It represented eternity as a loop of rope with no beginning and no end. It is frequently represented with the sun disk in the center. The Shen appears to be a protective symbol as well. Horus the falcon and Mut the vulture are two deities who are frequently portrayed clutching it. With their wings outstretched in a protective gesture, they hover over Pharaoh’s head. The term Shen derives from the word “Shenu,” which means “encircle,” and became the cartouche that encompassed the king’s name in its elongated form.