Author: ancientegyptblog7

The Amduat (Part II)

This is Part 𓏻 of my posts on the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Please check out Post I first!

Here are some close up pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 of a woman named Gautsoshen who lived during the 21st Dynasty. Sorry the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are a little blurry – it is difficult to get good pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 because of the way the display is!

The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 illustrate the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, which Gautsoshen (and other deceased people) would travel through with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 over the twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours of the night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛.

Picture 1: Gautsoshen standing before Osiris and Selket

The first picture (above) shows Gautsoshen standing before Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐. Selket 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 is one of the four 𓏽 goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 tasked with protecting the mummy.

Picture 2: Ra descending into the Duat

The second picture (above) shows Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 (and by default, Gautsoshen) descending into the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, which is symbolically the sun 𓇳𓏺 setting in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊. Many of the characters that dwell in the Duat are depicted, such as the two 𓏻 lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 who represent the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭 and the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊.

Can you spot the variant for “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓇼𓏏𓉐” in this picture?!

Picture 3: This image shows various deities, the most prominent being the hare-headed deities on the right.

The third picture (above) is a continuation of the second, and it shows two hare-headed deities. The female hare-headed deity is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Wenet/Unut 𓃹𓈖𓏏𓁐, who had the titles “Lady of the Hour” and “The Swift One.” Her companion, the male hare god 𓊹 is actually one of the late-period depictions of Osiris 𓊩𓁹. As a hare, he took the name Un-nefer/Wennefer 𓃹𓄤𓀭. While not a super popular goddess 𓊹𓏏, 𓃹𓈖𓏏𓁐 is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, as well as the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓇼𓏏𓉐.

A bunch of the variants for the word “Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐” appear on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛! Can you spot them?

𓇽𓏏𓉐

𓇽𓉐

𓇼𓏏𓉐

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amduat, artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Amduat (Part 1)

Believe it or not, not every funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is actually a copy of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺! These two 𓏻 papyrus scrolls 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which belonged to a woman named Gautsoshen are actually a copy of the “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.”

A copy of the Amduat, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The word “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐” is Middle Egyptian for “That Which is in the Netherworld.” In modern times this text is known as “The Book of the Hidden Chamber” and is a separate entity from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺.

Until the 21st Dynasty, the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 was reserved exclusively for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and usually appeared on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪. The oldest version of the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 in the Valley of the Kings. The walls of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 also contain the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

The Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is the journey that Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 takes from the time the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 and then rises in the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭. The story takes place over the twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours of the night, and each hour represents different deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 (both friends and enemies) that the deceased person/Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 will encounter.

Let’s break down the word “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.”

𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭 – “Being In” or “That Which is In”

𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 – Duat (Netherworld/Afterlife)

Why is the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 referred to as the Netherworld and not the more popular term “Underworld?” The Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is not underneath the current plane of living (like in Greek mythology or Christian faith) according to the Egyptian religion. The Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 exists in an in-between plane that doesn’t have a designated place.

This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is dated to the 21st Dynasty (c. 1000–945 B.C.E.), which is right when the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 started being written on papyrus instead of on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪.

Please read Part II of my post on the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amduat, artifact, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Words Spoken By Duamutef

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 22, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to look at the following inscription: “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 – Words Spoken By Duamutef” which is painted on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 that is dated to the Middle Kingdom. One of my favorite things about this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is the bright colors! It’s always incredible how beautiful and bright the colors are even after thousands of years!

“Words Spoken By Duamutef” painted on a sarcophagus from the Middle Kingdom

“ 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is a really popular introduction to an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 and it translates to “Words spoken by… 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖.” “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is usually followed by the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏.

The “cobra 𓆓” is a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The cobra 𓆓 is a uniliteral sign, so it represents just one consonant. It represents the sound “ḏ” which would almost sound like a “j” when pronounced.

The “staff or walking stick 𓌃” functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word “ staff 𓌃𓏺”). 𓌃 is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the three consonant sound “mdw.”

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

Let’s take a look at Duamutef’s 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! All of the symbols in Duamutef’s 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 are also phonograms!

The “star 𓇼” functions as a triliteral phonogram for the sound “dw3” (almost like “dua”). In other words, 𓇼 can also function as a determinative or ideogram.

The “forearm with bread 𓂟“ symbol could either function as a uniliteral or biliteral phonogram depending on the word! 𓂟 represented the sounds “m” or “mj.” The “forearm with bread 𓂟” could also be a determinative in the word for “give 𓂋𓂟.”

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine!

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative.

