Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name of the Egyptian god Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭. 

Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 is the god 𓊹 of the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, which the ancient Egyptians called the Upper Earth. Anything that occurred on the Earth’s surface was thought to be caused by Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 – earthquakes were caused by his laughter! 

Here are the two most common ways to write Geb’s name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓅬𓃀𓀭

𓅬𓃀

Let’s take a closer look at the name: 

𓅬 – gb

𓃀 – b

𓀭 – determinative symbol (not pronounced)

Let’s break down each of the symbols! 

The “goose 𓅬” is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound “gb” which would have possibly been pronounced like “Geb.” It can also act as a determinative in certain cases.  

The “foot 𓃀” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram that represents the sound “b.” Here, the “foot 𓃀” symbol is acting as a phonetic complement, meaning it’s emphasizing the “b” sound from the previous symbol, and was not pronounced. 

The “seated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as “punctuation” at the end of the name of a male god!

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