LOSToglyphs

Hieroglyphs are writing systems that use iconicsymbols to communicate messages. Multiple ancient cultures used hieroglyphs, but the most famous variety are Egyptian hieroglyphs. There have been numerous encounters with hieroglyphs throughout Lost. Damon Lindelof indicated in Access: Granted that the symbols are used because "there are many interpretations of hieroglyphics [sic], that's what we were going for." Some of the hieroglyphs, like those on the countdown timer inthe Swan station, were created by the DHARMA Initiative. (Access: Granted#Hieroglyphics) Others, like those on The Temple, appear to be much older.

Each hieroglyph is given an alphanumeric code so it can be written using the letters and numbers of western society. Each code is referred to as the symbol'sGardiner Code. For example, the first symbol in thecountdown timer, folded cloth, has the code "S29".

Contents [show]

editOccurrences

Countdown timer

Main article: Countdown timer

Hidden hieroglyphs during thefailure sequence 1

Hidden hieroglyphs during thefailure sequence 2

Hidden hieroglyphs during thefailure sequence 3

The first hieroglyph sequence to have been shown inLost was displayed by the countdown timer in the Swan. The same hieroglyph sequence can be found on theAjira Airways boarding pass, and in Rachel Blake's blog.Damon Lindelof stated that the Dharma Initiative included the hieroglyphs as an homage to the historical occupants of the island. (Access:_Granted#Hieroglyphics)

These hieroglyphs, known as "folded cloth", "curl", "fire drill", "vulture" and "stick", correspond to symbols S29, Z7, U29, G1, Z6 from Gardiner's Sign List. Raymond O. Faulkner's A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian, translates a virtually identical sequence (below), substituting only U29 for U28, as "die".

At Comic Con 2006, producer Damon Lindelof translated the countdown timer sequence to mean "underworld", which is now considered the official translation, though Carlton Cusenoted that they are "subject to interpretation". (Official 'Lost' Podcast/July 31, 2006)

Various hieroglyphs on the Countdown timer, as shown in the three images to the right, were shown only during the failure sequence. The following hieroglyphs can be seen:

Rachel Blake

Main article: Rachel Blake

From Rachel Blake's Blog. (TLE)

In The Lost Experience, the same hieroglyphs as shown on thecountdown timer were found in one of Rachel Blake's blogs. In her blog she corroborates that the definition is "die". (Rachel Blake Iceland 02)

Rachel also muses about whether or not the symbols are connected to the Valenzetti Equation. During Rachel's secretly videotaped interview with Armand Zander, Armand mentions that the Valenzetti Equationincludes symbols that "looked like... egyptian hieroglyphics. There are 5, maybe six of them in there, and, it's a vulture, a staff...". (Rachel Blake Iceland 01)

Rachel Blake wondered, in her blog, if the hieroglyphs should be examined one by one, instead of trying to read them together. She also wondered if they could mean something else if they were rearranged. (Official 'Lost' Podcast/July 31, 2006)

Ben's secret door

Main article: Ben's secret door

Ben's secret door

Image from Season 4 DVD

A secret door in Ben's house in the Barracks was marked with hieroglyphs. In the Season 4 DVD extra "Mysterious Egyptian Influences"[2], it is conjectured that the hieroglyphs translate as "grief".

The first line corresponds to the symbols A26 S29 M17 and N35 (Man With Out-stretched Arm, Folded Cloth, Blooming Reed, Water). The second line corresponds to symbols A24 W24 and Aa27 (Man With Weapon, Pot, Unknown). Unlike most other hieroglyphs on the island, these appear to read right to left.

N35:M17*S29-A26 translates as "summon".

Aa27-W24:D36 (Unknown, Pot, Arm) translates as "protection", and determinately symbol A24 (Man With Weapon) may function, in this case, the same way as symbol D36 (Arm). Roughly translated, then, they appear to read "to summon protection...". [3] Unlike the image from the Season 4 DVD extra, the actual door appears to have the aforementioned hieroglyphs plus V18 (amulet), which translates as "protection", reinforcing the interpretation of the second line.

