Hotep

Hotep (ḥtp; also rendered hetep^[1]) is an Egyptian word that roughly translates as "to be satisfied, at peace". The word also refers to an "offering" ritually presented to a deity or a dead person, hence "be pleased, be gracious, be at peace". It is rendered in Egyptian hieroglyphs as an altar (Gardiner sign R4). The noun ḥtp.w means "peace, contentment".^[2] Davies (2018) interprets the concept of ḥtp as "the result of action in accord with maat [the proper order of the universe]".^[3]

For the colloquial Afrocentrist usage, see Hoteps.

ḥtp in hieroglyphs

Hotep offering table

The so-called offering formula begins with ḥtp-dj-nsw "an offering given by the king".^[4]

Egyptian ḥtp became Coptic ϩⲁⲧⲡ/ϩⲟⲧⲡ hatp/hotp "be content" and ϩⲱⲧⲡ hōtp "be reconciled".^[5][6]

Hotep as part of ancient Egyptian names, such as Hotepsekhemwy (ḥr ḥtp-sḫm.wj "the two powers are at peace"), the first ruler of the Second Dynasty of Egypt.^[7]

In personal names

Pharaohs

• Hotepsekhemwy (2nd dynasty)
• Mentuhotep I, Mentuhotep II, Mentuhotep III, Mentuhotep IV, Mentuhotep V and Mentuhotep VI (11th to 16th dynasties)
• Amenemhat I (throne name Sehetepibre) (12th dynasty)
• Sehetepibre (13th dynasty)
• Hotepibre (13th dynasty)
• Sobekhotep I, Sobekhotep II, Sobekhotep III, Sobekhotep IV, Merhotepre Sobekhotep V, Khahotepre Sobekhotep VI, Sobekhotep VII and Sobekhotep VIII (13th to 16th dynasties)
• Neferhotep I, Neferhotep II and Neferhotep III (13th to 16th dynasties)
• Merhotepre Ini (13th dynasty)
• Rahotep (17th dynasty)
• Amenhotep I, Amenhotep II, Amenhotep III and Amenhotep IV, later known as Akhenaten (18th dynasty)

Other

• Neithhotep (1st dynasty queen)
• Imhotep (3rd dynasty official)
• Ptahhotep (5th dynasty official)
• Khnumhotep I (12th dynasty nomarch)
• Hedjhotep (minor deity)
• Hetepheres I, Hetepheres II (4th dynasty queens)
• Hetepheres (4th dynasty princess)
• Neferhetepes (4th dynasty princess)
• Hathorhotep (12th dynasty princess)

In popular culture

• Nyarlathotep is a deity or a demon in stories by H. P. Lovecraft, and the title of a 1920 short story.
• Hotep is one of the advisors to Pharaoh in the animated epic film The Prince of Egypt (1998).
• The title of the American comedy film Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) refers to the nickname for a reanimated mummy that wears a cowboy hat
• Robin Thede used the derivative term "hertep" in A Black Lady Sketch Show.^[8]