Cleopatra's Needle Part 8

PYLON (=An=) _Heliopolis_.

CIRCLE with CROSS (=nu=) determinative of a city.

MOUTH (=r=)} } The two phonetics form _ra_, _giving_.

ARM (=a=) }

SEMICIRCLE (=ta=) _the_.

CERASTES (=ef=) _him_.

THRONE (=kher=) _throne_.

GOOSE (=s=)} The two phonetics form _sb_ or _Seb_, name of a G.o.d. Seb } was the Chronos of the Greeks, the Saturn of the Latins.

LEG (=b=) }

HORNS ON A POLE (=aa=) _dignity_. On the horns is a coiled rope.

ZIGZAG (=en=) _of_.

BEETLE (=khep=) _Kheper_. The scarabeus or sacred beetle, dedicated to Ra and Ptah.

The remaining hieroglyphs of this column have already been explained (_see_ p. 80), except the two small hieroglyphs beside the nomen Thothmes, and the termination of the column.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (=nefer=) _holy_. This instrument resembles a heart surmounted by a cross. Some think it represents a guitar, and from the purifying effects of music, became the symbol for goodness or holiness.

OSTRICH FEATHER (=shu=) _true_. The usual symbol of truth. The nomen therefore in this case may be rendered, "Thothmes, the holy, the true."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

BENNU (=bennu=) sacred bird of An. This _bennu_ is usually depicted with two long feathers on the back of the head.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "An or Heliopolis."]

PYLON or gateway, is a hieroglyph that stands for _An_ or _On_, the Greek Heliopolis. Its great antiquity is shown from the fact that the city is referred to in the Book of Genesis under the name of _On_, translated O? in the Septuagint: "And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On.... And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Mana.s.seh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him."

Heliopolis was by the ancient Egyptians named Benbena, "the house of pyramidia;" but as no pyramids proper ever existed at On, the monuments alluded to are either pylons, that is, gateways of temples, or obelisks.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER XI.

THE HIEROGLYPHICS OF THOTHMES III.

_Translation of the Fourth Side._

"Horus, beloved of Osiris, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Ra-men-Kheper, making offerings, beloved of the G.o.ds, supplying the altar of the three Spirits of Heliopolis, with a sound life hundreds of thousands of festivals of thirty years, very many; Son of the Sun, Thothmes, divine Ruler, beloved of Haremakhu, ever-living."

The first part of the inscription, "Horus, beloved of Osiris, king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Ra-men-Kheper," is similar to the other faces, except that the figure of Osiris, the benignant declining sun, occurs.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Making offerings, beloved of the G.o.ds, supplying the altar of the three Spirits of Heliopolis."]

CHESSBOARD (=men=) _making_.

THREE VASES (=menu=) _offerings_. Plurality is indicated by the vase being repeated thrice.

HAND PLOUGH (=mer=) _beloved_.

HATCHET (=neter=) _G.o.d_. The three vertical lines before the hatchet indicate plurality.

LONG SERPENT (=g=) phonetic } } The two form _gef_, _supplying_.

HORNED SNAKE (=ef=) phonetic}

ALTAR, _altar_.

ZIGZAG (=nu=) _of_.

THREE BIRDS, _three spirits_. These birds represent the bennu, or sacred bird of Heliopolis, supposed to be an incarnation of a solar G.o.d. Three are depicted to represent respectively the three solar deities, Horus, Ra, Tum.

PYLON (=An=) _Heliopolis_.

VASE (=n=) complement to (_An_).

CIRCLE with CROSS (=nu=) determinative of city An.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "With a sound life, hundreds of thousands of festivals of thirty years, very many."]

OWL (=em=) _with_.

CROSS (=ankh=) _life_. This hieroglyph is the usual symbol of life. It is therefore known as the key of life, and from its shape is called _crux ansata_, "handled cross." It ought to be distinguished from the musical instrument called sistrum, which it somewhat resembles.

SCEPTRE (=uas=) _sound_. The sceptre usually stands for power, but power in life is soundness of health.

LITTLE MAN (=hefen=) _hundreds of thousands_. This little figure with hands upraised is the usual symbol for an indefinite number, and may be rendered millions, or as above.

PALACE (=heb=) _festivals_. _See_ face one.

SWALLOW (=ur=) _very_. This symbol generally means great. Here it is an intensive, very.

LIZARD (=ast=) _many_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Making offerings to their Majesties at two seasons of the year, that he might repose by means of them."]

OFFERING (=hotep=) _offering_. The three vertical lines indicating plurality may refer both to offering and succeeding hieroglyph.