Turin King ListThis article contains Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic text. Without properrendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbolsinstead of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

The Turin King List, also known as the Turin Royal Canon, is an ancient

Egyptian hieratic papyrus thought to date from the reign of Pharaoh

Ramesses II, now in the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum)[1] in Turin. The

papyrus is the most extensive list available of kings compiled by the ancient

Egyptians, and is the basis for most chronology before the reign of

Ramesses II.

1904 version of attempt to assemble parts of the Turin King list

Creation and use

The papyrus is believed to date from the reign of Ramesses II, during the

middle of the New Kingdom, or the 19th Dynasty. The beginning and ending

of the list are now lost; there is no introduction, and the list does not

continue after the 19th Dynasty. The composition may thus have occurred

at any subsequent time, from the reign of Ramesses II to as late as the 20th

Dynasty.

The papyrus lists the names of rulers, the lengths of reigns in years, with

months and days for some kings. In some cases they are grouped together

by family, which corresponds approximately to the dynasties of Manetho s̓

book. The list includes the names of ephemeral rulers or those ruling small

territories that may be unmentioned in other sources.

The list also is believed to contain kings from the 15th Dynasty, the Hyksos

who ruled Lower Egypt and the River Nile delta. The Hyksos rulers do not

have cartouches (enclosing borders which indicate the name of a king), and

a hieroglyphic sign is added to indicate that they were foreigners, although

typically on King Lists foreign rulers are not listed.

The papyrus was originally a tax roll, but on its back is written a list of rulers

of Egypt – including mythical kings such as gods, demi-gods, and spirits, as

well as human kings. That the back of an older papyrus was used may

indicate that the list was not of great formal importance to the writer,

although the primary function of the list is thought to have been as an

administrative aid. As such, the papyrus is less likely to be biased against

certain rulers and is believed to include all the kings of Egypt known to its

writers up to the 19th or 20th Dynasty.

Discovery and reconstruction

The papyrus was found by the Italian traveler Bernardino Drovetti in 1820 at

Luxor (Thebes), Egypt and was acquired in 1824 by the Egyptian Museum in

Turin, Italy and was designated Papyrus Number 1874. When the box in

which it had been transported to Italy was unpacked, the list had

disintegrated into small fragments. Jean-Francois Champollion, examining

it, could recognize only some of the larger fragments containing royal

names, and produced a drawing of what he could decipher. A

reconstruction of the list was created to better understand it and to aid in

research.

The Saxon researcher Gustav Seyffarth (1796–1885) re-examined the

fragments, some only one square centimeter in size, and made a more

complete reconstruction of the papyrus based only on the papyrus fibers,

as he could not yet determine the meaning of the hieratic characters.

Subsequent work on the fragments was done by the Munich Egyptologist

Jens Peter Lauth, which largely confirmed the Seyffarth reconstruction.

In 1997, prominent Egyptologist Kim Ryholt published a new and better

interpretation of the list in his book, "The Political Situation in Egypt during

the Second Intermediate Period c. 1800–1550 B.C." After another study of

the papyrus, an updated version from Ryholt is expected. Egyptologist

Donald Redford has also studied the papyrus and has noted that although

many of the list's names correspond to monuments and other documents,

there are some discrepancies and not all of the names correspond,

questioning the absolute reliability of the document for pre-Ramesses II

chronology.

Despite attempts at reconstruction, approximately 50% of the papyrus

remains missing. This papyrus as presently constituted is 1.7 m long and

0.41 m wide, broken into over 160 fragments. In 2009, previously

unpublished fragments were discovered in the storage room of the Egyptian

Museum of Turin, in good condition.[2] A new edition of the papyrus is

expected.

The name Hudjefa, found twice in the papyrus, is now known to have been

used by the royal scribes of the Ramesside era during the 19th dynasty of

ancient Egypt when the scribes compiled king lists such as the royal table

of Sakkara and the royal canon of Turin and the name of a deceased

pharaoh was unreadable, damaged, or completely erased.

Contents of the papyrus

The papyrus is divided into eleven columns, distributed as follows. The

names and positions of several kings are still being disputed, since the list is

so badly damaged.

