Sobekhotep III in hieroglyphs

A pharaoh(?) of the Thirteenth Dynasty, a.k.a. Sekhemre Sewadjtawy Sobkhotep

Precedessor
Meribra Seth

Successor
Neferhotep I

Reign of Sobekhotep III
AE Chronology1725–1722
Ryholt1749–1742

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Khu tawy  The Dual King Sekhem Ra sewadj tawy  Son of Ra Sobek hotep

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
Khu tawy
ḫwi-tꜢwi
The protector of the Two Lands
D43:N17:N17
Prisse d'Avennes, Monuments egyptiens, plate VIII
Louvre stele C8
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:H1
Horus name variant
Horus name
Khu tawy
ḫwi-tꜢwi
The protector of the Two Lands
x:D43-N17:N17
JEA 37, plate VI (between p. 22-23)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:H2

Nebty name

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Kha em sekhemef
ḫꜤi-m-sḫm.f
The one who has appeared through his power
xa:a-m-sxm-Z1:f
Fouilles de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale, 5, 84-89
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:N

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Hotep her Maat
ḥtp-ḥr-mꜢꜤt
Contented with Maat
Htp:D2*Z1-C10A
Fouilles de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale, 5, 84-89
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:G1
Golden Horus name variant
Hotep her Maat
ḥtp-ḥr-mꜢꜤt
Contented with Maat
Htp:D2*Z1-U1-t:a
Fouilles de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale, 17, 125-127
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:G2

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
Sekhem Ra sewadj tawy
sḫm-rꜤ swꜢḏ-tꜢwi
The (very) power of Ra, who has made the Two Lands flourish
ra-sxm-s-wAD-N17:N17
Prisse d'Avennes, Monuments egyptiens, plate VIII
Louvre stele C8
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:T

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Sobek hotep
sbk-ḥtp
Sobek is satisfied
s-b-k-Htp:t*p
Prisse d'Avennes, Monuments egyptiens, plate VIII
Louvre stele C8
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:E2
Birth name variant
Sobek hotep
sbk-ḥtp(w)
Sobek is satisfied
sbk-Htp:t*p
Fouilles de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale, 5, 84-89
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 94-95, 21:E1

Throne + Birth names

Combination of Throne- and Birth-name cartouches
probably only used for a special occasion.

Throne + Birth name
Sekhem Ra [sewadj tawy] sobek hotep
sḫm-rꜤ [swꜢḏ-tꜢwi] sbk-ḥtp(w)
The (very) power of Ra, [who has made the Two Lands flourish], Sobekhotep
ra-Y8-//-I5A-Htp:t*p
Throne + Birth name variant
Sekhem Ra sewadj tawy Sobek hotep
sḫm-rꜤ swꜢḏ-tꜢwi
The (very) power of Ra, who has made the Two Lands flourish, Sobekhotep
ra-sxm-s-wAD-N17:N17-I3:Htp
Scarab from Koptos, Petrie Museum, UC 11536

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 18 (1912): 19–22
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 92–95
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 67
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 446–448
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