Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Ushabti Friends

Ushabti on a Bier – Ushabti Friends

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a very peculiar type of Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure that does not appear much! I’ve been wanting to write about this piece for so long so this series is the perfect opportunity!

Ushabti on a Bier
A “Ushabti on a Bier”

These type of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are referred to as “Ushabti on a Bier” because they appear lying flat on a table like a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. While there are not many of this type of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, there are similar (yet more elaborate) ones at the Museo Egizio in Torino, the Louvre in Paris and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. 

There is actually no information about this piece on the MET website, but based on the piece and what I know about ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, I am going to make some inferences here! 

I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty for two reasons: the first is that the similar ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 located in other museums are all dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and the second is that this piece is in a gallery at the MET that contains New Kingdom era pieces! 

Ushabti on a Bier
The “Ushabti on a Bier” on display at the MET. This piece is shown amongst other artifacts dated to the 18th Dynasty!

This piece also seems to be made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, and was part of a non-royal but still wealthy person’s burial. 

This “Ushabti on a Bier” that is pictured plus the ones in other museums don’t contain any hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on them which is interesting because many ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 do contain hieroglyphic inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

To me, the “Ushabti on a Bier” figures look like the wooden mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 figures that would be placed on the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏥 that went in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 during the Middle Kingdom. 

These types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures leave me with more questions than answers which to me is both fascinating and frustrating! 

  1. What was the purpose of these unique type of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures? 
  2. Why do all instances of these ushabtis not contain any hieroglyphs? 
  3. Were these ushabtis inspired by the wooden model boats of the Middle Kingdom?
  4. Why are all examples of these only dated to the 18th Dynasty, and why did they stop being made?

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The High Ground

May the Fourth Be With You! Happy Star Wars Day everyone! Today I am going to do a Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦 themed post! 

The High Ground

“I have the high ground 𓀠” is one of the most quoted lines from Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦! The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 literally means “high ground 𓀠” and looks very similar to Obi-Wan during the end fight scene on Mustafar from Revenge of the Sith! 

Whenever I see this hieroglyph in 𓊹𓌃 inscriptions𓏟𓏛𓏥 I get very excited solely because I relate it to Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦 and I absolutely love Star Wars! 

This particular hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol has been named the “excited man” by James Allen (but I will be calling it “Kenobi”), and I happen to think that is a very fitting description! The “excited man 𓀠” functions as both an ideogram and a determinative.

When acting as an ideogram, 𓀠 means “high ground.”

When acting as a determinative, 𓀠 can be found at the end of words such as:

𓄿𓎛𓀠 – Mourn
𓎛𓂝𓂝𓅱𓏏𓀠 – Joy
𓍯𓄿𓈙𓀠 – be strong, be honored
𓋴𓈎𓄿𓀠 – raise, to set right
𓈎𓄿𓀠 – to be high, to be loud

These words all express strong emotions, so the “excited man 𓀠“ is definitely a symbol that summarizes the meaning of the word!

Since “Revenge of the Sith” is one of my absolute favorite movies, I am really quite amused by the meaning of this hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! It is such a cool coincidence!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Ushabti Friends

Wax Ushabtis – Ushabti Friends

This is the first post in a new series I am doing called “Ushabti Friends,” which aims to educate on the fascinating funerary objects called Ushabtis!

Ushabti Friends

There are so many different types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Today, we are going to start off with the first known ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure which is called a “wax ushabti”

Wax Ushabtis

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 we know and love evolved in the 12th Dynasty, wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figurines that looked like humans (and had their own mini coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦) were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! They are known to Egyptologists as “wax ushabtis.” 

These precursor-ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were made of beeswax and beeswax was said to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, resurrection, and regeneration. 

The figures are somewhat detailed and were wrapped in a linen cloth 𓍱 and placed in the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 did not identify any role or jobs that the figure had (like the text on a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 could identify what it’s job was), but it did identify the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Sometimes even the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 an offering the king gives) appeared on the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 as if it were a real one! 

If these figures weren’t workers, then what was their purpose? It is thought that this figure would take the place of the body should the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be destroyed. 

Not many of these “wax ushabtis” have been found, especially in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found! 

Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Image” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the word “Image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾.” 

