Wp An Analytical Study of the Concept, Connotation and Synonyms in Ancient Egyptian Language

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Archaeologist in Saqqara area and PhD student at the Faculty of Archaeology - Fayoum University, Egypt

2 Professor of Ancient Egyptian Language - Faculty of Archaeology - Fayoum University, Egypt

3 Professor of Ancient Egyptian Language, and Former Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology - Cairo University, Egypt.

Abstract

The importance and attractiveness of the hieroglyphic writing centers on abstract visual features, so their sources must be searched metaphorically. Hieroglyphic writing is a visual fossil of the thought processes of the ancient Egyptians; both Semiotics (the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation) and Semantics (the study of meaning in language or logic) explain hieroglyphics. The current theme focuses on 'Open' and its synonyms in ancient Egyptian language; the ancient Egyptian used different roots/words to express 'Open' and its various connotations, according to the sign constituting its sound or determinative. So, this topic concerns on 'Wp', the meaning of open is divided into physical, moral, and metaphorical opening. As for physical/mechanical opening, such as opening the door, removing the separation/slit (opening between one block). As for moral opening, it is like arbitrating between disputants (separating justice from injustice). Finally, it is a metaphor for the peak, upper beginning, expansion, inner joy, and many derivatives that will be discussed.  

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