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In hieroglyphs, signs for boat are either sailing upstream or downstream on the river Nile (not on the ocean). The Egyptians certainly had ships capable of sea-going voyages, but their ships and boats were mainly used as river vessels.

A sign showing a boat with its mast taken down and sails furled is the determinative for "to sail downstream"; a boat with mast erect and sail billowing is the determinative for "to sail upstream". Neither of these signs would be used on their own, but would be accompanied by sound-signs spelling out the appropriate verb.

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13y ago

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