Note 165 — I. THE PRIMITIVE RITE ITSELF. (continued 2)

See Todtenbuch, chap. CLVI.; Egypt’s Place, V., 315; Trans. of Soc. of Bib. Arch., VIII., 2, 211.

This amulet is also called tet; a word of the same phonetic force as tet, the “arm,” or the “bracelet,” but of different letters. This word () seems to have the root-idea of “word;” as if it were applied to the text of the blood-covenant.

The amulet as constructed for the mummy, was stained with the water or liquid of the tree called ankh am (). The amulet itself, according to Brugsch, was also called ankh merer (). But ankh () means either to live (the ordinary meaning), or to swear, to make oath (more rarely), and merer () is a reduplicated form of mer () to love, love, friendship. The meaning of ankh merer, as applied to the blood-amulet may be, oath, or covenant, or pledge of love or friendship. The word merer, in the compound ankh merer, is followed with the determinative of the flying scarabæus () which was commonly placed (Anc. Egypt., III., 346) upon the breast, in lieu of the heart of the dead (Ibid., III., 486). See page 100, infra.

And here the inquiry is suggested, Was the ankh am the same as the modern henneh? Note the connection of henneh with the marriage festivities in the East to-day.

“Paint one hand with henna, mother;

Paint one hand and leave the other.

Bracelets on the right with henna;

On the left give drink to henna.”

(Jessup’s Syrian Home Life, p. 34.)