Month: May 2023

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin Fragment of Isis

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

This is a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 fragment (Late Period, Dynasties 26-31 c. 664-332 B.C.E.) that shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— in mourning. Since in Egyptian mythology Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ assisted in the resurrection of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, it was believed that she would be instrumental in the rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why she was always seen on coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ or the on the foot panel of sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦.Β This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ fragment of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is breathtaking in person!

Coffin Fragment of Isis
Me with the Coffin Fragment of Isis at the Brooklyn Museum

It’s usually easy to tell when Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— is being depicted in Egyptian art because she is wearing the same hieroglyphic symbol on her head that appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, which is the throne symbol π“Š¨!! Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— is shown wearing a white outfit, a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ and two 𓏻 green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ which seem to blend in to her green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 skin. The green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 skin symbolizes life π“‹Ή and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…±.Β 

Coffin Fragment of Isis
Coffin Fragment of Isis

This is the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– in the right column: β€œπ“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†—π“…¨π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“…β€

π“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)

π“…¨π“‚‹ – the Great (greatness)

π“ŠΉ – God

𓅐 – Mother 

Put together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œWords spoken by Isis, the great God’s Mother…” The rest of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– on this column is cut off. 

On the left column, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– starts of with β€œπ“Ήπ“ˆ–β€ which translates to β€œborn of” and then it says the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–of a person which is hard for me to translate because I can’t tell what bird symbol is being used! The last part of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– seems to say β€œtrue of voice π“™π“Š€,” but again it’s hard to tell because it’s cut off!

When I saw this piece I really liked it because of how colorful it was! No matter how many times I see artifacts in museums, I’m always shocked by how bright the colors still are on some objects! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.Β 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Offering Formula

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at one of the most common phrases you will encounter – The Offering Formula! The Offering Formula is found on all different types of funerary objects π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ such as stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ, and false doors.

The purpose of the Offering Formula was to allow the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to partake in and accept offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦. These offerings could be either the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 making an offering to a god π“ŠΉ (usually Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ or Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣) or the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 accepting offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 directly from family members.Β 

The Offering Formula
The opening phrase of the Offering Formula, “An Offering the King Gives…” in hieroglyphs on a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus at the MET.

Here is the beginning phrase of the Offering Formula: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™. This translates to β€œAn Offering the King Gives…”

𓇓 – King 

π“π“Š΅ – Offering (shortened version of π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦)

𓏙 – Gives

Let’s break down each of the hieroglyphic symbols! 

The β€œSedge 𓇓” symbol functions as a biliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œsw.” Most commonly, the symbol is used as an ideogram for the word β€œKing,” which is associated with the sound β€œnswt.”

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine when placed at the end of the word! 

The β€œbread loaf on a mat π“Š΅β€ symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound β€œαΈ₯tp” and is also an ideogram for β€œoffering slab” which is also associated with the sound β€œαΈ₯tp.”

The β€œbread mold 𓏙” symbol is functions as a phonogram for β€œd” or β€œαΈj” and also as β€œrdj” in the word for β€œgive.” 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Flowers in Ancient Egypt

When we envision Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, we usually think of an arid desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ environment. While Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– is certainly a desert, it did have its own beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and flowers that were definitely appreciated by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ!Β 

Plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ and medicine π“‡‹π“…±π“ˆŽπ“π“†°π“¦, so they were vital in that respect. Plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were considered to be so important that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ actually sent out an expedition of people to go and look for new plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 that could be used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ or medicine π“‡‹π“…±π“ˆŽπ“π“†°π“¦! The word for β€œmedicine π“‡‹π“…±π“ˆŽπ“π“†°π“¦β€ in Middle Egyptian even has one of the plant hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in it! 

Speaking of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, there is an entire section of Gardiner’s Sign List dedicated to all of the plant symbols! There are 44 hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that represent plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! For example, the phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant.

Flowers in Ancient Egypt
Different fragments from Amarna that show different flowers in ancient Egypt (Brooklyn Museum)

Here are some beautifully π“„€ colored pieces of art that represent different plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! On the bottom left is a lotus flower 𓆸 and some grapes, the top right is a palm tree, and the bottom right is a small plaque or tile of some kind with daisies/rosettes! 

I love how bright the green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 and yellow colors are! I will never stop being amazed that all of these beautiful pieces are still so vibrant after thousands of years!