Column 1 — Gods of Ancient Egypt

Column 2 — Gods of Ancient Egypt, spirits and mythical kings

Column 3 — Rows 11-25 (Dynasties 1-2)

Column 4 — Rows 1-25 (Dynasties 2-5)

Column 5 — Rows 1-26 (Dynasties 6-8/9/10)

Column 6 — Rows 12-25 (Dynasties 11-12)

Column 7 — Rows 1-2 (Dynasties 12-13)

Column 8 — Rows 1-23 (Dynasty 13)

Column 9 — Rows 1-27 (Dynasty 13-14)

Column 10 — Rows 1-30 (Dynasty 14)

Column 11 — Rows 1-30 (Dynasties 14-17)

Turin King List with 2013 corrections of positions for some fragments – table representation of

rows from the original papyrus, translated into hieroglyphs

These are the actual names written on the papyrus, omitting the years,

summations and headings:

Second Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

11 Menes Meni mni <-Y5kN35-M17->

12 Hor-Aha Teti ttij <-X1kX1-M17-Z4->

13 Djer Iti, Ita iti <-M17-X1-//-G7->

15 Djet Itui itjwi <-//-G4#12-M17->

16 Den Qenti qntj <-Aa8kX1*Z4->

17 Anedjib Merbiapen mr-biA-pn<-U7kD21-U17-Q3kN35-//->

18 Semerkhet Semsem smsm<-S29-G17-S29-G17->

19 Qa'a (Qe)beh qbH<-//-D58-V28-G7->

20 Hotepsekhemwy Baunetjer bAw-nTr<-//-G30-R4kQ3-G7->

21 Nebre Kakau kA-kAw<-//-E2-D52kZ1*Z1*Z1-G7->

22 Nynetjer Banetjer bA-nTr<-//-R8-D21kN35-G7->

23 Wadjnes ..s ..s <-//-//-S29-G7->

24 Senedj Sened.. snDi <-G54-//->

25 Neferkara I Neferka nfr-kA <-O29-D28-Z1->

Third Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

2 Neferkasokar Neferkasokar nfr-kA-skr<-F35-D28-Z1-O34kV31kD21-Z5-G7->

3 Khasekhemwy Bebti bbtj<-D58-D58-N21-G7->

4 Nebka Nebka nbkA <-V30-D28-Z1->

5 Djoser Djoser..it Dsr..it<-D45kD21-M17-.:X1#12-G7->

6 Sekhemkhet Djoserti Dsrti<-D45kD21-X1kZ4-G7->

7 Hudjefa II Hudjefa HwDfA <-O34-I10-S29->

8 Huni Huni Hwni<-V28-Z5-A25-//-G7->

9 Sneferu Senefer snfr<-S29-F35-I9kD21-G7->

10 Khufu — — //-//

11 Djedefre — — <-//-//-G7->

12 Khafre ..kha.. ..xa..<-//-N28-D36-//-G7->

13 Lost — — <-//-//-G7->

14 Menkaure — — <-//-//-G7->

15 Shepseskaf — — <-//-//-G7->

16 Unknown — — —

17 Userkaf ..kaf ..kAf <-//-//-D28kI9-G7->

18 Sahure — — —

19 Neferirkare Kakai — — —

20 Shepseskare — — —

21 Neferefre — — —

22 Nyuserre — — —

23 Menkauhor Menkahor mn-kA-HrG5-<-G7-Y5kN35-D28-Z1-G7->

24 Djedkare Djed Dd <-R11-R11->

25 Unas Unis wnis<-E34kN35-M17-S29->

Fourth Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 Teti — — —

2 Userkare — — —

3 Pepi — — —

4MerenreNemtyemsaf I

— — —

5 Pepi II — — —

6MerenreNemtyemsaf II

— — —

7 Neitiqerty Siptah Neitiqerty ntiqrti<-N35kX1*Z5-M17-N29-D21kX1*Z4-G7->

8 Lacuna — — —

9 Menkare Neferka nfr-kA<-F35-D28-Z1-G7->

10 Neferkare II Nefer nfr <-F35-I9kD21-G7->

11 Ibi Ibi ibi <-M17-D58-E8->

12 Lost — — —

13 Lost — — —

18 Lost — — —

19 Lost — — —

20 Neferkare VII Neferkare nfr-kA-ra<-N5-F35-D28-Z1-G7#12->

21 Nebkaure Khety Khety Xti<-F32kX1-A50-M17-M17-G7->

22 Senenh.. Senenh.. snnh..<-S29-M22-M22-N35kN35-A53-.:O4-//>

23 Lost — — —

24 Mer.. Mer.. mrr.. <-U7kD21-//->

25 Shed.. Shed.. Sd.. <-F30kD46#24-//->

26 H.. H.. H.. <-V28-//->

Fifth Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 Lost — — —

2 Lost — — —

3 Lost — — —

4 Lost — — —

5 Lost — — —

6 Lost — — —

7 Lost — — —

8 Lost — — —

9 Lost — — —

12 Mentuhotep I Wah.. wAH.. <-V28#1234-//->

13 Intef I — — —

14 Intef II ..n.. ..n.. <-//-N35-//->

15 Intef III — — —

16 Mentuhotep II Nebhepetre nb-hpt-ra <-N5kV30-P8->

17 Mentuhotep III Seankhkare s-anx-kA-ra<-S29#34-S34#34-N35kAa1-D28#34->

20 Amenemhat I ..pib.. ..p-ib..<-//-.:Q3-.:F34-.:Z1-G7->

21 Senusret I ..ka.. ..kA.. <-//-D28-Z1->

22 Amenemhat II — — —

23 Senusret II — — —

24 Senusret III — — —

25 Amenemhat III — — —

Sixth Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 Amenemhat IV Maakherure mAa-xrw-ra<-N5-U5kD36-P8-V1-A2->

2 Sobekneferu Sobeknefrure ..nfrw-ra

5Wegaf orSobekhotep I

Khutawire xwt-Awi-ra<-N5-D43kN17kN17#1234->

6SekhemkareSonbef

Sekhemkare sxm-kA-ra<-N5#123-Y8#1234-D28#1234-Z1->

7SekhemkareAmenemhat V

Amenemhat..re imn-m-HAtN5-Y5:.#34-G17-F4kX1*Z1-G7

8 Hotepibre Sehetepibre sHtp-ib-raN5-S29-R4kX1*Q3-F34

9 Iufni Iufeni iwfni i-Z7-f-n:A1

10 Amenemhet VI Seankhibre s-anx-ib-ra ra-s-anx-ib

11SemenkareNebnuni

Semenkare smn-kA-ra ra-s-mn:n-kA

12 Sehetepibre Sehetepibre sHtp-ib-ra N5-s-R4:t*p-ib-Z1

13 Sewadjkare Sewadjkare swAD-kA-ra ra-s-wAD-kA

14 Nedjemibre Nedjemibre nDm-ib-ra ra-nDm-m-mDAt-ib

15KhaankhreSobekhotep

Sebek..p..re sbk-(Htp)-ra //-N5-I4-//

16 Renseneb Renseneb rn..nbw r:n-A2-//-n:b-Y1

17 Awybre Hor I Autibre Awt-ib-rara-Aw-Z7:t-Y1kZ2-ib-Z1

18 Amenemhat VII Sedjefakare sDfa-kA-ra ra-s-D:f-A-//-kA

19SekhemreKhutawySobekhotep

Amenemhatsebekhotepimn-m-hAt-sbk-Htp

M17-Y5kN35-G17-F4kX1-I4-R4kX1-Q3

20 Khendjer User..re ..djer wsr..ra..nDrN5-F12-//-Z1-N5kN35-M36kD21

21 Imyremeshaw ..kare ..kA-ra <-N5-//-D28-G7->

22 Intef IV ..re ..ra//-D28-Z1-G7-W25kN35-X1kI9-G7

23 Seth Meribre ..ibre..seth ..ib-ra..stX N5-Y8-//-I5-Htp:t-p

25 Neferhotep I Khamaatreneferhotep xa..ra..nfr-HtpN5-N28kD36kY1-//-F35-R4kX1-Q3

26 Sihathor (Re)Sahathor sA-Hwt-Hr<-N5-O6-X1kO1-G5-G7-G38-Z1-G7->

27 Sobekhotep IVKhaneferre-Sobekhotep

xa-nfr-ra-sbk-Htp

<-N5-N28kD36-Y1-F35-I3-R4kX1-Q3->

Seventh Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 Sobekhotep VI Khaheteprehotep xa-Htp-ra-HtpN5-N28kD36*Y1-R4kX1-Q3-G7

