Userkaf
| Dynasty V |
As the first ruler of the fifth dynasty, Userkaf imitated or honored Djoser by using the same name for his Horus and Nebty names instead of two different ones. He likely married into the extended royal family of the fourth dynasty to gain the throne. His hellenized name by Manetho is Ouserkheres, and his name is present on the New Kingdom king lists of Abydos, Saqqara and Turin.
According to a story in the Westcar papyrus, he was the first of three brothers that ruled in succession, but that story has since been disproved.
| Reign of Userkaf | |
|---|---|
| AE Chronology | 2435–2429 |
| von Beckerath | 2479–2471 |
| Shaw | 2494–2487 |
| Dodson | 2392–2385 |
| Allen | 2465–2458 |
| Malek | 2454–2447 |
| Redford | 2513–2506 |
| Turin Canon | 7 years |
| Manetho (Africanus) | 28 years |
The Royal Titulary
From the hieroglyphic records
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 56–57, 1:H
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 56–57, 1:N
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 56–57, 1:G
Saqqara king list 34
Mariette, Monuments divers recueillis en Égypte et en Nubie, II, plate 54e
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 56–57, 1:E2
Petrie, Abydos, II, plate XIV
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien (1849), II, 40
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 56–57, 1:E1
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959), III:17
The sources of antiquity
From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity
| Author | Greek | Transliteration | Transcription | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africanus v, 1 | Ουσερχερης | Ouserkheres | Usercheres | 28 years |
Bibliography
Beckerath, J. Handbuch der Ägyptischen Königsnamen, MÄS 49 (1999): 56–57
Baker. D. D. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I – Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300–1069 BC (London, 2008), 484–486
Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 105–108
Leprohon, R. J. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Atlanta, 2013), 38
The full titulary was announced at the coronation, when a pharaoh officially became king.
Horus name
The oldest form of a pharaoh's name, often enclosed in a serekh, a sort of "heraldic crest" representing a palace facade.
Nebty name
The "Two Ladies", the heraldic goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.
Golden Horus name
Gold was strongly associated with eternity, but the meaning of this title is disputed.
Throne name
(prenomen) Announced at the coronation, and written in a cartouche.
Personal name
(nomen) The name given at birth, also written in a cartouche.
- Turin king list
223 kings – Dynasty 19 - Abydos Canon
76 kings – Dynasty 19 - Saqqara Canon
58 kings – Dynasty 19 - Karnak Canon
61 kings – Dynasty 18 - Comparing the canons
Abydos, Saqqara and Karnak - Ramesseum Canon
Ramesses II Mortuary Temple - Medinet Habu Canon
Ramesses III Mortuary Temple
Ancient historians
- Herodotus
450 BC – Histories - Manetho
250 BC – Aegyptiaca - Diodorus
50 BC – Bibliotheca Historica - Josephus
100 CE – Against Apion - Africanus
220 CE – Chronographai - Eusebius
325 CE – Chronicon - Jerome
380 CE – Chronicon - Syncellus
800 CE – Egloga Chronographai - Eratosthenes
Probably a forgery (date unknown) - Comparing the sources
Transmission of Manetho
by Africanus et. al.
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