Migdol

G17D36
V31
U33 M17 Z4
D21

Z1
O36 O1
mktr[1]
in hieroglyphs
Era: Middle Kingdom
(2055–1650 BC)
Aa15
D36
W11
G1D46
Z4
D21
Z1 O49
mꜥgꜣdjr[2]
in hieroglyphs
Migdol of Medinet Habu, Theban Necropolis, Egypt

Migdol, or migdal, is a Hebrew word (מגדּלה מגדּל, מגדּל מגדּול) which means either a tower (from its size or height), an elevated stage (a rostrum or pulpit), or a raised bed (within a river). Physically, it can mean fortified land, i.e. a walled city or castle; or elevated land, as in a raised bed, like a platform, possibly a lookout.

Migdol is a known loanword from Egyptian (mktr), mekter,[1] or mgatir[2] meaning "fort", "fortification", or "stronghold". The corresponding term in Coptic is ⲙⲉϣⲧⲱⲗ meštôl. Figuratively, "tower" has connotations of proud authority.

In archaeology, migdol is a specific type of temple, examples of which have been discovered for instance at Hazor, Megiddo, Tel Haror, Pella and Shechem.

  1. ^ a b M. Vygus. Middle Egyptian dictionary, p. 627
  2. ^ a b E. A. Wallis Budge (1920). An Egyptian hieroglyphic dictionary: with an index of English words, king list and geological list with indexes, list of hieroglyphic characters, coptic and semitic alphabets, etc. Vol I. John Murray. p. 290.