Image in Hieroglyphs
“Image” in sunken relief hieroglyphs

The word “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾” is one I use frequently in my descriptions and I always get excited when I see it appear in inscriptions! The reason I get so excited is because it was one of the first words I learned how to read in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and I remember being so proud that I knew what it meant! 

I have provided two different examples of the word – the first one is in sunken relief/carved hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 while the second is in cursive hieroglyphs! Cursive hieroglyphs is the version of hieroglyphs that would appear on handwritten papyri! 

Image in Hieroglyphs
“Image” in Cursive Hieroglyphs from a funerary papyrus

So what does “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾” mean? The word “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾,” which can also be commonly written as “𓏏𓅱𓏏” or less commonly “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏛” can mean Image, Likeness, Statue, Figure, and Complete. The word has a phonetic value of “twt,” but is inferred to be pronounced like “tut.” 

Let’s break down the symbols! 

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.”

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u. 

The “Mummy Standing 𓀾” symbol is both an ideogram and a determinative! The symbol is an ideogram for “twt – Statue and Likeness.” It is a determinative for “Mummy, Statue, Likeness, and Form.” 

The reason why “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 or 𓏏𓅱𓏏” was one of the first word I learned how to read is because it appears in the cartouche of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓! Tutankhamun’s name means “Living Image of Amun.” 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

This section of a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is from the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht” which is dated to the Ramesside Period (New Kingdom c. 1320–1200 B.C.E.). Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 was the tax master 𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 (I’m sure he was popular) and this high position is what allowed him to have such a gorgeous funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

This entire papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is composed of what has been called Chapter 168 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, otherwise known as the “Chapter of Offerings.” However, most of the time this text is found alone and not with other parts of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 (as is the case with this papyrus) and is considered now to be its own text and not necessarily a part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht
A section of the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht”

The two sections of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point in two different directions; the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above the Falcon headed god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 point to the right while the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 point to the left. We are going to start with the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋. 

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Here is the text all together: 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊

Here are the individual phrases broken down:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By 

𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 – Osiris Wennefer

𓏄 – Foremost

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Here is the translation: “Words Spoken By Osiris-Wennefer, Foremost of the West.” This is a super common introduction for a god in a funerary text. It also lets you know who is depicted in the images! 

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Before we read the next section of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s take a look at some of the art! On his shoulder, Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 is holding the goddess Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 while he is holding up his other hand in adoration of the god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is the goddess of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 and we know it’s her because of the feather 𓆄 that’s on her head! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to be reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽. These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point to the left so we will start reading them from the left! 

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Here is the text all together: 𓏏𓇼𓀢𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓁹𓊨𓀭𓉻𓂝𓏛𓈖𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡𓄓𓉐𓏤𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽

Here are the individual phrases broken down:

𓏏𓇼𓀢 – Praise/Worship (should actually be written as “𓇼𓏏𓀢”)

𓈖 – of

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓏄 – Foremost

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – The Osiris

𓉻𓂝𓏛 – Great

𓈖 – the/of

𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 – Tax Master 

𓄓𓉐𓏤 – Overseer

𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 – Sethnakht

Here is the translation: “Praise for Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Osiris, the Great Tax Master, the Overseer Sethnakht.” 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Scribal Palette Translation

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a piece titled “Model of a Scribe’s Palette Inscribed for Amenhotep.”

Scribal Palette

While this was not a scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 that was used during this person’s life, it is dated to the 18th Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆. Since Amenhotep was a popular name 𓂋𓈖 at the time, many people including pharaohs, shared this name 𓂋𓈖! This piece is made of the chemical sedimentary rock travertine, which is more commonly known as alabaster 𓍱! 

We are going to be translating the right side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 first! Also if you are new here, please know that I do all of the translations myself! 

Here is the full inscription on the right side: 𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏅𓈖𓏏𓏭𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓊹𓉼𓎟𓂋𓏤𓍬𓏦𓈉𓄪𓐍𓇌 𓐍𓂋𓏌𓏏𓇯 𓄟𓋴𓊹𓊹𓊹𓊩𓁹𓇓𓏞𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗𓐝𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼

Scribal Palette

𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪 – An Offering the King Gives

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓏅𓈖𓏏𓏭 – Foremost of

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

𓊹𓉼 – The Great God

𓎟 – Lord of

𓂋𓏤𓍬𓏦𓈉 – Rosetau

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated

Scribal Palette

𓐍𓂋 – Before 

𓏌𓏏𓇯 – Nut

𓄟𓋴 – Child of, Born of

𓊹𓊹𓊹 – Gods

𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris

𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary

𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗 – Overseer

𓐝 – of

𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖 – Memphis

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼 – Amenhotep 

The full inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Great God, Lord of Rosetau, Venerated before Nut, Born of the Gods, The Osiris, the Royal Scribe, Overseer of Memphis, Amenhotep.” 

