Menkaura
| Also known as: Menkaure, Mykerinos, Mycerinus | Dynasty IV |
According to Africanus, Manetho named Mencheres (Menkaura) as the successor of king Bicheris, but according to the archaeological records, he was the successor of Khafra. Eusebius' record of Manetho's fourth dynasty only mentions one king by name; Soyphis (Khufu). The fourth dynasty in the Turin papyrus is heavily damaged, but Khafra can be read in 4.12. The name that would occupy 4.14 mentions a reign of at least 28 years, which can hardly be anyone but Menkaura.
| Reign of Menkaura | |
|---|---|
| AE Chronology | 2447–2442 |
| von Beckerath | 2514–2486 |
| Shaw | 2532–2503 |
| Dodson | 2414–2396 |
| Allen | 2490–2472 |
| Malek | 2488–2460 |
| Arnold | 2472–2454 |
| Redford | 2551–2523 |
| Turin Canon | 28+ years |
| Manetho (Africanus) | 63 years |
The Royal Titulary
From the hieroglyphic records
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:H1
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:H2
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:N
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:G
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:E2
(only seen on the Saqqara king list by Mariette in 1864.)
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:E1
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 54-55, 6:E3
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959), III:14
The sources of antiquity
From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity
| Author | Greek | Transliteration | Transcription | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africanus iv, 4 | Mενχερης | Menkheres | Mencheres | 63 years |
| Herodotus 129 | Μυκερινον | Mycerinus | Mycerinos | |
| Diodorus 1.64.6 | Μυκερινος | Mukerinos | Mycerinus | |
| Eratosthenes 17 | Μοσχερως | Moskheres | Moscheres | 31 years |
Bibliography
Beckerath, J. Handbuch der Ägyptischen Königsnamen, MÄS 49 (1999): 54–55
Baker. D. D. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I – Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300–1069 BC (London, 2008), 200–202
Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 95–100
Leprohon, R. J. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Atlanta, 2013), 36
The full titulary was announced at the coronation, when a pharaoh officially became king.
Horus name
The oldest form of a pharaoh's name, often enclosed in a serekh, a sort of "heraldic crest" representing a palace facade.
Nebty name
The "Two Ladies", the heraldic goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.
Golden Horus name
Gold was strongly associated with eternity, but the meaning of this title is disputed.
Throne name
(prenomen) Announced at the coronation, and written in a cartouche.
Personal name
(nomen) The name given at birth, also written in a cartouche.
- Turin king list
223 kings – Dynasty 19 - Abydos Canon
76 kings – Dynasty 19 - Saqqara Canon
58 kings – Dynasty 19 - Karnak Canon
61 kings – Dynasty 18 - Comparing the canons
Abydos, Saqqara and Karnak - Ramesseum Canon
Ramesses II Mortuary Temple - Medinet Habu Canon
Ramesses III Mortuary Temple
Ancient historians
- Herodotus
450 BC – Histories - Manetho
250 BC – Aegyptiaca - Diodorus
50 BC – Bibliotheca Historica - Josephus
100 CE – Against Apion - Africanus
220 CE – Chronographai - Eusebius
325 CE – Chronicon - Jerome
380 CE – Chronicon - Syncellus
800 CE – Egloga Chronographai - Eratosthenes
Probably a forgery (date unknown) - Comparing the sources
Transmission of Manetho
by Africanus et. al.
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