Development of royal titulary and monumental inscriptions in the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE)

1. Old Kingdom begins; kingship ideology consolidates

   Jan 1, 2686 BCELabels: Third Dynasty, Royal Titulary

   • Britannica

2. Horus name in serekh remains core royal marker

   Jan 1, 2686 BCELabels: Horus Name, Serekh

   • Royal titulary
   • Horus name

3. Third Dynasty officials use fine hieroglyphic panels

   Jan 1, 2667 BCELabels: Hesy-Ra, Hieroglyphic Panels

   • Hesy Ra
   • Egyptology UK

4. Cartouche appears at end of Third Dynasty

   Jan 1, 2613 BCELabels: Cartouche, Third Dynasty

   • Cartouche

5. Sneferu popularizes cartouche use in Fourth Dynasty

   Jan 1, 2613 BCELabels: Sneferu, Cartouche

   • Cartouche

6. “Horus of Gold” title emerges by Fourth Dynasty

   Jan 1, 2589 BCELabels: Golden Horus, Fourth Dynasty

   • Royal titulary

7. Djedefre introduces “Son of Ra” in titulary

   Jan 1, 2566 BCELabels: Djedefre, Sa Ra

   • UCL Digital Egypt
   • Nomen
   • Djedefre

8. Wadi al-Jarf papyri attest Khufu’s royal naming

   Jan 1, 2563 BCELabels: Wadi al-Jarf, Diary of

   • Diary of Merer

9. “Son of Ra” becomes systematic in Fifth Dynasty

   Jan 1, 2494 BCELabels: Fifth Dynasty, Sa Ra

   • Userkaf
   • UCL Digital Egypt

10. Royal Annals (Palermo Stone) compiled in Fifth Dynasty

    Jan 1, 2450 BCELabels: Palermo Stone, Royal Annals

    • Palermo Stone

11. Abusir papyri record mortuary-cult administration

    Jan 1, 2400 BCELabels: Abusir Papyri, Mortuary Cult

    • British Museum
    • UCL Abusir
    • Abusir Papyri

12. Pyramid Texts first inscribed in Unas’s pyramid

    Jan 1, 2375 BCELabels: Unas, Pyramid Texts

    • UCL Petrie
    • Pyramid Texts
    • Unas

13. Coptos decrees begin under Pepi I

    Jan 1, 2332 BCELabels: Coptos Decrees, Pepi I

    • Coptos decrees

14. Pepi II issues Coptos decrees on temple exemptions

    Jan 1, 2246 BCELabels: Pepi II, Coptos Decrees

    • Met Museum
    • Coptos decrees

15. Old Kingdom ends; First Intermediate Period begins

    Jan 1, 2181 BCELabels: End of, First Intermediate

    • Britannica