It is very interesting to see both forms of the god Osiris’ name in the same inscription (𓁹𓊨𓀭 and 𓁹𓊩). This is done because the second variation of the name in the inscription indicates that the deceased person (Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼) has become “The Osiris 𓁹𓊩” in death and has been reborn in the netherworld. This is ver common in funerary texts, and both men and women would be referred to as “The Osiris 𓁹𓊩.”

We are going to be translating the left side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 now!

Here is the full inscription: 

𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓊽𓊽𓊖𓋾𓊵𓏛𓋁𓃀𓈋𓊖𓈖𓄪𓐍𓇌 𓐍𓂋𓉡𓎟𓏏𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭𓎺𓏏𓈐𓏏𓈉𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓊩𓁹𓇓𓏞𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗𓐝𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼

Scribal Palette

𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪 – An Offering the King Gives

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord of

𓊽𓊽𓊖 – Djedu

𓋾 – Ruler

𓊵𓏛 – Peace/Grace 

𓋁𓃀𓈋𓊖 – Abydos

𓈖 – in/by

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated

Scribal Palette

𓐍𓂋 – Before 

𓉡 – Hathor

𓎟𓏏 – Lady 

𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 – Sycamore

𓎺𓏏 – Mistress

𓈐𓏏𓈉 – Roads of Horus/Desert Road

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

𓊩𓁹- The Osiris

Scribal Palette
Screenshot

𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary

𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗 – Overseer

𓐝 – of

𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖 – Memphis

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼 – Amenhotep 

The full inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Ruler of Peace in Abydos, Venerated before Hathor, Lady of the Sycamore, Mistress of the West Roads of Horus (?), The Osiris, the Royal Scribe, Overseer of Memphis, Amenhotep.”

This side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 gave me a tiny bit of trouble for three reasons:

  1. The phrase “Ruler 𓋾 of Peace 𓊵𓏛” is an iffy translation for me and I don’t know if it’s one word or two or something totally different! 
  2. This variant of “Abydos 𓋁𓃀𓈋𓊖” is one I do not see a lot at all and I had to look it up! Usually Abydos is written as “𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖” and while the one symbol difference may not seem like a big difference sometimes it can be! At quick glance it looked like “East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓈉”
  3. After “Mistress 𓎺𓏏” the hieroglyphs are very hard to read and I am totally guessing here! Upon first glance it looked like “Desert 𓈉 Road 𓈐𓏏” which does not sound right to me?! I had to consult my trusty dictionary and the phrase “Roads of Horus 𓅃𓈐𓏏𓏏𓈉” was there and it looks like it could be a variant of that too. The second one is probably more accurate due to the association between Hathor and Horus. 

I guess this was a glance into my thought process! It goes to show that no matter how much you study or learn, translating hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 will always present fun and unique challenges! I’m posting my thoughts and challenges with the text to show that everyone goes through this while translating and if you’re learning now and struggling it’s okay! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece, called a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” has a lot of contradictory information about it – the MET website and books both have different information about it! The MET website dates this piece to the reign of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 (18th Dynasty) and this piece is in Gallery 119, which is not where it should be based on the books! 

Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle
The “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” on display at the MET

The books I have talk about how this piece was found in the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓. An embalming cache is a collection of the supplies and materials that were used during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process. The embalming cache was usually kept separate from the actual tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 itself, though sometimes these supplies were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the person. 

But what exactly is a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” and what is its purpose? Sometimes, small mummy masks were placed on mummified internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 and then placed in larger jars. However, all of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were placed in mini canopic coffins in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, so the purpose of this lone miniature mask is quite confusing – what was it doing in his Embalming Cache?

