T (hieroglyph)

t
(or "feminine")

Bread bun
"semicircle"
in hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian Bread bun hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. X1 for the side view of a bread bun. It is also the simple shape of a semicircle. The hieroglyph is listed under the Gardiner category of loaves and cakes.

The bread bun hieroglyph is used in the Ancient Egyptian language hieroglyphs for the alphabetic consonant letter t.^[1] A later alternative t, is a pestle, with curved top, Gardiner U33.

"Bread bun/semi-circle" as feminine determiner[edit]

Besides alphabetic-t, the bread bun is used for words that are feminine, as an end qualifying determinant, often shown before other qualifying ideograms or determinants in the hieroglyphic word block-(quadrat hieroglyphic block). It is one of the most frequently used signs in hieroglyphic writing.

Palermo Stone[edit]

The t hieroglyph is used extensively throughout the Palermo Stone of the 24th to 23rd century BC, and it is used in the first row (Row I of VI), for the naming of King Tiu of Lower Egypt (a King of the North).

Palermo Stone, King Series, Row I (predynastic)[edit]

The following is the list of predynastic pharaohs (Nile Delta north) represented on the Palermo Piece of the 7–piece Palermo Stone: The sequence is in the proper order with the beginning Pharaoh on the right: (reading right-to-left, seven complete names pictured in year-registers):

Mekh, Wazner, Neheb, Thesh, Tiu (Tiu), Khayu, Hsekiu.

Owl...Papyrus...Ripple......Tether...Bread&Feather.Bivalve...Cloth
Belly.....Fish......Plow........Lake.............Quail.........Newborn...Ka

Note: On the Palermo Stone all the hieroglyphs face in the other direction (Gardiner signs are only facing left; on the stone they face right (reading right-to-left)). The source of the following Pharaohs is only from this King List; a few have artifacts that further confirm their reign (the Double Falcon King). The pharaohs deficient in information are: Hsekiu, Khayu, Tiu (pharaoh), Thesh, Neheb, Wazner, Mekh.

Preceded by

(start
of T)

Breadbun
or
"feminine"

t

Succeeded by

Land

ti

Narmer Palette detail, from late 3rd millennium Ancient Egypt
Nile River flood levels recorded on 1-piece of the 7—piece Palermo Stone. Note the 2-uses of t.
Palermo piece (at Palermo Museum), of the 7—piece Palermo Stone

The Egyptian hieroglyph alphabetic letters[edit]

The following two tables show the Egyptian uniliteral signs. (24 letters, but multiple use hieroglyphs)

a

y

'

(w,u)

B

P

M

N

R

H1

H2

Kh2

S

(Sh)=Š

Q/K2

K

T

Ch—Tj

D

Dj

L/(R)
(special)
(Ptolemaic,
etc.)

--

a

i
(ee)

y
ii

'
ah, (aïn)

w, (u)
(oo)

B

P

F

M

N

R

H1

H2

(Kh)1

(Kh)2

S

Sh
(Sh)

K
emphatic

K

G

T

Tj
Ch
Tsh

D

Dj

(additionally 4
for vert/horiz)

--

M
(horiz)
M2-Plinth

N
(vert)
(see:
N (red crown))

S
(vert)
S (folded)
cloth)

M
(3rd-M
-2nd-vert)
M3-Baker's tool
(vertical)

(additionally 3
for equivalents)

--

(2

reeds)

is—

(2

strokes)

y2-Two strokes

(quail)

is—

(coil)

letter w, u
(see w2-Coil)

T
(no. 2)
T2-Pestle

References[edit]

^ Schumann-Antelme, and Rossini, 1998. Illustrated Hieroglyphics Handbook, uniliteral: U23, p. 62-63.

Bibliography[edit]

Schumann-Antelme, and Rossini, 1998. Illustrated Hieroglyphics Handbook, Ruth Schumann-Antelme, and Stéphane Rossini. c 1998, English trans. 2002, Sterling Publishing Co. (Index, Summary lists (tables), selected uniliterals, biliterals, and triliterals.) (softcover, ISBN 1-4027-0025-3)

[1] Schumann-Antelme, and Rossini, 1998. Illustrated Hieroglyphics Handbook, uniliteral: U23, p. 62-63.

[1]