Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a very popular word that appears on a lot of funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 (coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦, False Doors, Canopic Jar Cases, etc.)! This word can be tricky though because there are a lot of different variants of it – meaning that it can be spelled differently depending on how the word is used or the amount of space available on the object (in this case, the object is a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱). Different variants of the word can even appear on the same object, as I illustrate with the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 I’m sharing today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳!
The word for today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 is “Revered/Revered One,” which on the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 in the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦, you can see two 𓏻 of the popular variants:
𓇋𓌴𓄪𓐍
𓇋𓄪𓐍
Revered One/Revered can also be spelled like:
𓇋𓌴𓄪
𓇋𓌴𓄪𓅱
𓇋𓌴𓄪𓐍𓇌
𓇋𓌴𓐍𓇌
𓄪𓐍
𓇋𓄪𓐍𓅱
𓇋𓌴𓄪𓐍𓅱 (Revered Man – Dead)
𓄪𓐍𓇌𓏏 (Revered Woman – Dead)
I’m sure I did not list all of the variants either! Word variants can be confusing for people who are just starting to read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and that’s okay! It will just take some practice, and the best way to practice is to just keep reading real Egyptian inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!
Next time you go to a museum, see if you can find a variant for “Revered/Revered One!” I’m sure you will!!
Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name 𓂋𓈖 of not only a very popular deity 𓊹, but also one of my favorite deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 (besides Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 of course)!!
This is the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! The name 𓂋𓈖 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 is actually the Greek version of his name 𓂋𓈖; the ancient Egyptians referred to him as Djehuty 𓅝𓏏𓏭!
Let’s break down the hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪 together 𓈖𓊗!
The “ Ibis on Standard 𓅝” symbol is a variant of the “Ibis 𓅞” symbol and has the sound of “ḏḥwtj,” which we thing would sound like “Djehuty.” This symbol is an ideogram, so it represents the full sound of the word it is meant to represent.
What’s interesting about the Middle Egyptian Language, is that even though ideograms like “𓅝” and “𓁟” would fully spell out Thoth’s name 𓂋𓈖, scribes would still add the phonograms to the end of the name 𓂋𓈖 if there was enough space on the monument/object to do so! This made inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 easier to read 𓎔𓂧𓀁 and also look nicer! The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were all about the aesthetic!
The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine!
The “two strokes 𓏭” symbol represents the sound “j” which in English would have the same sound as a “y.” It is usually only used at the end of a word!
Here are some variants of Thoth’s name 𓂋𓈖:
𓅤𓀭
𓁟
𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭
𓅝𓏏𓏭
𓅝
Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and was thus the god 𓊹 of all record keeping. Due to his vast knowledge, 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 Thoth 𓁟 was thought to know magic and secrets that were unknown to the rest of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. He was also the god 𓊹 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪.
Let’s read the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 in the picture above:
𓅝𓏏𓏭 – Thoth (Djehuty)
𓎟 – Lord
𓊹𓌃𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟 – Divine Words/Writing
“Lord of the Divine Words/Writing 𓎟𓊹𓌃𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟” was one of Thoth’s 𓅝𓏏𓏭 many titles! This title makes perfect sense since he was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥/hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Fun Fact: “writing” was usually written as “𓏟𓂂𓂂𓂂,” but on this coffin it is switched to “𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟!”
Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 was originally god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹, but then later became associated with writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜. The moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 could be thought of as a “night sun,” which kind of places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Re 𓇳𓏺𓁛.
Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar which is one of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to astronomy! As their math an astronomy got better, Egyptian astronomers even adjusted the year to be exactly 365.25 days, which is the exact time it takes the Earth 𓇾𓇾 to revolve around the Sun 𓇳𓏺! How amazing is that!?
Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at one of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of one of the Four Sons of Horus!
Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, and was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊.
Qebehsenuef can be written as both 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 and 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑, and sometimes a determinative was added to the end of the name 𓂋𓈖, which reads like 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭.
The “water jar with water 𓏁 / 𓏂” symbols are both variants of each other and have the same meaning! These symbols mostly act as determinatives, however in the case of Qebehsenuef the symbols act as a triliteral phonogram with the sound “kbb/qbb” or “kbh/qbh.”
The “arrowhead 𓌢” is a biliteral phonogram that is associated with the sound “sn.” Since the arrowhead 𓌢 is repeated three times in the name, that pluralizes the symbol and causes it to have the sound “snw.”
The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. The 𓆑 can be confusing for people learning hieroglyphs because it can also function as the word “he”! There are so many ways that 𓆑 and it takes practice to master them all!
So Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 may seem like a difficult name 𓂋𓈖 to pronounce but once you break down the symbols it’s not too bad! How the name 𓂋𓈖 is written with Romanized Letters is very similar to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 would would like “Qbh-snu-f.”
I am standing with the Horus cartouche of the Second Dynasty Pharaoh Nebra 𓎟𓇳 (or Raneb).
Not much is known about Nebra 𓎟𓇳 besides his name, which mostly appears on alabaster bowls and cups. The length of his rule is also not known, since that section of the Turin Canon/Papyrus is destroyed but Egyptologists estimate it to be about 10 𓎆 -14 𓎆𓏽 years.
The name Nebra 𓎟𓇳 (or Raneb) has puzzled Egyptologists because Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 was not a big religious figure during the Second Dynasty. At that time, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the main deity and Egyptian religion very much centered on the story of Horus 𓅃𓀭 and Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 and the importance of keeping divine balance. The name Nebra 𓎟𓇳 can also be translated as either “Lord of the sun (Ra)” or “Ra is my lord,” which would show that the sun was already being worshipped separately as its own deity at this time instead of just being part of Horus 𓅃𓀭. The Third Dynasty (around the rule of Djoser 𓂦) is really when evidence of the sun being an independent deity begins to show up in Egyptian society.
It’s no secret that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (Inpu in Egyptian – the name Anubis is actually Greek) is my favorite of the Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹! I have always been a fan of mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪, so it makes sense that the god of embalming, tombs, cemeteries, etc ended up being my favorite! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 also could act as a guide to souls in the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐(referenced in the Pyramid Texts of Unas).
The inscription (which is read from left to right on this particular text) states: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖.
The translation is: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An offering the king gives 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣- Anubis 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑 – Upon his hill/mountain 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖 – He who is in the mummy wrappings
The title “𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” refers to Anubis’ role as the protector of the tombs while “ 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖” refers to Anubis’ importance as the god 𓊹 of embalming/mummification.
Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
I like Sobek’s 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 name 𓂋𓈖 a lot because its phonetic and easy to spell/remember if you know the phonogram symbols! This is because Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 has kept his “Egyptian Name” and it wasn’t changed by the Greeks like some if the other deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 such as Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, etc.
The “Folded Cloth 𓋴” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram that has the sound of “s.”
The “Foot 𓃀” symbol is also a uniliteral phonogram that has the sound of “b.”
The “Basket with a Handle 𓎡” symbol is also a uniliteral phonogram that has the sound of “k.” A lot of people get this one confused with just the “basket 𓎟” symbol which is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound “nb.” So they are very different!!
The “Crocodile on a Shrine 𓆋” symbol is the determinative in Sobek, so in this case it is not pronounced! The symbol can also be used as an ideogram, where it would have the sound “sbk” or Sobek!
Sobek can be written as:
𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋
𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆍
𓆋𓏺
𓆍𓏺
Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 is usually depicted as a crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 sitting on a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 – just like this hieroglyph “𓆋,” or as a human body with a crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 head 𓁶𓏺.
My Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 for me! While we did see it at the Vatican Museum together, he always made sure to take a different picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 for me each time he saw it because he knew how much I love it!
This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 depicts Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and making an offering of nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 to Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺. The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was meant to commemorate restoration works in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖!
The most interesting parts about this stela is that it is one of two pieces (that I know of) that contains Hatshepsut’s entire titulary in one place! The only other place I know that has all of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 is the Obelisk at Karnak.
Let’s take a closer look at all of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦! The names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 can be found on the top two rows of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the bottom of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!
Horus Name: 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓 – “Wosretkau” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”
Nebty Name: 𓅒𓇅𓏏𓆳𓆳𓆳 – “Wadjet renput” translates to “Flourishing of Years.”
