Ptolemy V in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus name

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

Horus name

Hunu kha em nisut her set itef

ḥwnw-ḫꜤi-m-nsw-ḥr-st-it.f

The youth who has appeared as king on his father's throne

H-wn:n-nw:W-A17-xa:a:W*Z4-Aa15:sw*A43B-D2:Z1-Q1-t:O1-t:f:Z1:f

Philae Temple E
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 18
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 5:H

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Wer pehty semen tawy senefer ta-meri menekh ib kher netjeru

wr-pḥti smn-tꜢwi snfr-tꜢmri mnḥ-ib-ḫr-nṯrw

The one great of strength, who has established the Two Lands and made Ta-mery perfect (by) being efficacious before the gods

wr:r-F9*F9:Z9^^^D40-s-U32-wAD-M127-s-nfr-N16A:O5*(t:O49)-mnx-ib:1-x:r-nTr&1-nTr&1-nTr&1

Philae Temple E
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 18
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 5:N

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name

Wadj ankh en henmemet, neb hebu-sed mi Ptah-Tatenen, ity mi Ra

wꜢḏ-Ꜥnḫ-n-ḥnmmt nb-ḥbw-sd-mi-ptḥ ity-mi-rꜤ

The one who has made the life of mankind flourish, a possessor of Sed festivals like Ptah Tatenen and a sovereign like Ra

wAD*anx:n-N8-m-A1-Z2A-nb:O23-mi-i-p:t-H-C18C-i-U33-i-i-A311-N6:Z1-mi-i-i

Philae Temple E
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 18

Throne names

Announced at the coronation and always written in a cartouche. The “official” name of the pharaoh. Also known as the Prenomen.

Throne name

Iwa en netjerwy merwy it, setep en Ptah, user ka Ra, sekhem ankh Amun

iwꜤ-nṯrwi-mr(wi)-it stp.n-ptḥ wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-imn

The heir of the two gods who love (their?) father, chosen by Ptah, the strong one of the ka of Ra, the living image of Amun

t-nTr-t-nTr-N36:stp:n-p:t-H-wsr-kA-C2\-C12-sxm-anx

Philae Temple E
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 18
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 5:T2

Throne name variant

Iwa en netjerwy merwy it, setep en Ptah, user ka Ra, sekhem ankh Amun

iwꜤ-nṯrwi-mr(wi)-it stp.n-ptḥ wsr-kꜢ-rꜤ sḫm-Ꜥnḫ-n-imn

The heir of the two gods who love (their?) father, chosen by Ptah, the strong one of the ka of Ra, the living image of Amun

W10-nTr-W10-nTr-N36:W10*W10-F44:n-p:t-H-stp-wsr-kA-C2A\-C12A-sxm-anx

Year 23 Damanhur stela (Cairo Museum, CG 22188, JE 22264)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 236-237, 5:T1

Birth names

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

Birth name

Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah

ptwlmis Ꜥnḫ-ḏt-mri-pth

Ptolemaios, living forever, beloved of Ptah

p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-anx-D&(t:N17)-mr-p:t-H

Philae Temple E
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 18

Birth name variant

Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah

ptwlmis Ꜥnḫ-ḏt-mri-pth

Ptolemaios, living forever, beloved of Ptah

p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-anx-D&&&(t:N17)-p:t-H-mr-i-i

The Rosetta Stone (British Museum EA24)

Birth name variant

Ptolemys

ptwlmis

Ptolemaios

p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s

The Rosetta Stone (British Museum EA24)

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 275–288
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 236–239
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 181