ϫⲓ ⲛϫⲛⲁϩ - take by forearm

[mlinssen]

In ancient hieroglyphs, such as

"In the famous Old Kingdom relief scene from the Mastaba of Khafkhufu I (G 7140) at Giza, his wife Nefertkau II is depicted standing closely behind him in a classic posture of ancient Egyptian affection"

the wife is holding the husband by the forearm.
This must be some ancient Egyptian custom, and I can find a few hieroglyphs but not many.
Could someone help elucidate the meaning of this?

https://journals.ekb.eg/article_419165_a588b1ffa3e7b2dbf4f09db80897c6bb.pdf

https://giza.fas.harvard.edu/photos/53388/full/

or

https://giza.fas.harvard.edu/sites/1521/full/ picture #84

"Take by violence" is a meaning assigned by Crum, but he refers to Bohairic  ϭⲓ ⲛϫⲟⲛⲥ or ϫⲓ ⲛϭⲟⲛⲥ.
Perhaps this composite verb can also mean both?

[bashandy]

You are right ϭⲓ ⲛ̀ϫⲟⲛⲥ use violence, do evil, is formed of ϭⲓ take and ϫⲟⲛⲥ violence

[mlinssen]

Thank you.
Is there an Egyptian custom to grab or hold someone by the arm? The upper arm even, not the lower. TLA and the Demotic definitions point to the former and not the latter, it turns out

I'm thinking of something like holding hands, which for us nowadays is a sign of connection, linking. Looking at the hieroglyphs, holding someone by the arm also is a sign of being connected

The Bohairic ϫⲟⲛⲥ equates to the Sahidic ϭⲟⲛⲥ, and Sahidic ϫⲛⲁϩ equates to Bohairic ϭⲛⲁϩ, but these two are very different words. It is true that Genesis 33:11 in Sahidic and Bohairic has both these words, but that simply looks like a mistake, especially when we consider the Hebrew: to urge, to imply, are the words. The Greek is very different and in this case similar to using force, yes

Sorry for rambling on!

In short, is there an Egyptian custom where you lay your hand on someone's arm as a sign of urging him or her on, or merely as a sign of affection or belonging, such as holding hands would express?

[bashandy]

Thank you for your reply. No need to apologise, it is an interesting concept. Coptic show multiple figurative verbs eg ϭⲓⲙⲱⲓⲧ, ϭⲓⲛ̀ϫⲟⲛⲥ, ϭⲓⲥⲙⲏ, ϭⲓⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ, ⲱⲟⲩⲛⲓⲁⲧ⸗, ϯⲛ̀ⲓⲁⲧ⸗, ϯⲧⲟⲧ⸗, ⲙ̀ⲕⲁϩ ⲛ̀ϩⲏⲧ, ϯϩⲑⲏ⸗, ⲟⲩⲉⲙϩⲑⲏ⸗, ⲙⲟϣⲓ ⲛ̀ⲥ⸗, ⲕⲱϯ ⲛ̀ⲥ⸗, ⲱⲟⲩⲛ̀ϩⲏⲧ, etc. whether these had literal historical root, or whether they were figurative from start, I do not know. In certain languages, figurative verbs may have had a known origin eg bow out, tip my hat, etc

It is worth exploring these figurative verbs in Coptic, ϭⲓ, ϯ, ⲉⲣ, are quite common in composite verbs, and ϩⲏⲧ, ⲧⲟⲧ⸗, ⲉϫⲉⲛ—, seem to appear as direct accusative in many instances to form a composite