Sonbef in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Meh ib tawy  The Dual King Sekhem ka Ra  Son of Ra Amenemhat Sonbef

Horus name

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

Horus name

Meh ib tawy

mḥ-ib-tꜢwi

The one who fills the heart of the Two Lands

V22:ib-N17:N17

Petrie, Scarabs and cylinders with names, plate XVIII, 9
Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, 21, 282-283
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 88-89, 2:H

Nebty name

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

Nebty name

Iti sekhemef

iṯi-sḫm.f

The one who has seized his power

V15-Y8-f

Petrie, Scarabs and cylinders with names, plate XVIII, 9
Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, 21, 282-283
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 88-89, 2:N

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

Sekhem ka Ra

sḫm-kꜢ-rꜤ

The powerful one of the ka of Ra

ra-s-Y8-kA

Petrie, Scarabs and cylinders with names, plate XVIII, 9
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 88-89, 2:T1

Throne name variant

Sekhem ka Ra

sḫm-kꜢ-rꜤ

The powerful one of the ka of Ra

ra-Y8-kA-Z1

Turin King List 7.6
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 88-89, 2:T3
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) VI:6

Birth name

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

Birth name

Amenemhat Sonbef

imn-m-ḥꜢt snb.f

Amenemhat's son, Sonbef

i-mn:n-m-HAt:t-s-n:b-f

Petrie, Scarabs and cylinders with names, plate XVIII, 9
Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, 21, 282-283
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 88-89, 2:E

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 18 (1912): 11
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 88–89
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 61
• Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 457–458