The Offering Formula

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 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 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, and false doors.

The purpose of the Offering Formula was to allow the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to partake in and accept offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. These offerings could be either the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 making an offering to a god 𓊹 (usually Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 or Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣) or the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 accepting offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 directly from family members. 

Here is the beginning phrase of the Offering Formula: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙. This translates to “An Offering the King Gives…”

𓇓 – King 

𓏏𓊵 – Offering (shortened version of 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦)

𓏙 – Gives

Let’s break down each of the hieroglyphic symbols! 

The “Sedge 𓇓” symbol functions as a biliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “sw.” Most commonly, the symbol is used as an ideogram for the word “King,” which is associated with the sound “nswt.”

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 when placed at the end of the word! 

The “bread loaf on a mat 𓊵” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound “ḥtp” and is also an ideogram for “offering slab” which is also associated with the sound “ḥtp.”

The “bread mold 𓏙” symbol is functions as a phonogram for “d” or “ḏj” and also as “rdj” in the word for “give.” 

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