“Isis” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.). 

This is a variant of the name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! More commonly, her name 𓂋𓈖 is written as “ 𓊨𓏏𓁥,” and the difference between the two is the determinative at the end. Why was the determinative not used in this inscription? Most likely due to spacing issues! 

The “seat 𓊨” symbol has many different functions in Middle Egyptian! In the case of the name “Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺,” the seat functions as a biliteral phonogram for the sound “js.” In other words, it can be a phonogram for the sounds “st,” and “hst.”  𓊨 is even an ideogram for the word “seat!” 

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 “stroke 𓏺” hieroglyph is used at the end of words when there is a bit of space left over – it’s all for the aesthetic! This symbol is not pronounced, it is solely used for punctuation/aesthetic purposes! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Isis” is actually the Greek version of the name 𓂋𓈖 of this goddess 𓊹𓏏! If we were to pronounce her name 𓂋𓈖 the way the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 did (or inferred how they did), her name 𓂋𓈖 would be pronounced like “Ist 𓊨𓏏𓏺.”