2 Wahibre Ibiau WahibreibiauwAH-ib-ra-ibiaw

ra-wAH-H-Y1-ib-Z1-i-a:mw-A24-ib-Z1

3 Merneferre Ay Merneferre mr-nfr-ra N5-U7kD21-F35

4 Merhotepre Ini Merhetepre mr-Htp-ra N5-U6-R4kX1*Q3

5SankhenreSewadjtu

Seankhenresewadjtus-anx-n-ra-swDtwi

ra-s-anx-n:x-n-s-wAD-t-Z7

6 Mersekhemre Ined Mersekhemre Ined mr-sxm-ra-indra-U7:r-sxm-Z1-i-in:n-d:wr

7 Hori Sewadjkare HoriswAD-kA-ra-Hri

N5-S29-M13-S28-Z1-G7-G5-M17

8MerkawreSobekhotep

Merkawre Sobek..mr-kAw-ra-sbk..

N5-U7kD21-Z1-D28-Z1-//-I3-//

9 Lost — — —

10 Lost — — —

11 Lost — — —

12 Lost — — —

13DjedneferreDedumose

..mose i-m-s-s //-F31-S29-Z5

14 Ibi ..maat..re Ibi ..mAat-ra-ibi<-N5-//-X1-H6->-G7-M17-E8-M17-A1

15 Hor Webenre Hor ..wbn-Hr<-N5-//-G43-D58-N35kN5->-G7-G5

16 Se..kare Se..kare s..kA-raN5-S29-//-D28-Z1-G7

17SeheqenreSankhptahi

..enre ..enra N5-//-Y1kN35

18 Lost — — —

19 Lost — — —

20 Sekhaenre ? ? <-//-Y1:.#34-G7->

21 Lost — — —

22 Merkheperre Merkheperre mr-xpr-ra N5-U7kD21-L1

23 Merkare Merka.. mr..kA..//-U7:.#234-D28-Z1

Eighth Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 Nehesy Nehesy nḥsiG21-V28-S29-Z4-T14

