Smiting-blade symbol (hieroglyph)

Aa7
To Smite
Strike
Beat

(sqer)
sḳr
in hieroglyphs
"MacGregor Label" of King Den.
"First Time (of) Smiting the East".-(first Occasion)

The Smiting-blade symbol (hieroglyph), a "horizontal blade-shape", is a symbol in Gardiner's sign list as no. Aa7, in the unclassified category. The symbol can be found in use from the 1st Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, for example on the MacGregor Label, one of Pharaoh Den's 20 labels (tags) found in his tomb. It is also seen on an artifact belonging to Queen Qua-Neith, one of King Den's wives(?).

In the Egyptian language the smiting-blade symbol has the value of sḳr (sqer).[1] It follows the same usage of the symbol under seq, for "to smite", "to strike".[2] The meaning of sqer has meanings listed as: to beat, strike, fight, and capture prisoners.[3]

Queen Qua-Neith graphic, (artifact).
The large Palermo Piece (obverse)(only 2-large pieces), of the 7piece Palermo Stone.

Palermo Stone usage, 24th century BC

The following year events are recorded on pieces of the 7piece Palermo Stone, of the 24th to 23rd century BC:


Year 29: "Smiting of the Iuntju people" (Row III, Palermo Piece, obverse)[4]
(reads left-to-right, Gardiner font; on Palermo Stone: reads right-to-left)

S29 T2
Aa7
O28 A49
B1 A1
(ṣ,qer)
(Iwn,king)
(women,men)


See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smiting-blade symbol (hieroglyph).

References

  1. Budge, 1920, (1978), An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, under "sqer", p. 702b.
  2. Budge, 1920, (1978). An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, under "seq", p. 701b.
  3. Budge, 1920, (1978), listed under "sqer", p. 702b.
  4. Schulz, Seidel, 1998. Egypt: The World of the Pharaohs, photo Palermo Piece (obverse), p. 24.