The Abydos King List, also known as the Abydos Table or the Abydos Tablet, 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.
For unknown reasons, the first sign of Djoser's cartouche was deliberately removed later on.
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 illegitimate 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 possibly been overthrown by his vizer and successor Amenemhat I) or simply because his short and poorly documented reign was unknown to Seti and his scribes.
Contents of the king list
Row 1 First Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 1. Menes Meni Same name in Turin King List. Probably identical to Narmer. n:sw-t:n-<-mn:n-i->-A43 2. Hor-Aha Teti Same name in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-t:t-i->-A43 3. Djer Iti Same name in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-i-t-ti->-A43 4. Djet Ita Itui in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-i-t-A->-A43 5. Den Septi Qenti in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-spAt:spAt->-A43 6. Anedjib Meribiap Merbiapen in the Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-U7:r-N42:p->-A43 7. Semerkhet Semsu Semsem in Turin King List Name absent in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-A21A->-A43 8. Qa'a Qebeh Same name in Turin King List. Qebehu in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-q-b-H->-A43
Second Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 9. Hotepsekhemwy Bedjau Baunetjer in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-b-DA-w-P11->-A43 10. Nebra Kakau Same name in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-kA-mt:mt:mt->-A43 11. Nynetjer Banetjer Same name in Turin King List. Banetjeru in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-W10A-E1-nTr-n->-A43 12. Weneg Wadjnas Wadjlas in Saqqara King List. Name damaged in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-wAD-n-s\->-A43 13. Senedj Sendi Senedj in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-s-n:d-i->-A43 14. Khasekhemwy Djadjay Bebti in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-DA-DA-tp-i-i->-A43
Third Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 15. Nebka Nebka Same name in Turin King List. Nebkara in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-nb:kA-Z1->-A43 16. Djoser …Djeser-za Djoser-it in Turin King List. Djoser in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-HASH-Dsr-V17->-A43 17. Sekhemkhet Teti Djoser-ti in Turin King List. Djoser-teti in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-t:t-i->-A43 18. Khaba Sedjes Hudjefa in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-z-D-s->-A43 19. Huni Neferkare Huni in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA->-A43
Fourth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 20. Sneferu Sneferu Same name in Saqqara King List. Senefer in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-s-nfr-w->-A43 21. Khufu Khufu Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-x:f-w->-A43 22. Djedefre Djedefre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-dd-f->-A43 23. Khafre Khafre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name damaged in Turin King List n:sw-t:n-<-ra:xa-a:f->-A43 24. Menkaure Menkaure Name missing in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-mn:n-kA:Z2->-A43 25. Shepseskaf Shepseskaf Name missing in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-Sps-z:z-kA:f->-A43
Fifth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 26. Userkaf Userkaf Same name in Saqqara King List. Name damaged in Turin king list. n:sw-t:n-<-wsr-s-kA:f->-A43 27. Sahure Sahure Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-sAH-w->-A43 28. Neferirkare Kakai Kakai Neferirkare in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-kA:kA-i->-A43 29. Neferefre Neferefre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-f->-A43 30. Nyuserre Ini Nyuserre Name missing in Turin King List. Name absent in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:n-wsr*s:r->-A43 31. Menkauhor Kaiu Menkauhor Same name in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-G5-mn:n-kA*kA:kA->-A43 32. Djedkare Isesi Djedkare Djed in Turin King List. Maatkare in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-dd-kA->-A43 33. Unas Unis Same name in Turin King List and Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-wn:n-i-s->-A43
Sixth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 34. Teti Teti Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-t:t-i->-A43 35. Userkare Userkare Name missing in Turin King List. Name absent in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-wsr-s-kA->-A43 36. Pepi I Meryre Meryre Pepi in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:U7\-r:i*i->-A43 37. Merenre Nemtyemsaf I Merenre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:U7\-r:n->-A43 38. Pepi II Neferkare Neferkare Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA->-A43 Row 2 Sixth Dynasty (continued)
