy, living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 82 (1)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E7
Birth name variant B
Ptolemys, djedtu enef kyseres
Ptolemys, djedtu enef kyseres
ptwlmys ḏd.tw-n.f kysrs
Ptolemy, (also) called Caesar
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 81-82
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E3
Birth name variant C
Ptolemys, djedtu enef kyseres
Ptolemys, djedtu enef kyseres
ptwlmys ḏd.tw-n.f kysrs
Ptolemy called Caesar
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 81-82
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E4
Birth name variant D
Ptolemys, Kyseres ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
Ptolemys, Kyseres ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
ptwlmys ḏd-tw kysrs Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mrꞽ-ptḥ-Ꜣst
Ptolemy called Caesar, living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 53a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E5
Birth name variant E
Kyseres ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
Kyseres ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
kysrs Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mrꞽ-ptḥ-Ꜣst
Caesar, living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 82 (1)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E6
Birth name variant F
Kyseres
Kyseres
kysrs
Caesar
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 63a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E2

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 419–421
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 246–247
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 188
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