Glossary

Note: Most Egyptian names have multiple transliterations and a variety of transcriptions into the Roman alphabet. Only a single version for each entry is given here.

AKHU—the part of a person that becomes a shining dot in the sky after they die

BABI—baboon-headed god

DJERTY—ancient city, on the same site as the modern city of Tod

DUNAWY—winged god, often known by the Greek name Anti

HATHOR—goddess of the moon, dancing, and music

HATTIANS—ancient people of Anatolia (in Turkey)

HEKA—ram-headed god

HEM-NETJER—priest

HEM-NETJER TEPEY—high priest

HORUS—falcon-headed god

INEB HEDJ (“WHITE WALLS”)—city at the Nile delta, later known by the Greek name Memphis; the administrative capital of united Upper and Lower Egypt. It was to the south of where Cairo now stands, on the west bank.

INR-TI—ancient city, now known as the archeological site Naga el-Gherira.

KA—the part of a person that stays with the physical self after they die

KANESH—ancient name of the central eastern Ana­tolian town now known as Kültepe

MINOS—ancient name of the Aegean island now known as Crete

MUN-DIGAK—ancient city of what is now Afghanistan

NEKHBET—vulture-headed goddess who guards children and mothers

NEKHEB—ancient city, on the same site as the modern city of el-Kab

NEKHEN—ancient city, on the same site as the modern city of Kom el-Ahmar

NIT—goddess of war, often known by the Greek rendering Neith

NUBT—ancient city, on the same site as the modern city of Naqada

RA—sun god

SEKER—god in charge of metalworking

SEKHMET—lion-headed goddess of battle

SET—god of storms and chaos

SOBEK—crocodile-headed god

TA-SENET—ancient city, on the same site as the modern city of Esna

TEHUTI—ibis-headed god, often known by the Greek rendering Thoth

WA’eb—helper of the priest

WASET—ancient city, often known by the Greek name Thebes, and today the site of the modern city Luxor

WETJESET-HOR—ancient city, on the same site as the modern city of Edfu

YEBU—southernmost city of Egypt, on the same site as the modern city of Aswan