Talking Pyramids

Earlier in the week Susan, in her Office Hieroglyphs, broke down the name of Senusret I and explained each element. So I thought it good incentive to post a photo of another of Senusret I’s names. Another one? Yes, thats right. Egyptian kings had more than one name. By Senusret I’s time they had five names: their birth name (sometimes called a ‘nomen’), Prenomen (or throne name), a Nebty name (sometimes called his ‘two ladies’ name), a Horus name, and a Golden Horus name.

This week’s photo shows Senusret I’s ‘prenomen’, or ‘throne name’. It says: ‘The ka of Re has come into existance’.

Detail from White Chapel of Senusret I by a rancid amoeba

Click on the image for a larger view in which the intricate detail can be observed. Note the rope enclosing the name. That’s known as cartouche and is an elongation of the shen hieroglyph, which means ‘eternity’. So by enclosing the King’s title with this hieroglyph made his name, and therfore the king himself, eternal.

Detail from White Chapel of Senusret I by a rancid amoeba some rights reserved

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