N-water ripple (n hieroglyph)
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| Water Ripple in hieroglyphs |
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The ancient Egyptian ripple, of water is one of the oldest language hieroglyphs from Ancient Egypt. It is used on a famous label of Pharaoh Den of the First dynasty.
Archaic forms have unique variations, as the later standard usage of the hieroglyph was commonly less important than other hieroglyphs. However the three ripples referring to water, or waters became an important hieroglyphic block in itself.
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[edit] Language usage of horizontal "n"
The hieroglyphic language equivalent of the water ripple is n, the letter N, as a phonogram. Its other major use is as a preposition. However as a preposition, it is important because the prepostions are often used interchangably; its major usage may be for in, to, or by, but from, for, 'because of', through, namely any preposition, or prepositional phrase can quickly be referred to by the common prepostion "in", as represented by the water ripple.
[edit] Rosetta Stone usage
In the 198 BC Rosetta Stone, the water ripple hieroglyph is used 203 times, averaging 6 times per line, for the 36 lines-(Nabayrah Stele, lines 1-22, Rosetta Stone, 1-14, therefore 36). In the stone as the water ripple, besides the preposition, it is used in names of Arsinoe, and one cartouche form of Ptolemy V Epiphanes, (the Rosetta Stone author). The vertical "N" of the Red Crown is used 35 times in the Nabayrah-Rosetta Stone, mostly prepostional; (only 4 times is it used as a non-propostion). (There are also other variants of the vertical N-Red Crown, with separate Gardiner nos. used in the Rosetta Stone, (as part of Pschent, or a variation on Egypt: "Taui", North and South Egypt, the Two Lands).)
[edit] Two important hieroglyphic usages
| Deshret or "Red Crown" of the Delta in hieroglyphs |
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| 'Waters' in hieroglyphs |
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In running hieroglyphic texts that are telling detailed stories, the Ptolemaic Decrees for example, the vertical form of "N" is required as Hieroglyphic blocks sometimes end in places not always conducive to ending a block. Two half blocks can be separated, above and below by the horizontal water ripple, or start a block, (on top), or introduce the next block, (by being on the bottom of the block). If room is not sufficient on the bottom, then a vetical form can follow to intoduce the next block, thus the use of the vertical N, the red crown of the Pharaoh of the North, the Nile Delta.
Another major usage of the horizontal water ripple is a separate hieroglyph "block", and, with its own ideology, and implied meaning and usage: "waters".
 Use of letter "n" in S-n-b, the word for "health", Sen-b, or Seneb. (ripple used 5 times in text) |
 Water ripple used as 'waters' , being used with a Libation vessel |
 The Red Crown of the Nile Delta, in Lower Egypt |
 Water ripple: preposition usage in 2nd line-(bottom of block), (also used twice in line 5) |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Budge. An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1978, (c 1920), Dover edition, 1978. (In two volumes) (softcover, ISBN 0-486-23615-3)
- Budge. The Rosetta Stone, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1929, Dover edition(unabridged), 1989. (softcover, ISBN 0-486-26163-8)
