reinterpretations of the ankh symbol part 2 - Asar Imhotep

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Lapis Winged Scarab from the Global Museum, with King Tut’s coronation name: Neb-Kheper-u-Re
Let’s first examine the word xpr in the Tshiluba language. The kh- sound is actually a prefix. The ḫ
sound often becomes a /k/ or /h/ in Niger-Congo languages. The Tshiluba prefix k- can also be ci-.
We first examine the ciLuba form of the word beetle (Scarabaeus sacer).
ḫprr
kapepu, kapepwela, kapepula, kapulupulu,
kaholoholo, kampulu, cipepu, cipepwela,
cipepula, ciholoholo, cipulupulu; cimpulu 14
We note that the image of ḫpr is of him raising the sun (Ra) in the eastern horizon. There are a few
terms in ciLuba that are of importance for us here. To raise, in ciLuba, is shu-la. The root of the word
ḫpr has the meaning of “wind” or to “blow.” In ciLuba “blown” is pupa, peeps, pepula, pupwila. In
Luba Cipepu or Cipepewela can also be rendered ku-ku-Pepa or pepula “blow, being carried by the
wind.” We should note that Cipepu-la means “strong wind,” “Breath bearer of Ra.” The key words
are Pa “to give, to sponsor, to award; blow Pe/Pa “wind” (also cipepa, cipepela) and Pela-Ditem
“friction or making fire by rubbing with stone or wooden flint.”
This pe/pa, pepu, etc, root is an ancient Niger-Congo root meaning wind or to blow. 15
PWN PHET “blow,” PHUPH “wind, blow”, PHUP “pigeon, dove” (flap wings), I Yorùbá afefe
“wind,” III Lefana o-fe-fe “wind,” V Temne a-fef “wind,” VI Mende fefe “wind, breeze,”
Mangbetu mbimbato “wind,” Bantu pepo “wind”, Swahili upepo “wind,” Bantu (Meeussen)
peep “blow.” Fula fufede “blow” (forge). 16
14 Bilolo (2008: 201).
15 See Westermann’s Index B (1927 : 310 f) for reconstructed PWS and Bantu roots; *pap “wind.”
16 See GJK Capbell-Dunn (2006: 88). Who Were the Minoans: An African Answer. Author House Publishing.
Bloomington, IN.