Knot (hieroglyph) explained

The ancient Egyptian knot hieroglyph, or girdle knot, Gardiner sign listed no. S24, portrays a reef knot. Besides its use as a hieroglyph, it has usage in statuary and reliefs. The knot hieroglyph is also an amulet, typically made of worked stone, or as jewellery elements.^[1]

Language usage

The knot hieroglyph is used in the Egyptian language as the verb, (th)s, (th)ss, for to knot, to tie, to tie together, etc.V13:S24:O34-.-V13:O34:O34-S24 It is used as the phonogram for (th)s, as well as the determinative. There are many alternate spellings.

For the noun, it is Egyptian language (th)s, (th)s.t, S24:X1*Z1-.-S24:Z1-.-S24:O34-Z7:D40-.-S24:O34-G43-F41 for meanings of: knot, tie, ligature, backbone, vertebrae, spine, etc.

In jewellery and decoration

The knot used as an article of jewellery was especially known in the Middle Kingdom. It can be found in necklaces (see gallery photo), and as a small brooch. In Amulets of Ancient Egypt, a two-part, hollow gold piece is shown, with a detailed rope-detailed fiber; it is made with a tongue and groove closure for the parts.^[2]

See also

• Gardiner's Sign List#S. Crowns, Dress, Staves, etc.
• List of Egyptian hieroglyphs
• Square knot
• Girdle of Isis

References

• Andrews, Carol, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt, chapter 4: Scarabs for the living and funerary scarabs, pp 50–59, Andrews, Carol, c 1993, University of Texas Press, 518 amulets, 1, or multiples included in 12 necklaces; (softcover,)
• Budge. An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1978, (c 1920), Dover edition, 1978. (In two volumes, 1314 pp, and cliv-(154) pp.) (softcover,)

Notes and References

1. Andrews, 1994. Amulets of Ancient Egypt.
2. Andrews, 1994. p. 44, plate 49b.