Hippopotamus (hieroglyph)

E25
Hippo-
potamus

db
in hieroglyphs
Temple relief from Edfu.

The Hippopotamus (hieroglyph) is Gardiner sign listed no. E25, in the category of mammals. It is used in Egyptian hieroglyphs as a determinative in words designating the animal, in Egyptian as db, and kh3b.[1]

The hieroglyph shows the massiveness of the hippo's body, on its short legs. In Late Period Egypt, it was also used for words related to "heavy" (namely dns, udn-(wdn).[2]

Palermo Stone usage, 2392 BC

On the Palermo piece-(obverse) of the 7-piece Palermo Stone of the 24th to 23rd century BC, it can be found in a year-register claiming the King (pharaoh) went on a hippopotamus hunt (using the Hide with arrow (hieroglyph)).
F29
Preceded by
D46 V4

Morning
dua
E25

Hippo
db
Succeeded by
D46
D58
 
F47
(deb--)--
(to revolve)
-----deben

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hippopotamus (hieroglyph).

References

  1. Betrò, 1995. Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, p. 99.
  2. Betrò, 1995. p. 99.
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