Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭

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

Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is the god of the atmosphere. The word “Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭” can actually mean “He Who Rises Up,” “Emptiness 𓆄𓅱𓅨,” or “Sunlight 𓆄𓅱𓇶/𓆄𓅱𓇳” too! In Middle Egyptian, these words were also pronounced like “Shu,” except they have different determinatives which changes the meaning of the word!

Let’s take a closer look at the name: 

𓆄 – šw

𓅱 – w/u

𓀭 – determinative symbol (not pronounced)

In the case of the god Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 and many other deities, sometimes the determinative is not written due to spacing issues! The ancient Egyptians favored the aesthetic over grammar! 

Let’s break down each of the symbols! 

The “feather 𓆄” is a biliteral phonogram and is representative of the sound šw. The “feather 𓆄” can also function as an ideogram for the word “feather 𓆄𓏺,” and as a determinative for the goddess/word “Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄.”

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u. Here it is acting as a phonetic complement. 

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!

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

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