Frozen wheel chamber

Main article: Frozen wheel

Hieroglyphs near the frozen wheel

Another view of the column

The frozen wheel used to move the Island is within a rock chamber with a rock column in the middle that is inscribed with hieroglyphs. Some of these hieroglyphs are very similar to the hieroglyphs on The Temple. Just below the lamp, can be seen a set of hieroglyphs that correspond directly with one set on The Temple:

These translate as "travel". Near the bottom of the column is another set of hieroglyphs that is not entirely visible from any one angle, but a composite of images shows that it is

This series can also be found on The Temple, and translates as "time" or "vicinity". There are other hieroglyphs on the column, however, it is not clear what they represent. Producer Damon Lindelof, in a podcast, said that the hieroglyphs on the column indicated "resurrection". (Official 'Lost' Podcast/February 5, 2009)

Ajira Airways

Main article: Ajira Airways

Ajira Airways Boarding Pass

The boarding pass featured on ajirairways.com [4] has hieroglyphs in semi-transparency in the corners and along the top and bottom of the sample pass. Visible are the same five hieroglyphs from the countdown timer: S29, Z7, U29, G1, and Z6, which producer Damon Lindeloftranslated to mean "underworld".

The Temple wall

Main article: The Temple

The Temple wall's hieroglyphs

The Temple wall's hieroglyphs' codes

Hieroglyphs can be seen on the temple wall where Jin finds Montand's rotting arm. ("This Place Is Death") Specifically, the hieroglyphs surround the declivity in the wall. Two of the sets of hieroglyphs on the Temple wall can also be seen on the column of the frozen wheel chamber. SinceDamon Lindelof indicated in the February 5, 2009 podcast that the hieroglyphs in the frozen wheel chamber mean "resurrection", we can assume that at least part of the message on the Temple wall means the same thing.

Hieroglyphs on the Temple wall:

Daniel's map

Main article: Daniel's map

Daniel Faraday's map to the Tempest

While searching the filing cabinets in Ben's office at the Hydra, Caesarfound a photocopied page from Daniel's journal, along with Daniel's map tothe Tempest. ("The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham") However, unlike the first time it was shown, ("The Other Woman") hieroglyphs had been added in the bottom left corner. Two different sets were visible.

The first, Aa1:D46-P1 (placenta?:hand-boat on water), means "Northward travel" or "travel downstream".

The second, D21:V31-N5 (mouth:basket-sun), is most likely "Time of kings/ancients", and was also seen onthe Temple.

Statue of Taweret

Main article: Statue of Taweret

Giant statue holding ankhs

An ankh

In an unknown ancient time period, Sawyer, Jin, Juliet, and Miles saw a statue of Taweret, the precursor to thefour-toed statue that had been seen before, but only from quite a distance. (LaFleur-Enhanced transcript) The Statue was also shown in 1867. ("The Incident, Part 1") ("Ab Aeterno")Taweret was holding an ankh, which represents eternal life, in each hand. ("LaFleur") Egyptian Gods are often depicted as carrying the ankh by its loop, or holding one in each hand, crossing their chest. [5] The Gods were often depicted conferring that life to mummies, thereby giving the deceased eternal life.[6] A Native American symbol with the same meaning can be seen on the artwork for the the Geronimo Jackson single Dharma Lady.

Paul's necklace

Paul's ankh necklace, held byHorace

Paul, a member of the DHARMA Initiative who died in the episodeLaFleur, wore a necklace with an ankh hieroglyph pendant. The ankh was often carried as an amulet by ancient Egyptians. In modern times, the ankh has been used as a symbol since the 1960s, often in association with cultural movements. [7] Paul's wife, Amy, took his ankh from him after his death. She is seen breathing into the pendant which is is considered to be an offering of "The Breath of Life". The breath you will need in the afterlife. Later, Amy's subsequent husband, Horace, found the memento among Amy's things and became upset. ("LaFleur") This symbol, which means “life”, was often used to show Pharoahs as having been conferred with life after death. As such, the symbol is often associated with immortality. [8]

Cerberus chamber

The mural from the Cerberus chamber [1]

For an "in-progress" transcription of the hieroglyphs seen in the Cerberus chamber, see The Temple hieroglyphs.

Within the declivity in the Temple wall, underground, Ben found a chamber with many hieroglyphs and other symbols of Egyptian religion (including an engraving of the Monster facing the Ancient Egyptian god Anubis). The majority of these hieroglyphs were written in a cursive form, and so deviate from their formal counterparts to varying degrees. Cursive hieroglyphs were most often used from religious writings in Ancient Egypt.("Dead Is Dead")

DHARMA Classroom

The hieroglyphs on the DHARMA classroom chalkboard

A lesson on Ancient Egypt and hieroglyphs was taught in the DHARMA classroom. ("Some Like It Hoth") Below is a summary of the contents of the blackboard, which includes both hieroglyphs and descriptions of the Egyptian language. The first line of hieroglyphs is a phrase that means "Egyptian (language)". The second line translates as "Writing of the words of God". The third line means "Egypt".

