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Swallow (hieroglyph)

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G36
Swallow
in hieroglyphs
Gardiner: G36

The Ancient Egyptian Swallow hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. G36 for swallow birds. The Sparrow hieroglyph appears similar in size and shape, though it lacks the swallow's forked tail and is used to represent small, or bad items.[1]

The swallow hieroglyph is used in Egyptian hieroglyphs as a phonogram or biliteral[2] for wr-(or ur), and means items that are "great". It might be considered an equivalent to the cuneiform: gal, GAL, also meaning 'great'. The swallow hieroglyph is also an ideogram for the swallow birds.

See also

References

  1. ^ Houlihan, Patrick E.; Goodman, Steven M. (1986). The Natural History of Egypt, Volume I: The Birds of Ancient Egypt. Warminster: Aris & Philips. pp. 136–137. ISBN 0-85668-283-7.
  2. ^ Betrò, 1995. Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, synoptic profile only: Swallow or other member of the Hirundidae [sic] family, p. 130.