Figure 62.
Before demonstrating that the chief astronomical signs of the Egyptian zodiac partake of the nature of a rebus and express the sound of the various attributes and titles and some of the “myriad of names” of the “hidden god,” contained in the preceding texts, I point out how clearly the conception of Amen-Ra, as shown in these hymns and invocations, is consistent with a pole-star origin. We have, moreover, the authoritative opinion of Brugsch that “the hieroglyph and name Ra did not only refer to the day-sun, but also designated certain brilliant stars,” which he presumes to be the planets (op. cit. i, p. 79). This identification of the name Ra with stars involuntarily obliges one to recall the Sanscrit tara=star [pg 391] while the Chinese employment of a plain circle to designate “star,” also finds its analogy. Let us now examine the hieroglyphic signs and symbols of Ra and note how intelligible they become when the god is identified as Polaris.
The following (fig. [62]) are some of the modes in which the name Ra is found expressed in texts published in Mr. Wallis Budge's “First steps in Egyptian:”
Fig. [62], 1. By a dot in the centre of a circle, the determinative of “time.”
2. By the latter accompanied by the image of a seated god and the numeral 1.
3. Idem, partly surrounded by a serpent in motion and accompanied by the numeral 1.
4. The serpent and circle on the head of a hawk-headed seated god.
To these are added for purposes of comparison
5. The circle with two uræi.