Egyptian	Old Egyptian	Egyptian language
	2600BC to 2000BC Tripling ideograms, phonograms, and determinatives	?
"Writing of the words of God"	Middle Egyptian	Phonetics
	2000BC to 1300 BC classic stage of language	Meaning conveyed ? form ???
Archaic Egyptian before 2600BC	Late Egyptian	?
	1300BC to 700 BC From synthetic to ? language	?

The Tunnels

Hieroglyphs on a pillar in The Tunnels

Within The Tunnels, a series of underground tunnels controlled by The Others, there are numerous pillars identical to those found in the Cerberus chamber. The sequences of hieroglyphs on those pillars are identical, and so can be found on the page where the hierglyphs are currently being transcribed: The Temple hieroglyphs

Jacob's tapestry

2 views of Jacob's tapestry that show some of the hieroglyphs

Along with Greek writing, numerous hieroglyphs can be seen on Jacob's tapestry. ("The Incident, Part 1") For example, near the right tip of the wings extending from the Eye of Horus can be seen the sequence D36-V30:Z2 (see below), which would translate as "appoint lords" or "lords give/grant".[9] [10]

The three Egyptian seasons appear to be written near the bottom of the tapestry (series shown below). The center and right hieroglyphs mean "winter" [11] and "summer" [12] respectively. The left hieroglyphs are likely a variant of the third egyptian season "inundation", which is usually written M8:Aa1*X1, but is here written Aa1-M8:X1. [13]

Inundation		Winter		Summer

Inside The Temple

Hieroglyphs can be seen above The Temple pool

Most of the hieroglyphs in The Temple are not yet translated, but above the pool can be seen a series of hieroglyphs that are a conjunction of words (in a sense). The series, seen below, likely translates as "The Primaeval Waters of Nun". [14] Nun, as a deity, represents the water from which all creation formed.

Inside The Lighthouse

The upper wall of the lantern room in the lighthouse contains several hieroglyphs. ("Lighthouse")

editTranslations

Translating hieroglyphs is difficult and inaccurate. First, hieroglyphs may be written left-to-right or right-to-left, although key symbols, such as humans and animals, were supposed to be drawn to face towards the beginning of the sentence. It can also be challenging to identify where one word stops and another begins. Correctly identifying each symbol can be a challenge, as some hieroglyphs are drawn less clearly than others, and some hieroglyphs look very similar. In religious writings, cursive forms of hieroglyphs, which can vary from their originals significantly, were also used. To further complicate translation, each symbol can mean something on its own (ideogram), represent a sound (phonetic), or give you a clue about the word written before it (determinative).

For example, S29 (folded cloth) represents the idea of 'health' (ideogram). However, S29 also represents the sound 's' (phonetic). Since most of the words written in hieroglyphs are missing many or all of their vowels, it can be hard to know what a word spelled phonetically means. It would be like trying to figure out what the word "crs" means if our writing didn't include vowels. It could mean "Cures", "Curse", or "Cares", for example. In hieroglyphic writing, then, a symbol will be placed at the end of a phonetically spelled word in order to give the reader a clue as to which possible meaning is intended (determinative). For example, if you wrote the word "crs" and put a heart at the end, you might assume the word meant "cares", whereas if a symbol of evil (like the hieroglyph Z6-Enemy) was placed at the end of the word "crs", you might assume the intended word was "curse".

Series of hieroglyphs

The following table summarizes the sets of hieroglyphs seen so far, relevant information associated with them, and citable translations.