These pieces are at the Brooklyn Museum and are dated to the Amarna Period (Dynasty 18).Β The Amarna Period is another phrase that Egyptologists and historians use to mark the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amphora with an Ibex Head

This amphora π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ with an ibex π“ˆ–π“„«π“ƒ΅ head is so beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋! An amphora π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ is a special type of pottery π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ that has a pointed bottom and two 𓏻 handles that was used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world! While Greek amphoras π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“ͺ are the most recognizable, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ had their own style too!

Amphora with an Ibex Head
Amphora with an Ibex Head at the MET

Ancient Egyptian amphoras π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“ͺ, such as this one found at Malqata, were usually made of red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and then covered with a cream colored coat. They were then painted π“žπ“œ with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯, red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ, or black π“†Žπ“…“ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. This vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ has some pretty 𓄀𓆑𓂋 lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and other types of flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 painted π“žπ“œ on it!!

Amphora with an Ibex Head
A closeup of the Ibex head on the amphora at the MET

The best part about this vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ in my opinion is the ibex π“ˆ–π“„«π“ƒ΅ head that is on it! The ibex π“ˆ–π“„«π“ƒ΅ head was not actually found attached to the amphora π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹, but it was found nearby and reattached. You can actually see where it was reattached by the line going across its neck! Also, take a look at how the head of the ibex π“ˆ–π“„«π“ƒ΅ is in relation to the body of the animal – the head has a 3D effect which is just too cool! The body of the ibex π“ˆ–π“„«π“ƒ΅ is painted on the vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹, while the head/neck of the ibex π“ˆ–π“„«π“ƒ΅ kind of β€œjump off” the vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹! So creative!

While historians will refer to this type of pottery as an β€œamphora,” in Middle Egyptian, the standard word β€œmni π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹β€ was used which basically just means pot or pottery! 

This piece is dated to the reign of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and was found at his palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 in Malqata. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Cartouches of Montuhotep II – Video

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to learn about the Cartouches of Montuhotep II!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ birth name and throne name (both with titles). 

π“†₯(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!

Cartouches of Montuhotep II
The Throne Name cartouche of the pharaoh Montuhotep II

𓇳 – Ra

π“ŽŸ – β€œNeb” (nb)

π“Š€ – β€œHapet” (αΈ«rw or αΈ₯jpt)

Cartouches of Montuhotep II
The Birth Name cartouche of the pharaoh Montuhotep II

Montuhotep π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ is his birth name/given name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!

π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (π“ˆ– – n) (𓍿- t) (π“…± – u/w)

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Hotep (π“Š΅ – htp) (𓏏 – t) (π“Šͺ – p) 

This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign π“‹Ύ. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Cartouches of Montuhotep II
Relief of Montuhotep II at the MET. Can you see the Cartouches of Montuhotep II on the full relief?

This is my personal video, photographs, and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Blog Video

Birthday Haul – Video

Here’s a birthday haul video!

A big Thank You 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 to my family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 for getting me such nice and thoughtful gifts for my birthday π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­π“π“Ž±!!! Don’t you all love how everything was ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– themed??!!Β 

This is not an ad – just me sharing some stuff that I got for my birthday!!Β 

Birthday Haul
A closeup of the Anubis statue that my sister got me for my birthday!

This is my personal video, photograph, and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hounds and Jackals Game

The ancient Egyptians loved playing games π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦, and many of examples of ancient games π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦Β  such as senet π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  and Mehen π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†“/π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†— exist both as actual artifacts and as depictions in art!

Hounds and Jackals Game
The Hounds and Jackals Game was named after the Hounds and Jackals that appear on the top of the pegs! This is the most complete version of the game that’s ever been found!

The game π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦ in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is one that was named β€œHounds and Jackals” by Howard Carter! Carter named the game after the hounds π“Ώπ“Šƒπ“…“π“„›π“ͺ and the jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 that are at the tops of the pegs. This particular piece is the only game of β€œHounds and Jackals” that has been found with the pegs! The game has also been referred to as β€œ59 Holes” due to the holes that are on each side of the palm tree!Β 

No one knows the rules to this game, but it is thought to be symbolic of the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and that the hounds π“Ώπ“Šƒπ“…“π“„›π“ͺ and the jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 were used as pieces because they could be related to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, the god π“ŠΉ of mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž and protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Other less-complete versions of this game have been found in other tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦. 

