Emblem of the West (hieroglyph)

"Symbol of the West"
in hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for the Emblem of the West, or Symbol of the West is one of the pairs of symbols for 'east', and 'west'.

Both symbols have important characteristic associations. For the west, the cemetery for souls going to the afterlife was in the west, with the setting sun. The goddess Amunet, an originally ancient goddess had one of her aspects with the symbol of the west upon her head.

Contents

Emblem description

The Emblem of the West is composed of a hawk or ostrich feather. The alternate version of the symbol contains the complete figure of the hawk, for Horus, with the feather extending sideways, making it similar to the iat standard, surmounted by individual gods.

The lower part of the hieroglyph contains the vertical form of the letter 's',[1]as a hieroglyph, , and is a bolt of folded cloth, as seen in statuary in the hand of the individual, or as a seat-backing in the tomb scenes, or stelae, iconography.[2]

Hieroglyphic linguistic value

As a 'standard with feather', the west emblem has the hieroglyphic value of imnt-(ideogram), for "the west", and related words.[3] An example related word is "right", as the cardinal points were south-north, then west-east, and has the value "wnmy", (or unmy).[4]

The Libyans, (in the west from the Nile Delta), wore the feather as part of their headdress.[5]

Preceded by

hare
wn-(un)-(bil.)
Emblem of the West
unem
(right = "west")		 Succeeded by

swallow
wr-(ur)--(bil.)
Succeeded by

animal leg-(tril.)
whm-(uhm)

See also

References

  1. ^ S, vertical in Egyptian hieroglyphs, (seat-back, folded cloth) [1]
  2. ^ Seat-back, folded cloth-(in iconography): Wikipedia Commons-[2]
  3. ^ How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Collier and Manley, Character "E7", p. 139.
  4. ^ Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, Betro, p. 212A, Emblem of the West.
  5. ^ Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, Betro, p. 212A, Emblem of the West.