Hieroglyphs	Gardiner Code	Transliterated	Meanings	Seen * links to uncropped image
	Aa1:D46-P1	xdi	"Travel north" or "travel downstream" or "flow (of water)" or "North" [15]	Daniel's map *, Mysterious Egyptian Influences, Season 4 DVD *
	N35:T34*G17-M17-O5:D54	nmi	"Travel" or "traverse" [16]	Frozen wheelchamber *, The Temple *, Mysterious Egyptian Influences, Season 4 DVD *
	V13:O34-U40a	Ts	"Reprehensible/Reproachable"[17] or "Rise up!" [18]	The Temple *, Mysterious Egyptian Influences, Season 4 DVD *
	D2:D21-X1:N31	Hrt	"The way to sky/heaven"[19]	The Temple *, Mysterious Egyptian Influences, Season 4 DVD *
	D2:D21	Hry	"Master" [20]	The Temple *
	O4-G1-G43-Y1:Z2	hAw	"Surroundings" or "time" or "lifetime" [21]	Frozen wheelchamber *, The Temple *, Mysterious Egyptian Influences, Season 4 DVD *
	M8-G1-S29-D54	SAs	"Travel" [22]	Mysterious Egyptian Influences, Season 4 DVD *
	P6-D36-G43-N5	aHaw	"Lifetime" or "period" or "space of time" [23]	The Temple *
	D21:V31-N5	rk	"Time (of kings/of ancients)"[24]	The Temple *, Daniel's map *
	S29-Z7-U29-G1-Z6	swDA	"Underworld" [25] or "die"[26]	The Hatch/The Swan*, Rachel Blake's Blog*, Ajira AirwaysBoarding Pass *
	A26-S29-M17-N35	nis (read backwards)	"Summon" [27] or "Invoke"[28]	Ben's secret door *
	A24-W24-Aa27	nD (read backwards)	"Protection" [29]	Ben's secret door *
	R8-O29v	aA nTr	"Great God"	Frozen WheelChamber *
	V13?Z4b?:O34?	Ts?	"Reprehensible/Reproachable"?	Frozen WheelChamber *
	O5:M17?D55?	nmi?	"Travel"? "Traverse"?	Frozen WheelChamber *
	Z1a?N105?Aa12?:Z6	?	"1 Enemy"?	Frozen WheelChamber *
	D21:Z1 N35 I6-G17-X1:O49	r n kmt	"Language of Egypt" [30]	DHARMA classroom*
	Y4-N35-R8-S43-Z3	ssch n nTr md	Writing of the words of God[31]	DHARMA classroom*
	N16:N16	tAwy/tAwj	"the Two Lands, Egypt" or "both Lands" [32]	DHARMA classroom*

Individual hieroglyphs

The following table summarizes the phonetics and meanings associated with the hieroglyphs seen so far, as well as some related hieroglyphs. Note that many of the symbols seen under The Temple Wall were alchemic, not hieroglyphic.

Hieroglyphs	Symbol	Gardiner Code	Phonetics	Stand-alone Meanings
	Man pointing hand at mouth	A2	none	"Eat" or "drink" or "speak" or "think" or "feel" or "tell" or "refrain from speech" or "advise/counsel" or "love" [33]
	Bound man	A13	none	"Enemy" or "rebel" or "foreigner" [34]
	Wounded man	A14	none	"To die" or "dead enemy" [35]
	Man with stick	A24	none	"Hit" or "beat" or "strength" or "strong" or "force" or "teach" or "instruct" [36]
	Man with out-stretched arm	A26	none	"Servant" or "to call" [37]
	Face	D2	Hr	"Face" or "on" or "around" or "over" or "for" [38]
	Mouth	D21	r	“Mouth” or "spell" [39] or "against" [40] or "to" or "at" or "concerning" or "more than" or "from" or "so that" or "until" or "according to" or can indicate that something is a future event [41]
	Arm	D36	a	“Arm” [42]
	Hand	D46	d or dw	"Hand” or "give" or "place (verb)" or "put" or "implant (obstacle)" or "strike (blow)" or "cause" [43]
	Legs walking	D54	none	"Walk" or "stop" or "enterprise" or "come near" or "not move"[44]
	Legs walking backward	D55	iw	"Back" or "to return" [45]
	Vulture	G1	A	"Vulture" or “eagle" or "bird" or "but" [46]
	Owl	G17	m	"With" or "by means of" or "from" or "out of" or "as" or "namely" or "when" or "as though" or "together with" or "in the position of" or "do not" or "owl" or "in" [47]
	Quail Chick	G43	w	"Property" or "not" [48]
	Crocodile skin	I6	km	"Shield" [49]
	Pool with flowering plants	M8	SA	“Season" [50]
	Blooming reed	M17	i	"Sedge" or "reed" [51] or "I/me/my" [52]
	Sun	N5	ra	“Sun” or "rise” or “day” or “hour” or “time” [53]
	Earth	N16	tA	"Earth" or "ground" [54] or "country" or "eternity" [55]
	Road with shrubs	N31	none	“Ascend” or “travel” or “army” or “here” [56]
	Water ripple	N35	n	"To (someone)" or "for (someone)" or "in (sun, dew, time)" or "because" or "belongs to" or "of, belonging to" or "we/us/our"[57]
	Inverted moon	N105	?	? [58]
	House	O1	pr	“House” or "sanctuary" or "building" or "place" or "location" or "horizon" [59]
	Yard	O4	h	“House” [60]
	Street	O5	nm or mr	"Street" [61]
	Door Bolt	O34	s	"She/Her/It/Its" [62] or “Demolish” [63]
	City	O49	none	"City" or "village" or "Thebes" or "inhabited region" or "Egypt" [64]
	Boat on water	P1	none	“Ship” or "sail" or “boat” or “go downstream” [65]
	Mast	P6	aHa	“Stand” or "portion" or "stela" or "tree trunk" or "unfavourable (of calendar dates)" [66] or "building" or "temple" or "enclosure" or "foundation" [67]
	Cloth wound on a pole	R8	nTr	"God" or "divine, sacred" [68]
	Folded cloth	S29	s	"Health" or "she/her/hers" [69] or "it" or "who?" or "what?[70]
	Ankh	S34	anx	"Life" or "sandal strap" [71] or "swear" [72]
	Walking stick	S43	md(w)	"Staff" or "rod" [73]
	Knife	T30	none	"Knife" or "to cut" or "to" or "cut off" pr "to sharpen" or "sharp" [74]
	Knife	T34	nm	"Knife" [75]
	Fire drill	U28	DA	“Safely” or “healthy” [76]
	Fire drill	U29	DA	“Safely” or "healthy" [77]
	Pennants of the scales	U40a	Ts or wTs	"Hold up" or "carry" or "wear" or "pick up" [78]
	Cattle tie	V13	T	“You/Your” or "rope with 2 holes" [79]
	Amulet	V18	sA	“Protection” [80]
	Basket	V31	k	"You/Your" or "basket" [81] or “you said to the man” [82]
	Pot	W24	nw, jn	Nekhbet [83]
	Bread	X1	t	"You/Your" [84] or "bread" or abbreviation for "father"[85]
	Papyrus scroll	Y1	none	“Book” or "write" or “abstract idea” or "to be large" or "to be new" [86]
	Scribe's supplies	Y4	naa or snaa	"Scribes supplies" or "write" or "writing" [87]
	Single stroke	Z1a	none	"Singular" or "space". Can be used as a substitue for a person, to indicate that the prior word is meant as an ideogram, or to make some words feminine. [88]
	Plural stroke	Z2	none	“Plural” or “multiple” or can also be used to replace a word that is too dangerous to write [89]
	Plural stroke	Z3	none	“Plural” or “multiple” or can also be used to replace a word that is too dangerous to write [90]
	Dual stroke	Z4b	y	“Plural” or “duality” or can also be used to replace a word that is too dangerous to write [91]
	stick	Z6	none	Hieratic form of A13 or A14 [92]
	curl	Z7	w	Hieratic form of G43 [93]
	Human placenta?	Aa1	x	“Youth” or "are young" [94]
	Unknown	Aa12	mAa	“Platform" [95]
	Unknown	Aa27	nD	"Save" or "protect" [96]

