Egyptian Symbols

Egyptian symbols represent one of the most intriguing ancient civilizations that ever existed and have stood the test of time. Full of history, mythology, and spiritual meaning, these signs were used to denote ideas on life, death, power, and the gods. Egyptian symbols are found in hieroglyphs, artwork, and sacred texts; they remain an integral constituent of humanity’s cultural and historical heritage.

Perhaps one of the more recognizable icons is that known as the Ankh or “key of life.” It represented the key to eternity, between the two worlds—the spiritual and physical—one inhabits throughout eternity, and it is consistently shown being held by both the gods and pharaohs. On the other side, protection, health, and restoration are represented in such a critical icon, which is that of the Eye of Horus in relation to religious practice and in everyday amulets.

The scarab beetle was representative of rebirth and change, just as the path of the sun across the sky changes daily. Among the more common is the Djed Pillar symbol, representative of stability and endurance, often associated with the god Osiris and the promise of resurrection.

Every Egyptian symbol has a special story to tell and a special purpose, which is intricately connected with the belief system and values of ancient Egyptian society. Even today, they serve as a source of wonder and fascination, offering a glimpse into the remarkable legacy of this civilization.

Pshent

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The Red Crown, the White Crown, and the Double Crown are all combined to depict a united Egypt. Egypt was stronger when it was a united nation, even if it wasn’t always that way. As a result, unification was desired. The first man to wear this crown was Narmer (Menes), the founder of the First … Read more

Winged Solar Disk

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Horus Behudety (Horus of Edfu) assumes this shape during his confrontations with Seth. Horus was transformed into a sun-disk with magnificent spread wings thanks to the deity Thoth’s sorcery. In the form of uraeus snakes, the goddesses Nekhbet and Uazet joined him at his side.

Udjat

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Horus’s sagacious eye. Symbolizes protection and healing. Wadjet (also written as Wedjat, Uadjet, Wedjoyet, Edjo, or Uto, and as The Eye of Ra or “Udjat”) is the goddess who represents the eye. Horus was a sky god in ancient Egypt who was generally represented as a falcon. The Sun Ra was identified with his right … Read more

Primordial Hill

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The Egyptians believed that this hill arose from the turmoil of creation to create dry land. The Egyptians were enthralled by the idea of this hill rising, and it was used for everything from temple layouts to possible inspiration for the pyramids.

Feather of Maat

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Truth, justice, morality, and balance are all represented by this symbol. It was the pharaoh’s responsibility to protect Maat. Maat was lost and the world was thrown into turmoil when a pharaoh died; only the coronation of a new pharaoh could restore Maat.

Scarab

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Because it rolls a ball of dung across the ground, it is known as the dung beetle. The Egyptians saw this behavior and compared it to the sun’s orb rolling across the sky. They mistook this balled food supply for the egg sack produced and buried in the sand by the mother dung beetle. The … Read more

Hedjet

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The Hedjet, or White Crown, symbol is a long, elongated shape that looks like a stretched gourd. It was the crown of Upper Egypt’s monarchs, as opposed to the Deshret, which was the Red Crown worn by Lower Egypt’s rulers.

Nemes

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The Nemes, a rectangular blue and gold striped fabric used by Egyptian pharaohs, is a symbol of ancient Egypt. The Egyptian lion’s mane inspired the Nemes’ appearance. Indeed, if the lion is the king of all animals, the pharaoh is the ruler of all humans, according to ancient Egyptians.