The Abydos King List, also known as the Abydos Table, is a list of the names of 76 kings of ancient Egypt, found on a wall of the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt. It consists of three rows of 38 cartouches (borders enclosing the name of a king) in each row. The upper two rows contain names of the kings, while the third row merely repeats Seti I's throne name and nomen.
Besides providing the order of the Old Kingdom kings, it is the sole source to date of the names of many of the kings of the Seventh and Eighth Dynasties, so the list is valued greatly for that reason.
This list omits the names of many earlier pharaohs. The bulk of these appear to have been left out because although they claimed royal titles and rule over all Egypt, their actual authority was limited to only part of the country. This category includes all the rulers of the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties, the early rulers of the Eleventh Dynasty (Mentuhotep I, Intef I, Intef II, and Intef III), all the rulers of the Thirteenth Dynasty, and all of the rulers of Second Intermediate Period (including the Hyksos Fifteenth Dynasty, who may also have been seen as illigitimate because they were not native Egyptian). The rulers of the chaotic Amarna Period (Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, Neferneferuaten, Tutankhamun, and Ay), seem to have been removed for reasons of political propaganda or as a form of damnatio memoriae ; their reigns were within living memory in Seti's day, and the repudiation of the Amarna Period had been state policy since the reign of Horemheb (who had chosen Seti's father Ramesses I to succeed him). Two pharaohs known to have been women, Sobekneferu and Hatshepsut, are also excluded, most likely due to their gender. Finally, Mentuhotep IV may have been excluded for political reasons (having been overthrown by his vizer and successor Amenemhat I) or simply because his brief and poorly documented reign was unknown to Seti and his scribes. [1]
Cartouches 1 to 8 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Meni. Same name in Turin King List. Probably identical to Narmer. | Menes | |
2 | Teti. Same name in Turin King List. | Hor-Aha | |
3 | Iti. Same name in Turin King List. | Djer | |
4 | Ita. Itui in Turin King List. | Djet | |
5 | Septi. Qenti in Turin King List. | Den | |
6 | Meribiap. Merbiapen in Turin King List. | Anedjib | |
7 | Semsu. Semsem in Turin King List. | Semerkhet. | |
8 | Qebeh. Same name in Turin King List. | Qa'a. |
Cartouches 9 to 14 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
9 | Bedjau. Baunetjer in Turin King List. | Hotepsekhemwy | |
10 | Kakau. Same name in Turin King List. | Nebre | |
11 | Banetjer. Same name in Turin King List. | Ninetjer | |
12 | Wadjnas. Name damaged in Turin King List. | Weneg | |
13 | Sendi. Senedj in Turin King List. | Senedj | |
14 | Djadjay. Bebti in Turin King List. | Khasekhemwy |
Cartouches 15 to 19 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
15 | Nebka. Same name in Turin King List. | Nebka | |
16 | Djeser-za. Djoser-it in Turin King List. | Djoser | |
17 | Teti. Djoser-ti in Turin King List. | Sekhemkhet | |
18 | Sedjes. Hudjefa in Turin King List. | Khaba | |
19 | Neferkare. Huni in Turin King List. | Huni |
Cartouches 20 to 25 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
20 | Sneferu. Senefer in Turin King List. | Sneferu | |
21 | Khufu. Name missing in Turin King List. | Khufu | |
22 | Djedefre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Djedefre | |
23 | Khafre. Name damaged in Turin King List | Khafre | |
24 | Menkaure. Name missing in Turin King List. | Menkaure | |
25 | Shepseskaf. Name missing in Turin King List. | Shepseskaf |
Cartouches 26 to 33 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
26 | Userkaf. Name damaged in Turin king list. | Userkaf | |
27 | Sahure. Name missing in Turin King List. | Sahure | |
28 | Kakai. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferirkare Kakai | |
29 | Neferefre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferefre | |
30 | Nyuserre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Nyuserre Ini | |
31 | Menkauhor. Same name in Turin King List. | Menkauhor Kaiu | |
32 | Djedkare. Djed in Turin King List. | Djedkare Isesi | |
33 | Unis. Same name in Turin King List. | Unas |
Cartouches 34 to 39 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
34 | Teti. Name missing in Turin King List. | Teti | |
35 | Userkare. Name missing in Turin King List. | Userkare | |
36 | Meryre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Pepi I Meryre | |
37 | Merenre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Merenre Nemtyemsaf I | |
38 | Neferkare. Name missing in Turin King List. | Pepi II Neferkare | |
