Union symbol (hieroglyph)

F36
Union-symbol
(Lung and
Trachea)

sma
in hieroglyphs
Chephren's seated statue.
Detail of Chephren's statue.
The Union symbol (hieroglyph) is Gardiner sign listed no. F36, part of the series for parts of mammals. As a "union symbol", (a right and left half), it contains a vertical invisible 'centerline'. It allows for the positioning of two important hieroglyphs to be attached to it, right and left, as the uniting of two halves; specifically this is referencing Upper Egypt (by the King of the South), represented by the sedge (hieroglyph),
M23
and Lower Egypt (the King of the North), represented by the papyrus clump (hieroglyph)
M16
.

In Egyptian hieroglyphs, the hieroglyph is used for the phonetic value of sma,[1] (a triliteral) with meanings of to join together, to unite with.[2]

For its use as "uniting of two lands", it has an identical usage to the Two whips with shen ring hieroglyph
Aa6
, which from its very construction appears as the uniting of two separate "tribes", or communities.

Palermo Stone usage

The Palermo piece-(obverse) of the 7piece Palermo Stone.

The Palermo Stone (also named: Royal Annals of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, of the previous ~700 years), scribed circa 2392 BC to 2280 BC, has two uses of the union symbol hieroglyph on the Palermo piece-(obverse) of the 7piece Palermo Stone (one of the two large pieces). Both uses are for the symbol "ligatured" (tied) to the sedge hieroglyph and the papyrus clump hieroglyph, forming "one large symbol".

The symbols occur identically in Row II (of VI rows), and Row V; The difference between the two year-events, Row II identifies: Month-
N12
4, Day-
N5
13
, and that is replaced in Row V with the Appearance of the King of the South, King of the North, in hieroglyphs:
M23
X1
N28
L2
X1
N28

The symbols as seen in Row V:[3] (1-vertical Year-register)
(The symbols are read in the "Gardiner font" left-to-right; the Palermo Stone is scribed opposite: right-to-left.)

M23
X1
N28
L2
X1
N28
M23 F36 M16
F46
M16 O36

Though Gardiner font hieroglyphs are read only left-to-right, interestingly, only one hieroglyph, the sedge (hieroglyph) is non symmetric right, or left. Thus, the vertical hieroglyphs in Row II can be read correctly (left-to-right, and vertically down), with only the sedge turned backwards, hieroglyph M16,
M23
. (And the circular scroll, no. F47,
F47
comes in a right-or-left version, F46, or F47.)
N5
V20
N11
N11
N11
Z2ss N11
M16 F36 M23
O36 M16 F47
Translated as: "Month 4-
N12
, Day-
N5
13
...." (Days 10 + 3) (Read right-to-left, Crescent moon (hieroglyph) on right, top.)

Ramesses II relief with union symbol hieroglyph.
Hieroglyphs at end of top line:
F36 G43 D21
Y5
Y1

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Union symbol (hieroglyph).

References

  1. Betrò, 1995. Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, p. 128,
  2. Budge, 1991. A Hieroglyphic Dictionary to the Book of the Dead, pp. 345.
  3. Schulz, Seidel. Egypt: The World of the Pharaohs, Photo: "Fragment of the annals stone"-(the obverse, Palermo Piece), p. 24.
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