Tag: cleopatra iv

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to take a closer look at Cleopatra VII’s 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 is arguably one of the most famous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to ever rule Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and one of the most famous women in history. Even though Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 was Greek, she is considered to be the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

This picture shows the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇! Since Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 was Greek and not native Egyptian, this cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of hers is very phonetic – most of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 used are uniliteral signs, which means that they correspond to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. 

Let’s take a closer look! 

𓈎 – The “sandy slope 𓈎” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram associated with the sound “q.”

𓃭 – the “recumbent lion 𓃭” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for the sound “rw,” however, during the Hellenistic Period it adopted the sound of “L.” 

𓇋 – The “reed 𓇋” represents the sound of “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

𓍯 – The “lasso 𓍯” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for “w3” (wah) but became evolved to adopt the sound of “o.”

𓊪 – The “stool 𓊪” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.” 

𓄿 – The “Egyptian Vulture 𓄿” represents the sound “3” which would be pronounced like “ah.” 

𓂧 – The “hand 𓂧” represents the sound “d” and is also the ideogram for the word “hand.” 

𓂋 – The “mouth 𓂋” symbol is used to represent the sound “r.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

𓏏 – 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.”

𓄿 – see above!

𓆇 – The “egg 𓆇” symbol is kind of used as a determinative here?? The “egg 𓆇” is usually used this way in the name of the goddess “Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇,” who was a very popular deity at the time so there is probably a relation. The “egg 𓆇” symbol can adopt different sounds depending on how it’s used. 

It’s pretty cool to see the versatility of the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols with examples of foreign names 𓂋𓈖𓏦! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.