Shoshenq I in hieroglyphs

The first pharaoh of the Twenty-second Dynasty, a.k.a. Sheshonq I, Sheshonk I

Precedessor
Psusennes II

Successor
Osorkon I

Reign of Shoshenq I
AE Chronology943–923
v. Beckerath946–925
Dodson948–927
Redford931–910
Manetho21 years

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Ka nakht mery Ra, sekhaef em nesu er sema tawy  The Dual King Hedj kheper Ra setep en Ra  Son of Ra Shesheneq mery Amun

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
Ka nakht mery Ra, sekhaef em nesu er sema tawy
kꜢ nḫt mry rꜤ sḫꜤ.f m nsw r smꜢ tꜢwy
Strong bull, beloved of Ra, whom the latter caused to appear as king in order to unite the Two Lands
E1:D40-ra:Z1-mr\-s-xa:a:f:M-sw-r:R26-N17:N17
Caminos, Gebel Es-Silsilah No. 100, JEA 38 (1952): pl. 11
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:H1
Horus name variant
Horus name
Ka nakht mery Ra, sekhaef em nesu er sema tawy
kꜢ nḫt mry rꜤ sḫꜤ.f m nsw r smꜢ tꜢwy
Strong bull, beloved of Ra, whom the latter caused to appear as king in order to unite the Two Lands
E1:D40-C2-mr-s-xa:a:f:M-sw-r:R26-N17:N16A
Bubastis dedication inscription of Shoshenq I, north face architrave
The Epigraphic Survey, The Bubastite portal, OIP 74 (1954): pl. 12
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:H2

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Kha em sekhemty mi hor sa Aset sehetep netjeru em Maat
ḫꜤ m sḫmty mi ḥr sꜢ Ꜣst sḥtp nṯrw m mꜢꜤt
Who has appeared in the Double Crown like Horus, the son of Isis, and pacified the gods with Maat
xa:a:Aa15-S6-mi-i-G5-H8:Z1-Q1-t:H8-s-Htp:t*p-t:Z2-nTr-m-Sw
Caminos, Gebel Es-Silsilah No. 100, JEA 38 (1952): pl. 12
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:N1
Nebty name variant
Kha em sekhemty mi hor sa Aset sehetep netjeru em Maat
ḫꜤ m sḫmty mi ḥr sꜢ Ꜣst sḥtp nṯrw m mꜢꜤt
Who has appeared in the Double Crown like Horus, the son of Isis, and pacified the gods with Maat
xa:a-m-S6:t-mi-G5-H8:Z1-Q1:t-z:Htp:p*Z2:M-nTr-Aa11v:t
Bubastis dedication inscription of Shoshenq I, north face architrave
The Epigraphic Survey, The Bubastite portal, OIP 74 (1954): pl. 12
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:N2

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Sekhem pehty, hui pedjut 9, wer nakhtu em tau nebu
sḫm-pḥty ḥwi pḏwt 9 wr-nḫtw m tꜢw nbw
Powerful of might, who has struck down the Nine Bows, great of victories in all lands
sxm-F9:F9-V74-T10:3:3*3-wr:r:n-M3:x*t:(Z2)^^^D40-N17:N17:N17:nb:W*Z2
Caminos, Gebel Es-Silsilah No. 100, JEA 38 (1952): pl. 12
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:G1
Golden Horus name variant
Sekhem pehty, hui pedjut 9, wer nakhtu em tau nebu
sḫm-pḥty ḥwi pḏwt 9 wr-nḫtw m tꜢw nbw
Powerful of might, who has struck down the Nine Bows, great of victories in all lands
sxm-F9:F9-H*A24:D40-T10:Z2*Z2:t*Z2-wr-n:M3:x*t-(Z2)^^^D40:Aa15-N17:N17:N16A-nb:Z2
Bubastis dedication inscription of Shoshenq I, north face architrave
The Epigraphic Survey, The Bubastite portal, OIP 74 (1954): pl. 12
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:G2

Throne names

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
Hedj kheper Ra setep en Ra
ḥḏ ḫpr rꜤ stp n rꜤ
The bright one is a manifestation of Ra, chosen by Ra
ra-HDt-xpr-stp&n&ra
Passim
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:T1
Throne name variant
Hedj kheper Ra setep en Amun
ḥḏ ḫpr rꜤ stp n imn
The bright one is a manifestation of Ra, chosen by Amun
ra-HDt-xpr-i-mn:n:stp
Statuette (Cairo Museum, CG 42213, JE 36675)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:T2
Throne name variant
Hedj kheper Ra setep en Amun
ḥḏ ḫpr rꜤ stp n imn
The bright one is a manifestation of Ra, chosen by Amun
a-HDt-xpr-i-mn:stp:n
Seated Isis statuette, (Cairo Museum, CG 38901, JE 32209)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:T3
Throne name variant
Hedj kheper Ra setep en Ptah
ḥḏ ḫpr rꜤ stp n ptḥ
The bright one is a manifestation of Ra, chosen by Ptah
ra-HDt-xpr-p:t-H-stp:n
Daressy, Notes et remarques, RecTrav 22 (1900): 143 (CLXXVII)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:T4

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Shesheneq mery Amun
ššnḳ mry imn
Shoshenq, beloved of Amun
i-mn:n:U7-M8A-M8A-n:q
Statuette (Cairo Museum, CG 42213, JE 36675)
Daressy, Statues de divinités (1906), 225
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:E1
Birth name variant
Shesheneq mery Amun
ššnḳ mry imn
Shoshenq, beloved of Amun
i-mn:n:N36-M8A-M8A-n:q
Caminos, Gebel Es-Silsilah No. 100, JEA 38 (1952): pl. 11 (3)
Birth name variant
Shesheneq mery Amun
ššnḳ mry imn
Shoshenq, beloved of Amun
i-mn:n:N36-M8A-M8A-q
Montet, La Nécropole royale de Tanis (1951), Vol. 2, pl. 29
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:E2
Birth name variant
Shesheneq
ššnḳ
Shoshenq
M8A-M8A-n:q
Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology 11, 257
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:E3
Birth name variant
Shesheneq
ššnḳ
Shoshenq
M8A-q-M8A-N17
Posener, Malinine, Vercoutter, Catalogue des stèles de Sérapéum de Memphis (1968), No. 31
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:E4
Birth name variant
Shesheneq, the son of Isis, beloved of Amun
ššnḳ sꜢ Ꜣst mry imn
Shoshenq, the son of Isis, beloved of Amun
i-mn://-H8-Q1:t-M8A:M8A-q
Beckerath, The Nile Level Records at Karnak and their Importance, JARCE 5: 49
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 184-185, 1:E5

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus xxii, 1 Σεσονχωσις Sesonchosis 21 years
Eusebius xxii, 1 Σεσονχωσις Sesonchosis 21 years
Jerome Sesonchosis 21 years
The Bible 1 Kings 11:40 שִׁישַׁק Shishak

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 19 (1913): 307–324
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 184–185
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 145
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