G29

𓅡

G·Birds

Transliteration

bꜣBiliteralphonogrambabAb

phonogramlogogramother

Shape tags

jabiru

Variants (2)

G29A

G29B

Meanings

Originally representing the saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis). The stork is depicted with decreasing accuracy over time; the earliest instances come from knife and mace handles from the Late Predynastic Period and are very accurate. Starting from the 3rd Dynasty the bill of the hieroglyphic stork began to shorten. In later phases of the Old Kingdom, as the bird died out and disappeared from Egypt, the glyph became increasingly schematized, with a shorter neck and bill, a goose-like posture, and incorrect placement of the wattle on the neck or chest rather than at the base of the bill. This form then continued on mostly unchanged for the rest of Egyptian history. The phonetic value of bꜣ is derived by the rebus principle from the glyph’s use as a logogram for bꜣ (“ba”).

phonogram

Biliteral phonogram for bꜣ.

Represents a sound or phonetic value

logogram

Logogram for bꜣ (“ba”).

Represents a complete word or concept

other

Phonemogram

Has a specialized or contextual function

other

A saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis), with lappet.

Has a specialized or contextual function