So Duamutef’s 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is something like “duamwttf” – which is very similar to “Duamutef!”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags Duamutef, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

False Door of Metjetji

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 21, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to be looking at a section of a False Door from the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 named Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋. Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 lived during the Fifth or Sixth Dynasties (Old Kingdom) during the reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Unas 𓃹𓈖𓇋𓋴 or slightly later.

The False Door of Metjetji which contains a list of offerings for his use in the afterlife.

On the False Door, we see Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 on the left sitting in front of an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃. The offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 seems to have a lot of jars on it! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that we see are a part of the offering formula!

Fun fact: usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the person is facing the same way as the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Since the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (and also Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋) are pointing to the right, we will start reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 from the right! Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are always read from top to bottom, so we will read that way as well!

This is a list of all of the things that Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 needs in order to sustain him in the afterlife!

𓇓𓏏𓀻 – King’s Nobleman/King’s Gentleman

𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 – Metjetji

𓆼𓏐- A thousand bread

𓆼𓃾 – A thousand ox

𓆼𓅿 – A thousand fowl

𓆼𓍲 – A thousand alabaster (I think this is a mistake – it should be “𓍱” and not “𓍲”)

𓆼𓋲 – A thousand linen

𓆼𓏖 – A thousand round loafs of bread

𓆼𓏊 – A thousand beer

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Video

Mummy Case of Nespanetjerenpere – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 20, 2023

Only here on ancientegyptblog will you hear someone say “Look at how gorgeous this is 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑” about a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 or other type of funerary object! Be sure to watch the video to see all of the details on the front of this wonderful coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾!

@ancientegyptblog
There are so many beautiful 𓄤 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! Who are some of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 you can see?! Let me know in the comments! This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen 𓍱 or papyrus 𓍯𓇅 mixed with plaster! This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties. This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 may seem like random pictures of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and and ensure rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphics #egitto #이집트 #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #egyptologist #egyptianmythology #brooklynmuseum
♬ snowfall – Øneheart & reidenshi

There are so many beautiful 𓄤 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen 𓍱 or papyrus 𓍯𓇅 mixed with plaster!

This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties.

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 may seem like random pictures of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and and ensure rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

Mummy case of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Museum

The ram headed pendant on his chest is meant to represent the sun 𓇳 god 𓊹 Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 – and through the netherworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛. The images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 can almost be thought of as the picture-book version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺.

While the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are so delicately drawn, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 going down the middle of the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 seem to be unfinished and roughly done.

Mummy case of Nespanetjerenpere showing the hieroglyphs and images of the gods.

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 show the very standard offering formula:

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives

𓊩𓁹 – Osiris

𓏅 – Foremost

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

The inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West.”

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, video

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Osiris Cartouche

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 19, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a man named Amenemopet who lived during the early part of the 22nd Dynasty (c. 975–909 B.C.E.). This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 has what I like to call “The Osiris Cartouche” painted inside!

The Osiris Cartouche is located on the bottom panel of this coffin at the MET.

If you look closely at the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 artwork inside this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 there’s a lot of different things going on! The uppermost row of artwork in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 purifying 𓋴𓃂𓈗 the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, whose is surrounded by offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 covered in food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥!

Above Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 there are some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

𓎟 – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (the ancient Egyptian word for “Netherworld”)

Is it Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 being referred to as the “Lord of the Duat,” or is it Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭? Usually this epithet was used with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭!

One of the cool things you can see on the bottom panel is Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 and since this coffin does not belong to a pharaoh, a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is not expected! But Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was believed to be the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, so I guess a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is fitting!

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛. Let’s break down the symbols!

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.”

The cartouche is flanked by the Golden Horus symbol 𓅉 on either side which is a Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the symbol for gold 𓋞. The common symbols of protection, the Eye of Horus and Eye of Ra also appear above the Golden Horus 𓅉, along with the shen ring in between the Falcon’s wings. The Shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛.

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, osiris, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Perfect, Beautiful, Neferet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 19, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a very popular word that appears a lot in ancient Egyptian writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥! The word “𓄤𓆑𓂋/𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏” translates to “beautiful,” “perfect,” or “good” and can be used not only in titles such as “𓊹𓄤 Perfect God” or names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 such as “Nefertiti 𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓇍𓍘𓏻𓁗,” but also in various words or phrases too!

In Middle Egyptian there are a couple of ways to write “beautiful,” “perfect,” or “good:”

𓄤 – the hieroglyphic symbol “nfr” (nefer) can be used on its own to represent the word.

𓄤𓆑𓂋 – this would also be pronounced as “nfr” (nefer) as the sounds by the uniliteral phonograms would not be repeated.