Golden Horus Name: 𓅉𓊹𓏏𓈍𓏦 – “Netjeret khau” translates to “Divine of Appearances.”
Throne Name: 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – “Maatkare” translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.”
Birth Name: 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓄂𓀼 – “Khnemet Amun Hatshepsut” translates to “United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.” This version of the Birth Name that appears on this stela is a variant of 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪. A “variant” is just a different way to spell out a person’s name 𓂋𓈖!
Previously, we looked at the phrase “𓈖𓂓𓈖 For the Soul of…” and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the next part of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖!
Some review from the other post: The “ka 𓂓” or the soul is the part of the person that interacted with others (family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦, friends 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐𓏦, even the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻) and also can be thought of as the offices you held in life. Usually the list of jobs/titles/offices would follow “𓈖𓂓𓈖 For the Soul Of…” on the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖! This is what we will be examining today!
Let’s take a look at the roles this individual had! Make sure to look for the words 𓌃𓂧𓏏𓀁 “𓈖𓂓𓈖 For the Soul of…” if you want to see someone’s jobs!
The inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads:
𓈖𓂓𓈖 – For the Soul of
𓏞 – Scribe
𓉒 – Treasury
So all put together, the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads: “For the Soul of the Scribe of the Treasury.”
So according to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, this individual was a Scribe 𓏞 in the treasury 𓉒! This was definitely a prestigious job, which is why the person was able to afford such a nice statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 with hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on it!
Scribe 𓏞 can also be written as 𓏞𓀀, and the determinative symbol is missing on this inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖. Treasury is usually always written with the composite symbol/ideogram of 𓉒.
Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a phrase that could be part of the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 “An Offering the King Gives”). While not as common as some other parts of the Offering Formula, the phrase “𓈖𓂓𓈖 For the Soul Of…” does appear enough that you will be able to recognize it!
“𓈖𓂓𓈖 For the Soul Of…” indicates that the offering is not only being made for the deceased person, but the soul 𓂓 of the deceased person, which demonstrates the ancient Egyptian cultural practice of the distinct parts of a person’s identity. In order to exist, a person needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body 𓎛𓂝𓄼, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅡𓏤, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏤, and the name 𓂋𓈖.
More specifically, the “ka 𓂓” or the soul is the part of the person that interacted with others (family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦, friends 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐𓏦, even the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻) and can be thought of as the offices you held in life. Usually the list of jobs/titles/offices would follow “𓈖𓂓𓈖 For the Soul Of…” on the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖! These memories of a person and their interactions were important to maintaining their offering cult when they died.
So let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a phonogram sign, and it functions as a uniliteral sign. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” The 𓈖 has many grammatical functions on its own, and it can mean “to,” “of,” “for,” “we/us/our,” “in,” “because,” “through,” and some others! How do we know which word it is? Context clues!
The “two arms 𓂓” functions as a biliteral phonogram and an ideogram, both with the sound of “ka/k3.”
Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at some grammar – how to make a word feminine! The inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 says the word “goddess 𓊹𓏏.” The word “god 𓊹” is an extremely popular word and is used throughout ancient Egyptian inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!
The “cloth wound on a pole 𓊹” symbol is both an ideogram and a determinative for the word “god.” The symbol is thought to sound like “ntr” which probably sounds like “neter.”
Yesterday in my post I mentioned that the “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine when placed at the end of the word!
A Note: just because the “𓏏” appears in a doesn’t mean that the word is automatically feminine – it must be at the end of the word! All nouns in Middle Egyptian were either masculine or feminine, and the masculine nouns had no special ending! The ending of “𓏏” is just an ending, and is not part of the root of the word.
Here’s some examples of some words that become feminine with the “𓏏”:
“𓌢𓈖 brother” and “𓌢𓈖𓏏 sister”
“𓊹 god” and “goddeHieroglyphic Grammar – Making Words Femininess 𓊹𓏏”
“𓋾𓈎𓀀 male ruler” and “𓋾𓈎𓏏𓁐” (here not only is 𓏏 added but the determinative changes too)