2 Khatyre Khatyre xa.ti-raN5-N28kD36*Y1-U33-Z4

3 Nebfautre Nebfaure nb-fAw-t-raN5-V30kI9-F40-Z7kX1-Y1kZ2

4 Sehebre Sehabre sHb-raN5-S29-V28-b-W3kN5

5 Merdjefare Merdjefare mr-DfA-raN5-U7kD21-G42-G41kG37

6 Sewadjkare III Sewadjkare swAD-kA-raN5-S29-M13-D28-Z1

7 Nebdjefare Neb("erased")re nb-DfA-raN5-N5kV30-I10kI9-G42-Z7-G41kG37

8 Webenre Webenre wbn-raN5-Z7-D58-N35kN5-G7

9 Lost — — —

10 ..re ("erased")re ..ra..dfA N5-//-G41kG37

11 ..webenre ..wbn..ra//-D58#3-N35kN5-G7

12 Autibre Autibre Aw-t-ib-raN5-F40-Z7kX1-Y1kZ2-F34-Z1

13 Heribre Heribre hr-ib-raN5-O4-D21kY1-F34-Z1

14 Nebsenre Nebsenra nb-sn-raN5-V30-S29-N35kZ2

15 Lost — — —

16 Sekheperenre Sekheperenre s-xpr-n-raN5-S29-L1-D21kN35

17 Djedkherure Djedkherure Dd-xrw-ra N5-R11-G7-P8-Z7

18 Seankhibre Seankhibre s-anx-ib-raN5-S29-S34-N35kAa1-F34-Z1

19 Kanefertemre (Ka)nefertemre kA-nfr-tm-raN5-F35-X1kU15-//-G7

20 Sekhem..re Sekhem..re sxm..ra N5-S42-G17-//

21 Kakemure Ka..kemure kA..kmw-raN5-D28-D52kE1-//-I6-Z7kX1-E1

22 Neferibre Neferib..re nfr-ib-ra N5-F35-F34-//

23 I..re I..re i..ra N5-M17-A2-//

24 Kha..re Kha..re xa..ra N5-N28kD36*Y1-//

25 Aakare Aakare aA-kA-ra N5-O29v-D28-//

26 Semen..re Semen..re smn..ra N5-S29-Y5kN35-//

27 Djed..re Djed..re Dd..ra <-N5-R11-R11-//

Ninth Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 Lost — — N5-//

2 Lost — — —

3 Lost — — —

4 Lost — — —

5 Lost — — N5-//

6 Lost — — N5-//

7 Senefer..re Senefer..re s-nfr..ra N5-S29-F35-//

8 Men..re Men(ib)..re mn-ib..raN5-Y5kN35-ib*Z1#1234

9 Djed.. Djed.. Dd.. R11*R11#34-//

10 Lost — — —

11 Lost — — —

12 Lost — — —

13 Lost — — —

14 Inenek Inenek in-n-kM17-K1kN35kV31A-//

15 Ineb Ineb inbi M17-A1-V30-//

16 'Apepi Ip.. ip.. M17-A1-Q3-//

17 Hab Hab hbi M17-O4-G1-D58

18 Sa Sa sA G39-Z1

19 Hepu Hepu Hpw Aa5kQ3-Z7-E1

20 Shemsu Shemsu Smsw T18-S29-Z7-D54

21 Meni Meni mni Y5kN35-M17-//

22 Werqa.. werqa.. wr-qAi G36kD21-N29-A28

23 Lost — — —

24 Lost — — —

25 ..ka ..ka ..kA.. <-//-A2-D28-Z1->

26 ..ka ..ka ..kA.. <-//-D28-Z1->

27 Lost .. .. <-//-Z1-G7->

28 ..ren..hepu ..ren..hepu.. ..rn-Hpw..<-//-D21kN35->-G7-Aa5kQ3-Z7-Y1

29 Anati Anati in-nti

<-//-D28-Z1-G7->-G7-V30kN35-N35kG1-U33-M17-D54

30 Bebnum ..ka.. Bebnem ..kA..bbnm<-//-D28-Z1-G7->-G7-D58-D58-N35kZ2-G17-D54

31 Lost .. — —

Tenth Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1 I.. I.. iwf.. M17-//

2 Seth II Seth stH.. <-C7-G7-//->

3 Sunu.. Sunu.. swnw <-T11-W24-Z7-//->

4 Hor.. Hor.. ḥr.. <-G5-G7://-//->

5 Lost — — —

6 Lost — — —

7 Nib.. Nib.. nib..<-D35-M17-D58-E8-N35A#24-/->

8 Mer..en.. Mer..en.. mr..n..<-U6://-N35://-G7-[permanent dead link

9 Penensetensepet Penensetensepet pnnstt-n-sptQ3kN35kN35-S29-K3kX1*X1-N35-S29-Q3kX1

10 Kherethebshepesu Kherethebshepesu xrt-Hb-Spsw<-T28kD21-W3kX1*B1-Z3A-A50-Z3A-//->

11 Khut..hemet Khut..hemet xw..Hmt..<-Aa1kD43-Z7-//-N42kX1-B1-//->

12 Lost — — —

15 Semqen? — — —

16 Aperanat? — — —

17 Sakir-Har — — —

18 Khyan — — —

19 Apepi — — —

20 Khamudi Khamudi xA-mdw-i xA-A-m-Z7-d:y-T14

23 Lost — — —

24 Lost — — —

25 Zeket.. Zeket.. skt..<-O34kV31kX1*Z5-//-Z1-G7-//->

26 Ar.. Ar.. Ar.. <-D36kD21-//->

27 Lost — — —

28 Lost — — —

29 ..nia.. ..nia.. ..niA..//-G7-N35-M17-G1-//

Eleventh Column

