King's Quest Omnipedia
Advertisement
RosellaCrypt

Hieroglyphics are the language of the ancient egyptians and people of Aegypt and Egypt. They can be found in the crypst in Tamir, and in the Dimension of Death.

Behind the scenes[]

Cartouche
KQ8cartouche

A cartouche, the royal name of a important pharaoh or figure in KQC4 edition. The nomen surrounds the name.

If translated would give the mummy's actual name, or at least the name of the royal figure who buried the mummy (if meant to be a seal or curse). The hieroglyphics in the cartouche maybe reversed (mirror image). The “rush” is "nḫb" (phonogram 'nkhb') or sedge which is sw (as in Ramses I = “w sw s -ms r”[1] = rammasu).

The next group (made up of two vertical things) next to the first symbol could be a hm-ntr (ham-nata)[2] (servant of the god, priest). Alternatively the first of the two could be the symbol for divinity (gods or goddesses), the line or 'stroke' following it would likely make it the symbols for word "god" (ntr). Strangely it’s not mirrored like many of the other images. The rough triangular thing (slope/hill) below the worm/snake might be a "kh or q". The half circle ("flat loaf") is a "t". The bird ("quail chick + loaf?" G43A U+13172) is tw or tu. The tower on the right may be a combination of things. The crenelated bit at the top ("Senet board"? is perhaps "mn", (or men) and the “3 or 4 strokes” below means “plural” or numeral 3 or 4), or perhaps three water waves which means “mw” or moo. Or it could be three pools another similar symbol “can also be used as a replacement for signs perceived to be dangerous to actually write“.

The worm/snake doesn't match standard list of hieroglyphs. It could be based on 'horned viper' or v or f, or ph. Or based on the "snake" which has the sounds snake (ḏdft) or "serpent" (ḥf…w).

khph from slope + snake could translate to Khapher (Scarab/scarab god) or mean “manifestation”.

The order it should be read from the top of the loop (rightside) to the bar on the left. Thus essentially "Tee men moo too ph kh hamnata soo” (Teementookhphhamnatasoo “the Third? roughly? Or Teemoomentookhphhamnatasoo) The placement of the strokes/numerals is is confusing.

Dividing it up and translating based roughly on assumption that snake symbol is supposed to be a horned viper and three bars are hiding true name:

The translation could be “She/He who will not be named, an enduring manifestation, servant of the gods, queen/king of Upper Egypt”.

Advertisement