39 | Merenre Saemsaf. Name missing in Turin King List. | Merenre Nemtyemsaf II |
Cartouches 40 to 47 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
40 | Netjerikare. Neitiqerty in Turin King List. | Netjerkare Siptah | |
41 | Menkare. Neferka in Turin King List. | Menkare | |
42 | Neferkare. Nefer in Turin King List. | Neferkare II | |
43 | Neferkare Neby. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkare Neby | |
44 | Djedkare Shemai. Name missing in Turin King List. | Djedkare Shemai | |
45 | Neferkare Khendu. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkare Khendu | |
46 | Merenhor. Name missing in Turin King List. | Merenhor | |
47 | Sneferka. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkamin |
Cartouches 48 to 56 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
48 | Nikare. Name missing in Turin King List. | Nikare | |
49 | Neferkare Tereru. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkare Tereru | |
50 | Neferkahor. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkahor | |
51 | Neferkare Pepiseneb. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkare Pepiseneb | |
52 | Sneferka Anu. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkamin Anu | |
53 | Kaukare. Ibi in Turin King List. | Qakare Ibi | |
54 | Neferkaure. Neferkare in Turin King List. | Neferkaure II | |
55 | Neferkauhor. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferkauhor | |
56 | Neferirkare. Name missing in Turin King List. | Neferirkare |
Cartouches 57 to 61 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
57 | Nebhepetre. Same name in Turin King List. | Mentuhotep II | |
58 | Sankhkare. Seankhkare in Turin King List. | Mentuhotep III | |
59 | Sehetepibre. Name damaged in Turin King List. | Amenemhat I | |
60 | Kheperkare. Name damaged in Turin King List. | Senusret I | |
61 | Nubkaure. Name missing in Turin King List. | Amenemhat II |
Cartouches 62 to 65 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
62 | Khakheperre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Senusret II | |
63 | Khakaure. Name missing in Turin King List. | Senusret III | |
64 | Nimaatre. Name missing in Turin King List. | Amenemhat III | |
65 | Maakherure. Same name in Turin King List. | Amenemhat IV |
Cartouches 66 to 74 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
66 | Nebpehtire | Ahmose I | |
67 | Djeserkare | Amenhotep I | |
68 | Aakheperkare | Thutmose I | |
69 | Aakheperenre | Thutmose II | |
70 | Menkheperre | Thutmose III | |
71 | Aakheperure | Amenhotep II | |
72 | Menkheperure | Thutmose IV | |
73 | Nebmaatre | Amenhotep III | |
74 | Djeserkheperure Setepenre | Horemheb |
Cartouches 75 and 76 | n° | Name written in the list | Common name |
---|---|---|---|
75 | Menpehtire | Ramesses I | |
76 | Menmaatre | Seti I |
Abydos is one of the oldest cities of ancient Egypt, and also of the eighth nome in Upper Egypt. It is located about 11 kilometres west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10' N, near the modern Egyptian towns of El Araba El Madfuna and El Balyana. In the ancient Egyptian language, the city was called Abedju (Arabic Abdu عبد-و). The English name Abydos comes from the Greek Ἄβυδος, a name borrowed by Greek geographers from the unrelated city of Abydos on the Hellespont. Abydos name in hieroglyphs
Thebes, known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset, was an ancient Egyptian city located along the Nile about 800 kilometers (500 mi) south of the Mediterranean. Its ruins lie within the modern Egyptian city of Luxor. Thebes was the main city of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome and was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. It was close to Nubia and the Eastern Desert, with its valuable mineral resources and trade routes. It was a religious center and the most venerated city during many periods of ancient Egyptian history. The site of Thebes includes areas on both the eastern bank of the Nile, where the temples of Karnak and Luxor stand and where the city was situated; and the western bank, where a necropolis of large private and royal cemeteries and funerary complexes can be found. In 1979, the ruins of ancient Thebes were classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Menmaatre Seti I was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, ruling c. 1294 or 1290 BC to 1279 BC. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II.
The First Intermediate Period, described as a 'dark period' in ancient Egyptian history, spanned approximately 125 years, c. 2181–2055 BC, after the end of the Old Kingdom. It comprises the Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and part of the Eleventh Dynasties. The concept of a "First Intermediate Period" was coined in 1926 by Egyptologists Georg Steindorff and Henri Frankfort.
