Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Life

Life, Vita, 𓋹𓈖𓐍.

This is a piece of papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 with the word “Life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 written on it. While the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were a people who were focused on the idea of preparing for the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, they sure did write about living and preserving the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 quite a lot! Many Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 phrases mention life 𓋹𓈖𓐍, such as the most popular ones like “Given Life 𓏙𓋹“ or “Given Life for Eternity 𓏙𓋹𓆖.”

In Middle Egyptian, “Life” can be either written as:
𓋹 – just the single “ankh” symbol
𓋹𓈖𓐍 – the full word written out (which is what is pictured)

Both ways to write “life” are common, though the lone “ 𓋹” is what most people are familiar with. “𓋹𓈖𓐍” is used more in full inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, while “𓋹” is used in phrases like the ones mentioned above. However, they both have the same meaning of “life.”

My Nonno 𓈖𓍯𓈖𓈖𓍯𓀀 was a person who loved life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and wanted to live it to the fullest. He was like the Energizer Bunny and just never stopped! Since I have gained many new followers, please check my “About Me” highlight that mentions the story of my Nonno 𓈖𓍯𓈖𓈖𓍯𓀀 and how this whole account is dedicated to preserving his name 𓂋𓈖 and memory. My Nonno 𓈖𓍯𓈖𓈖𓍯𓀀 loved ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and shared his passion with me; he is the reason I’m able to read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and have a lifelong passion for the history of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. My Nonno 𓈖𓍯𓈖𓈖𓍯𓀀 gave life 𓏙𓋹 to my passion!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Star Hieroglyph

The Star Hieroglyph

The star 𓇼 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is one of my favorite symbols! I am an Earth/Environmental scientist, and I love astronomy (I teach Earth Science and Astrophysics)! Fun Fact about me: I went to Kennedy Space Center for my Sweet 16!

The star 𓇼 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is so cool because it can function as a determinative, phonogram, and ideogram! Let’s take a look at how that works!

The word for star is “𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼” and here the “𓇼” functions as the determinative, or the last symbol in the word that almost acts as punctuation to let the reader know the general meaning of the word. It can also be used as the determinative in the name 𓂋𓈖 of a specific star, like “Sirius 𓇮𓏏𓇼”

In words like “𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 Duat/afterlife” or
“𓇼𓄿𓇳 morning/tomorrow,” the “𓇼” functions as a phonogram for the sound “dw3” (almost like “dua”).

The word “star,” while written like “ 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼,” can also just be written as “𓇼𓏺,” and here the “𓇼” symbol functions as an ideogram, or a symbol that is used to write the word it represents.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Faience Foundation Brick of Thutmosis III

“The Great God, Menkheperra, Beloved of Osiris.”

This faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 piece is most likely a foundation deposit brick of a building that was built during the reign 𓋾 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴.

Foundation deposit bricks were ceremonial offerings that were placed at the corners of buildings, courts, temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 , tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦, and pretty much the foundation of any building. They can almost be thought of as the ancient version of a ground-breaking ceremony. The foundation deposit bricks usually contained the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that the building was constructed under on it!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!

𓊹𓄤 – [The] Great God
(𓇳𓏠𓆣) – Menkheperra [Throne name of Thutmosis III]
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓌹𓇌 – Beloved

So the full inscription reads: “The Great God, Menkheperra, Beloved of Osiris.”

“Beloved 𓌹𓇌” is a word that pops up a lot in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 so it is a good one to know! It is also popular as the first part of a person’s name 𓂋𓈖. For example the name 𓂋𓈖 “Meryamun” or “Beloved of Amun” was a very popular name 𓂋𓈖 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphic Symbols: “Area with an Intersection”

Let’s learn some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

The “area with an intersection 𓊖” or as I like to call it “the circle with the X” hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 or the X-Men symbol, is a decently common symbol you will find in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

The “𓊖” is used as both an ideogram and a determinative! An ideogram is a symbol that is used to write the word that it represents, and is usually followed by a single stroke. The stroke acts as a form of punctuation!

𓊖𓏺 – Town (njwt)

More commonly, “𓊖” functions as the determinative, or the last symbol in the word that almost acts as punctuation to let the reader know the general meaning of the word. “𓊖” is the determinative for town, city, settlement, and even the country of Egypt! “𓊖” seems to be used for towns/cities in Egypt, while most foreign lands used the determinative of “𓈊.”

Here are some examples of “𓊖” being used as a determinative!

𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – Egypt
𓌀𓏏𓊖 – Thebes
𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 – Aswan
𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 – Memphis
𓆓𓂝𓈖𓏏𓊖 – Tanis
𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 – Abydos
𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 – Amarna

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Venerated Before…” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Also, how gorgeous 𓄤 are the colors on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭?!

This is another inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that you will find on sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 or other funerary objects, like stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪. While the phrase may not be as common as some others (like the Offering Formula), it does pop up fairly frequently and it’s a good one to know!

𓄪𓐍𓇌- Venerated
𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓊨𓏏𓏺 – Isis (her name is usually written as 𓊨𓏏𓁥, but the determinative is missing most likely due to the amount of space available on the sarcophagus.)

