The Egyptian Book of the dead by P. Le Page Renouf and Edouard Naville

pictures of which enable us to identify it with the Common Heron or Heronshaw. The reason for connecting this bird with the Sun-god has to be sought in the etymology of its name. ⁂⁂ _ben_ is a verb of motion, and particularly of ‘going round.’ ⁂⁂ _benenu_ is a ring, also a ‘round pill.’ The Sun therefore is very naturally called _bennu_, an appellative like κυκλοέλικτος in the Orphic hymns. ⁂⁂, ‘of that which is, and of that which cometh into being.’ Here, as in many other places, ⁂, which is a verb of motion, and really signifies ‘rise up, spring forth,’ is pointedly distinguished from ⁂, that which (is). So far from signifying ‘being, that which is,’ it very much more nearly corresponds to ⁂ in the frequent expression ⁂⁂, ‘that which is and that which is not yet.’ The sense of ‘good being’ so commonly given to the divine name Unnefer is utterly erroneous.