Necho II in hieroglyphs

The third pharaoh of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, a.k.a. Nekao II

Precedessor
Psamtik I

Successor
Psamtik II

Reign of Necho II
610–595
Dodson610–595
Manetho (Africanus)6 years
Manetho (Eusebius)3 years
Manetho (Jerome)6 years

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Sia ib  The Dual King Wehem ib Ra  Son of Ra Ni kau

Horus name

Horus name

The oldest form of the name of a pharaoh, a falcon representing Horus is perched on the palace facade.

Horus name
Sia ib
siꜢ-ib
Perceptive-minded
S32:ib
Chassinat, Textes provenant du Sérapéum de Memphis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 21
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:H

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Maa kheru
mꜢꜤ-ḫrw
True of voice
Aa11v-P8
Chassinat, Textes provenant du Sérapéum de Memphis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 21
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:N1
Nebty name variant
Maa kheru
mꜢꜤ-ḫrw
True of voice
Aa11:P8h\
Revue de Louvre 21 (1970), 98
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:N2

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Mery netjeru
mry-nṯrw
Beloved of the gods
nTrw-mr
Chassinat, Textes provenant du Sérapéum de Memphis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 21
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:G1
Golden Horus name variant
Mery netjeru
mry-nṯrw
Beloved of the gods
U7:r-nTrw
Revue de Louvre 21 (1970), 98
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:G2
Golden Horus name variant
Mery netjeru
mry-nṯrw
Beloved of the gods
N36-nTrw
Mariette, Monument divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie (1872), II, pl. 48 c
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:G3

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
Wehem ib Ra
wḥm-ib-rꜤ
Who has renewed the will of Ra
ra-F25-ib
Passim
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:T1
Throne name variant
Wehem ib Ra
wḥm-ib-rꜤ
Who has renewed the will of Ra
ra-F25-m-ib
Chassinat, Textes provenant du Sérapéum de Memphis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 21
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:T2

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Ni kau
n(y) kꜢw
Who belongs to the kas
n:E1-w
Chassinat, Textes provenant du Sérapéum de Memphis, RecTrav 22 (1900): 21
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:E1
Birth name variant
Ni kau
n(y) kꜢw
Who belongs to the kas
zA&ra-n:E1-w
Jar sealing (British Museum EA23793)
Hall, Catalogue of Egyptian scarabs, etc. in the British Museum (1913), 291 (No. 2783)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:E2
Birth name variant
Ni kau
n(y) kꜢw
Who belongs to the kas
n:kA-w
Revue de Louvre 21 (1970), 98
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:E3
Birth name variant
Ni kau
n(y) kꜢw
Who belongs to the kas
n:q-w
Granite weight (Cairo Museum CG 31604, JE 29549)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 214-215, 2:E4

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus xxvi, 5 Νεχαω Nechao II 6 years
Eusebius xxvi, 6 Νεχαω Nechao II 3 years
Jerome Nechao II also called Nechepsos 6 years
Herodotus 158.1 Νεκως Necos 16 years

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 86–92
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 216–217
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 165
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