Chemistry:Gold (hieroglyph)
| <hiero>S12</hiero> |
| Gold in hieroglyphs |
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The Egyptian hieroglyph representing gold (𓋞 Gardiner S12), phonetic value nb, is important due to its use in the Horus-of-Gold name, one of the Fivefold Titulary names of the Egyptian pharaoh.
In its determinative usage, it identifies any precious metal, [1] and as an ideogram in "gold" specifically (Egyptian nbw, whence Coptic ⲛⲟⲩⲃ nūb).[2][3]
The hieroglyph represents a large gold and pearl necklace.[4] Old Kingdom scenes show dwarfs metalworking the gold,[5] and "stringing the pearls of gold".[6]
Derived forms
Three variants of the gold hieroglyph are ligatured with another hieroglyph:[7]
Usage
Horus-of-Gold name
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The meaning of this particular title has been disputed. One belief is that it represents the triumph of Horus over his uncle Seth, as the symbol for gold can be taken to mean that Horus was "superior to his foes". Gold also was strongly associated in the ancient Egyptian mind with eternity, so this may have been intended to convey the pharaoh's eternal Horus name.
The combination of the Horus falcon and the gold hieroglyph is frequently found on Ancient Egyptian pectorals (see image).
Gold
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In the Old Egyptian Palermo Stone inscription (late 24th or early 23rd century BC), the hieroglyph is used in the phrases "first counting of gold" and "collar of gold".
One spelling of the word "gold", nbw, in the Egyptian language, uses the melted nugget determinative, <hiero>N33B</hiero> (a small circle), and the plural strokes (3-strokes).
Late Period coinage
One of the few coins minted for ancient Egypt is the gold stater, issued during the 30th Dynasty. The reverse of the gold stater shows a horse reared up on its hind legs. The obverse has the two hieroglyphs for nfr and nb: "Perfect gold", or a common-era term: 'Fine'-gold.
Goddess Nephthys upon the Gold hieroglyph, sarcophagus of Ramesses III
Book of the Dead detail, goddesses on gold, with djed pillar, ankh, Ra, and baboons
Columnar stele with Unas cartouche
See also
- Gardiner's Sign List#S. Crowns, Dress, Staves, etc
- List of Egyptian hieroglyphs
- Nebu
References
- ↑ Betrò, 1994, Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, p. 176.
- ↑ Allen, James P. (2013-07-11) (in en). The Ancient Egyptian Language: An Historical Study. Cambridge University Press. pp. 71. ISBN 978-1-107-03246-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=Gd6aAAAAQBAJ&q=ancient+egyptian+allen&pg=PP1.
- ↑ Betrò, 1994, p. 176.
- ↑ Schumann-Antelme, Illustrated Hieroglyphics Handbook, p. 166.
- ↑ Betrò, 1994, p. 176.
- ↑ Betrò, 1994, p. 176.
- ↑ Betrò, 1994, Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, p. 176.
- Betrò, Maria Carmela. Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, c. 1995, 1996-(English), Abbeville Press Publishers, New York, London, Paris (hardcover, ISBN:0-7892-0232-8)
- Budge, The Rosetta Stone, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1929, Dover edition(unabridged), 1989. (softcover, ISBN:0-486-26163-8)
- Schumann-Antelme, and Rossini, 1998. Illustrated Hieroglyphics Handbook, Ruth Schumann-Antelme, and Stéphane Rossini. c 1998, English trans. 2002, Sterling Publishing Co. (Index, Summary lists (tables), selected uniliterals, biliterals, and triliterals.) (softcover, ISBN:1-4027-0025-3)
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