Sneferu c. 2613–2589 BC
Sneferu built more pyramids than any other king: the Meidum pyramid, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, the first true smooth-sided pyramid. He is one of the first kings to write his name inside a cartouche.
Birth name: Sneferu
snfrw: “He who makes beautiful”
Sign by sign
- Folded cloth S29s The sound s.
- Heart and windpipe F35nfr Good, beautiful, perfect.
- Mouth D21r The sound r; also means 'mouth'.
- Quail chick G43w The sound w; also a plural ending.
Names of gods (Ra, Amun, Ptah) are written first out of respect, even when they are read later. Dates are approximate; we follow Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000).