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Reading Hieroglyphs

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱!

A lot of people know him by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œCheops,” which is the Greek version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. However, when you read his cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·, it is very clear that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 is best known for constructing the Great Pyramid at Giza!

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs
The name of the Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

Let’s break down the meaning of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œKhufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱,” which means β€œHe Protects Me.”
𓐍𓅱 – Protects
𓆑 – He
π“…± – Me/I

The β€œplacenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œαΈ«β€ which is kind of like a β€œk” sound. This symbol is actually considered β€œunclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents!

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u and sometimes functions as an ideogram. It mostly appears as a uniliteral phonogram and is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions!

The β€œhorned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œf.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. It can also be the pronoun β€œhe/him.”

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