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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Offering Formula

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!! While I have spoken about this particular inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ a lot, it’s a great one to review because it always shows up! Without fail if you got to a museum, you will see this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! It appears on pieces from pretty much every time period of Egyptian history! Also, look at how beautiful π“„€ these hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are! The colors are so bright even after thousands of years!

This is the famous Offering Formula! The Offering Formula is: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ which translates to β€œAn Offering the King Gives.” This particular inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is arranged differently than usual because of the space that is available on the piece! If you know how to read these four 𓏽 symbols, you are well on your way to reading stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦, false doors, coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾/π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ and more! The offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 was being made to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as a way to sustain them in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Let’s break it down:
𓇓 – King
π“π“Š΅ – Offering (this is the shortened version of the word. π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 is the actual word for offering)
𓏙 – Gives

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ Is always followed by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a god π“ŠΉ (usually Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, but other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ will make appearances π“ˆπ“¦ too).

If you would like to read more about the full Offering Formula, check out my β€œHieroglyph Fun Facts” highlight – I have a lot of information there!