magical and mysterious world of ancient Egypt still attracts people from all over the world.Many of his everyday attributes of today are a mystery to most.
In this article we will try to slightly raise the veil of secrecy.You will learn what an Egyptian cartouche.This amulet, punctuation mark, or something else?
how to decipher hieroglyphics?
This strange and unusual letter captures a glance."The sacred signs," as they were called by the ancient Greeks, or hieroglyphs carved on the stone blocks of the pyramids, Stella, clay tablets were written on papyrus and parchment.But none of the neighboring nations did not set out to penetrate their mystery.
Therefore, the decryption process of this letter was delayed for many years.The breakthrough came only by accident.French explorer Francois Shompolon able to decrypt a significant portion of characters using the Rosetta Stone.It was two of the same text.One in ancient Greek, the second - on the Egyptian.
first transcribed the names of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, enclosed in cartouches.
Thus, the beginning of Egyptology put these characters.Photos Rosetta inscription can be seen below.
Types of hieroglyphic writing
This writing system developed for a long time.Approximate date of researchers believe turn of the IV and III millennium BC.
beginning were simple pictograms, that is drawing the word meant.If you have painted the sun, then it would mean only that light and nothing else.
later begin to expand the scope of the icons.Now the sun can mean not only themselves itself, but also such a word as "day."
Over time the letter is complicated.Now the hieroglyphics represent letters, syllables, words.
There are other systems of writing.There is now a demotic and hieratic writing, as well as classical sacred hieroglyphics.Photography first two fonts are located below.
What cartouche?Photo
Since Egyptian hieroglyphics deciphered the French, and this symbol was called from this language."Cartouche" means "package, bundle," which, in fact, he recalls.
In fact, as it turned out, it is a stylized image of eternity rings.We'll talk about it later.
So what does this symbol mean?The Egyptians called it "chenois" - "eternity".Cartouche - a special circuit with an underscore - okoltsovka text of the king's name.Something similar to the modern way of writing with a capital letter.In hieroglyphics because it was not large and small letters, punctuation marks.
first appearance of this symbol date back to the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu, about 2500 years BC.
The cartouche inscribe the first two of the five names of the pharaoh, as the remaining three were just titles.The first word is the name given to the ascent to the throne, and the second - were given at birth.
As mentioned earlier, in Egypt, there were several scripts, fonts.In cursive (Demotic) cartouche - it's just a pair of brackets and a vertical line.
Ring Shen
Initially, this symbol represents eternity and protection from hostile forces.Later, in the Greco-Roman period, it is associated with Ouroborosom, the snake that bites its own tail.
In the middle of the third millennium BC, the pharaohs began to use their names to this form of protective magic.The first two words for throne name given at birth and were known to many.
used to be that if you know the real name of the person or thing, get power over them.This superstition survived until the XIX century, when the brothers Grimm wrote fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin."
often sign "chenois" associates of the ruling Pharaoh with Horus, the falcon god.The latter is not only protects the king, but also allows him to rule forever as their heir.This is indicated by a palm branch, on which there is a stylized cartouche.It is the symbol for the reign.
Thus, pharaohs officially claimed his divine power over the Upper and Lower Egypt.
Charms
belief in magic, sorcery, the ability to secretly harm another person gave the development of such areas as the production of amulets and talismans.
At first it was just a sign of the royal family.They surrounded the name of the pharaoh and his wife.But later, when the country fell under the influence of various conquerors, this character moved into the category of consumer.Since that time, the Egyptian cartouche - it's just a blank for the amulet.
This oval tablet of stone, metal, wood or clay, which is inscribed the name of the person who bought it.
There are several legends about the origin of the cartouche as an amulet.
According to the first of them is a stylized wool rope, which is surrounded by Bedouin nomads and their tents.This prevents small insects, scorpions, snakes and other reptiles inside.
second version is that it is a usual protective magic circle.
The third closest to the Egyptian tradition.Here in the cartouche see a stylized image of the god of the earth Geba (horizontal line), over which is great goddess Nut.It covers and protects all of the troubles and misfortunes.
Basically, in the mystical tradition of ancient Egypt it was considered that in the cartouche contains a piece of the soul of man, whose name is written inside.
So, dear readers, today we'll find out what the Egyptian cartouche.
