Letโs read some Hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Today we are going to learn about another jackal god ๐น because Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ isnโt the only jackal in ancient Egypt! Wepwawet ๐๐๐๐ฅ is likely the oldest god ๐น associated with the jackal ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฅ and we are going to learn how to read Wepwawet’s name in hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
Wepwawet ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions. Wepwawetโs ๐๐๐๐ฅ name ๐๐ translates to โOpener of the Ways,โ which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun ๐ณ๐บ to rise in the sky ๐ช๐๐ฏ, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐. Statues ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ๐ช of Wepwawet ๐๐๐๐ฅ were also carried in front of a pharaoh ๐๐ป during processions for this reason!ย
Letโs take a look at Wepwawetโs name ๐๐ in hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
๐๐๐๐ฅ (this is the variant in the picture)
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ง
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข
๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ญ
๐ง
Letโs break down the symbols!
The โhorns ๐โ symbol is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound of โwp.โ
The โpath with shrubs ๐โ symbol is an ideogram for the words โroadโ and โway.โ and represents the sound โw3t.โ It can also be a determinative for โroad.โ
The โflat loaf of bread ๐โ is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound โt.โ Here it is acting as a phonetic complement and emphasizing the โtโ sound at the end of โw3t ๐.โ
The โthree strokes ๐ฅโ symbol is what makes โwaysโ plural in Wepwawetโs name! The โthree strokes ๐ฅโ is associated with the sound โwโ when making a word plural. The โpath with shrubs ๐โ symbol can also be repeated three times to make it plural.
The โjackal on a standard ๐งโ symbol is both an ideogram and a determinative for โWepwawet.โ This is why Wepwawetโs name can be written with just the symbol! This is the most common determinative to see associated with his name.
One way to tell Wepwawet ๐๐๐๐ฅ and Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is usually shown in the recumbent position (๐ข, ๐ฃ, ๐ค) while Wepwawet ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง is usually shown standing up (๐ง, ๐จ).
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
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