Hieroglyphic Meaning of Egyptian Drawing and Sculpture

The human figure

Statues and drawings of human figures or gods are usually artistically developed hieroglyphic signs.

When considering them, two things should be taken into account.

(1) People are represented in a relatively small variety of different positions.
These positions have nothing to do with aesthetics (though other elements
such as form and color do, of course); they are actually highly developed
hieroglyphics with precise meanings. The arm positions are especially important.

(2)The attributes surrounding the person are also hieroglyphics; they give the
meaning to the action of the person and may even form a rebus.

The most typical positions and their meanings:

 

Position
Gesture
Meaning
Standing or sitting
Arms held out in front, elbows slightly bent
Adore
Standing
Arms raised high, elbows bent in obtuse angle
Rejoice
Standing
One arm down at the side, the other loosely held out, palm (thumb) up
Summon, invoke
Standing
One arm down at the side, the other loosely held out, palm (thumb) down
Greeting
Standing
One arm holding staff, the other holding horizontal object (scepter)
Image, statue, nobility
Sitting
Finger in mouth
Child
Kneeling
Arms tied behind back
Captive
Kneeling
One arm bent in acute angle (held to chest), the other bent and raised in air
Praise
Sitting profile
No arms or legs represented; compact form
A god (netcher)
Standing or sitting (woman)
One or both arms raised in front of face, even held back towards head
Mourning (iakbyt)
Standing or sitting
The arms forming three sides of a rectangle, forearms parallel
Symbol of the soul (ka)
Standing or sitting
The arms forming an almost complete diamond shape
Embrace (hepet)
Standing or sitting
Arms held in front, bent, forearms extended, hands full
Offering (derep)

 

Some Typical Attributes

Feather (maat); generally the headdress of the goddess Maat, the feather represents the Egyptian concept of truth and justice. It is often seen weighed against the heart of a newly deceased person by the Underworld god Anubis.

Sun disk (re); it is just a disk, sometimes worn on the head, occasionally represented as the large eye of a cobra. Symbol of glory.

Eye (wedjat); it is essentially protective, also a symbol of offering.

Pair of arms forming three sides of a rectangle (ka), not necessarily attached to a person, sometimes even a headdress.

Bull with lowered head; the king, generally in military situation

Ankh amulet (ankh); life

Various birds (mythical meanings)