Taharqa in hieroglyphs

The fourth pharaoh of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty, a.k.a. Taharka, Taharqo

Precedessor
Shebitko

Successor
Tenutamen

Reign of Taharqa
690–664
Dodson690–664
Manetho (Africanus)18 years
Manetho (Eusebius)20 years
Manetho (Jerome)20 years

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

The Dual King
The Son of Ra

Horus Qa khau  The Dual King Khu nefertem Ra  Son of Ra Taharqa

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
Qa khau
ḳꜢ-ḫꜤw
Exalted of appearances
q:xa-w
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, V, 8+12+13
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:H1
Horus name variant
Qa khau Taharqa
ḳꜢ-ḫꜤw thrḳ
Exalted of appearances, Taharqa
w-q:xa-N17:h-l:q
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, V, 12b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:H2
Horus name variant
Qa khau
ḳꜢ-ḫꜤw
Exalted of appearances
q:xa-A28
ASAE 43 (1943): 412 (25)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:H3

Nebty names

Two ladies hieroglyphs

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

Nebty name
Qa khau
ḳꜢ-ḫꜤw
Exalted of appearances
q:xa-w
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, V, 8+12+13
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:N1
Nebty name variant
Qa khau
ḳꜢ-ḫꜤw
Exalted of appearances
q:xa-A28
ASAE 43 (1943): 412 (25)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:N2
Nebty name variant
Qa khau
ḳꜢ-ḫꜤw
Exalted of appearances
q-xa
ZÄS 87, 3
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:N3

Golden Horus names

Golden Horus name

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

Golden Horus name
Khu tawy
ḫw-tꜢwy
Protector of the Two Lands
x-D43:N17:N17
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, V, 8
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:G1
Golden Horus name variant
Khu tawy
ḫw-tꜢwy
Protector of the Two Lands
x-w-N17:N17
ASAE 43 (1943): 412 (25)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:G2

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
Khu nefertem Ra
ḫwi-nfrtm-rꜤ
The one whom Nefertum and Ra protect
ra-F134-Aa1&w
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, V, 8+12+13
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:T1
Throne name variant
Khu nefertem Ra
ḫwi-nfrtm-rꜤ
The one whom Nefertum and Ra protect
ra-nfr-t:U15-Aa1&w
Weight stone (Cairo Museum CG 31652)
Jansen-Winkeln, Inschriften der Spätzeit. Die 25. Dynastie (2009), III, 58-59
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:T2
Throne name variant
Khu nefertem Ra
ḫwi-nfrtm-rꜤ
The one whom Nefertum and Ra protect
ra-Aa1&w-F134
Carter, Report of work done in Upper Egypt (1902-1903), ASAE 4 (1904): 178-180
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:T4

Birth names

Nomen or birth name

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

Birth name
Taharqa
thr-ḳꜢ
N17:O4A-l:q
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, V, 8+12+13
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:E1
Birth name variant
Sa Ra Taharqa
zꜢ-rꜤ thr-ḳꜢ
Son of Ra, Taharqa
zA&ra-N17:O4\-l:q
Mariette, Monument divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie (1872), II, pl. 83
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:E2
Birth name variant
Taharqa mery Amun
thr-ḳꜢ mri-imn
Taharqa, beloved of Amun
i-mn:n:N36-N17:O4\-l:q
Dunham, The Royal Cemeteries of Kush, V, 49 (34c)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 208-209, 6:E3

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

AuthorGreekTranscriptionReign
Africanus xxv, 3 Ταρκος Tarcus 18 years
Eusebius xxv, 3 Ταρακος Taracus 20 years
Jerome Tarachus Aethiops 20 years

Bibliography

  • Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 20 (1915): 31–42
  • Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 208–209
  • Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 163
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