The Unknown Symbol
Of Ancient Egypt
I love a mystery! A real ancient-world mystery? Even better!
That is why I think the hieroglyphic symbol that symbolically represents sound is so intriguing to me. The image itself has yet to be identified. . . . It is classified as “Unknown”.
“nd”
That’s easy you’re saying—it’s obviously a microphone. LOL!
If this were a modern symbol it may indeed be one, or something radioactive, but the real question is what did this symbol mean to the ancient Egyptians? It looks like a torch.
To better understand what this symbol may be, let us first begin with the triangles surrounding the oval at the top. In several of the hieroglyphs this denotes energy radiating outward.
Heat from a brazier as shown above or light from the sun’s rays as shown below.
“ḫʿ”
If it didn’t represent sound I would think it was a burning torch, but since it does the three triangles coming out of the top of the symbol are obviously meant to be the sound radiating out. The mystery then is what the stick with the oval on top characterizes. Below is the hieroglyph to ask, or inquire.
You may think that the key to this is the person pointing to their mouth, and you would be right.
The hieroglyph above is for eat, speak and emotions, however, this is also used to denote ownership of the verbal action taken.
This is the hieroglyph for voice.
Yet this one is to bequeath.
And this means favor.
To help us get at the answer to this puzzle we need to understand how the ancient Egyptians used body parts to express ideas.
“b”
The foot expressed movement.
“d” 
The hand and the arm are used in reference to doing something depending on what it is holding.
If it holding a reed it is for writing, whereas, a loaf of bread signifies an offering, and a stick represents action or even violence.
“r”
The oval is also used as a symbol for a mouth and to infer voice. Keep this shape in mind.
The sideways facing head
”tp” upon or hence.
Literally everything from the hair on top of your head to the bottom of your foot was used. What is not as well-known, however, is the ancient’s use of internal organs to express an idea.
Yes, you read right—internal organs! LOL!
That is why I think the hieroglyphic symbol that symbolically represents sound is so intriguing to me. The image itself has yet to be identified. . . . It is classified as “Unknown”.
“nd”That’s easy you’re saying—it’s obviously a microphone. LOL!
If this were a modern symbol it may indeed be one, or something radioactive, but the real question is what did this symbol mean to the ancient Egyptians? It looks like a torch.
To better understand what this symbol may be, let us first begin with the triangles surrounding the oval at the top. In several of the hieroglyphs this denotes energy radiating outward.
Heat from a brazier as shown above or light from the sun’s rays as shown below.
“ḫʿ”If it didn’t represent sound I would think it was a burning torch, but since it does the three triangles coming out of the top of the symbol are obviously meant to be the sound radiating out. The mystery then is what the stick with the oval on top characterizes. Below is the hieroglyph to ask, or inquire.
You may think that the key to this is the person pointing to their mouth, and you would be right.
The hieroglyph above is for eat, speak and emotions, however, this is also used to denote ownership of the verbal action taken.
This is the hieroglyph for voice.
Yet this one is to bequeath.
And this means favor.
To help us get at the answer to this puzzle we need to understand how the ancient Egyptians used body parts to express ideas.
“b”The foot expressed movement.
“d” The hand and the arm are used in reference to doing something depending on what it is holding.
If it holding a reed it is for writing, whereas, a loaf of bread signifies an offering, and a stick represents action or even violence.
“r”The oval is also used as a symbol for a mouth and to infer voice. Keep this shape in mind.
The sideways facing head
”tp” upon or hence.Literally everything from the hair on top of your head to the bottom of your foot was used. What is not as well-known, however, is the ancient’s use of internal organs to express an idea.
Yes, you read right—internal organs! LOL!
“imɜḫ” or veneration.
Take the hieroglyph above of cow’s ribs with the issuance or marrow above.
The ox tongue “ns” overseer. ![]()
The heart or “ib”.
The symbol which sheds the most light on to what may be the true meaning of the symbol for sound is the hieroglyph for “nfr” and represents beauty.
This symbol is the heart and windpipe. Please note the long stick that is used to denote the windpipe.
”nfr” perfect, wonderful, good, beautiful. The horned viper “f” or “nf” ![]()
and the mouth “r”.
To the ancients the seat of the soul was the heart and therefore was used in this manner to signify beauty. Even Nefertiti, one of the most beautiful queens of Egypt, utilized this symbol in her name repeatedly.
The hieroglyph below is for protect and although we have the hand with the reed implying there is writing involved, such as the type written on the tomb walls that protect the Pharaoh in his journey through the underworld, there is also the symbol for sound. So what is making this noise? Is it an instrument of some type? I believe so.
The most powerful form of protection written on the walls of the tombs was to know and invoke the name of a god or goddess. Much like the ancient Celts the ancient Egyptians also believed that by speaking the name of the deity aloud it summoned them to their aid. Even in the story of Isis gaining the upper hand over Ra, she did so by knowing his real name and using it. Interestingly enough, this scenario plays out rather evenly across the ancient mythologies of the world.
So what musical instrument is being used?
I propose that the oval depicts an open mouth ![]()
and the stem ![]()
a windpipe (much like the one in beauty) which has sound issuing forth. I believe it’s the human voice. Music, singing, or a spell chanted was clearly a powerful tool to the ancient peoples of all lands. Either that, or it's and ancient weapon which emits high-frequency waves, using sound as a powerful blast. . . but that would be in a different story. LOL!
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To read the previous articles on The Enigmatic Symbols of Egypt, click below:
Part IV - The Lost Symbol of the Sun and The Wings of Isis
Part V - The Unknown Symbol of Ancient Egypt
Part V - The Unknown Symbol of Ancient Egypt
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