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Hieroglyphic Flash Cards

Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œMaatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓.” 

Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓
The cartouche of Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 as seen on a relief at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

The version of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is β€œMaatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

Let’s take a closer look at what the symbols in her name mean:

𓇳 – Re

𓁦 – Maat (Truth) 

π“‚“ – Ka (Soul)

Let’s break down each of the symbols: 

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, today, and for words associated with time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.” Re is written first but pronounced last due to β€œhonorific transposition” – the name of the god is written first out of respect. 

The β€œπ“¦ goddess with a feather” symbol is used commonly as a determinative in the name for the goddess Maat, but is also commonly used as an ideogram for the word β€œmaat” which means β€œtruth.” 

The β€œπ“‚“ two arms” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œka,” and also functions as an ideogram for the same. The word β€œka” has been translated into our modern languages as β€œsoul.” 

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