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 lifeOval = wombVertical bar = phallus (ding ding)Horizontal bar = new life

EYE OF HERU What’s it mean?

FALCON Symbol for sun and light Netcher Heru 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 Netcher Djhuiti portrayed with ibis head and

represented divine articulation of speech and intelligenceGreeks called Djhuiti Thoth and HermesRomans 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”

Netcher Khepri symbolizes 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 Netcher Anpu (Anubis), who is responsible for adjusting the balance of the scale of the heart/soul of deceased at judgment

Anpu also prepares corpse to serve as receptacle for reincarnated spirit before guiding it through the underworld

HAPI Nile River had Netcher Hapi, 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 Medu Netcher – 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

SOME OTHER SYMBOLS

ALPHABET