The ancient Egyptian Obelisk hieroglyph, Gardiner sign listed no. O25 is a portrayal of the obelisk. The hieroglyph is commonly used on erected Egyptian obelisks, as there is often a discussion of the event of its erection: a historical event, as well as an accomplishment of the pharaoh, and the Egyptian Kingdom.

Middle column with story of the obelisk's erection (using mast and obelisk hieroglyph).
O25
Obelisk
in hieroglyphs

Usage

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The obelisk hieroglyph in the Egyptian language is t(kh)n, and is the identical word with the same spelling (different determinatives), for 'to beat a drum', musician, etc. There are other meanings for 'tekhen', as well. The obelisk is a determinative in the Egyptian language, and the word t(kh)n has multiple spellings, since obelisk construction was done over various time periods. Some spellings are:[1]
X1 Aa1
N35
O25
 
X1 Aa1
N35
W24
Z7
O25O39
The second spelling uses the shortened variety of the block-of-stone (hieroglyph),
N39
as the 2nd determinative.
Preceded by
A32
 
Y7A26

drumbeat
musician-with-instrument
-- --
t(kh)n
t(kh)nu
O25

obelisk
-- --
t(kh)n
Succeeded by
X1
N37
D21

color-red
see: Deshret
(Red Crown)
-- --
t(sh)r
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Budge, 1978, (1920), An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, section t,
    X1
    p. 843b.
  • Budge, 1978, (1920). An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1978, (c 1920), Dover edition, 1978. (In two volumes, 1314 pp, and cliv-(154) pp.) (softcover, ISBN 0-486-23615-3)