Egyptian NB

[churchward]

The snag may be of course that it is not a hieroglyph representation of an statement in english but a true old egyptian phrase. If the later we could be here some time!

[Psycloud]

 

(ANKH (n kh)) u/w (d) a ? ( s n b )

 

I'm going with the idea that it is a motto or sentiment, rather than a name.

 

Given the above I can't help thinking it's a funny way of writing "U W@nker"

 

Sorry - couldn't help it

Edited January 9, 2013 by Psycloud

[Athy]

I wonder if our new colleague Dabowman has friends in the Egyptology department of his/ her university. They could inform us p.d.q.

 

In several years of inflicting myself on these forums, this is the first time I can remember a question stumping absolutely everybody. We have asked things about many walks of life and somebody has always come up trumps. So well done, that boat owner.

Come to think of it, does anybody moor near him? Could you nip round and ask kim, please?

[Catrin]

The snag may be of course that it is not a hieroglyph representation of an statement in english but a true old egyptian phrase. If the later we could be here some time!

Yes, I think it is in Egyptian - if the letters 'snb' do mean 'health/healthy'.

[churchward]

 

I've got to go and work, but I've got this:

 

(ANKH (n kh)) u/w (d) a ? ( s n b )

 

Things are bracketed because N and KH often go with the ankh. The D is a variant and snb can mean healthy, or as part of a personal name ('seneb', no vowels, like Hebrew, or shorthand).

No cartouche, so probably not a person's name.

 

I'm going with the idea that it is a motto or sentiment, rather than a name.

I have no idea presently what the symbol next to the left of the "S" or folded cloth. I can't find anything similar only a symbol that lies flat rather than vertical and is not quite the same. The symbol I am thinking of is a hieroglyph for a combination of letters and mean "adj" but doesn't look right. before the expanded picy I thought it may have been a tewisted flax which is an "H" but now I can see it is nothing like.

Edited January 9, 2013 by churchward

[Catrin]

I have no idea presently what the symbol next to the left of the "S" or folded cloth. I can't find anything similar only a symbol that lies flat rather than vertical and is not quite the same. The symbol I am thinking of is a hieroglyph for a combination of letters and mean "adj" but doesn't look right. before the expanded picy I thought it may have been a tewisted flax which is an "H" but now I can see it is nothing like.

I've found a couple of images which show something similar, although with flat rather than rounded ends. Unfortunately, they only give a translation of the whole inscription, not the individual parts.

I'm completely stumped - and I think that the inscription is probably in Egyptian anyway.

['TheBitch']

Could be a reference to Disc World and Ankh-Morpork

[Ray T]

Could the pylon thingy be a mortar and pestle ?

[Catrin]

I think that it is an 'alternative' version of D as shown HERE. It may be a mortar and pestle, but what sound does it represent?

[the grinch]

just to add to the confusion I have found a reference to the first 2 symbols together meaning Life or Live so maybe that helps or not!! lol

[churchward]

just to add to the confusion I have found a reference to the first 2 symbols together meaning Life or Live so maybe that helps or not!! lol

Yes the first symbol is an Ankh or "key of life" but we know about those.

[alan_fincher]

So which conundrum is going to get fully solved first?

 

The "What do these hieroglyphs mean?" one, or the "WTF are these strange objects found in a friend's attic?" one?

 

I think my money is on this thread.

 

Not necessarily because it has already run longer, but possibly because someone may actually find someone who knows, the boat presumably not being that old, and the owner must exist.

 

Without more info, the attic find looks a lot less likely to turn up whoever put them in the attic in the first place.

[Boatingbiker]

call out for Indiana Jones !

 

Ok I'm getting my coat

[koukouvagia]

So which conundrum is going to get fully solved first?

 

The "What do these hieroglyphs mean?" one, or the "WTF are these strange objects found in a friend's attic?" one?

 

I think my money is on this thread.

 

 

I disagree.

In the Archaeological Museum in Athens there is a lump of encrusted bronze rescued from a first century BC shipwreck off the coast of Greece. After decades of intense study it turns out to be a highly sophisticated computer. The story of its reconstruction is here. link

 

Another puzzle from the ancient world which has eluded scholars and brought out the cranks in droves is the Phaestos Disk. One of the less lunatic "interpretations" is here: link .

 

So if it's a race between CWDF amateurs elucidating an artefact or deciphering an inscription, my money's on the former.

Usually in cases of doubt archaeologists assume that a mysterious text or object has religious significance.

[carlt]

After decades of intense study it turns out to be a highly sophisticated computer.

Presumably it won't belong before Apple start legal proceedings against them.

[alan_fincher]

So if it's a race between CWDF amateurs elucidating an artefact or deciphering an inscription, my money's on the former.

Usually in cases of doubt archaeologists assume that a mysterious text or object has religious significance.

Yes, I guess you could be right.

 

Also, (and I'm not sure if has already been said), based on past experience of some people's attempts to spell something meaningful or witty out in old languages, this may actually mean nothing at all, and even if all the symbols can be individually identified, the concatenation of them all together may just be meaningless gibberish.

[carlt]

It actually says "If you can read this sign you are too close to my chariot"

[mayalld]

So which conundrum is going to get fully solved first?

 

The "What do these hieroglyphs mean?" one, or the "WTF are these strange objects found in a friend's attic?" one?

 

I think my money is on this thread.

 

And I think you might win, because I think I've cracked it.

 

There was always a suspicion that it was a saying, with the Ankh at the beginning, and Catrin's suggestion of Seneb (health) at the end strongly suggested a 3 word epithet.

 

So, they actually mean;

 

Life, Prosperity, Health.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh_wedja_seneb

[RLWP]

 

Life:

 

Prosperity:

 

Health:

 

I'm convinced

 

Richard

 

MORE: Aaaarrrghhhh! they are all separate groups of hieroglyphs!!

Edited January 10, 2013 by RLWP

[Keeping Up]

Well done Mr Mayall, that certainly seems to be the answer.

 

 

[Athy]

Well done Mr M. That's a relief: what with those bird symbols, I was afriad that the boat was going to be called 'Kingfisher'.

[alan_fincher]

 

Life:

 

Prosperity:

 

Health:

 

I'm convinced

 

Richard

 

MORE: Aaaarrrghhhh! they are all separate groups of hieroglyphs!!

Just get on with the hand grenade/parachute grenade/rope or twine making thingy/something from the cotton trade thread, Richard - that must be where your real skills lie.

 

(Had wondered if you might identify them as part of Sickle's gear operating mechanism.....)

[OldGoldy]

And I think you might win, because I think I've cracked it.

 

There was always a suspicion that it was a saying, with the Ankh at the beginning, and Catrin's suggestion of Seneb (health) at the end strongly suggested a 3 word epithet.

 

So, they actually mean;

 

Life, Prosperity, Health.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh_wedja_seneb

 

Having looked at the Wiki link, I'm convinced, too!

 

Now, back to those Ann Summers/stick grenade thingmys................

[Ray T]

And I think you might win, because I think I've cracked it.

 

There was always a suspicion that it was a saying, with the Ankh at the beginning, and Catrin's suggestion of Seneb (health) at the end strongly suggested a 3 word epithet.

 

So, they actually mean;

 

Life, Prosperity, Health.

 

http://en.wikipedia....nkh_wedja_seneb

 

Well done Dave have a greenie.

[alan_fincher]

Well done Mr Mayall, that certainly seems to be the answer.

 

 

Nah,

 

The foot on that Wiki page is heading off in the wrong direction!