Ptolemy XV in hieroglyphs

The sixteenth pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, a.k.a. Ptolemaios Philopator Philometor Caesarion

The final Egyptian pharaoh, was nicknamed Caesarion, meaning “Little Caesar”, after his father, Julius Caesar. He co-ruled with his mother Cleopatra VII from 44 BC until her death in 30 BC. He subsequently ruled alone, but only for a very short time, until Octavian (soon to become the first Roman emperor, Augustus) ordered his assassination. Octavian, whose claim to power was founded on his status as Julius Caesar's grandnephew and adoptive son, was directly threatened by Caesar's true son, despite that Caesar hadn't officially acknowledged him. Technically the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Precedessor
Cleopatra VII

Successor
Augustus
Reign of Ptolemy XV
Shaw44–30
Dodson41–30
Redford44–31

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

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
Hunu
ḥwnw
The youth
H-wn:n:nw*W-A17
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 60b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H1
Horus name variant A
Hunu nefer
ḥwnw-nfr
The perfect youth
H-wn:n-A17-nfr
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 65a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H2
Horus name variant B
Hunu nefer bener merut
ḥwnw-nfr bnr-mrwt
The perfect youth who is sweet of love
H-wn:n:nw*W-A17-nfr-M30-U7:t
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 61a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H3
Horus name variant C
Ka nakht iakhu setut Ra Iah
kꜢ-nḫt iꜢḫw-stwt-rꜤ-iꜤḥ
The strong bull, shining like the beams of Ra and Iah
E1:n-Z9:D40-N8-x:W-F29A-W*ra:Z2-N6:N62
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 53a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:H4

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
Iwa pa netjer nety nehem, setep en Ptah, ir Maat Ra, sekhem (ankh) en Amun
iwꜤ-pꜢ-nṯr-nti-nḥm stp-n-ptḥ iri-mꜢꜤt-rꜤ sḫm-(Ꜥnḫ)-n-imn
The heir of the saviour god, chosen by Ptah, who brings forth the Maat of Ra, the living image of Amun
p-nTr-F44:nw*t-N104:a-p:t-H-stp:n-ir:N36-C12C\*C2F:n
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 81-82
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:T

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Ptolemys
ptwlmys
Ptolemy
p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-z
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 60b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E1
Birth name variant A
Ptolemys, ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
ptwlmys Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mri-ptḥ-Ꜣst
Ptolemy, living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis
p:t-wA:l-Aa56-i-i-s-anx-D&(t:N17)-p:t-H-st-t:H8-N36
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 82 (1)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E7
Birth name variant B
Ptolemys, djedtu enef kyseres
ptwlmys ḏd.tw-n.f kysrs
Ptolemy, (also) called Caesar
p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-D&d-W*t:n:f-q-i-i-s-r:z
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 81-82
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E3
Birth name variant C
Ptolemys, djedtu enef kyseres
ptwlmys ḏd.tw-n.f kysrs
Ptolemy called Caesar
p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-D&(t:W)-nw*F51B:k-i-i-z:r:z-anx-D&(t:N17)-p:t-H-st-t*H8:N36
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 81-82
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E4
Birth name variant D
Ptolemys, Kyseres ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
ptwlmys ḏd-tw kysrs Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mri-ptḥ-Ꜣst
Ptolemy called Caesar, living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis
p:t-wA-l:M-i-i-s-D&&&(t:W)-nw*F51B:k-i-i-z:r:z-anx-D&&&(t:N17)-p:t-H-st-t*H8:N36
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 53a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E5
Birth name variant E
Kyseres ankh djet mery Ptah Aset
kysrs Ꜥnḫ-ḏt mri-ptḥ-Ꜣst
Caesar, living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis
q:h-i-i-z:r:z-anx-D&(t:N17)-p:t-H-st-t:H8-N3
Weill, La titulature pharaonique de Ptolémée César et ses monuments de Koptos, RecTrav 34 (1912): 82 (1)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E6
Birth name variant F
Kyseres
kysrs
Caesar
k-i-i-z:r:z
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, IV, 63a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 246-247, 13c:E2

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 419–421
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 246–247
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 188
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