This mini mask (it’s just over 5 inches in height) is made of cartonnage (a material composed of linen and plaster – like an ancient Egyptian paper mache) and the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 colors on it are still strikingly bright! I love the details of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, and blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 and the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth! The lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and the vulture, who represents the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟(protector of Upper Egypt and its rulers) are also beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 touches!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Early Dynastic Turtle Art

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at some Early Dynastic art which is dated to c. 3100 – 2650 B.C.E. Both of these pieces represent turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦! I want to give a shoutout to my friend Matt (@archaeoresearch on Instagram) for inspiring me to look at these pieces more closely! 

While not as popular as some iconography, throughout Egyptian history, in the early dynastic periods turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 took the form of vessels, palettes 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱𓏦, and even game boards 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦! I love how the ancient Egyptians adopted the natural shape of the animal and incorporated it into their objects! 

Turtles
The “Turtle Figurine” (left) and the “Turtle as a Votive Mehen Game” (left)

The piece on the right is “Turtle as a Votive Mehen Game.” Mehen 𓎔𓈖𓆗 was a popular game 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 during the Old Kingdom and persisted from c. 3,000 B.C.E. to about c. 2,300 B.C.E. The game board usually consists of a coiled snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘, however in this case, the turtle’s shell contains the concentric circles that is used as the game board! 

Turtles
The “Turtle as a Votive Mehen Game”

The piece on the left is referred to as a “Turtle Figurine” and not much is written about this piece at all! It’s smaller than the Mehen Turtle, and does not have the circles on it!  

Turtles
The “Turtle Figurine”

While we don’t have much information about the views on turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 during the early dynastic period, in later religious views, turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 were seen as an ambiguous force because they were creatures of both land 𓇾 and water 𓈗. 

Turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 were also seen as the enemy of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and in chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead, it is stated that “May Ra live, and may the turtle die.”

If you are interested about turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 in ancient Egypt, there is a great publication from the MET that you can read here!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Video

Statuette of Amenhotep III (Video)

Did you know that more statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 have survived compared to any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? One of the more interesting ones is this statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠!

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Did you know that more statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 have survived compared to any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? This is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠! Amenhotep the III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of the infamous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was originally named Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀, until he changed his name 𓂋𓈖 to reflect the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and his change to the Egyptian religion. The first thing that struck me about this statuette was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly. This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna-style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting because it seems like the Amarna-style art came out of nowhere, however, pieces like this show us that was not the case. The statuette is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. It consists of the pharaoh standing on a base, and the base contains hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 Heb Sed 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and then subsequent years afterwards. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production. The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This would also support the idea that this was of non-royal production. Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptology #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #anticoegitto #brooklynmuseum #amenhotepiii #akhenaten #ancientegyptblog

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

This is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠! Amenhotep the III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of the infamous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖.  Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was originally named Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀, until he changed his name 𓂋𓈖 to reflect the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and his change to the Egyptian religion. 

The first thing that struck me about this statuette was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly. 

This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna-style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting because it seems like the Amarna-style art came out of nowhere, however, pieces like this show us that was not the case. 

The statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. It consists of the pharaoh standing on a base, and the base contains hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. 

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 Heb Sed  𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and then subsequent years afterwards. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production. 

The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This would also support the idea that this was of non-royal production. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite in Ancient Egypt

It’s time for a geology lesson! Today we are going to look at the significance of the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 used by the ancient Egyptians! 

After limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙, “Aswan Granite” was the third most used rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 by the ancient Egyptians! “Aswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 area, even though they aren’t all granitic! 

Red Granite

Intrusive igneous rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are rocks that form when magma solidifies deep under ground over long periods of time. This long period of cooling allows for crystallization to occur, which is why red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 contains large (coarse), beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙 crystals! Quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙 is a very hard and durable mineral, which makes red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 a strong rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙. 

This strength has caused controversy and skepticism because “how could the ancient Egyptians have quarried and moved so much granite?” Well the answer is in the science! Tectonic forces move the granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 towards the surface and the release of that overlying pressure (called unloading) causes the granite to weather into blocks through fracturing and the creation of natural joints. All the ancient Egyptians had to do was find the right sized block for their projects and then ship it up the Nike! 

The most common of the “Aswan Granite” rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 is known as red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶. Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦, obelisks 𓉶𓉶𓉶, and for parts of buildings, temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪, and even the pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴! 

Red Granite

One of the best examples of these red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 (as seen in my picture)! You can see the beautiful colored coarse crystals in the granite! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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