Hieroglyphs

Palace Wall serekh	The sides and top of the frame of the serekh represent the walls seen in plan view and the whole probably signifies the walls of the royal palace or city where the king dwelt as the incarnation of the god Horus. The serekh hieroglyph was the device within which the royal titles was written. It consisted of a rectangular frame with a section of niche walling drawn at the bottom and usually a falcon symbol of Horus perched on top.
Palm Branch renpet	A branch of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, was stripped of its leaves and then notched annually to mark the passage of the years. The palm branch icon was thus used in such words as renpet - "year" and ter - "time" or "season" from Old Kingdom times. The association with time meant the palm branch appeared in scenes concerning the rule of the king, his coronation and sed or jubilee festivals. The palm branch was the symbol of the god Heh, the personification of eternity.
Papyrus Clump mehyt	Cyperus papyrus flourished in the marshes and river borders of ancient Egypt. The papyrus was thus a natural symbol of life. Papyrus "pillars" were also said to hold up the sky so the papyriform pillars or columns of Egyptian temples reflect the double symbolism of these ideas. The papyrus was also linked with several deities and representations of Hathor, Bastet, Neith and other goddesses often carried a papyrus staff as an attribute. Hathor, as a goddess of heaven and necropolis sometimes appears as a cow with a papyrus umbel between her horns as a symbol of the sun or the papyrus marshes of the west. A clump of three papyrus stems as in this hieroglyph, served as the determinative in the word idhu: "swamp" and also in the word Mehu or Ta-Mehu: "Land of the Papyrus" or the kingdom of Lower Egypt.
Pintail Duck set	Anas acuta, one of the most common species of waterfowl in ancient Egypt, was depicted in three different hieroglyphs, on standing and two flying. All three signs were used in general illustrations of waterfowl but despite the generic use the duck held special significance and was a popular decorative symbol. The symbol appears to have two meanings. As the duck's habitat of wild marshes was considered the refuge of evil spirits, the duck was also identified with the same elements. On the other hand the wild duck seems to have erotic connotations possibly a result of the sheer number of ducks inhabiting the marshes and banks of the Nile so that they were a symbol of fecundity and rebirth.
Pool she	This is the most frequently occurring version of the hieroglyph. Others include a simple rectangle with added lines to indicate the sloping sides of the pool, lake or other body of water. The vertical wave lines in the version shown are unusual in that most Egyptian art uses a horizontal "stacking" technique to indicate distance. Egyptians believed that water was the primeval matter from which all things were created. The pool could thus signify the primeval waters of the First Time and the divine cow Hesat is frequently portrayed sitting on the pool hieroglyph to represent the original watery chaos from which all life emerged. The young sun god in the form of a child often appeared rising from the pool hieroglyph with the same symbolism.
Praise henu	This icon represents the culmination of a series of ceremonial gestures comprising the act of offering praise to a god. First the worshipper knelt on one knee and extended one arm (with the hand held open) while holding the other arm (with fist closed) crooked back toward the body. As the recitation progressed the extended arm was drawn back and its hand closed. The worshipper then touched or struck his chest with alternating blows of his clenched fists. The hieroglyph serves as a resume of the entire process.
Protection sa	The origin of this hieroglyph is uncertain but the meaning is definitely "protection". The motif was used in the design of jewelry where it was repeated, presumably to amplify its effect. Often the sa sign was used in conjunction with other hieroglyphs such as the ankh and neb (basket) to form the expression "all life and protection". The power to ward off evil meant that the sign was used on coffins, either alone or with the djed or tiet signs.