“A Voice Offering” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃  “𓉓.” As a reminder, a composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is a single symbol that is actually a combination of multiple symbols! 

While a lot of the composite hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are combinations of two 𓏻 symbols, “𓉓” is actually a combination of four 𓏽 symbols! I like to think of composite hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 as a math equation: 

𓉓 = 𓉐 + 𓊤 + 𓏑 + 𓏊

Here is the modern name designated to each of the symbols that are part of 𓉓:

𓉐 – house plan 

𓊤 – oar 

𓏑 – bread 

𓏊 – beer jug

In terms of meaning, “𓉓” is an ideogram (a single symbol that takes on the meaning of a full word) for the phrase “invocation offering or voice offering” and is a part of the standard offering formula that is seen on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, false doors, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪/coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦 and other funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭. 

𓉓 would be pronounced like “prt-ḫrw.” 𓉓 Is definitely a great symbol to recognize because it is very common!!!