Hieratic text
Hieratic text is a writing system that was used in the ancient Egyptian language, featured in the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga and anime.
The kanji in the Japanese name,
Hieratic text is used to print the abilities of "The Winged Dragon of Ra".
History[edit]
Hieratic text was used for law, literature, and religious texts in ancient Egypt. Unlike the demotic text, only those of special status were taught it. Chosen ones were also capable of reading it with their hearts.[1][2]
Seto had a prayer to the dead for Atem, the nameless Pharaoh, written in hieratic text on the Tablet of Lost Memories.[3][4]
The corpse sinks to the floor...
The vessel becomes sand, becomes dust...
Even the brightest gold, even the sharpest sword...
is wrapped in the sheath of time...
Woe to the Pharaoh, for his body lacks even his name...
Time is the battlefield of souls...
I cry the song of battle, the song of a friend...
to the place far away where souls meet...
Guide me...
Maximillion Pegasus found hieratic text describing the powers of The Winged Dragon of Ra on a stone slab depicting the Egyptian Gods. However he was unable to translate the text. Instead he directly transcribed the text onto the card, "The Winged Dragon of Ra", but did so in such a way that the text would only be visible in the light emitted by Ra.[1][2]
The text on "The Winged Dragon of Ra" translated to:
Ra shall take power from three Sacrifices. But even if the offering is to Ra's liking, the God shall only answer to the one who speaks the sacred words.
When the means of resurrection are granted to it, Ra shall come forth from the earth and those who face the God in war shall be incinerated in flames.
In an instant, Ra shall become a phoenix, and the enemies of Ra shall return to the earth.
He who chants the third litany may keep 1 Life Point and transfer the remainder unto Ra's Attack Points for one turn.
Marik Ishtar came into possession of the card "The Winged Dragon of Ra". As a member of a Tomb Keeper clan, he had been taught how to read hieratic text, so was able to read the card and learn its abilities,[1][2] but was unable to decipher the last ability; Point-to-Point Transfer. However his alternate personality, Yami Marik, had a greater connection with the Millennium Rod which gave him the ability to read it.[5]
When Yami Marik Dueled Mai Valentine, Yami Marik was unbothered when Mai managed to take "Ra" from him and Summon it. Summoning it caused the hieratic text to become visible, but unable to read it, Mai could not control "Ra". Yami Marik explained the nature of the hieratic text, after which Seto Kaiba got Mokuba Kaiba to use the orbital camera on their satellite to take photos of the text. Yami Marik recited the words written in hieratic text, which allowed him to control "Ra", per its first ability.[1][2]
Mokuba showed Kaiba the information he had been able to find about the abilities of "Ra" from the satellite photos. Upon seeing images of the card, Kaiba was shocked to find that he understood the hieratic text and recalled what Yami Marik said about chosen ones being able to read it.[6]
Marik helped Yami Bakura in a Duel against Yami Marik, believing his knowledge of the abilities of "Ra" would help Yami Bakura. However he was unable to warn Yami Bakura about the ability he had not been able to translate, which Yami Marik proceeded to use to win the Duel.[5]
References[edit]
- ↑ a b c d Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel 222 (Duelist Duel 163): "The Rise of Ra!"
- ↑ a b c d Yu-Gi-Oh! episode 92: "Mind Game: Mai Vs. Marik, Part 3"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel 263 (Duelist Duel 204): "The Monster of Victory or Defeat"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel 264 (Duelist Duel 205): "The Entrusted Card"
- ↑ a b Yu-Gi-Oh! episode 97: "Showdown in the Shadows, Part 2"
- ↑ Yu-Gi-Oh! episode 95: "The Tomb-Keeper's Secret"
External links[edit]
- en.wikipedia.org real-world information on hieratic text on the English Wikipedia
