Wosretkau in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Something that makes this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut at the MET so unique is that her Horus name appears instead of her Throne Name (𓇳𓁦𓂓) or Birth Name (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪)! The Horus Name appears in a Serekh which is a different enclosure from a cartouche. The Serekh consists of the Falcon Horus 𓅃 standing on top of a palace facade 𓊁. 

I’m pointing to her Horus Name in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 – Hatshepsut’s Horus Name is “𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓 – Wosretkau or Useretkau.” 

Let’s break down the meaning of her name:

𓄊𓋴𓏏 – Powerful, Mighty, Strong (this is the female version; male version is 𓄊𓋴). 

𓂓𓂓𓂓 – Kas (Souls) 

“Wosretkau” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

The “head and neck of a jackal 𓄊” symbol is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sound “wsr” or “usr.” 

The “folded cloth 𓋴” is a uniliteral phonogram for “s.”

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! 

The “𓂓 two arms” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “ka,” and also functions as an ideogram for the same. The word “ka” has been translated into our modern languages as “soul.” 

I think that is such a cool name 𓂋𓈖 to have! This name 𓂋𓈖 has only been recorded in a couple of places, including the Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Vatican Museum, the Obelisk 𓉶 at Karnak, and on a couple of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 from Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 (like this one at the MET). 

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

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