Bowstring (hieroglyph)

T12
Bowstring
in hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian Bowstring hieroglyph is an Egyptian language hieroglyph associated with the bow, and its use as a hieroglyph for the Archer hieroglyph, a symbol for 'army'. Because of the strength required to "string a bow", with a bow string, the bowstring hieroglyph is used to define words of strength, hardness, durability, etc.

Language usage of bow string

The hieroglyphic language equivalent of the bowstring is "rwdj", and means "hard, strong, durable".

Rosetta Stone usage

(from right-to-left), last line-(Ros. 14), "...decree, this, upon, a tablet, (=stele), of-(water ripple (hieroglyph), stone, hard (bowstring), in the writing of hieroglyphs, next, writing of books-(Demotic), lastly, ...."

In the 196 BC Rosetta Stone, the bowstring hieroglyph has the unique usage in the final line, (Rosetta line 14), of the Ptolemy V decree, concerning the writing of the three scripts: the bowstring, as the word hard-(roodj) is used to describe the durability of the stone-stela:

... "Shall be engraved decree this upon a vertical-(mast (hieroglyph)) tablet-(stele) of stone hard -(durable)..in the 2-language, 3-scripts, .."Shall be made to stand it in the sanctuaries in temples all..."[1]

Pharaoh Rudamun's name

23rd Dynasty rock crystal vase of Pharaoh Rudamun.

Pharaoh Rudamun of the 23rd Dynasty, 757-54 BC has his name in two cartouches showing the use of the bowstring hieroglyph, (only one uses the bowstring). A white rock crystal vase has two cartouches above the hieroglyphic symbol for union symbol (hieroglyph). One cartouche uses the bowstring hieroglyph and states his name: "A-mn-Rudj–A-mn-Mer", and is approximately: "Amun's Strength—Amun's Beloved".

References

  1. ↑ Budge, 1989, (1929). The Rosetta Stone, p. 168-169.
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