𓁶

Representing a bearded male head wearing a wig, in profile. The style of the wig varies by time period; the earlier style, from the Old Kingdom, is longer.

(tp)

1. Biliteral phonogram for tp (but see usage notes).
2. Logogram for tp (“head”).
3. Logogram for ḏꜣḏꜣ (“head”).
4. Determinative for a number of words relating to the head or actions implying movement of the head.
5. Determinative in gwꜣ (“to pull together”).

The reading of this sign (and the word tp (“head”) and its derivatives) has recently been thrown into doubt. The traditional reading of tp is likely wrong; the New Kingdom reading was more likely dp, and the original reading may have been either dp or ḏp. However, some Egyptologists (e.g. Schweitzer) argue for the older reading.

• tp

• Gardiner, Alan (1957) Egyptian Grammar: Being an Introduction to the Study of Hieroglyphs, third edition, Oxford: Griffith Institute, →ISBN, page 449–450
• Fischer, Henry (1988) Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy: A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, →ISBN
• Betrò, Maria (1995) Geroglifici: 580 Segni per Capire l'Antico Egitto, Milan: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., →ISBN
• Werning, Damiel A. (2004) “The Sound Values of the Signs Gardiner D1 (Head) and T8 (Dagger)” in Linua Aegyptia, volume 12, pages 183–204
• Peust, Carsten (2006) “Nochmals zur Lesung der Kopf-Hieroglyphe” in Göttinger Miszellen, volume 208, pages 7–8
• Schweitzer, Simon D. (2011) “Zum Lautwert einiger Hieroglyphen” in Zeitschrift für Agyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde, volume 138, pages 132–149
• Werning, Damiel A. (2015) Einführung in die hieroglyphisch-ägyptische Schrift und Sprache, pages 34–35:

  “Die Einwände von (Schweitzer 2011) gegen die Lesung dp sind nicht stichhaltig (was an anderer Stelle zu zeigen ist). Neben den unzweifelhaften Schreibungen von ‘Kopf’ als im Amduat (Werning 2004: 196) ist noch folgender, kursivhieroglyphisch geschriebener Beleg hinzuzufügen: ‘Der ein „sakrales“ Haupt hat’ (Papyrus BM 9971).”