NOTES.
For a full account of the removal of the obelisk and everything connected with it, the reader is referred to the admirable book of the late Commander Gorringe, entitled: Egyptian Obelisks. New York, 1882.
This is the so-called "shield-name", the heraldic motto or device of the Pharaoh, occurring in many variations on the obelisk.
The two diadems referred to are 1) the crown surmounted by an Uræus snake or cobra, symbolizing the king's power over life and death, and 2) the crown with the vulture—usually worn by goddesses and queens—to proclaim him the "nourisher" or "protector" of his people.
This is the longest of any Egyptian cartouche, and is written in two vertical columns. It stands for the second cartouche given on page 36.
The last hieroglyphs of the two columns of the cartouche form the regal name: Thoth-mes.
The custom of erecting obelisks in pairs in front of the gates of temples has already been alluded to on page 20 (cf. the picture).
The gold-metal mentioned here may have been only an alloy of copper and gold. Some think that it was the electrum of the ancients, which was an alloy of silver and gold.
This passage is supplied from the London Obelisk.
This was a festival celebrated every thirty years, also called the festival of the trentenary cycle. The real meaning of these highly important festivals is not yet fully understood.
This passage is totally destroyed and indecipherable.
is an abbreviated form for qa "to lift up, raise"; therefore literally: "who has raised the crown".
The white crown was that of Upper Egypt, which was then the most important part of the empire and the seat of government (cf. page 31).
This term may also be translated according to Dümichen "Horus of the golden necklace". This necklace was the usual mark of distinction for valor in battle, and it was the king's prerogative to bestow it on his chiefs. Horus, the avenger of his father Osiris, is the Mars of Roman mythology. The whole expression, therefore, means "the valiant hero".
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ is the royal or divine name of the "Pharaoh of the Oppression", which signifies: the Sun, mighty in Truth, chosen of the Sun.
Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su is the family name of the same Pharaoh, or his name as prince before he ascended the throne, and signifies: the beloved of Amen, the Sun, who begets himself.
Ȧten is another name of the sun-god Râ. This deity was represented as the sun giving forth rays, each of which terminated in a hand holding the sign (ânkh) "life"). The picture on page 30 will make this plain.
Kheperȧ, literally "the Creator", is another name of the sun-god and represents the invisible sun of night. The beetle () or scarab was sacred to this deity, whose picture is given on page 28.
Mâ is the Egyptian goddess of Truth.
Ptaḥ-tathunen is a name of Ptah as the chief deity of Memphis in Lower Egypt. Cf. the Glossary.