The history of ancient Egypt spans the period from the early prehistoric settlements of the northern Nile valley to the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. The pharaonic period, the period in which Egypt was ruled by a pharaoh, is dated from the 32nd century BC, when Upper and Lower Egypt were unified, until the country fell under Macedonian rule in 332 BC.
Menpehtyre Ramesses I was the founding pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty. The dates for his short reign are not completely known but the timeline of late 1292–1290 BC is frequently cited as well as 1295–1294 BC. While Ramesses I was the founder of the 19th Dynasty, his brief reign mainly serves to mark the transition between the reign of Horemheb, who had stabilized Egypt in the late 18th Dynasty, and the rule of the powerful pharaohs of his own dynasty, in particular his son Seti I, and grandson Ramesses II.
The New Kingdom, also called the Egyptian Empire, refers to ancient Egypt between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC. This period of ancient Egyptian history covers the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth dynasties. Through radiocarbon dating, the establishment of the New Kingdom has been placed between 1570 BC and 1544 BC. The New Kingdom followed the Second Intermediate Period and was succeeded by the Third Intermediate Period. It was the most prosperous time for the Egyptian people and marked the peak of Egypt's power.
The Eleventh Dynasty of ancient Egypt is a well-attested group of rulers. Its earlier members before Pharaoh Mentuhotep II are grouped with the four preceding dynasties to form the First Intermediate Period, whereas the later members are considered part of the Middle Kingdom. They all ruled from Thebes in Upper Egypt.
Mentuhotep II, also known under his prenomen Nebhepetre, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the sixth ruler of the Eleventh Dynasty. He is credited with reuniting Egypt, thus ending the turbulent First Intermediate Period and becoming the first pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom. He reigned for 51 years, according to the Turin King List. Mentuhotep II succeeded his father Intef III on the throne and was in turn succeeded by his son Mentuhotep III.
Mentuhotep I may have been a Theban nomarch and independent ruler of Upper Egypt during the early First Intermediate Period. Alternatively, Mentuhotep I may be a fictional figure created during the later Eleventh Dynasty, which rose to prominence under Intef II and Mentuhotep II, playing the role of a founding father.
Sehertawy Intef I was a local nomarch at Thebes during the early First Intermediate Period and the first member of the 11th Dynasty to lay claim to a Horus name. Intef reigned from 4 to 16 years c. 2120 BC or c. 2070 BC during which time he probably waged war with his northern neighbor, the Coptite nomarch Tjauti. Intef was buried in a saff tomb at El-Tarif, known today as Saff el-Dawaba.
Wahankh Intef II was the third ruler of the Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt during the First Intermediate Period. He reigned for almost fifty years from 2112 BC to 2063 BC. His capital was located at Thebes. In his time, Egypt was split between several local dynasties. He was buried in a saff tomb at El-Tarif.
Intef III was the third pharaoh of the Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt during the late First Intermediate Period in the 21st century BC, at a time when Egypt was divided in two kingdoms. The son of his predecessor Intef II and father of his successor Mentuhotep II, Intef III reigned for 8 years over Upper Egypt and extended his domain North against the 10th Dynasty state, perhaps as far north as the 17th nome. He undertook some building activity on Elephantine. Intef III is buried in a large saff tomb at El-Tarif known as Saff el-Barqa.
Mortuary temples were temples that were erected adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, royal tombs in Ancient Egypt. The temples were designed to commemorate the reign of the Pharaoh under whom they were constructed, as well as for use by the king's cult after death. Some refer to these temples as a cenotaph. These temples were also used to make sacrifices of food and animals.
Nubkheperre Intef was an Egyptian king of the Seventeenth Dynasty of Egypt at Thebes during the Second Intermediate Period, when Egypt was divided by rival dynasties including the Hyksos in Lower Egypt.
The Saqqara Tablet, now in the Egyptian Museum, is an ancient stone engraving surviving from the Ramesside Period of Egypt which features a list of pharaohs. It was found in 1861 in Saqqara, in the tomb of Tjuneroy, an official of the pharaoh Ramesses II.
This page list topics related to ancient Egypt.
Seth Meribre was an Ancient Egyptian petty king during the early 13th Dynasty during the late Middle Kingdom.
The Temple of Seti I, is known as the Great Temple of Abydos, and means "Menmaatre Happy in Abydos, is a significant historical site in Abydos. Abydos is a significant location with its connection to kingship due it being the burial site of the proto-kings from the Pre-Dynastic period, First Dynasty kings, and the location of the Cult of Osiris.