Adze-on-block (hieroglyph)

The ancient Egyptian Adze on a Wood Block, or Axe in a Block of Wood^[1] hieroglyph, Gardiner sign listed no. U20, is a portrayal of the adze. It is used mostly in the cartouches of pharaonic names especially, or other important names.

Adze-on-Block in hieroglyphs

Cartouche on pillar.

The adze on block^[2] has the Egyptian language value of stp^[3] and is the verb "choose". It is used as a determinative^[4] in 'stp', "cut into pieces", and as an ideogram^[5] for 'stp', "choose", "choice".

The adze tool sign, Gardiner nos. U18 and U19, , , portray just the adze, (or hand-axe).

Cartouche usage: "chosen of"

The most common usage of this hieroglyph is for a descriptor with the names in the pharaonic cartouche. An example for Ramesses II, shows his prenomen as: UserMaatRe SetepeNRe, and is approximately: Maat's Power of Ra, (the) Chosen of Ra. (i.e. Maat's Powerful and Chosen (one) of Ra)

See also

• Gardiner's Sign List#U. Agriculture, Crafts, and Professions
• List of Egyptian hieroglyphs
• Adze#Africa

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  Statue of Pharaoh Osorkon I
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  Pectoral (Ancient Egypt)
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  Goddess Maat (hieroglyph) on Basket hieroglyph being presented by Ramesses IX
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  Ramses II cartouches at Karnak