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The Five Titulary Names of the Pharaohs
From the 11th and 12th dynasties the kings of Egypt had
five titular names, four given names upon ascending the throne and the birth name.
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The Horus Name.
Before the 4th dynasty, the king was generally known by his
Horus name. With few exceptions, it was written vertically in a rectangle. This rectangle seems to represent the
earliest brick buildings or palaces. Horus the Falcon is on top of a Serekh. The word Serekh means 'that which makes known'.
In the mythical story of Osiris, Horus defeated Seth, which signifies the conquest of a strong power in the south
(Seth), by a stronger power from the north (Horus). The victory of Horus is commemorated by the placing of his
image above the Serekh.
The Two Ladies or Nebti title.
This name is represented by the cobra goddess Wadjet of the city of Buto in lower Egypt (the north) and the vulture goddess
Nekhbet from El-Kab in upper Egypt. This title became a standard part of the king's name in the 12th
dynasty. However, as early as the first dynasty, King Den seems to have the first king to use the Nebti title.
Golden Horus.
This symbol expresses divinity both in the color of gold and that gold never decays, thereby representing eternal
life. This title became standard during the middle kingdom (11th and 12th dynasties).
The Sedge and Bee.
This may represent upper and lower Egypt or an unknown form of duality. The Sedge is a plant of upper Egypt. This
name is also known as the Prenomen. This titulary was first used by Den in the first dynasty. Eventually, the prenomen
was to become the dominant name used by the pharaohs.
Son of Ra.
These Hieroglyphs precede the birth name of the Pharaoh and denotes a direct lineage from the sun god Ra. This
name is also referred to as the Nomen. It was first used during the 4th dynasty.
Other Hieroglyphs commonly found with kings names are:
 A determinative of a seated king or god.
 These hieroglyphs often follows the
kings names and signifies, Life, Strength, Health. These hieroglyphs have evolved into meaning 'nswt' or 'king'.
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