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ANT 446 / 646:

Explorers / Mummies / Hieroglyphs:


A thematic coverage of Ancient Egypt
Adapted by G. Mumford for use with Collier & Manley How to Read Egyptian

Lect.-*: Hieroglyphs chapter-2.


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-15
Section-11: 2-consonant signs.
• Already seen uni / 1-consonantal signs (i.e., alphabet)
• This group represents 2-consonantal signs (i.e., biliterals).

= biliteral sign with combined values of “p” and “r”

= used with a complimentary “r” (= pr NOT prr)


and walking-legs determinative:
i.e., motion  verb: “to go (out).”

• This textbook uses about 80 2-consonantal signs (biliterals)

• More biliterals occur in Egyptian hieroglyphs.


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-15
Section-11: 2-consonantal signs
• The following biliterals represent some common examples of the sign & usage:
(More examples are listed on page 128 in the sign list).

+ = b3k + seated man det.


= biliteral b3-sign with complementary 3 an additional letter k and a det. (man)
 the word for “servant” (a 2-consonantal, 1-consonantal, and a determinative).
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-16
Section-11: 2-consonant signs.
• The placement of useful/complementary 1-consonantal (uni-consonantal) signs
aids in the appearance and pronunciation of biliteral (2-consonantal) signs.
• i.e., Additional & variables letters are Sound complements

• The biliteral “pr” may have a sound complement “r”


 it is only read as “pr” NOT “prr”

• Here the biliteral b3 is only read “b3”


• while the “k” is an extra/separate letter
• The seated person is a determinative
• Thus, it is read b3k  “servant” (with person det. versus “work”)
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-16
Section-11: 2-consonant signs.
• The Egyptian language contains a wide range of different spellings for the
same word.

b3k = “servant” (fuller variant spelling)

• Since learning ancient Egyptian involves mainly transliteration


& translation, one need only be aware that various variants exist.
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-17
Section-12: 3-consonant signs.
• 3-consonantal (tri-consonantal; triliteral) signs contain three letter values for a
single symbol / hieroglyph.
• Like 2-consonantal (biliteral) signs, they can have 1 or 2 sound complements:
• Fortunately, far fewer 3-consonantal (triliteral) signs exist.
• They are associated often with emblems.
• Some also become the entire word (without any other symbols).
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-17
Section-12: 3-consonant signs.
• The phrase below, seen in chp.1, is a very common epithet associated with
the blessed dead (i.e., successfully judged to have had good conduct in life).

• The above epithet can be analyzed as follows:

m3 = a 2-consonantal / biliteral sign

= a 3-consonantal / triliteral sign

m3‘ = a 3-consonantal and 2-consonantal together(!)


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-17
Section-13: Ideograms (sound-meaning signs [indicated by stroke]).
• Ideograms are sound-meaning signs that combine both “sound” & “meaning”
i.e., closest to our view of a picture script.

• Each of these ideograms is followed by a short vertical stroke


i.e., indicating that the sign is to be understood as such.
i.e., also revealing that only “one” item is meant (one heart).
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-18
Section-13: Ideograms (sound-meaning signs).
• Sound-meaning signs often have sound-complements / determinatives.

• TIP: focus more on learning words in their composite letter groups


rather than getting tied up with all the component parts.

• i.e., Learning the vocabulary word lists will assist one in mastering
word recognition much faster than working from bottom-up.
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-18
Section-14: Variant writings.
• Hieroglyphic words display a fair range of differences in appearance & spelling
since their placement within a text may have varying space constraints.
• The epithet “true of voice” can be written several ways, from a long version
to a minimal short version:
i.e., simply an abbreviation easily & immediately recognized in context.

• NOTE: m3‘ is NEVER written out using uni/1-consonantal signs.

it uses the triliteral sign (which may be aided with the biliteral m3).
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-18
Section-15: Writing the plural (see also p. 149).
• The plural is indicated several ways:
• E.g., Multiple plural strokes: I I I
• E.g., A “w”-sign (quail chick; spiral)

• E.g., Sometimes repeating determinative three times (= not as common)


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-19
Section-15: Writing the plural (see also p. 149).
• Egyptian language also used a dual-ending: i.e., TWO …

• Masculine dual:

• Feminine dual:
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-19
Section-16: nb (“all”; “every”; “any”) versus nb (“lord”).
• The two words “nb” are very common in Egyptian hieroglyphs.

(1). nb for “all” etc.

• It is distinguished by its usage like an adjective:


i.e., placed after a noun
i.e., agrees with preceding noun in number & gender.

(2). nb for “lord”

• It is distinguished by being used first (often before another noun):


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-20
Section-17: Royal names and titles.
• The Egyptian kings had five titles from the Old Kingdom onwards:
(a) Serekh/Horus-name; (b) Golden Horus name; (c) Two Ladies name
(d) Prenomen; (e) Nomen.
• The most common = the Horus-name & two cartouches (prenomen-nomen)
• HORUS name:
King = designated as “Horus” (the earthly son & heir of Osiris)

• Horus name for King Senwosret I (Greek form = Sesostris)


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-20
Section-17: Royal names and titles.
• PRENOMEN (1st cartouche = throne name [taken later]):
• Introduced by a title: nsw-bity (“King of the dualities”/“Dual king”)
i.e., commonly translated as King of Upper and Lower Egypt

• Prenomen (throne) name of King Senwosret I

• NOTE: The divine name R‘ is placed first (honorific transposition)


RA + Kheper + ka
but is actually transliterated & pronounced last (*Classical texts):
Kheper-ka-RA
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-21
Section-17: Royal names and titles.
• PRENOMEN (1st cartouche = throne name [taken later]):

• Other titles also often appear with the prenomen


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-20
Section-16: Royal names and titles.
• NOMEN (2st cartouche = birth name [like family name]):
• Introduced often by the title “Son of Re.” (earthly heir of sun-god)
• Egyptologist refer to this name usually, adding I, II, III, IV, etc. to
distinguish multiple rulers with one name (not used by Anc. Egy.).

