Brian Alm’s decoder for Greek terms

 By Brian Alm.  Published on Egyptological, In Brief,  June 16th 2014.

 

Further to his article Confessions of a Part-time Lecturer to Newcomers in Egyptology: Cheops or Khufu? Brian Alm has very kindly responded to a number of requests for a decoder for Greek terms by sending the following tables for readers.

  • dj – j, g as in judge
  • tj – ch as in church
  • kh – k

 

ROYALTY

Greek / English Egyptian
Ahmose Ahmes (18th Dynasty)
Amasis/Ahmose Ahmes (26th Dynasty)
Amenophis Amenhotep
Ammenemes Amenemhat
Apries/Waphres Wahibra Haaibra
Cheops/Kheops Khufu
Chephren/Khephren Khafra
Hyksos Hikau Khasut
Mycerinus/Mykerinos Menkaura
Necho Nekau
Phiops Pepi
Psamtek/Psammetichus Wahibra/Uahibra
Psusennes Pasibkhanu/Hor-Pasebakhaenniut
Ramesses Ramess-su
Sesostris Senuseret (also spelled Senwosret)
Sethos Seti
Thutmosis/mose Djehutymes

 

DEITIES

Greek / English Egyptian
Anubis Anpu/Inpu; a.k.a. Khenty-Amentiu (Foremost of the Westerners)
Horus (solar) Horakhty/Harakhty/Ra-Horakhty (Horus the Elder)
Horus (Osirian) Hor/Hor-es-Iset (Horus son of Isis)
Isis Iset
Nephthys Nebthet
Onuris Anhur
Osiris Usir/Useru/Wennefer (there were many names for Osiris)
Thoth Djehuty
Two Ladies Nebty (dual, feminine form of Neb, Lord)

  • Uadjet (cobra goddess of Lower Egypt)
  • Nekhbet (vulture goddess of Upper Egypt)

 

PLACES

Greek / English
(*Arabic)
Egyptian
Abydos Abdju (the first necropolis; Osirian cult centre
Amarna Akhenaten (Horizon of the Aten)
Avaris Hut-Weret
Bubastis Per-Bast
Deir el-Bahri * Djeseret (The Holy Place)
Deir el-Medina * Pa Demi (The Village – home of the tomb workers )
Egypt Kemet
Elephantine Abu (Elephantine Island at the 1st Cataract)
Heliopolis Iunu
Herakleopolis Nekhen
Hermopolis Khemennu
Hierakonpolis Nekhen
el-Kab * Nekheb
Karnak temple Ipet Isut (The Elected Place; temple of Amun)
el-Lisht * Itj-tawy
Lower Egypt Ta-Mehu
Luxor Temple Ipet Resyt (The Southern Sanctuary)
Mediterranean Wedj-wer (The Great Green)
Memphis Men-nefer (Eternally beautiful), Hut Ka Ptah (Dwelling of Ptah), Ineb-Hedj (the city of What Walls, original name)
Sebennytos Tjebnetjer
Sais Sau
Tanis Djanet
Thebes/Luxor Uaset/Waset, a.k.a. Iunu Shema (Southern Heliopolis)
The Two Lands Tawy (dual form of ta, land)
Upper Egypt Ta-Shema
Valley of the Kings Ta set a’at (The Great Place), Ta-int (The Valley)

 

MISCELLANY: THINGS, TERMS, ETC.

Greek / English Egyptian
Apophis Apep
Hieroglyphs Medu-netjer (The Words of God)
Naos Djeser-djeseru (Holy of Holies)
Nome(s) Sepat(u) (English nome from Greek nomos)
Obelisk Tekhen
Pyramid Mer
Pyramidion Benbenet (from weben = “to rise”)
School Per-ankh (the house of life)
Sothis Sopdet (the star Sirius)
Temple Per-netjer (The House of God)
True of Voice Ma’a kheru (said of the “Justified,” the sanctified dead)