Unlike senet π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  and Mehen π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†“/π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†—, games π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦ which seem to have persisted throughout Egyptian history, β€œHounds and Jackals” seems to be a Middle Kingdom exclusive! This piece is made of the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from a sycamore tree π“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“†­ and ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ. 

This piece was discovered in 1910 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon – I find this to be so cool because this was about twelve years before they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom, reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Amenemhat IV π“‡³π“ŒΆπ“‚π“Š€π“…± (12th Dynasty). 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Mother’s Day – Isis and Mut

Happy Mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 Day to all of the moms – and especially to my Mom, Nonna, and Oma! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ I’m going to do a post about some of the Moms 𓅐𓏏𓁐π“ͺ of Ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– who happen to be goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“!Β 

Mother's Day Isis
A calcite statue accented with bronze of Isis feeding the baby Horus (Brooklyn Museum)

The first 𓏃 picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows a calcite 𓍱 and bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. This is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 has even appeared on the back of Roman Coins! 

Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and she was also a user of magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ.

Mother's Day Mut
A sunken relief of the goddess Mut, from a Ramesside-era stela (Brooklyn Museum)

The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– happens to mean β€œMother!” Symbolically, Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 was also thought to be the divine mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and this idea became popularized as Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ (her husband) became one of the most worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ during the 18th Dynasty.Β  Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 didn’t appear in religious texts until the Middle Kingdom, and some think she was β€œinvented” to be Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ wife and a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 figure.Β 

The word for “mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐/𓅐𓏏” in Middle Egyptian seems to predate the appearance of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐, so it’s possible that her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was intended to mean “mother.”

There are multiple variants for β€œmother” in Middle Egyptian/hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, so let’s take a look at them:

𓅐𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏

𓅐𓅆𓆇

π“…π“π“Ž

𓅐𓏏𓁐𓅆

Happy Mother’s Day!

These are my personal photographs and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 also shows a shabti coffin! The shabti coffin allowed for the ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ to take the place of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in case the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was destroyed! I like to think of this as a call back to the original β€œwax ushabtis” of the Middle Kingdom, which served the same purpose.Β 

Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 was the eighth pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty and he was actually not supposed to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! His brother π“Œ’π“ˆ– was chosen successor by their father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 Amenhotep II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, but Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 usurped the throne and made himself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!Β 

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV
A Ushabti of Thutmosis IV (left) and a shabti coffin that also belonged to Thutmosis IV (right) on display at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!Β Let’s take a closer look at the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– on the ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ:Β 

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Menkheperura β€œEstablished Manifestations of Ra” (Throne name of Thutmosis IV)

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

π“Ήπ“Š¨ – Osiris (Osiris’ name is written without the determinative symbol here (π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­))

π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Beloved

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š— the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– says: β€œThe Perfect God, Lord of the Two Lands, Menkheperura, True of Voice, Beloved of Osiris.” 

The tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 in the Valley of the Kings was excavated by Theodore Davis and Howard Carter in 1903, which is where these objects were found! Many blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό pieces were found during this excavation! I love how bright the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ color still is; it’s really striking in person! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken By” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!Β 

Words Spoken By
A raised relief showing the phrase “Words Spoken By” in hieroglyphs

Here we see an inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– with the symbols β€œ π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–.” This is a really popular introduction to an inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– and it translates to β€œWords spoken by… π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–.” β€œπ“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–β€ is usually followed by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a god π“ŠΉ or goddess π“ŠΉπ“. 

The β€œcobra 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 β€œαΈβ€ which would almost sound like a β€œj” when pronounced. 

The β€œstaff or walking stick π“Œƒβ€ functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word β€œ staff π“Œƒπ“Ίβ€). π“Œƒ is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound β€œmdw.”

The β€œreed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

When put together, π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– reads like β€œαΈd mdw Δ±Ν—n.” The word π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–, means β€œwords spoken by…” or β€œspeech by…”

What are some other words that are related to these? Let’s take a look! 

𓆓𓂧 – Say, Tell, Speak

π“†“π“Œƒ – Recitation 

𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏦 – Sayings

𓆓𓋴 – Self/Own

These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are from the Chapel of Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…±. This chapel was originally located in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–. Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± was old when he took the throne, and most of his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were either finished by or made by his 𓆑 son π“…­, Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–.Β 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.