Tag: khufu

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱!

A lot of people know him by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œCheops,” which is the Greek version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. However, when you read his cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·, it is very clear that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 is best known for constructing the Great Pyramid at Giza!

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs
The name of the Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

Let’s break down the meaning of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œKhufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱,” which means β€œHe Protects Me.”
𓐍𓅱 – Protects
𓆑 – He
π“…± – Me/I

The β€œplacenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œαΈ«β€ which is kind of like a β€œk” sound. This symbol is actually considered β€œunclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents!

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u and sometimes functions as an ideogram. It mostly appears as a uniliteral phonogram and is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions!

The β€œhorned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œf.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. It can also be the pronoun β€œhe/him.”

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

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Pharaoh Narmer or Khufu?

Which pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is this – Narmer 𓆒𓍋 or Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱?Β  We will probably never know!!Β  This is both the best and most frustrating part about Egyptology sometimes – it’s the mystery and the β€œnot knowing.” 

Is this Pharaoh Narmer or Khufu? We will probably never know!

The awkward photography aside (I have never claimed to be good at photography, just hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ), this is a very fascinating statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Petrie Museum in London! Petrie thought this head of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represented Narmer 𓆒𓍋, while Egyptologists today believe that it depicts Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱. 

Narmer 𓆒𓍋, also referred to as his throne name Menes π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹, was the first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of a united Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and the founder of the First Dynasty. His rule π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ began around 2900 B.C.E., which was when Upper 𓇓 and Lower Egypt 𓆀 were united into one kingdom. The β€œNarmer Palette” is the most famous depiction of this pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 as not much art has survived from so long ago. The name β€œMenes π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹β€ means β€œHe Who Endures,” which is very fitting for Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the Fourth Dynasty, and is most well known for commissioning the construction of what is now known as the β€œGreat Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 of Giza.” This is the only aspect of Khufu’s 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ that has been documented – we actually don’t know much about him! Only one small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 has been found to date, so it would be pretty cool if this was actually Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 means β€œHe Protects Me.” 

I actually have no idea who this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is meant to depict – it could honestly be either pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Who do you think is shown here – Narmer 𓆒𓍋 or Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱? Β