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Hieroglyphic Flash Cards

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the birth name of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 β€œRameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“.”

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œRameses II” was given to him by historians, but his birth name was actually β€œRamessu Mery Amun π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“,” which translates to β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun” or β€œRa Bore Him, Beloved of Amun.” 

Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely! The names of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ are written first due to honorific transposition!

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

π“ˆ˜ – Beloved (mry)

π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of (msi-sw)

Let’s break down each of the symbols: 

The β€œfalcon with the sun disc 𓁛” symbol is both a determinative and ideogram for β€œRa.” 

The β€œAmun figure 𓁩” symbol is both a determinative and ideogram for β€œAmun.” 

The β€œcanal π“ˆ˜β€ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œmr” and can also be β€œshorthand” for the word β€œmery” which means beloved. 

The β€œthree fox skins π“„Ÿβ€ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sounds β€œms.” 

The β€œfolded cloth 𓋴” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œs.”

The β€œsedge 𓇓” symbol can be a biliteral phonogram, ideogram (for sedge) and determinative (for king), but here it is representing the sound β€œsw.”

Rameses II’s birth name cartouche has many variants and can also be written like this: π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Certain symbols can be substituted for each other because π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– and 𓁩 both mean Amun π“œ and 𓇳𓏺 both mean Ra.

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