Obelisk (hieroglyph)

The ancient Egyptian Obelisk hieroglyph, Gardiner sign listed no. O25 is a portrayal of the obelisk. The hieroglyph is commonly used on erected Egyptian obelisks, as there is often a discussion of the event of its erection: a historical event, as well as an accomplishment of the pharaoh, and the Egyptian Kingdom.

Middle column with story of the obelisk's erection (using mast and obelisk hieroglyph).

<hiero>O25</hiero>
Obelisk in hieroglyphs

Usage

The obelisk hieroglyph in the Egyptian language is t(kh)n, and is the identical word with the same spelling (different determinatives), for 'to beat a drum', musician, etc. There are other meanings for 'tekhen', as well. The obelisk is a determinative in the Egyptian language, and the word t(kh)n has multiple spellings, since obelisk construction was done over various time periods. Some spellings are: <hiero>X1*Aa1:N35-O25-.-X1*Aa1:N35-W24:Z7-O25-O39</hiero> The second spelling uses the shortened variety of the block-of-stone (hieroglyph), <hiero>N39</hiero> as the 2nd determinative.

Gallery

• 
• 
  Nectanebo II obelisk
  (at a courtyard of the British Museum)

See also

• Gardiner's Sign List#O. Buildings, Parts of Buildings, etc.
• List of Egyptian hieroglyphs

References

• Budge, 1978, (1920). An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1978, (c 1920), Dover edition, 1978. (In two volumes, 1314 pp, and cliv-(154) pp.) (softcover, ISBN 0-486-23615-3)