 | What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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Just suddenly occurred to me that I didn't know what name was used for the Nile river by the ancient Egyptians.
Did they have a particular name for the the river itself? |
 | Re: What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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Hello Steve, the old egyptians had not a special name for the river Nile ! they simply called it "Big River" -- was ok, cause the Nile is the only big river ! the smaller river are only "side-armes" of the (father) Nile. "big river" in hieroglyphs is : ITERU ! and god HAPI is the personfication of the Nile. best regards: Bernie |
| | Re: What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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That is interesting! Bernie
I remember seeing (itrw) before now that I think about it, which was also a term the ancient Egyptians used for their longest unit of linear measure I believe.
So they just simply used river-(irtw) or big river as the way they referred to the Nile or to the unit of measure used to measure a length of travel on the Nile.
I have a better understanding now that you explained how the term (itrw) was utilized and also it's connection with a unit of measure. |
| | Re: What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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itrw (singular) = canal, river; main stream of the Nile itrw (plural) = canals; side branches of the Nile The word sounded in oldest Egyptian something like *yatraw (stress on first syllable), which in time became *yarraw and finally *ya3re. Hence in Coptic the Nile was called yo3r, and in the Bible ye3or. Aayko |
 | Re: What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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I think it's been suggested that with the plural definite article nA, nA-itrw > *nA-ya3re etc. > neilos/nilus/Nile. There's a Biblical passage in Exodus with three Egyptian loanwords almost in a row, something like: Moses (Mosheh, an Egyptian name) lifted his staff (matteh, Egyptian mdw) over the river/Nile (ye3or). |
| | Re: What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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HEllo, thank you for the very informative posts about the Ancient Nile names. I have one question though, the name you posted of the Jewish name is ye3or, I was wandering what does the 3 stand for? Thanks in advance. |
| | Re: What did the anciemt Egyptians call the Nile river? |
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I think the not so unique society of the ancient nile valley and the various, relationship with their percieved gods and goddesses, would be considered voo doo or who doo . The so called priesthood or the managers of this spiritual relationship between man and their gods, saw the forces of nature not as they were but very much from a (voodoo) spiritual point of view. Seeking favor or protection from the unknown or harm (chaos), there are many prayers and temples and village gods and city gods etc.. I think the there are many remnants of this voo doo spirituality especially related to the things that man depends upon in nature. The land of the gods and Hapi the god of the nile and baboons and cats etc..The festivals and celebrations and parties with lots of beer , even in brazil there are celebrators who flow out to the banks of the river and throw flowers and burn incense and candles for the godess of the sea, with plenty of beer. The celebration of life. Hotep! |