Glossary of Egyptian Terms
By Java Goddess aka Beth Strong
Complied July 1997
In the story, Cobra of a Different Skin, which I co wrote with Theresa Meyers, I use several ancient Egyptian words. I wanted to create the atmosphere of the past time when the Mummies Alive char were living. I did a lot of research on the terms. This will help you readers with your reading. Enjoy!
Please if you read this list and want to use the terms for your MA ffs, please go ahead and use them. But please don't just take the terms. I have read all the MA ff out there and so far I am the only one who had been very in depth research on these terms. And actually uses them. Please give credit where credit is due. It took a long time to compile these words! Toss me a disclaimer that you used this glossary. Or link it. Ok sound fair?! Good, off my soap box now.
afnet--full head covering that went down to the shoulders. Rapses and Jakal wore these in the series when they lived.
Apis Bull--this bull was the sacred incarnation of Ptah on earth.
Memphis is Ptah's main city. A white bull was kept by the temple: to be fed, pampered, for a certain time. Then slaughtered in honor of the Creator God and mummified.
atum--twilight in early dawn or evening
ba--the psyche and soul of a person connected to his ka
Breath of Horus--I used this as the name of the boat in the story. The Breath of Horus is connected to the final phase of the mummification process. The Opening of the Way rite preformed by the Anubis priest over the body is the most important part of the ritual. This is the process that seals the ba and ka into the body linen wrapped body that in turns reanimates the body when a mummy is awaken.
caleche--a horse drawn chariot
calendar--the Egyptian year has 365 days like ours. The year is measured like this:
Akhet, flood season (winter/fall)
Tahuti-August
Paopi-September
Hathara-October
Koiak-November
Proyet-green time (spring)
Tybi-December
Mechir-January
Panemot-February
Parmuti-March
Shomu- harvest time (summer)
Pachons-April
Payni-May
Epipi-June
Mesore-July
(Names vary in different books. Sometimes the names of their gods/goddess were used as names of the months. I have not found a resource book that have this information yet.)
crowns--the pharaoh wore many in his office. There was the deshret, the basket crown or Red Crown of Lower Egypt. The hedjet or the White Crown of Upper Egypt. When combined they form the Double Crown or wereret. Atef or hemhemet was a more religious headdress consisting of the hedjet and gold rams horns,
uaereus cobra, flanked by two enormous white ostrich feathers. Used only in ceremonies pertaining to Ra or Osiris. Khepresh
crown was the electrum war helmet with blue ribbons used in
campaigns or triumphant processions.
cubit--measurement from elbow to fingers, approximately 18 to 22 inches
decan--hours; marked by the stars
electrum--a blend of gold and silver, used for plating or gilding. Gold was valuable. Silver was rarer, more prized then gold. But electrum was the most priceless metal in all of Egypt.
Today, we call it White Gold.
Erpa-ha--a hereditary title in ancient Egypt
felucca--Nile boat
Hathor--goddess of dance, beer, fertility, music, and love. Often show in the form of a cow.
homen neter--greeting to all of high class. Shows respect.
Horus in the Nest--official royal title to the prince next line for the throne. Rapses would have been called this.
hotep--offerings or gifts
henhet--tall crown covering the head and ears. Rath wears one of these
hypostle--Greek term for a hall of columns
Isis--Wife of Osiris, divine mourner. Goddess of motherhood and magic
ka--a person's individual and true spiritual power. Connected to the ba
khaibit--blood sucking shadow, in other words a vampire. If people were no mummified, this is what they would become according to ancient belief.
kheft--enemy, or a ghost
natron--natural salt; used in daily bathing with animal fat or in mummification
nemes--blue striped head covering only worn by royalty
neter--a priest, god/goddess, or belief in religion. Term varies book to book
Osiris--god of the dead and the after life. He is shown as a green skinned mummy.
Ptah--one of the three main gods of Egypt. Amun-Ra-Ptah are the holy trinity. Husband of Sekhmet. Memphis is his holy city. Ptah is the Creator God who made the universe (in some legends) at Thoth's bidding. Patron of craftsmen, inventors, and magicians.
rekkit--common people, common language, or low born, or the slum district of the city
sa'a--beloved son
Sekhmet--lion-headed goddess of healing and vengeance
senet--board game three rows down and ten across making 30 squares on the board. Two players had spools or squares object was to jump and knock off pieces until only your opponent had one piece left. Dice were long sticks throw on the ground. Similar to our game of checkers and chess.
shenti--formal calf length kilt
sistrum--stringed instrument rattle with metal disks threaded into the strings. used in worship or festivals. Sacred to Hathor and Bastet in the rites.
tenemos--mud brick walls surrounding every temple complex; symbolically making it the original mound of earth from which creation began. Or a large gathering of buildings.
Thoth--god of writing, scribes, and knowledge often shown with and ibis-head. One of the divine magicians who taught Isis
water clock--a device used to mark the hours. (So far I have not been able to find a picture or accurate description of this machine. But they were used.)
web priest--lowest rung of the priesthood
week--the Egyptian week was nine days. On the tenth, everybody rested.
w'rer priest--second rung of the priesthood
I will add more to the list as I get more words. Thanks for reading.
Java Goddess