Since “Venerated 𓄪𓐍𓇌“ is just another way to say “respect,” this phrase means that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person was held in high regard by the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥! That is certainly a position that an ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 would want to be in!

Now, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺 isn’t the only goddess’ 𓊹𓏏 name 𓂋𓈖 that is used in this phrase; Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 are popular to find as well! This is because all three 𓏼 of these deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

𓄪𓐍𓇌𓐍𓂋𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 – Venerated Before Anubis
𓄪𓐍𓇌𓐍𓂋𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Venerated Before Osiris

I hope this has been helpful in your hieroglyph journey!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Eternity” in Hieroglyphs

When we last went to the MET on my birthday, I was so excited because my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 pointed to this relief and said that these symbols meant “eternity 𓆖” and I felt so proud! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 always reads my posts and has always been my biggest supporter (besides Nonno) in my study of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Eternity 𓆖 was a concept central to ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religion and culture. Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that “death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is only the beginning” and it was the start of their journey to eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹. The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that once they reached the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖, they were going to live the rest of eternity 𓆖 in paradise.

In the Old Kingdom, tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 (a pit, tomb shaft or structure made of mudbrick [mastaba]) were starting to be referred to as the “House of Eternity 𓉐𓆖.” Tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 made of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 were considered the best due to the durability of stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪: so stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 was also a representation of eternity 𓆖!

The word “eternity 𓆖“ appears frequently in so many inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 – if you can recognize the word, you will be able to pick it out in any museum you visit!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“To Be Happy” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s learn some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! Here we see an inscription with the symbols “𓃹𓈖𓆑.”

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The hare 𓃹 is a biliteral sign which means it represents two consonants. The 𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as both a phonogram and a determinative. 𓆑 is also a uniliteral symbol and represents the sound “f.” 𓆑 can function as a determinative in the word “father 𓇋𓏏𓆑.” “Father” can also be written as: 𓇋𓏏𓀀, 𓇋𓏏𓆑𓀀, 𓏏𓆑, or 𓏏𓆑𓀀 and in some cases, both “𓆑” and “𓀀“ function as determinatives because neither were pronounced!

When put together, 𓃹𓈖𓆑 reads like “wnf.” The word 𓃹𓈖𓆑, means “to be glad” or “to be happy.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken By” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s learn some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! Here we see an inscription with the symbols “ 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖.” This is a really popular introduction to an inscription and it translates to “Words spoken by… 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖.” “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is usually followed by the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏.

The “cobra 𓆓” is a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The cobra 𓆓 is a uniliteral sign, so it represents just one consonant. It represents the sound “ḏ” which would almost sound like a “j” when pronounced.

The “staff or walking stick 𓌃” functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word “ staff 𓌃𓏺”). 𓌃 is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound “mdw.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

When put together, 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 reads like “ḏd mdw ı͗n.” The word 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖, means “words spoken by…” or “speech by…”

Somewhat off-topic, but you probably recognize “𓌃” from the word for hieroglyphs (𓊹𓌃𓏪)! “Hieroglyphs” can translate to “god’s speech” –
𓊹 – God
𓌃 – Speech/Speak
𓏪 – makes the word plural

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“I Have the High Ground” Hieroglyph

“I have the high ground 𓀠” is one of the most quoted lines from Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦! The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 literally means “high ground 𓀠” and looks very similar to Obi-Wan during the end fight scene on Mustafar from Revenge of the Sith! When I found this in an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 at the MET, I got very excited!!!!

This particular hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol has been named the “excited man” by James Allen (but I will be calling it “Kenobi”), and I happen to think that is a very fitting description! The “excited man 𓀠” functions as both an ideogram and a determinative.

When acting as an ideogram, 𓀠 means “high ground.”

When acting as a determinative, 𓀠 can be found at the end of words such as:

𓄿𓎛𓀠 – Mourn
𓎛𓂝𓂝𓅱𓏏𓀠 – Joy
𓍯𓄿𓈙𓀠 – be strong, be honored
𓋴𓈎𓄿𓀠 – raise, to set right
𓈎𓄿𓀠 – to be high, to be loud

These words all express strong emotions, so the “excited man 𓀠“ is definitely a symbol that summarizes the meaning of the word!

Since “Revenge of the Sith” is one of my absolute favorite movies, I am really quite amused by the meaning of this hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! It is such a cool coincidence!

Are any of you guys Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦 fans too?! I absolutely loved the Kenobi show on Disney+ because I am a huge fan of Anakin and Obi-Wan!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Duamutef in Hieroglyphs

Duamutef’s name in Hieroglyphs

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 was one of the four Sons of Horus and his job was to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars or in funerary art. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification. Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction.

Let’s take a look at Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! All of the symbols in Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 are phonogram symbols, which means that they represent sounds!

The “star 𓇼” functions as a triliteral phonogram for the sound “dw3” (almost like “dua”). Triliteral means that the symbol represents three consonants! In other words, it can also function as a determinative or ideogram.

The “vulture 𓅐” is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sounds “mjt/mwt.” It is also used as a determinative in the word “vulture 𓈖𓂋𓅐”

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 “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative.

So Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is something like “duamwttf” – which is very similar to “Duamutef!” There’s no Greek version of the name here! For example, “Anubis” is a Greek name – “Inpu” is what the ancient Egyptians would have called Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!