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Reading Hieroglyphs

Wepwawet in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to learn about another jackal god π“ŠΉ because Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 isn’t the only jackal in ancient Egypt! Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯ is likely the oldest god π“ŠΉ associated with the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ and we are going to learn how to read Wepwawet’s name in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions. Wepwawet’s π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– translates to β€œOpener of the Ways,” which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯ were also carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions for this reason!Β 

Wepwawet in Hieroglyphs
Wepwawet in Hieroglyphs and a small statue of Wepwawet that was most likely part of a standard (a staff used in ceremonies)

Let’s take a look at Wepwawet’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯ (this is the variant in the picture)

π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯𓃧

π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯𓁒

π“„‹π“ˆπ“ˆπ“ˆ

π“„‹π“ˆπ“ˆπ“ˆπ“€­

𓃧

Let’s break down the symbols! 

The β€œhorns 𓄋” symbol is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound of β€œwp.” 

The β€œpath with shrubs π“ˆβ€ symbol is an ideogram for the words β€œroad” and β€œway.” and represents the sound β€œw3t.” It can also be a determinative for β€œroad.” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” Here it is acting as a phonetic complement and emphasizing the β€œt” sound at the end of β€œw3t π“ˆ.” 

The β€œthree strokes π“₯” symbol is what makes β€œways” plural in Wepwawet’s name! The β€œthree strokes π“₯” is associated with the sound β€œw” when making a word plural. The β€œpath with shrubs π“ˆβ€ symbol can also be repeated three times to make it plural. 

The β€œjackal on a standard 𓃧” symbol is both an ideogram and a determinative for β€œWepwawet.” This is why Wepwawet’s name can be written with just the symbol! This is the most common determinative to see associated with his name.

Wepwawet in Hieroglyphs
A small bronze statue of the god Wepwawet, which was most likely part of a standard.

One way to tell Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“π“₯ and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is usually shown in the recumbent position (𓃒, 𓃣, 𓃀) while Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 is usually shown standing up (𓃧, 𓃨).

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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