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Kemetic and other African Symbols. The Ankh. It symbolizes “life” Represents the unification of masculine and feminine forces of the universe and the creation of new life Oval = womb Vertical bar = phallus (ding ding ) Horizontal bar = new life. Eye of Heru. What’s it mean?. Falcon.
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The Ankh • It symbolizes “life” • Represents the unification of masculine and feminine forces of the universe and the creation of new life • Oval = womb • Vertical bar = phallus (ding ding) • Horizontal bar = new life
Eye of Heru • What’s it mean?
Falcon • Symbol for sun and light • NetcherHeru represented by falcon and right eye represents sun and sun’s ability, like that of God’s, to be omniscient (all-seeing)
Ibis • Bird that sleeps with head folded beneath wing and forms shape of heart • Seen as seat of soul and true intelligence • Footstep of ibis equal to 1 cubit, a sacred unit of measurement • NetcherDjhuiti portrayed with ibis head and represented divine articulation of speech and intelligence • Greeks called Djhuiti Thoth and Hermes • Romans identified him with Mercury
Scarab • Symbolizes resurrection and immortality of God as represented by sun • Lays its eggs in a ball of dung, which it rolls across the ground in a direction that follows the path of the sun; sun’s heat warms eggs in dung and they undergo a metamorphosis • Ball of dung symbolizes “matter” • Eggs symbolize “spiritual potential” • Newly born scarab symbolizes “spiritual rebirth” • NetcherKheprisymbolizes this transformative quality
Ass (no, not that one) • Stubborn, passionate, and often overburdened • Bears the weight of our suffering, but often refuses to go in the direction we think is best • Symbolizes Netcher Set, who is also reddish, is rebellious, and is often referred to as evil • In Bible • Sampson defeats his enemies with the jawbone of an ass • Christ rides into Jerusalem on an ass
Jackal • Feasts on carrion (dying flesh) at a specific point of decay for it to be of sustenance • Represents “fine judgment” • Represented by NetcherAnpu (Anubis), who is responsible for adjusting the balance of the scale of the heart/soul of deceased at judgment • Anpualso prepares corpse to serve as receptacle for reincarnated spirit before guiding it through the underworld
Hapi • Nile River had NetcherHapi, represented by an elderly man with large, flabby female breasts that symbolized one who had breastfed the entire nation • Probably source of the word “happy”
Sun • Sun represented in various Netcherw according to aspects of sun • Khepri: personification of sun rising; represents rising sun • Ra or Re: most significant sun-Netcher; represented the creative aspect of God; responsible for all creation; self-created and all-powerful • Amen or Amon: personification of sun after setting; hidden from view in underworld; depicted as a man with head and horns of ram (“ram” in the MeduNetcher – later known as hieroglyphics meant “concealment”) • As sun was born each morning in east, all work began on east bank of Nile; as sun died in west, buried dead on west bank of Nile
