Nubnefer

Nubnefer is the birth name of a king (pharaoh) who may have ruled during the 2nd Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. The exact length of his reign is unknown and his chronological position is unclear.

Nubnefer
Fragment of black schist presenting Nubnefer's name beside the building "Menti Ankh" (left)
Pharaoh
Reign	Unknown, Early Dynastic Period
Predecessor	Uncertain, Nynetjer (Helck and Wilkinson) Wadjenes (Kaplony)
Successor	Uncertain, Senedj (Kaplony)
Royal titulary Praenomen Nisut-Bity Nubnefer nsw.t-btj nwb-nfr
Dynasty	Second Dynasty

Name sources

The name "Nubnefer" appears on two black stone vessel fragments found in the Southern Galleries in the necropolis of king Djoser (3rd Dynasty) at Sakkara, mentioning a building called "Menti-Ankh" ("Life may endure"), which was founded during the reign of king Nynetjer. Therefore, Egyptologists such as Peter Kaplony, Jochem Kahl and Francesco Tiradritti believe that Nubnefer's reign should be chronologically set close to that of Nynetjer. Nubnefer's name does not appear in any further contemporary or posthumous document.^[1][2]

Identity

Egyptologists such as Battiscombe Gunn and Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards believe that the name "Nubnefer" could be the birth name of king Raneb. In contrast, egyptologists such as Wolfgang Helck and Toby Wilkinson think that Nubnefer was the immediate successor of Nynetjer. Peter Kaplony identifies Nubnefer as a king who have ruled between the kings Wadjenes and Senedj.^[1][3][4][5]