ANCIENT EGYPTIAN STUDY GROUP - King Disks

rwcarter

The King sits upon his horse in a field of ripe wheat, some of which has been harvested while the remainder is still to be reaped. Wheat represents fertility, germination and growth through solar power. It also suggests abundance.

Harvesting it suggests the need for one to harvest what one has sown. Since the harvesting is incomplete, for better or worse, one has not yet reaped all that one has sown.

He holds a gold disk in his hands. It looks like the Kings of Upper and Lower Egypt are depicted on either side of the disk, but I can't translate the hieroglyphs in the center panel of the disk.

The horse's covering shows images of men working the field cutting the wheat and carrying it to the stores. Behind him deer wander past the pillars of the temple. Stag's antlers have been compared to the Tree of Life. They were also a fertility symbol and a representation of waxing and waning. The stag is a symbol of male sexual passion.

Further in the background of the card is a pyramid.

Rodney
 

rwcarter

I've noticed a couple other things in this card while working with it.

The horse's blanket also contains an image of Osiris as the Lord of the Underworld, suggesting the cycle of life and death.

The horse wears a feathered headdress. Feathers are associated with the sky and the sun. They are also used as indicators of social status and can represent sovereignty and truth. "That was a feather in his cap" means that was quite an accomplishment and "in fine feather" means in great appearance or in one's best condition.

The King's horse is not a race horse or a war horse. It's more of a show horse, a symbol of the king's success and wealth (both of which are apparently related to the production and harvesting of wheat).

Rodney