Musical Instrument (nefer) holy. This instrument resembles a heart surmounted by a cross. Some think it represents a guitar, and from the purifying effects of music, became the symbol for goodness or holiness.
Ostrich Feather (shu) true. The usual symbol of truth. The nomen therefore in this case may be rendered, “Thothmes, the holy, the true.”
Bennu (bennu) sacred bird of An. This bennu is usually depicted with two long feathers on the back of the head.
| “An or Heliopolis.” |
Pylon or gateway, is a hieroglyph that stands for An or On, the Greek Heliopolis. Its great antiquity is shown from the fact that the city is referred to in the Book of Genesis under the name of On, translated Ων in the Septuagint: “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On.... And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him.”
Heliopolis was by the ancient Egyptians named Benbena, “the house of pyramidia;” but as no pyramids proper ever existed at On, the monuments alluded to are either pylons, that is, gateways of temples, or obelisks.
