Abydos King List (Ramesses II)

The Abydos King List of Ramesses II, also known as the Fragmentary Abydos King List or the Fragmentary Abydos Table, is a list of Ancient Egyptian kings down to Ramesses' own time. Originally located in the temple of Ramesses II at Abydos in Egypt, it was built in the 13th century BC. The list is similar to the one inscribed in the temple built at the site by Ramesses' father, Seti I, but with the addition of Ramesses' own throne name and nomen.

Fragmentary Abydos King's List from the temple of Ramesses II at Abydos, now at the British Museum.

Ramesses' list is in fragments, so that only some of the kings' names survive. The surviving fragments were removed in 1837 by the French consul in Egypt and sold to the British Museum.[1]

This list omits the names of many earlier pharaohs who were apparently considered illegitimate — those were Sobekneferu, pharaohs of the Ninth Dynasty, pharaohs of the Tenth Dynasty, the Hyksos, pharaohs of the Second Intermediate Period, Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, Neferneferuaten, Tutankhamen, and Ay.

Contents

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Drawing of the Fragmentary Abydos King List from 1842. Details like hieroglyphics and cartouches that were present in 1826, but had disappeared by 1842 are included here, along with reconstructions of some of the cartouches.

The names are listed in reverse chronological order from the upper right to the bottom left, as they were meant to be read.

Upper row Middle row
No. Pharaoh Name written in the list No. Pharaoh Name written in the list
1-8 Names destroyed Names destroyed 27-34 Names destroyed Names destroyed
9 Name destroyed Name destroyed 35 Amenemhat II Nebukaure
10 Name destroyed Name destroyed 36 Senusret II Khakheperure
11 Name destroyed Name destroyed 37 Senusret III Khakaure
12 Name destroyed Name destroyed 38 Amenemhat III Nimaatre
13 Merenre Nemtyemsaf II Merenre Saemsaf 39 Amenemhat IV Maakherure
14 Netjerkare Netjerkare 40 Ahmose I Nebpehtyre
15 Menkare Menkare 41 Amenhotep I Djeserkare
16 Neferkare II Neferkare 42 Thutmose I Aakheperkare
17 Neferkare Neby Neferkare Nebseneb 43 Thutmose II Aakheperenre
18 Djedkare Shemai Djedkare Shemai 44 Thutmose III Menkheperre
19 Neferkare Khendu Neferkare Khendu 45 Amenhotep II Aakheperure
20 Merenhor Merenhor 46 Thutmose IV Menkheperure
21 Neferkamin Sneferka 47 Amenhotep III Nebmaatre
22 Nikare Nikare 48 Horemheb Djeserkheperure Setepenre
23 Neferkare Tereru Neferkare Tereru 49 Ramesses I Menpehtire
24 Neferkahor Neferkahor 50 Seti I Menmaatre
25 Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferkare Pepiseneb 51 Ramesses II Usermaatre Setepenre
26 Neferkamin Anu Sneferka Anu 52 Ramesses II Ramesses Meryamun

Citations

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  1. ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 82.

Works cited

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  •   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Abydos". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 81–82.