Reading Saqqara's journal

A friend asked me yesterday after having known me for about 2 and a half years online, what my name meant. After I explained it to him, he then asked me how to pronounce it. After I did, I got to thinking about how many people have seen my name in a forum, in a game, and though, Saq-uh-what?

I've used this online name for about 3 and a half years now, after the novelty of my email address wore off, and I decided I needed something a little more... non-childish. (I've had the email ever since I was in the 9th grade, so it's pretty childish indeed, I just can't bring myself to change it.)

Since I run an ancient history website, I decided I needed a name that dealt with history, but wasn't one of the over used candidates for names you see all over the place, such as Anubis, Osiris, Zeus, Centurion, that type of thing. I decided that my name would come from Egypt, since back then, that was the main focus of my site, and perhaps my favorite civilization. (Greece contests highly for that spot now.)

After I narrowed it down to Egypt, I thought of all kinds of different names. Ranks from the Egyptian army, lesser known gods/goddesses, prominant people in Egypt--people who were rarely recognized. I was pondering a female variation of Imhotep, when I decided on Saqqara. Why the sudden switch? It's simple.

The female variation of Imhotep looked and sounded horrible, it was similar to adding an 'a' to something in spanish you want to make female in a joking manner. Saqqara is the place where Imhotep built the stepped pyramid for Djoser. It was one of the very first pyramids built in Egypt, and possibly one of the best preserved aside from those at Giza. Why not Giza you asked? Because everyone knows there are pyramids there, and it sounds a little like gizzard when you say it. Saqqara is just plain better.

As for pronouncing it, there are several different ways because everyone interprets it differently, but I generally accept that it is pronounced Sack-car-uh. Now, say that really fast and you'll have it down just right. Although for those folks who know me, they generally just call me Saq (Sack) and everyone knows I am the all-knowing Sack! Isn't that right Vic?

For you smart alecks out there, why didn't I spell it Sakkara like it is apt to be in some places? Because that spelling sucks! 2 Q's together without a u following breaks the English rule, so that makes the name kick even more ass. Besides, I consider it heresy to use k's where q's could be used. Q's kick K's ass anyday!

"It is much more comfortable to be mad and know it, than to be sane and have one's doubts."

This post was edited by Saqqara on Oct 17, 2004.

Of course Q's rule, but no argument as to why is given, thus making them ruling over nothing. They are circular I guess, maybe the phallus like protrusion in the perfect spot counts for something...

Who knows?

Anyway, saqqara does look better than sakkara indeed...

I should be ashamed of myself.