T- "Taw" was originally a cross, more like an "X" than a "T". It literally meant "mark", and indicated a signature. Taw was also the last letter of the Phoenician alphabet, and had a significant role as that. It would be used to signify the end of things.
N-"Nun" was thought to have come from a hieroglyph of a snake, or possibly an eel or fish in water. The snake hieroglyph means "bad luck" in Arabic.
H- "Heth" originates in a hieroglyph for "courtyard", and is written the same in early
Greek, when it meant "fence"
Amusingly, I found the hebrew derivation of Heth, Chet, is used in chatrooms to designate laughter, similar to LOL.
Outside of the Phoenician alphabet, I found that the Egyptian nu was a wavy line that represented water, similar to N. T reprsented a loaf of bread, and H represented shelter.
"T N H" in hieroglyphs.
I think that even though I did a lot of research into the Phoenician alphabet, I am more drawn to the Egyptian hieroglyphs. It's older, some of the Phoenician is derived from these hieroglyphs, and there is a uniformity with bread, water and shelter-- they are basic needs for survival, when summarized.
So, working in Illustrator, I threw together some literal transcriptions of the Hieroglyphs and my letters:
T was the easiest: a loaf of bread, easily replicated as a pattern on the letter.
N was more difficult, and I came up with a couple ideas. The font I used for the letter 'N' was very curly and made me think of the movement of water, which is why the second gif is just blue wavy and curly lines. I also mimicked the hieroglyph's shape of water. Then, I tried to emphasize where the "N" shape could have come from in the shape of the waves and water.
I would say I have the least ideas for the H. I tried the hieroglyph's shape of 'shelter', and elaborated on it to make it a more complex shape, and then drew a symbol version of a house.
"T N H" in hieroglyphs.
I think that even though I did a lot of research into the Phoenician alphabet, I am more drawn to the Egyptian hieroglyphs. It's older, some of the Phoenician is derived from these hieroglyphs, and there is a uniformity with bread, water and shelter-- they are basic needs for survival, when summarized.
So, working in Illustrator, I threw together some literal transcriptions of the Hieroglyphs and my letters:
T was the easiest: a loaf of bread, easily replicated as a pattern on the letter.
N was more difficult, and I came up with a couple ideas. The font I used for the letter 'N' was very curly and made me think of the movement of water, which is why the second gif is just blue wavy and curly lines. I also mimicked the hieroglyph's shape of water. Then, I tried to emphasize where the "N" shape could have come from in the shape of the waves and water.
I would say I have the least ideas for the H. I tried the hieroglyph's shape of 'shelter', and elaborated on it to make it a more complex shape, and then drew a symbol version of a house.
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