editNon-canon appearances

Hieroglyphs are visible on the column to the right

Hieroglyphs in a Mysteries of the Universe advertisement

The season 6 promotional poster containing hieroglyphs

The hieroglyphs from the Lost University website

Professor Erik Wells' image, with hieroglyphs in the background

Hieroglyphs on U.S release of Season 5 Blu-ray set

• In the Lost Untangled for "Follow the Leader", hieroglyphs are visible on the pillars within the Tunnels. While the hieroglyphs are real hieroglyphs, they do not match the actual hieroglyphs as shown in the episode.
• Lost University offers a course on hieroglyphs called Ancient writings on the wall.
• An advertisement for Mysteries of the Universe, a short series of videos about the DHARMA Initiative, includes an image of a film reel, along the edge of which can be seen a row of hieroglyphs. The series, seen below, represents the phrase "nm sSmw", which loosely translates as "Who is the leader?":

[97][98]

• In a season six promotional poster, hieroglyphs can be seen drawn within the phrase "THE FINAL SEASON". This series of hieroglyphs is the same as seen in the Mysteries of the Universe advertisement, and so translates as "Who is the leader?"
• When the student enrollment countdown timer at the Lost University website reached zero, a series of hieroglyphs were shown. The left portion of the glyphs, shown on the black background, translates as "ordain, order, predestine, assign, settle, or decide". [99] The right portion of the glyphs, shown on the red background, likely translates as "he who is summoned, or reckoner". [100] Together, then, the series could be translated: "The summoned one ordains it."
• The Lost University image of Professor Erik Wells, who is one of the professors for the course about hieroglyphs, is standing in front of a whiteboard with hieroglyphs written on it. These hieroglyphs are G17-Q3*X1:N1, as seen below. G17 can translate as "with, by means of, from, out of, as, namely, when, as, though, or together with". [101] Q3*X1:N1 translates as "sky or heaven". [102] Together, then, the series would translate as "from the sky", or "out of heaven."

• The same series of hieroglyphs as had been seen on the countdown timer on the Lost University website are shown (obscured) on the Season 5 Blu-ray cover.