Row Common name Name in list Transliteration Manuel de Codage

1SekhemreSementawyDjehuti

Sekhem..re sxm..ra <-N5-S42-Z1-//->

2SekhemreSusertawiSobekhotep VIII

Sekhem..re sxm..ra<-N5-S42-Z1-G7-//->

3SekhemreSankhtawyNeferhotep III

Sekhemre S.. sxm-ra-s..<-N5-S42-Z1-G7-S29-//->

4SewadjenreNebiryraw I

Sewadjenre.. swAD-n-ra..<-N5-S29-M13-N35:.#234-//->

5 Nebiriaure Nebiriaure nb-iri-Aw-ra#b-<-N5-V30-M17-D21kZ4-F40-Z7-Y1kZ2->#e

6 Nebiretaure Nebiretaure nb-iri-Awt-ra#b-<-N5-V30-M17-D21kZ4-X1:.-F40-Z7-Y1kZ2->#e

7 Semenre Semenre smn-ra#b-<-N5-S29-Y5kN35-U32-Y1:.*Z1->#e

8SeuserenreBebiankh

Seuserre.. s-wsr-ra..#b-<-N5-S29-F12-S29-D21kD36->#e

9SekhemreShedwaset

Sekhemre Shedwasetsxm-ra-Sd-wAst

<-N5-S42-F30kD46-A24-R19-X1kO49-G7->

10 Lost — — —

11 Lost — — —

12 Lost — — —

13 Lost — — —

14 Lost — — —

16 User..re User..re wsr..ra<-N5-F12-D21:.#1234-//->

17 User.. User.. wsr.. <-F12#3-//->

The Manuel de Codage text was written using the Open Source

hieroglyphic editor JSesh.

See also

List of lists of ancient kings

List of pharaohs

Palermo stone (An older fragmented king list)

References

w. "Museo Egizio homepage". Retrieved 20 December 2010. ‹See Tfd›(in Italian) ‹See Tfd›(in English)

x. [1] wayback machine: [2] (in Italian)

Bibliography

Alan Gardiner, editor. Royal Canon of Turin. Griffith Institute, 1959.

(Reprint 1988. ISBN 0-900416-48-3)

Beckerath, Jürgen von. “Some remarks on Helck's 'Anmerkungen zum

Turiner Konigspapyrus‘.“ Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 81, (1995):

225-227.

Beckerath, Jürgen von. “The Date of the End of the Old Kingdom of

Egypt.” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 21, no. 2 (April 1962): 140-147.

Bennett, Chris. “A Genealogical Chronology of the Seventeenth

Dynasty.” Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 39,

(2002): 123-155.

George Adam Smith, "Chaldean Account of Genesis" (Whittingham &

Wilkins, London, 1872) (Reprint 2005. Adamant Media Corporation,

ISBN 1-4021-8590-1) p290 Contains a different translation of the Turin

Papyrus in a chart about "dynasty of gods".

Kenneth A. Kitchen "King Lists" The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient

Egypt. Ed. Donald B. Redford. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Oxford

University Press, Inc.. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt.

Oxford University Press.

K. Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the SecondIntermediate Period. Carsten Niebuhr Institute Publications, vol. 20.

Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 1997. ISBN 87-7289-421-0.

K. Ryholt, ‘The Turin King-List,̓ Ägypten und Levante 14, 2004,

pp. 135–155. This is a detailed description of the king-list, the

information it provides, and its sources.

Málek, Jaromír. “The Original Version of the Royal Canon of Turin.”

Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 68, (1982): 93-106.

Spalinger, Anthony. “Review of: ‘The Political Situation in Egypt during

the Second Intermediate Period, c. 1800-1550 B. C.̓ by K.S.B. Ryholt."

Journal of Near Eastern Studies 60, no. 4 (October 2001): 296-300.

External links

Description and Translation of the king list.

Hieroglyphs with translation including Ryholt's new placement of

fragments.