Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Amun in Hieroglyphs

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

The inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 spells out the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί! While many gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ had different variations on how to write their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs, the spelling of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί was pretty consistent, which makes it an easy name π“‚‹π“ˆ– to recognize!

Let’s breakdown Amun-Ra’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί name π“‚‹π“ˆ– into each individual symbol!

𓇋 – phonogram symbols for β€œj”
𓏠 – phonogram for β€œmn”
π“ˆ– – phonogram symbols for β€œn”
𓇳 – ideogram for β€œRa” (𓇳 can also be a determinative for sun, day, and time)
𓏺 – not pronounced! The β€œπ“Ίβ€ is there for spacing/aesthetic purposes!

Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί is the combination of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ (originally god π“ŠΉ of the air, then evolved to become chief of the Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 (god π“ŠΉ of the sun 𓇳𓏺). During the New Kingdom, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ and Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 were merged to create the single deity Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί. Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί was considered to be the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 and protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί was extremely popular and took on a cult-like following.