Hieroglyphic Offering Vessel

This is a “Hieroglyphic Offering Vessel” that is dated to c. 3,000 B.C.E.! For some context, the unification of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 took place c. 3,100 B.C.E., and this period was known as the Early Dynastic Period. 

In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, especially during this time period, the distinction between art and writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 was almost interchangeable – so much so that sometimes it is hard to tell if images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, drawings or even both! 

This Offering Vessel is a combination of two 𓏻 hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪: the ankh 𓋹 and the ka 𓂓. So, let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The “Ankh,” is a triliteral phonogram that has the sound “ˁnḫ” which would sound like “ankh.” Although it can be an ideogram for “sandal strap” and “mirror,” the “sandal strap 𓋹” is much more commonly seen as the word for “Life.” 

The “two arms 𓂓” symbol is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound “k3,” which would be pronounced like “ka.” This is the symbol for the word “soul.” The ka 𓂓 was the soul or life force of a person. 

So how do life 𓋹, soul 𓂓 and this Offering Vessel all connect to each other? Together 𓈖𓊗, the life 𓋹 and soul 𓂓 form an essential relationship between the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even if the person is dead, the ka 𓂓 still requires nourishment in the form of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and drink. This Offering Vessel allows the ka 𓂓 to receive water 𓈗, so it can continue to live on. 

Essentially, the vessel allows for the ka 𓂓 to continue to receive offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 so it can continue to be sustained! It’s always amazing to me how Egyptian funerary beliefs didn’t really change over time, they just continued to evolve, for example, into False Doors and Offering Tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃𓏪!