Egyptian Mythology Symbols and Definitions

8/9/2019 Egyptian Mythology Symbols and Definitions

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Egyptian Mythology

Symbols and Definitions

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Akhet

This sy!ol represents the hori"on #ro $hi%h the sun eerged and disappeared. The hori"onthus e!odied the idea o# !oth sunrise and sunset. &t is siilar to the t$o pea's o# the D(e$or

ountain sy!ol $ith solar dis' in the %enter. )oth the !eginning and the end o# ea%h day $as

guarded !y A'er* a dou!le lion god. &n the +e$ ,ingdo* ara'het/orus in the ori"on/!e%ae the god o# the rising and setting sun. e $as pi%tured as a #al%on* or as a sphin $ith

the !ody o# a lion. The reat 3phin o# i"a is an eaple o# /orus in the ori"on/.

Amenta

This sy!ol represents the 4nder$orld or 5and o# the Dead. riginally it eant the hori"on o#

the sun set. 5ater* it !e%ae the sy!ol o# the $est !an' o# the +ile* $here the sun set and also

$here the Egyptians traditionally !uried their dead.

Ankh

3y!ol o# eternal li#e. The gods are o#ten seen holding an an'h to soeone7s lips this is

%onsidered to !e an o##ering o# /The )reath o# 5i#e/. The !reath you $ill need in the a#terli#e.

Atef
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The ate# %ro$n $as $orn !y siris. &t is ade up o# the $hite %ro$n o# 4pper Egypt and the

red #eathers are representative o# )usiris* siris7s %ult %enter in the Delta.

Ba

The )a is $hat $e ight %all soeones personality. &t $ould leave the !ody at the tie o#

death. During the days the )a $ould a'e itsel# use#ul* at night it $ould return to the to!. Atthis tie* it $ould loo' #or the person to $hi%h it !elonged. This $ould !e the uy*

ho$ever* o#ten the egyptians $ould supply the )a $ith a statue in the li'eness o# the de%eased

in %ase the uy $as lost or daaged.

Canopic Jars

During ui#i%ation the internal organs $ere reoved and pla%ed in #our %ontainers. These%ontainers o#ten have huan or anial-headed stoppers. The $ord* %anopi%* %oes #ro the ree'

nae o# the lo%al god o# 8anopus in the +ile delta* $ho $as represented as a huan-headed pot.

8anopi% (ars %an !e ade o# liestone* ala!aster* $ood* pottery* or even %artonnage. The heads o# the%anopi% (ar represented the Four Sons ofHorus

. . . . .ro le#t to right they are:

Imsety:The huan headed guardian o# the liver

Qebekhsennuef: The #al%on headed guardian o# the intestines.
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Hapy:The !a!oon headed guardian o# the lungs

Duamutef:The (a%'al or $ild dog headed guardian o# the stoa%h.

Deshret

The Red 8ro$n. This $as the %ro$n that represented 5o$er Egypt northern .

D!ed

&t is !elieved that the D(ed is a rendering o# a huan !a%'!one. &t represents sta!ility and strength. &t

$as originally asso%iated $ith the %reation god ;tah. isel# !eing %alled the /+o!le D(ed/. As the

siris%ults too' hold it !e%ae 'no$n as the !a%'!one o# siris. A d(ed %olun is o#ten painted onthe !otto o# %o##ins* $here the !a%'!one o# the de%eased $ould lay* this identi#ied the person $ith

the 'ing o# the under$orld* siris. &t also a%ts as a sign o# sta!ility #or the de%eased7 (ourney into thea#terli#e.

D!e"


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the +e%ropolis./3he is rendered as the head o# a %o$ protruding #ro a ountainside.

Feather of #aat

Represents truth* (usti%e* orality and !alan%e. &t $as pharaoh7s (o! to uphold Maat.


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Hed!et

The


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This sy!ol represents a lap or !ra"ier on a stand #ro $hi%h a #lae eerges. ire $as

e!odied in the sun and in its sy!ol the uraeus$hi%h spit #ire. ire also plays a part in the

Egyptian %on%ept o# the under$orld. There is one terri#ying aspe%t o# the under$orld $hi%h is

siilar to the %hristians %on%ept o# hell. Most egyptians $ould li'e to avoid this pla%e $ith its#iery la'es and rivers that are inha!ited !y #ire deons.

#aat

Represents truth* (usti%e* orality and !alan%e. Deities are o#ten seen standing on this sy!ol* as i#

standing on a #oundation o# Maat.

#enat

This sy!ol represents a heavy !eaded ne%'la%e $ith a %res%ent shaped #ront and a %ounter

pie%e at the rear. &t $as a sy!ol asso%iated $ith the goddess athorand her son* &hy. &n #a%t *athor $as 'no$n as the /reat Menat/.


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naos $as norally pla%ed inside a onolithi% one in hard stone: the latter are typi%al o# the

5ate ;eriod* and soeties ela!orately de%orated. Also used as a ter #or teple san%tuary.

&ebu

This sy!ol represents gold $hi%h $as %onsidered a divine etal* it $as thought to !e the #lesh

o# the gods. &ts polished sur#a%e $as related to the !rillian%e o# the sun. old $as iportant to

the a#terli#e as it represents aspe%ts o# iortality. )y the +e$ ,ingdo* the royal !urial%ha!er $as %alled the /ouse o# old./

&ebty

The t$o ladies o# upper and lo$er Egypt. +e'h!et the vulture goddess* protre%tress o#

4pper Egypt and


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'alm Branch

The Egyptians $ould put a not%h in a pal !ran%h to ar' the passing o# a year in the li#e o# apharaoh. &t sy!oli"ed the easure o# tie.

'et

This sy!ol depi%ts the s'y as a %eiling $hi%h drops at the ends* the sae $ay the real s'y sees to

rea%h #or the hori"on. This sign $as o#ten used in ar%hite%tural oti#s: the top o# $alls* and door#raes. &t sy!oli"es the heavens.

'rimordial moundThe Egyptians !elieved that during %reation this hill rose out o# the sea o# %haos to %reate dry land. Theidea o# this hill rising had a pro#ound e##e%t on the egyptians* !eing used as every thing #ro teple

layouts to the possi!le inspiration !ehind the pyraids. A.,.A!en!enstone

'shent

The Dou!le 8ro$n* the red %ro$n and the $hite %ro$n put together to represent a uni#ied

Egypt. Although Egypt $as not al$ays a uni#ied nation it $as stronger that $ay.There#oreuni#i%ation $as desira!le. +arer Menes* the #ounder o# the irst Dynasty around >100 ).8.*

$as the #irst an re%orded $earing this %ro$n.

(a
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The sun $as the priary eleent o# li#e in an%ient Egypt* $e #ind this iportan%e re#le%ted in

the art and religion. 3oe o# the ost popular gods had a solar %onne%tion. The sun $as #irst

$orshipped as orus* then as Raand later asAun-RaThere are any other representations o#

the sun* in%luding ,hepri* the great s%ara! $ho sy!oli"es orning and the ra-headed god,hnurepresenting evening. During the reign o#A'henaten* the sun $as $orshipped as the

Aten. A #or o# the sun dis' $ith its rays depi%ted as ars holding an'h signs. Another

%oon #or that the sun ta'es is that o# orus )ehudety* the$inged sun dis'#lan'ed !yuraeus.

Sa

This sy!ol eans prote%tion. &ts origins are un%ertain* !ut it is spe%ulated that it represents

either a rolled up herdsan7s shelter or a papyrus li#e-preserver used !y an%ient egyptian

!oaters. Either $ay it is %learly a sy!ol o# prote%tion. ro early ties the sa plays an

iportant part in (e$elry design. &t is o#ten used in %on(un%tion $ith sy!ols* parti%ularly the

an'h* $as and d(ed signs.


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Sema

This is a rendering o# the lungs atta%hed to the $indpipe. As a hieroglyph this sy!ol representsthe uni#i%ation o# 4pper and 5o$er Egypt. ther sy!ols are o#ten added to #urther illustrate

uni#i%ation. There are any #ine eaples o# this sy!ol throughout Egypt.

&n these renderings$e see the Sema!ound $ith t$o plants* the papyrus

and the lotus. The papyrus represents 5o$er Egypt and the lotus represents

4pper Egypt.

&n otherrepresentations$e #ind t$o gods !inding the 3ea together using

lotus and papyrus $hi%h represents the !inding together o# upper and lo$erEgypt.

Sesen

A 5otus lo$er. This is a sy!ol o# the sun* o# %reation and re!irth. )e%ause at night the #lo$er

%loses and sin's under$ater* at da$n it rises and opens again. A%%ording to one %reation yth it

$as a giant lotus $hi%h #irst rose out o# the $atery %haos at the !eginning o# tie. ro this

giant lotus the sun itsel# rose on the #irst day. A sy!ol o# 4pper Egypt

She

A pool o# $ater. The Egyptians portrayed !odies o# $ater !y eans o# e?ually spa%ed verti%al

$ave lines.


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Egypt7s desert %liate depended on $ater* and a pool o# $ater $ould !e a great luury. There

are any to! paintings that sho$ the de%eased drin'ing #ro a pool in the a#terli#e.

Shen

A loop o# rope that has no !eginning and no end* it sy!oli"ed eternity. The sun dis' is o#ten

depi%ted in the %enter o# it. The shen also sees to !e a sy!ol o# prote%tion. &t is o#ten seen

!eing %lut%hed !y deities in !ird #or* orusthe #al%on* Mutthe vulture. overing over;haraohs head $ith their $ings outstret%hed in a gesture o# prote%tion. The $ord shen %oes

#ro the $ord /shenu/ $hi%h eans /en%ir%le*/ and in its elongated #or !e%ae the%artou%he

$hi%h surrounded the 'ing7s nae.

ShenuMore %oonly 'no$ as a %artou%he. The shape represents a loop o# rope in $hi%h a nae is

$ritten. A prote%tor o# that nae. 3ee also shen.

Sistrum

The sistru $as a sa%red per%ussion instruent used in the %ult o# athor. The sistru

%onsisted o# a $ooden or etal #rae #itted $ith loose strips o# etal and dis's $hi%h (ingled

$hen oved. This noise $as thought to attra%t the attention o# the gods. There are t$o types o#sistru* an i!a* $as shaped in a siple loop* li'e a %losed horse-shoe $ith loose %ross !ars o#

etal a!ove a athor head and a long handle. The seseshet had the shape o# a naos teplea!ove a athor head* $ith ornaental loops on the sides. The rattle $as inside the !o o# the

naos. They $ere usually %arried !y $oen o# high ran'.

(ekhyt

This !ird is %alled the 5ap$ing* it is identi#ied !y its head %rest* &ts $ings are pined !a%'preventing it #ro #lying. This sy!ol signi#ies a group o# people. &t is o#ten seen !elo$ the

#eet o# a ruler to signi#y that the people are su!(e%ts o# that ruler.

&n the +e$ ,ingdo* the sy!ol develops huan ars $hi%h are held in the a%t o# giving

praise. &n this #or it %an !e interpreted to ean /a group o# people giving praise./
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)iet

The ea%t origin o# this sy!ol is un'no$n. &n any respe%ts it rese!les an an'he%ept that

its ars %urve do$n. &ts eaning is also reinis%ent o# the an'h* it is o#ten translated to ean

$el#are or li#e. As early as the Third Dynasty $e #ind the tiet !eing used as de%oration $hen itappears $ith !oth the an'hand the d(ed %olun* and later $ith the $as s%epter. The tiet is

asso%iated $ith &sisand is o#ten %alled /the 'not o# &sis/ or /the !lood o# &sis./ &t sees to !e

%alled /the 'not o# &sis/ !e%ause it rese!les a 'not used to se%ure the garents that the gods$ore. The eaning o# /the !lood o# &sis/ is ore o!s%ured !ut it $as o#ten used as a #unerary

aulet ade o# a red stone or glass. &n the 5ate ;eriod the sign $as asso%iated $ith the

goddesses+ephthys* athor* and+utas $ell as $ith &sis. &n all these %ases it sees to

represent the ideas o# resurre%tion and eternal li#e.

*d!at

The sound eye o# orus. 3y!oli"es healing and prote%tion.

*raeus

The %o!ra is an e!le o# 5o$er Egypt. &t is asso%iated $ith the 'ing* and 'ingdo o# 5o$erEgypt. &t is also asso%iated $ith the sun and $ith any deities. The %o!ra represented the /#iery

eye o# Re/* in $hi%h t$o uraei %an !e seen on either side o# a $inged solar dis'. 3tarting inMiddle ,ingdo The uraeus appears as a sy!ol $orn on the %ro$n or headdress o# royalty. &t

is used as a prote%tive sy!ol* the Egyptians !elieved that the %o!ra $ould spit #ire at any

approa%hing eneies.

*shabtis

5iterally translated it eans /to ans$er./ &t is a sall ui#or #igure pla%ed in to!s to do

$or' in the a#terli#e on !ehal# o# the de%eased. &n soe to!s o# the late +e$ ,ingdo $hole

gangs o# usha!ti $or'ers $ere in%luded $ith di##erent tools #or doing di##erent $or'. A%oplete %olle%tion $ould %onsist o# @01 4sha!ti one #or ea%h day o# the year* >6B plus >6

#orean.
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+as

This is a sy!ol o# po$er and doinion. The


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httpCC$$$.h$t-hr$.%oC%elestial.php

Another re#eren%e to /3aturn/ is in relation to 3e!.

The e?uation o# the Egyptian 3e! ,e! $ith the ree' 8ronos is

not an ar!itrary asso%iation. Epert Egyptologists and Assyriologists

have 'no$n #or over a hundred years that 3e! Egyptian* Repa

8opti%* ,ai$an A''adian* 8hiun e!re$* 8ronos ree'* and

3aturn 5atin are all naes o# the sae deity. )udge* 1960:

Tyndale* 1962* et al. 3oeties 3e! 8ronos $as asso%iated $ith a

parti%ularly !right /star/ in the heavens--'no$n to us as the planet

3aturn.

=ust a siple goose or a single star %ould !e used to represent 3e!

8ronos. &n this respe%t* it is interesting that the )i!le only entions

this 3e!-8ronos 8hiun-Rephan in t$o pla%es Aos B26 and A%ts

H@>. &n !oth the #igure o# a star plays a proinent part i.e.* the /star

o# your god/. &t is grati#ying to see this /star/ in the Egyptian glyphsas $ell. Concernin, the reference to the star,od (ephan in the Bible- scholars belie.e it to be /a

deliberate substitution of (epa- a name of Seb- the 0,yptian ,od of the planet Saturn1/ Tyndale*

1962

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&n ters o# the !i!li%al !irth o# =eus and $hat is %oonly o!servedas 8hristas* this is related to the 3aturnalia* a pagan #estival $hi%h

is held to %oeorate the $inter solsti%e.

The 3aturnalia #estival has an astronoi%al %hara%ter* re#erring to the

%opletion o# the sunIs yearly %ourse* and the %oen%eent o# a
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ne$ %y%le. 3aturn* #ro $ho $e get the $ord #or the day o# the

$ee'* 3aturday* represented !y the sun at its lo$est aspe%t at the

$inter solsti%e. The earth is %old* ost plants are dead* and it $as

!elieved that the sun ight also !e approa%hing death. Today $inter

solsti%e is around De%e!er 21* !ut !e%ause o# %alendar %hanges* it$as originally De%e!er 2Bth. 3aturnalia %ele!rated the sun

over%oing the po$er o# $inter* $ith hope o# spring $hen li#e

$ould !e rene$ed.

httpCC$$$.%arnaval.%oCsaturnaliaC

This $as also asso%iated $ith the $orship o# 3ol &nvi%tus.

Sol In.icta Sun 2od3 Feast of Sol In.icta- the *ncon4uered

Sun- set in 567 A1 D1 8December 59The doinate %ult aong

Roe7s elite during the rise o# 8hristianity. A sophisti%ated use o#

ar%hetypal sy!ols and rites o# initiation to e##e%t high oral

standards: Jteperan%e* sel#-%ontrol* and %opassion -- even in

vi%toryK. A early model of #asonry "hich also has roots in the

0,yptian temple system

8on%erning =upiter-3aturn %on(un%tions.

httpCC$$$.astropro.%oC#eaturesCta!lesCgeoC(u-saC(u000sa.htl

As #ar as Mayan ;rophe%y is %on%erned relative to the year 2012* the

Mayan %alendar is appli%a!le to ala%ti%* not planetary alignent.

A5A8T&8 A5&+ME+T

Even ore rare is a gala%ti% alignent. &t o%%urs only #our ties in

every 2B*F20 years* or on%e ever 6000-6B00 years. 2B*F20 years is

the length o# one pre%essional %y%le. The Mayan %alendar entered its
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#inal years in August* 19FH at the tie o# the aroni%

8onvergen%e* and is due to end on the and 16. Lenus $ill

eit the hoop on =une 10* =upiter and Mars on or near =uly @* 2002*#ollo$ed !y Mer%ury on =uly 1F. 3aturn $ill not eit the hoop until

May* 200B.

+oti%e the pla%eent o# 3irius $ithin this alignent.


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httpCCshaani%astrology.%oCastro-ne$sCthe-2002-planetary-

alignent-in-the-sa%red-hoop

httpCCen.$i'ipedia.orgC$i'iC

Documents

Egyptian Mythology Symbols and Definitions