Amenhotep II in hieroglyphs

The seventh pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, a.k.a. Amenophis II

Used to be called Amenophis II, which is the hellenized name of Amenhotep from the ancient Greek historians. The destruction of monuments of Hatshepsut began during his short co-regency with his father and lasted until the most visible ones had been destroyed.

Precedessor
Thutmose III

Successor
Thutmose IV

Reign of Amenhotep II
AE Chronology1425–1400
v. Beckerath1428–1397
Shaw1427–1400
Dodson1424–1398
Arnold1427–1401
Malek1427–1401
Grimal1425–1401
Redford1454–1419
Manetho (Josephus)30y 10m
Manetho (Africanus)31 years
Manetho (Eusebius)31 years
Manetho (Jerome)31 years
Highest attestationYear 26

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Ka nakht wer pehty  The Dual King Aa kheperu Ra  Son of Ra Amenhotep

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
Ka nakht wer pehty
kꜢ-nḫt wr-pḥti
The strong bull, great of power
E1:D40-wr:F9*F9
Karnak third pylon, southern wall; Tomb of Qenamun (TT93)
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 61; 63a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:H1
Horus name variant
Ka nakht aa pehty
kꜢ-nḫt ꜤꜢ-pḥti
The strong bull, great of might
E1:D40-aA:F9*F9
Gauthier, Livre des Rois d'Égypte, II, 277 (II)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:H2
Horus name variant
Ka nakht seped abwy
kꜢ-nḫt spd-Ꜥbwi
The strong bull, sharp of horns
E1:D40-M44-F16:F16
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1301
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:H3
Horus name variant
Ka nakht sekhem pehty
kꜢ-nḫt sḫm-pḥti
The strong bull, powerful of might
E1:D40-sxm-t-F9
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1362
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:H4

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Kha khau em ipet-sut
ḫꜤ-ḫꜤw m ipt-swt
Radiant of crowns in Karnak
xa*xa:Z2-m-i-p:t-Q1-t:Z2:x
Gauthier, Livre des Rois d'Égypte, II, 277 (II)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:N2
Nebty name variant
User fau sekha em Waset
wsr-fꜢw sḫꜤi-m-wꜢst
Powerful of splendour, appearing in Thebes
wsr-s-f:F40-w-s-xa:a-m-R19-t:O49
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 65a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:N1

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Ity sekhemef em tau nebu
iṯi-sḫm.f-m-tꜢw-nb(w)
Who seizes by his strength in all lands
iTi-sxm*m:f-m-N17:N17:N17:nb
No hieroghlyphs shown by von Beckerath.
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 64b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:G2
Golden Horus name variant
Ity sekhemef em tau nebu
iṯi-sḫm.f-m-tꜢw-nb(w)
Who seizes by his strength in all lands
iTi:t:D40-m-sxm-ra:D40:f-m-N17:N17:N17:nb
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 65a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:G1

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
Aa kheperu Ra
ꜤꜢ-ḫprw-rꜤ
Great are the Manifestations of Ra
ra:aA-xpr-Z2
Abydos Canon no. 71
Saqqara Canon no. 7

Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:T1
Throne name variant
Aa kheperu en Ra
ꜤꜢ-ḫprw-n-rꜤ
Great are the Manifestations of Ra
ra:aA-xpr:Z2-n
Marseille Stela 14
Note, despite the extra en it must belong to Amenhotep II
Throne name variant
Aa kheperu Ra
ꜤꜢ-ḫprw-rꜤ
Great are the Manifestations of Ra
ra-O29v-xpr-xpr-xpr
Davies, The rock tombs of Amarna, V, p. 7
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:T3

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Amenhotep
imn-ḥtp(w)
Amun is Satisfied
i-mn:n-Htp:t*p
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1316
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E1
Birth name variant
Amenhotep, netjer heqa Iunu
imn-htp nṯr-ḥḳꜢ-iwnw
Amenhotep, God and ruler of Heliopolis
i-mn:n:Htp-nTr-HqA-iwn
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 61-65
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E2
Birth name variant
Amenhotep, heqa Iunu
imn-ḥtp(w) hḳꜢ-iwnw
Amenhotep, ruler of Heliopolis
i-mn:n-Htp-HqA-iwn
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1319
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E4
Birth name variant
Amenhotep, netjer heqa Iunu
Amenhotep, God and ruler of Heliopolis
null
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1276
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E3
Birth name variant
Amenhotep, netjer heqa Waset
Amenhotep, God and ruler of Thebes
null
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1327
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E5
Birth name variant
Amenhotep, heqa Waset
Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes
null
Champollion, Monuments, I, pl. 2(7)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E6
Birth name variant
Amenhotep, nesu heqa Waset
Amenhotep, King and ruler of Thebes
null
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1368
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 138-139, 7:E7

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus xviii, 8 Αμενωφις Amenophis 31 years
Eusebius xviii, 7 Aμενωφις Amenophis 31 years
Jerome Ammenophis 31 years
Josephus 96 Aμένωφις Amenophis 30 years, 10 months

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 18 (1912): 276–290
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 138–139
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 100–101
  • Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 40–44
PLEASE NOTE
There might be errors on this page.
Make sure you use the correct source!
Yes, you would be surprised...