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 39. Merenre Nemtyemsaf II Merenre Saemsaf Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-U7:n-wSA-m-V16:f->-A43 40. Netjerkare Siptah Netjerikare Neitiqerty in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nTr-kA->-A43
Seventh/Eighth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 41. Menkare Menkare Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-mn:n-kA->-A43 42. Neferkare II Neferkare Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA->-A43 43. Neferkare Neby Neferkare Neby Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr*kA:nb-b-i-i->-A43 44. Djedkare Shemai Djedkare Shemai Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-dd-kA-U4-A33->-A43 or n:sw-t:n-<-ra-dd-kA-U4-A24->-A43 45. Neferkare Khendu Neferkare Khendu Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA:x-n:d-w-gH->-A43 46. Merenhor Merenhor Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-G5-U7-r:n->-A43 47. Neferkamin Sneferka Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-z-nfr-kA->-A43 48. Nikare Nikare Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:n-kA->-A43
Seventh/Eighth Dynasty (continued)
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 49. Neferkare Tereru Neferkare Tereru Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA:X1-r:D21-rw->-A43 50. Neferkahor Neferkahor Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-G5-nfr-kA->-A43 51. Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferka-khered in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA-p:p-s-n:D58s-i-i->-A43 52. Neferkamin Anu Sneferka Anu Nefer in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-z:nfr*kA-a:n-nw*w->-A43 53. Qakare Ibi Kaukare Ibi in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-A28-kA:Z2->-A43 54. Neferkaure Neferkaure Neferkare in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-kA:Z2->-A43 55. Neferkauhor Neferkauhor Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-G5-nfr-kA:Z2->-A43 56. Neferirkare Neferirkare Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-nfr-ir:kA->-A43
Eleventh Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 57. Mentuhotep II Nebhepetre Same name in Turin King List and in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:nb-xrw->-A43 58. Mentuhotep III Sankhkare Seankhkare in Turin King List and in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-s-anx-kA->-A43 Twelfth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 59. Amenemhat I Sehetepibre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name damaged in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-s-Htp:t*p-ib->-A43 60. Senusret I Kheperkare Same name in Saqqara King List. Name damaged in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-xpr-kA->-A43 61. Amenemhat II Nubkaure Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:nbw-kA*kA:kA->-A43 62. Senusret II Khakheperre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:xa-xpr->-A43 63. Senusret III Khakaure Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:xa-kA*kA:kA->-A43 64. Amenemhat III Nimaatre Same name in Saqqara King List. Name missing in Turin King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:n-U4-a:t->-A43 65. Amenemhat IV Maakherure Same name in Turin King List and in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-U5:a-xrw-w->-A43
Eighteenth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 66. Ahmose I Nebpehtire Same name in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:nb-F9:t*t->-A43 67. Amenhotep I Djeserkare Same name in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:Dsr-kA->-A43 68. Thutmose I Aakheperkare Name missing in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:aA-xpr-kA->-A43 69. Thutmose II Aakheperenre Name missing in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:aA-xpr:n->-A43 70. Thutmose III Menkheperre Name missing in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:mn-xpr->-A43 71. Amenhotep II Aakheperure Name missing in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:aA-xpr:Z2->-A43 72. Thutmose IV Menkheperure Name missing in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:mn-xpr:Z2->-A43 73. Amenhotep III Nebmaatre Name missing in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-mAat-nb->-A43 74. Horemheb Djeserkheperure Setepenre Same name in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:D45-xpr:Z2-stp*ra:n->-A43
Nineteenth Dynasty
# Pharaoh Name written in List Name In other Lists Hieroglyphs 75. Ramesses I Menpehtire Same name in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra:mn-F9:t*t->-A43 76. Seti I Menmaatre Same name in Saqqara King List. n:sw-t:n-<-ra-mAat-mn->-A43
Row 3
Name type Name written in List Hieroglyphs Nomen of Seti I Seti Merenptah m-D37:D37-zA-ra-<-p:t-H-A43-V39-i-i-N36:n->-A45 Prenomen of Seti I Menmaatre m-D37:D37-n:sw-t:n-<-ra-mAat-mn->-A43
See also Abydos King List (Ramesses II) Manetho King List Karnak King List Palermo Stone Ramesseum king list Saqqara Tablet Turin King List Medinet Habu king list
References
External links
Abydos Table Abydos King List Abydos Canon