Osiris : Lord of the Dead
The Crook & Flail

The Crook & Flail

At first, the crook and flail weren’t paired together to form as symbol, but by the second dynasty, the crook and flail were a royal ceremonial. The first Egyptian crook and flail were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. In Egypt, the Crook and Flail was pictured as Osiris’s symbol, because in many pictures in hieroglyphics, Osiris was pictured holding them at his chest, crossed over.

The Crook

In Egypt the crook is called the Heka. In Egyptian Religion, the crook was used to keep sheep safe. This is why all Pharaohs hold the crook and flail when they are in their tombs. The sheep represent the people the Pharaohs have looked after in their lifetime. The crook represented a Pharaoh’s kingship to his people, and by the late predynastic times the crook was already a symbol of rule. The first known crook was dated back to the Gerzeh Culture.

The Flail

In Egypt, the flail is called the Nehakha. The flail is a short-handled rod from which hangs a group of three leather strips decorated with wooden beads and bone. The flail represents the fertility of the land.