Hello,

Can anyone give me more information on the hieroglyph for "quarter", "fourth", "fourth part of an aroura" or "year" as mentioned below.


Hieroglyphics of Horapollo by Horapollo Niliacus (4th century C.E)
Greek translation by Philippus, titled Hieroglyphica (circa 5th century)

p. 45

5. A SEASON

When they wish to represent a season, they draw the fourth part of an aroura. The aroura is a measure of land, each a hundred cubits square. And wishing to express a year, they say a "quarter," since they say that from the rising of the star Sothis until another rising, there is an [increase of] a quarter day, as the year of God is three hundred and sixty-five days. Whence every four years, the Egyptians intercalate an extra day. And the four years are filled out by the fourth day.

1. Sbordone, in his commentary on this hieroglyph, explains that the author has confused the word for a fourth of an aroura with the word for a "year."


C. Wayne Taylor
Richmond, Virginia USA