Nephthys 𓉠

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name of the Egyptian goddess “Nephthys 𓉠.”

The  type of symbol that is commonly used in Nephthys’ 𓉠 name 𓂋𓈖 is called a Composite Hieroglyph (it’s also an ideogram). A Composite Hieroglyphic symbol is a symbol that is the combination of multiple phonographic symbols into a single glyph. The phonetic values of each of the individual phonograms is retained. 

The three 𓏼 symbols “𓎟𓏏𓉗” can be combined to make the “𓉠” symbol, which is not only the crown that Nephthys wears 𓉠, but a space saver when writing out hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Other common ways to write her name are 𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓆇 and 𓉠𓏏𓆇. 

In statuary and funerary art, the crown on her head is one of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that is used in her name (𓉠), which makes Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify! 

Let’s take a closer look at the name: 

𓎟 – nb

𓏏 – t

𓉗 – hwt

𓉠 – nbt-hwt 

With composite symbols, it’s basically a “math” equation:  𓎟 + 𓏏 + 𓉗 = 𓉠. 

Let’s break down the symbols:  

The “𓎠 basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of “nb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like “neb.” The 𓎟 alone can also mean the common words “Lord,” “Possessor,” and “All.” 

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.”

The “plan of an enclosure 𓉗” symbol is an ideogram with the phonetic value of “hwt.” 

The “𓉠” symbol is an ideogram for nbt-hwt which is Nephthys’ name! 

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