<div>The Union symbol (hieroglyph) is Gardiner sign listed no. F36, part of the series for parts of mammals. As a "union symbol", (a right and left half), it contains a vertical invisible 'centerline'. It allows for the positioning of two important hieroglyphs to be attached to it, right and left, as the uniting of two halves; specifically this is referencing Upper Egypt (by the King of the South), represented by the sedge hieroglyph (M23) <span style="display:inline-block"><hiero>M23</hiero></span> and Lower Egypt (the King of the North), represented by the papyrus clump hieroglyph (M16) <span style="display:inline-block"><hiero>M16</hiero></span>.</div>
In Egyptian hieroglyphs, the hieroglyph is used for the phonetic value of sma, (a triliteral) with meanings of to join together, to unite with.
<div>For its use as "uniting of two lands", it has an identical usage to the Two whips with shen ring hieroglyph <span style="display:inline-block"><hiero>Aa6</hiero></span>, which from its very construction appears as the uniting of two separate "tribes", or communities.</div>