Flail and Crook
A symbol of royalty, majesty and dominion. |
Primordial Hill
The Egyptians believed that during creation this hill rose out of the sea of chaos to
create dry land. The idea of this hill rising had a profound effect on the egyptians,
being used as every thing from temple layouts to the possible inspiration behind the
pyramids. |
Shen
A loop of rope that has no beginning and no end, it symbolized eternity. The sun disk is
often depicted in the center of it. The shen also seems to be a symbol of protection. It
is often seen being clutched by deities in bird form, Horus the falcon, Mut the vulture.
Hovering over Pharaohs head with their wings outstretched in a gesture of protection. The
word shen comes from the word "shenu" which means "encircle," and in
its elongated form became the cartouche which surrounded the king's name. |
Udjat
The sound eye of Horus. Symbolizes healing and protection. |
Ka
The ka is usually translated as "soul" or "spirit" The ka came into
existence when an individual was born. It was believed that the ram-headed god Khnum
crafted the ka on his potter's wheel at a persons birth. It was thought that when someone
died they "met their ka". A persons ka would live on after their body had died.
Some tombs included model houses as the ka needed a place to live. Offerings of food and
drink would be left at the tomb entrance so the ka could eat and drink. |
Winged Solar Disk
This is a form that the god Horus Behudety (Horus of Edfu) takes in his battles with Seth.
The god Thoth used his magic to turn Horus into a sun-disk with splendid outstretched
wings. The goddesses Nekhbet and Uazet in the form of uraeus snakes joined him at his
side. |
Tiet
The exact origin of this symbol is unknown. In many respects it resembles an ankh except
that its arms curve down. Its meaning is also reminiscent of the ankh, it is often
translated to mean welfare or life. As early as the Third Dynasty we find the tiet being
used as decoration when it appears with both the ankh and the djed column, and later with
the was scepter. The tiet is associated with Isis and is often called "the knot of
Isis" or "the blood of Isis." It seems to be called "the knot of
Isis" because it resembles a knot used to secure the garments that the gods wore. The
meaning of "the blood of Isis" is more obscured but it was often used as a
funerary amulet made of a red stone or glass. In the Late Period the sign was associated
with the goddesses Nephthys, Hathor, and Nut as well as with Isis. In all these cases it
seems to represent the ideas of resurrection and eternal life. |
Djew
Which means mountain, the symbol suggests two peaks with the Nile valley in the middle.
The Egyptians believed that there was a cosmic mountain range that held up the heavens.
This mountain range had two peaks, the western peak was called Manu, while the eastern
peak was called Bakhu. It was on these peaks that heaven rested. Each peak of this
mountain chain was guarded by a lion deity, who's job it was to protect the sun as it rose
and set. The mountain was also a symbol of the tomb and the afterlife, probably because
most Egyptian tombs were located in the mountainous land bordering the Nile valley. In
some texts we find Anubis, the gaurdian of the tomb being referred to as "He who is
upon his mountain." Sometimes we find Hathor takeing on the attributes of a deity of
the afterlife, at this time she is called "Mistress of the Necropolis." She is
rendered as the head of a cow protruding from a mountainside. |
Atef
The atef crown was worn by Osiris. It is made up of the white crown of Upper Egypt and the
red feathers are representative of Busiris, Osiris's cult center in the Delta. |
Pshent
The Double Crown, the red crown and the white crown put together to represent a unified
Egypt. Although Egypt was not always a unified nation it was stronger that way.Therefore
unification was desirable. Narmer (Menes), the founder of the First Dynasty around 3100
B.C., was the first man recorded wearing this crown. |
Sesen
A Lotus Flower. This is a symbol of the sun, of creation and rebirth. Because at night the
flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. According to one
creation myth it was a giant lotus which first rose out of the watery chaos at the
beginning of time. From this giant lotus the sun itself rose on the first day. A symbol of
Upper Egypt |
Khet
This symbol represents a lamp or brazier on a stand from which a flame emerges. Fire was
embodied in the sun and in its symbol the uraeus which spit fire. Fire also plays a part
in the Egyptian concept of the underworld. There is one terrifying aspect of the
underworld which is similar to the christians concept of hell. Most egyptians would like
to avoid this place with its fiery lakes and rivers that are inhabited by fire demons. |
Ieb
This symbol represents a heart. The Egyptian believed the heart was the center of all
consciousness, even the center of life itself. When someone died it was said that their
"heart has departed." It was the only organ that was not removed from the body
during mummification. In the Book of the dead, it was the heart that was weighed against
the feather of Maat to see if an individual was worthy of joining Osiris in the afterlife. |
Nebu
This symbol represents gold which was considered a divine metal, it was thought to be the
flesh of the gods. Its polished surface was related to the brilliance of the sun. Gold was
important to the afterlife as it represents aspects of immortality. By the New Kingdom,
the royal burial chamber was called the "House of Gold." |