T (hieroglyph)

The ancient Egyptian Bread bun hieroglyph is Gardiner sign listed no. X1 for the side view of a bread bun. It is also the simple shape of a semicircle. The hieroglyph is listed under the Gardiner category of loaves and cakes.

The bread bun hieroglyph is used in the Ancient Egyptian language hieroglyphs for the alphabetic consonant letter t.^[1] A later alternative t, is a pestle, with curved top, Gardiner U33.

t (or "feminine") Bread bun "semicircle" in hieroglyphs

(detailed) Close-up of hieroglyphs; 2 uses of t.

"Bread bun/semi-circle" as feminine determiner

Besides alphabetic-t, the bread bun is used for words that are feminine, as an end qualifying determinative, often shown before other qualifying ideograms or determinants in the hieroglyphic word block-(quadrat hieroglyphic block). It is one of the most frequently used signs in hieroglyphic writing.

Palermo Stone

The t hieroglyph is used extensively throughout the Palermo Stone of the 24th to 23rd century BC, and it is used in the first row (Row I of VI), for the naming of King Tiu of Lower Egypt (a King of the North).

Palermo Stone, King Series, Row I (predynastic)

The following is the list of predynastic pharaohs (Nile Delta north) represented on the Palermo Piece of the 7–piece Palermo Stone: The sequence is in the proper order with the beginning Pharaoh on the right: (reading right-to-left, seven complete names pictured in year-registers):

• Mekh, Wazner, Neheb, Thesh, Tiu (Tiu), Khayu, Hsekiu.

---

• Owl...Papyrus...Ripple......Tether...Bread&Feather.Bivalve...Cloth
• Belly.....Fish......Plow........Lake.............Quail.........Newborn...Ka

Note: On the Palermo Stone all the hieroglyphs face in the other direction (Gardiner signs are only facing left; on the stone they face right (reading right-to-left)). The source of the following Pharaohs is only from this King List; a few have artifacts that further confirm their reign (the Double Falcon King). The pharaohs deficient in information are: Hsekiu, Khayu, Tiu (pharaoh), Thesh, Neheb, Wazner, Mekh.

Preceded by (start of T)

Breadbun or "feminine" t

Succeeded by Land ti

• 
  Narmer Palette detail, from late 3rd millennium Ancient Egypt
• 
  Nile River flood levels recorded on 1-piece of the 7—piece Palermo Stone. Note the 2-uses of t.
• 
  Palermo piece (at Palermo Museum), of the 7—piece Palermo Stone

The Egyptian hieroglyph alphabetic letters

The following two tables show the Egyptian uniliteral signs. (24 letters, but multiple use hieroglyphs)

a	y	'	(w,u)	B
P	M	N	R	H1
H2	Kh2	S	(Sh)=Š	Q/K2
K	T	Ch—Tj	D	Dj
L/(R) (special) (Ptolemaic, etc.)	--	--	--	--

a	i (ee)	y ii	' ah, (aïn)	w, (u) (oo)	B
P	F	M	N	R	H1
H2	(Kh)1	(Kh)2	S	Sh (Sh)	K emphatic
K	G	T	Tj Ch Tsh	D	Dj
(additionally 4 for vert/horiz)	--	--	--	--	--
M (horiz) M2-Plinth	N (vert) (see: N (red crown))	S (vert) S (folded) cloth)			M (3rd-M -2nd-vert) M3-Baker's tool (vertical)
(additionally 3 for equivalents)	--	--	--	--	--
(2 reeds) is— (2 strokes) y2-Two strokes	(quail) is— (coil) letter w, u (see w2-Coil)		T (no. 2) T2-Pestle

See also

• Gardiner's Sign List#X. Loaves and Cakes
• List of Egyptian hieroglyphs