Thursday, January 21, 2010

Question - 412

One possible theory for the origin of a now commonly used symbol is that it is derived from anglicizing the dominant lines of this ancient symbol. Identify both symbols (the ancient one shown and the modern one derived from it).

Answer: This symbol of egyptian mythology is commonly known as the eye of Horus. Since the dominant lines of the symbol look like an R crossed with an X, this is cited as one of the possible origins of the prescription symbol Rx. Hasan, Rajesh K, Raghu, Mekie, Rithwik, Vetti, Krithi, Amresh, Ajinkya, Arvind, Kamal Rathi, anon (partly) and Karthik got it. Well done.

14 comments:

Hasan said...

the ancient one is Utchat or Udjat or whatever. Something to do with Eye of Ra and Eye of Thoth, and both Eyes of Horus.

Modern day form is Rx on prescriptions

Anonymous said...

Eye of Horus and Prescription symbol Rx.

- Rajesh K

Raghu said...

Eye of Horus and "Rx"

mekie said...

eye of horus (ra)

Anonymous said...

℞, the symbol for medical prescriptions


Rithwik

Vetti said...

Eye of Horus - The Rx symbol used in pharmacies

Anonymous said...

The Eye of Horus,an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection. Modern explanation: the symbol is represented as a figure with 6 parts. These 6 parts correspond to the six senses - Touch, Taste, Hearing, Thought, Sight & Smell.
Krithi

Amresh said...

'Rx' used in medicine has its origins from this symbol which is referred to as 'The eye of horus'. It is a symbol for 2 egyptian dieties, Horus and Ra.

Unknown said...

Eye symbol for Horus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus
Modern symbol is Rx used on prescriptions.

Arvind said...

The Eye of Horus.
The pharmaceutical symbol -Rx - is derived from this.

Iam said...

Ra and Pi?

Kamal Rathi said...

The Wedjat - later called The Eye of Horus

Anonymous said...

EYE OF HORUS, EYE OF PROVIDENCE

Unknown said...

Eye of Horus and Rx