Heh

Picture: Heh, the personification of infinity, holds the notched palm branches which were the ancient method of recording time and thus the hieroglyphic signs for 'years'. Detail of decorated chair of Tutankhamun. 18th Dynasty. Egyptian Museum. Cairo.

Heh was the personification of infinity - usually in the temporal sense of eternity. In hieroglyphic writing the figure of Hug was used to denote a million. The god was thus associated with the idea of millions of years and is sometimes paired with the female deity Hauhet representing the alternative Egyptian word for eternity, djet. Mythologically. However, Heh - along with his consort Hauhet - was a member of the ogdoad of eight primeval deities worshipped as Hermopolis Magna. The god, was also associated with the myth of the "celestial cow" who was supported by Shu and eight Heh deities - two at each leg - and with the solar barque which Heh lifted back into the sky at the end of its nocturnal journey through the netherworld.

Iconography of Heh

Heh is depicted in male anthropomorphic form, with divine wig and beard, usually kneeling and grasping in each hand a notched palm branch which was used for ceremonial time/record-keeping in the temples and was thus used as the hieroglyphic symbol for 'years'. Sometimes a palm branch is also placed on the god's head. In detailed representations the palm branches are given additional elements such as the tadpole glyph for '100,000' or the shen ring of 'eternity'. The god often kneels on a basket signifying 'all' of universality, andmay have ankh signs suspended from his hands or arms. Heh deities may also be depicted in the mythological settings described above - supporting the celestial cow or the solar barque of Ra.

Worship of Heh

These iconographic characteristics reinforced the use of the figure of Heh to express the wish of millions of years of life or rule, so that the god is frequently depicted in amulets from as early as late Old Kingdom times, and in royal iconography - especially on household or personal items associated with the king. A number of objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun, for example, were decorated with the figure of Heh, and these would indicate that the god's presence was an important addition to the New Kingdom royal funerary assemblage.