I am trying to understand the context of the word "Ox" (jw3/jwA) in middle Egyptian texts. In modern agriculture, an Ox is typically a castrated male bovine. However, Ox can mean any bovine male or female with a typical use as a draft animal. Specifically, what I am seeking is clarity on whether Ox / jw3 could be used interchangeably as bull (k3/kA).
James P Allen's "Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs" provides in the dictionary section the translation of jw3 to Ox but with no further background. Looking in Erman's "Life in Ancient Egypt", p436, Erman discusses the Ox:
Further, Allen discussed on p40:
Since Ox / jw3 does not end in the feminine forms (ROOT + t), (ROOT + wt), or *SINGULAR + j, can it be assumed a masculine and therefore equated to a bull?
James P Allen's "Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs" provides in the dictionary section the translation of jw3 to Ox but with no further background. Looking in Erman's "Life in Ancient Egypt", p436, Erman discusses the Ox:
Quote
Erman
The sort of contempt that we feel for the dumb oxen was unknown to the Old Egyptian ; on the contrary, the cow was to him a sacred animal, in whose form the highest goddess had deigned to appear, while the bull was considered the ideal conception of heroic strength and power. Other nations have compared their most powerful gods and their greatest heroes to the lion ; the Egyptians, on the other hand compared them to the "strong bull."
The oxen of Ancient Egypt were indeed, as a matter of fact, worthy of all admiration.
Further, Allen discussed on p40:
Quote
Allen
All Egyptian nouns indicate both gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular, plural, or dual).
Since Ox / jw3 does not end in the feminine forms (ROOT + t), (ROOT + wt), or *SINGULAR + j, can it be assumed a masculine and therefore equated to a bull?