• Nomen (birth) name of King Senwosret I


• Honorific transposition in use here as well:
Weseret + sen  Sen-weseret
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-21
Section-18: Royal epithets.
• Various epithets and titles often appear alongside the king’s
name(s) and titles.
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-21
Section-19: Dating.
• The main Egyptian dating system followed the regnal years
of individual kings: i.e., a formulaic way of expressing dates.
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-21
Section-19: Dating.
• The year dates are
expressed using
hieroglyphic numerals:

• Few kings ruled more than


90 years, hence the above
numbers are the only ones
seen in year dates.
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-21
Section-19: Dating.
• An example of a year date for King Amenemhet III (Dyn.12):

• NOTE: The cartouche omits an “N” often found in the full writing
of Amenemhet III’s prenomen: Ny-maat-re
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-23
EXERCISES:
2.1. Signs: MEMORIZE & PRACTICE WRITING:
(a). 2-consonantal signs (biliterals):

1. _____________ 2. ____________ 3. ____________ 4. ___________ 5. ___________

6. _____________ 7. ____________ 8. ____________ 9. ___________ 10.___________

11._____________ 12.____________ 13.____________14.___________15.___________


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-23
EXERCISES:
2.1. Signs: MEMORIZE & PRACTICE WRITING:
(b). 3-consonantal signs (triliterals):

1. ________________ 2. ______________ 3. ______________ 4. _______________

5. ________________ 6. ______________ 7. ______________ 8. _______________

9. ________________ 10.______________ 11.______________12._______________

ADD: 13. ______________


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-23
EXERCISES:
2.1. Signs: MEMORIZE & PRACTICE WRITING:
(c). Ideograms:

1a. ___________________ 1b. _______________ 1c. ________________

2a. __________________ 2b. _______________ 2c. ________________

3a. ___________________ 3b.________________ 3c._________________


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-24
EXERCISES:
2.2. Words: MEMORIZE & TRANSLITERATE:
(a). Copy the following words:
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-24
EXERCISES:
2.3. Variant writings: IDENTIFY EACH SIGN WITHIN THESE VARIANTS:
(a). Copy the following words:

(1). ___________________________________________________________

(2). ___________________________________________________________

(3). ____________________________________________________________

(4). ____________________________________________________________
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-25
EXERCISES:
2.4. Expressions: TRANSLATE & TRANSLITERATE:

(a). ___________________________________________________________

(b). ___________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

(c). _______________________________________

_______________________________________
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-25
EXERCISES:
2.5. Words: COPY EACH PART OF THE FOLLOWING & READ TEXT:

(1a).____________ or _______ Translit. _________ Translation: __________________

(2a)._________ or __________ Translit. _________ Translation: __________________

(3a).______________________ Translit. _________ Translation: __________________


Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-25
EXERCISES:
2.6. Dating: (a) TRANSLITERATE and (b) TRANSLATE:

(1a). __________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(1b). ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-25
EXERCISES:
2.6. Dating: (a) TRANSLITERATE (L-R) & (b) TRANSLATE; (Egy. = Left to right):

(2a). __________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(2b). ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-26
EXERCISES:
2.6. Dating: (a) TRANSLITERATE (L-R) & (b) TRANSLATE; (Egy. = Left to right):

(3a). __________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(3b). ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-26
EXERCISES:
2.7. Cartouches: (a) TRANSLITERATE & TRANSCRIBE / VOCALIZE 1st NAME:
• Following example (below), transliterate the first cartouche (above 2nd name)
and then convert the transliteration into a vocalized version (above 2nd name)

First name: Second name:


(exercise) (provided below)

(1a)
(1a) (1b)
(1b)

(2a)
(2a) (2b)
(2b)
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-26
EXERCISES:
2.7. Cartouches: (a) TRANSLITERATE & TRANSCRIBE / VOCALIZE 1st NAME:
First name: Second name:
(exercise) (provided below)
(3a)
(3a) (3b)
(3a)

(4a)
(4a) (4b)
(4a)

(5a)
(5a) (5b)
(5a)

(6a)
(6a) (6b)
(6b)

(7a)
(7a) (7b)
(7b)
Chapter 2: More uses of hieroglyphs: PAGE-26
EXERCISES:
2.7. Cartouches: (a) TRANSLITERATE & TRANSCRIBE / VOCALIZE 1st NAME:
GUIDE:
2.8. Study exercise: Transliterate cartouches of NK Kings.
1.____________________________

2.____________________________

3.____________________________

4.____________________________

5.____________________________

6.____________________________

7.____________________________

8.____________________________

9.____________________________

10____________________________

11____________________________

12____________________________
2.8. Study exercise: Transliterate cartouches of NK Kings.

13.___________________________________________________________________

14.___________________________________________________________________

15.___________________________________________________________________

16.___________________________________________________________________
2.9. Study Exercise: BM EA 117 Abydos King List of Ramesses II.

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