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Gold (hieroglyph)

Gold (hieroglyph) is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Gold (hieroglyph) rather than just read about it. In short: The Egyptian hieroglyph representing gold (𓋞 Gardiner S12), phonetic value nb, is important due to its use in the Horus-of-Gold name, one of the Fivefold Titulary names of the Egyptian pharaoh. In its determinative usage, it identifies any precious metal, and as an ideogram in "gold" specifically (Egyptian nbw, whence Coptic ⲛⲟⲩⲃ nūb).

Gold (hieroglyph) — main illustration
Gold (hieroglyph) — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Gold (hieroglyph) belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Gold (hieroglyph) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Gold (hieroglyph) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Egyptian hieroglyph representing gold (𓋞 Gardiner S12), phonetic value nb, is important due to its use in the Horus-of-Gold name, one of the Fivefold Titulary names of the Egyptian pharaoh. In its determinative usage, it identifies any precious metal, and as an ideogram in "gold" specifically (Egyptian nbw, whence Coptic ⲛⲟⲩⲃ nūb). The hieroglyph represents a large gold necklace whose ends drape off either side and seven pearl pendants dangling from the middle. Old Kingdom scenes show dwarfs metalworking the gold, and "stringing the pearls of gold".

Derived forms Three variants of the gold hieroglyph are ligatured with another hieroglyph:

Usage

Horus-of-Gold name

The meaning of this particular title has been disputed. One belief is that it represents the triumph of Horus over his uncle Seth, as the symbol for gold can be taken to mean that Horus was "superior to his foes". Gold also was strongly associated in the ancient Egyptian mind with eternity, so this may have been intended to convey the pharaoh's eternal Horus name.

The combination of the Horus falcon and the gold hieroglyph is frequently found on Ancient Egyptian pectorals (see image).

The ancient Egyptian name for the city of Ombos, Nebet, also used the nebu hieroglyph.

Gold

In the Old Egyptian Palermo Stone inscription (late 24th or early 23rd century BC), the hieroglyph is used in the phrases "first counting of gold" and "collar of gold".

One spelling of the word "gold", nbw, in the Egyptian language, uses the melted nugget determinative, (a small circle), and the plural strokes (3-strokes).

Late Period coinage

One of the few coins minted for ancient Egypt is the gold stater, issued during the 30th Dynasty. The reverse of the gold stater shows a horse reared up on its hind legs. The obverse has the two hieroglyphs for nfr and nb: "Perfect gold", or a common-era term: 'Fine'-gold.

See also

Gardiner's Sign List#S. Crowns, Dress, Staves, etc List of Egyptian hieroglyphs

References

Betrò, Maria Carmela. Hieroglyphics: The Writings of Ancient Egypt, c. 1995, 1996-(English), Abbeville Press Publishers, New York, London, Paris (hardcover, ISBN 0-7892-0232-8) Budge, The Rosetta Stone, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1929, Dover edition(unabridged), 1989. (softcover, ISBN 0-486-26163-8) Schumann-Antelme, and Rossini, 1998. Illustrated Hieroglyphics Handbook, Ruth Schumann-Antelme, and Stéphane Rossini. c 1998, English trans. 2002, Sterling Publishing Co. (Index, Summary lists (tables), selected uniliterals, biliterals, and triliterals.) (softcover, ISBN 1-4027-0025-3)

Illustrations

Gold (hieroglyph): Inlay depicting "Horus as Gold", 30th Dynasty, reign of Nectanebo II, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Inlay depicting "Horus as Gold", 30th Dynasty, reign of Nectanebo II, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gold (hieroglyph): The Palermo piece of the 7-piece Palermo Stone. (Obverse)
The Palermo piece of the 7-piece Palermo Stone. (Obverse)
Gold (hieroglyph): Gold stater of Nectanebo II; Perfect Gold, or Fine Gold.
Gold stater of Nectanebo II; Perfect Gold, or Fine Gold.
Gold (hieroglyph) illustration
Gold (hieroglyph) illustration

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Gold (hieroglyph)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Gold (hieroglyph) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Gold (hieroglyph) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Gold (hieroglyph) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Gold (hieroglyph)

In research
Gold (hieroglyph) appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Gold (hieroglyph) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Gold (hieroglyph) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Egyptian hieroglyphs: crowns-dress-staves, Gold, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Gold (hieroglyph) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Gold (hieroglyph) in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Gold (hieroglyph) means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Gold (hieroglyph) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Gold (hieroglyph) in simple terms?

The Egyptian hieroglyph representing gold (𓋞 Gardiner S12), phonetic value nb, is important due to its use in the Horus-of-Gold name, one of the Fivefold Titulary names of the Egyptian pharaoh. In its determinative usage, it identifies any precious metal, and as an ideogram in "gold" specifically…

Why does Gold (hieroglyph) matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Gold (hieroglyph)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Gold (hieroglyph).

Tags

  • Egyptian hieroglyphs: crowns-dress-staves
  • Gold

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