Tyet Knot and Djed Pillar

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 art is from a Roman Period mummy mask of a woman and is dated to 60 – 70 A.D. It’s always incredible to me how art that is just about 2000 years old has paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 and colors that still look brand new! This art shows two Tyet Knots 𓎬 and a Djed Pillar 𓊽 (middle). 

The origin of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 is most likely from the predynastic times while Tyet Knot 𓎬 is from the First Dynasty/Early Dynastic Period. This means that these symbols were over 3000 years old when this mask was made! It always amazes me how the same religious symbols just persisted through Egyptian history! 

The Tyet Knot 𓎬, also known as the Isis knot 𓎬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and came to be associated with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that knots 𓎬 were able to bind and then release magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜.

The Djed Pillar 𓊽 represents the word and concept of Stability in ancient Egypt. The Djed pillar 𓊽 is thought to be the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, hence why it takes on the meaning of “stability.” 

The Isis Knots 𓎬  and the Djed Pillar 𓊽 were also mostly used in a funerary context, such as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏦 that were placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 or as part of spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

While both the Tyet Knot 𓎬 and Djed Pillar appear in art frequently, they are also both hieroglyphic symbols and appear in inscriptions! 

The “reed column 𓊽” more commonly known as the “Djed Pillar” is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound “ḏd” which sounds like “Djed.” It also functions as an ideogram for “Stability.” 

The “tie 𓎬” is an ideogram for “Tyet Knot 𓎬” or “Isis Knot 𓎬” and is a triliteral phonogram associated with the sound “tjt” which would be pronounced like “tyet.” 

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

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