Gardiner's Sign List

See transliteration of Ancient Egyptian for a list of single-phoneme hieroglyphs.

Gardiner's Sign List is a list of common Egyptian hieroglyphs compiled by Sir Alan Gardiner. It is considered a standard reference in the study of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Gardiner lists only the most common forms of Egyptian hieroglyphs, but he includes extensive subcategories, and also both vertical and horizontal forms for many hieroglyphs. He includes size-variation forms to aid with the reading of hieroglyphs in running blocks of text. (The Budge Reference has about 1000 hieroglyphs listed in 50 pages, but with no size varieties.)

Unfortunately he does not cross index signs, once put on the list, other significant uses may be overlooked. One example of this is G16, nbtỉ, the ideogram for The Two Ladies, goddesses Wadjet as cobra and Nekhbet as the white vulture. These are the protecting and patron goddesses of the separate Egyptian kingdoms that joined into Ancient Egypt, who were both then displayed on the uraeus of Wadjet when the unification occurred and afterward considered jointly to be the protectors of Egypt and the pharaohs. This ideogram is listed only on the bird list as G16, and overlooked on the deity list and the reptile list.

Other subcategories included by Gardiner are abbreviations and personalized forms, and also a complete subset, used on papyrus, specifically for the Book of the Dead.

1 A. Man and his Occupations
2 B. Woman and her Occupations
3 C. Anthropomorphic Deities
4 D. Parts of the Human Body
5 E. Mammals
6 F. Parts of Mammals
7 G. Birds
8 H. Parts of Birds
9 I. Amphibious Animals, Reptiles, etc.
10 K. Fish and Parts of Fish
11 L. Invertebrates and Lesser Animals
12 M. Trees and Plants
13 N. Sky, Earth, Water
14 O. Buildings, Parts of Buildings, etc.
15 P. Ships and Parts of Ships
16 Q. Domestics and Funerary Furniture
17 R. Temple Furniture and Sacred Emblems
18 S. Crowns, Dress, Staves, etc.
19 T. Warfare, Hunting, Butchery
20 U. Agriculture, Crafts, and Professions
21 V. Rope, Fiber, Baskets, Bags, etc.
22 W. Vessels of Stone and Earthenware
23 X. Loaves and Cakes
24 Y. Writings, Games, Music
25 Z. Strokes, Signs derived from Hieratic, Geometrical Figures
26 Aa. Unclassified
27 Additions to list
28 References
29 See also
30 External links

A. Man and his Occupations

Group A consists of 55 symbols and can be subdivided into 30 sitting males, 20 standing males as well as various other lying, standing or falling figures

A10