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏 – this would be pronounced as “nfrt,” (neferet) as this is the female form of the word! This is the one that is in my picture!

When determinatives are used, the meaning of this word can change so be careful! “𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” with the woman determinative means “beautiful woman” while “𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” with the cow determinative means cow! Determinatives can totally change the meaning of the word!

Neferet in hieroglyphs from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus at the MET.

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Since the horned viper 𓆑 is pointing to the left, we will start reading from the left!

The “heart and windpipe 𓄤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound “nfr” which in modern times we pronounce like “nefer.”

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. As a stand-alone symbol, it can also mean he/his.

The “ mouth – 𓂋” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “r” and can be an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Pyramid Texts of Pepy I

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 16, 2023

This small relief on display at the Petrie Museum is a section of “The Pyramid Texts” which is the oldest known funerary/religious writings in the world. The original text dates back to the Old Kingdom.

A small relief which contains the Pyramid Texts of Pepy I

The Pyramid Texts can be thought of as a precursor to both the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺! The main differences between these religious texts are that the Pyramid Texts were only accessible to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because they were only carved inside of the pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦. Also, the Pyramid Texts were also not illustrated!

This particular section of the Pyramid Texts contains a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that Pepy I 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 would say that would provide him with food and drink for eternity 𓆖! Here is a piece of the leftmost column that I could translate (a lot is cut off):

𓇋𓅱 – My/I

𓇬𓈎𓈎 – Eat

𓏏𓏐- Bread

𓏊- Beer

The cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the 6th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Pepy I 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 was one of the first cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 I learned to read/recognize because it’s written with only uniliteral hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! A lot of the Old Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 have names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 spelled with uniliteral signs, which makes them great for beginners to read/learn! One of the ways I started learning hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 was by practicing reading the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥!

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in Pepy’s 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷:

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p,” and does not have any other grammatical functions!

The “reed 𓇋” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and most commonly represents the sound of “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, pepy i, petrie museum, pyramid texts

Blog

Ushabtis at the Magic Kingdom?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 13, 2023

Leave it to me to find ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 replica of a relief from Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 temple and a Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 at the Magic Kingdom! While these are all replica pieces, it’s still such a fun find – you all know just how much me (and Nonno) loved ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪! These can all be found at the “Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen” restaurant!

Replica ushabtis at the Magic Kingdom in the Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen” restaurant with the papyrus which contains an image from Hatshepsut’s temple!

The ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 served as substitutes for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and would perform labor or jobs for them in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. There are two 𓏻 common ways to write ushabti in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 – šwbtj – the earlier word that was used in Egypt and derived from the word for “stick 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓄿𓃀𓏲𓍘𓇋𓆱.” This is where the term “shabti” most likely came from!

𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 – wšbtj – the “newer” form of the word used from the 21st Dynasty onward. This is where the term “ushabti” most likely originated from! My Nonno always said “Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾” so that is what I tend to say as well!

The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is a replica of a relief from Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐! This was originally meant to show Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 famed expedition to Punt 𓊪𓃺𓈖𓏏𓈉!

Me with a sphinx outside the entrance to the Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen” restaurant at the Magic Kingdom!

This sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is in a crouching position, which to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 meant that it was a guardian of a sacred place, such as a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 or an important building. In this case, the “important building” is the entrance to the “Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen” restaurant!

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags ancient egypt in disney, blog, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Cones

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 12, 2023

I love Gallery 117 at the MET so much! The objects in here may not look like much to the average person (they probably just look like a bunch of rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦), but to me they are a beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece in the story of ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

Me in Gallery 117 at the MET – the Funerary Cones are in a display behind me!

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 collections of museums, these “funerary cones” were always something my Nonno pointed out to me! He thought they were so interesting and now every time I go to museums, I actively seek these out as a way to remember my Nonno! He loved this little gallery at the MET solely because of the funerary cones!

Funerary cones (a modern name given to these objects) are made of clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and usually found at the openings of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 (almost exclusively). They were used primarily during the 18th Dynasty (though there are examples that date to the 11th Dynasty or as late as the 19th-20th Dynasties).

While the exact usage of the funerary cones is not known, but they are inferred to be architectural decorations, tomb labels, symbolic offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦, or even as passports to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of these cones have been excavated to date! Every museum I have been to has a collection of these funerary cones!

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with the name of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 occupant as well as a god 𓊹.

An example inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that is common on a funerary cone would be something like: “Venerated before Osiris, Son of ____, Name of Deceased.”

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓅭 – Son

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, the met

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