Usermaatre Setep En Ra

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the many cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖! This cartouche is his throne name cartouche, which is the name 𓂋𓈖 Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 took when he became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name 𓂋𓈖 more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Let’s break down each of the symbols: 

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.”

The “head and neck of jackal 𓄊” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sounds “wsr” which means “powerful” or “strong.” 

The “goddess with a feather 𓁧” symbol is a determinative for “Maat” and is also an ideogram for the same. The word “Maat” can refer to the goddess or the word “Justice.” 

The “adze and block of wood 𓍉” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound “stp.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

This cartouche is part of the King’s List, which is on display at the British Museum.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok!