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Reading Hieroglyphs

Usermaatre Setep En Ra

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at one of the many cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–! This cartouche is his throne name cartouche, which is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– took when he became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!Β 

Usermaatre Setep En Ra
The throne name cartouche of Rameses II which reads Usermaatre Setep En Ra on display at the British Museum

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œUsermaatre setep en Ra π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–β€ translates to β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

π“„Š – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

π“‰π“ˆ– – Chosen

Usermaatre Setep En Ra
The throne name cartouche of Rameses II which reads Usermaatre Setep En Ra on display at the British Museum

Let’s break down each of the symbols:Β 

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.”

The β€œhead and neck of jackal π“„Šβ€ symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sounds β€œwsr” which means β€œpowerful” or β€œstrong.” 

The β€œgoddess with a feather 𓁧” symbol is a determinative for β€œMaat” and is also an ideogram for the same. The word β€œMaat” can refer to the goddess or the word β€œJustice.” 

The β€œadze and block of wood 𓍉” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound β€œstp.”

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is a uniliteral phonogram. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

This cartouche is part of the King’s List, which is on display at the British Museum.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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