Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name 𓂋𓈖 “Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪.”

Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 name is a combination of two different Middle Egyptian words! Let’s break down the two words:

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (𓈖 – n) (𓍿- t) (𓅱 – u/w)

𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Hotep (𓊵 – htp) (𓏏 – t) (𓊪 – p) 

Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 refers to of the falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 of war who was mainly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” translates to the word “satisfied” or “content.” The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” can also mean “offering” or “peace!” The name 𓂋𓈖 Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 means “Montu is satisfied” or “Montu is content.” 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols! 

The “𓏠 game board and pieces” is a biliteral phonogram. The “ 𓏠” is associated with the sound “mn” which could be pronounced like “men,” “mun,” “mon,” etc. 

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram associated with the sound of “n!” Here it is a phonetic complement! 

The “𓍿 hobble/tie” is a uniliteral phonogram sign associated with the sounds of “ṯ” or “t.” 

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u. 

The “bread loaf on mat 𓊵” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound “ḥtp” and is also an ideogram for “offering slab” which is also associated with the sound “ḥtp.”

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” Here it is a phonetic complement! 

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.” Here it is a phonetic complement! 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and most importantly, my Nonno!