Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the birth/throne name of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! 

Let’s break down the meaning of the name “Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱.” 

𓐍𓅱 – Protects

𓆑 – He 

𓅱 – Me/I 

Hi name translates to “He Protects Me.” The ancient Egyptian language follows the Verb-Subject-Object sentence structure, which is why “protects 𓐍𓅱” is written first! 

One of the best things about the names of Old Kingdom pharaohs is that their names use a lot of phonograms, which can make it easier to read. Let’s break down the symbols! 

The “placenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “ḫ” which is kind of like a “k” sound. This symbol is actually considered “unclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u and sometimes functions as an ideogram. It mostly appears as a uniliteral phonogram and is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions! 

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. It can also be the pronoun “he/him.” 

A lot of people know him by the name “Cheops,” which is the Greek version of his name 𓂋𓈖. However, when you read his cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, it is very clear that his name 𓂋𓈖 is Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 is best known for constructing the Great Pyramid at Giza! 

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