Author: ancientegyptblog7

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.”

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!

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

Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2023

This is a large sandstone stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

Stela of Rameses II on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 talk about how Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 there. The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was a way to commemorate Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 presenting statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, and Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻!

Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook 𓋾) from the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳. This is meant to represent that Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 saw Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 as a legitimate and rightful ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 (in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖/Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 kind of replaces Horus 𓅃𓀭 in popularity as king 𓇓 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹) and that they were gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth.

It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 appear on this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! These names appear on the top two rows of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here are Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 five 𓏾 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦:

𓃒𓂡𓇳𓏺𓀭𓌸𓇌 – Horus 𓅃 Name (The Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra)

𓅖𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖𓅱𓂝𓆑𓏲𓂡𓈊𓏏𓏦 – Nebty 𓅒 Name (Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands”)

𓌂𓐝𓂡𓄘𓂧𓂋𓂡𓌔𓏏𓐀𓏻 – Golden Horus 𓅉 Name (“Powerful of Arm, He Who Has Subdued the Nine Bows”)

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Throne Name (“The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra”)

𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Birth Name (“Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun”)

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amun ra, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, hieroglyphs, mut, rameses ii

Video

Objects from Malqata – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2023

This video shows a gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which displays objects from Malqata!

@ancientegyptblog
In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 built a new palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 which was referred to as “The House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 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. In this display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are many different amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪! Amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 are a special type of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 that have a pointed bottom and two 𓏻 handles that were used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world! Ancient Egyptian amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪, such as these one found at Malqata, were usually made of red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and then covered with a cream colored coat. They were then painted 𓏞𓏜 with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, or black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. You can also see various wall paintings that once adorned the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 walls at Malqata! I can’t even imagine how beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and colorful this palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 once was! I hope you enjoyed seeing these objects from Malqata! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #anticoegitto
♬ the fairy – Ophelia Wilde

In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 built a new palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 which was referred to as “The House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 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.

In this display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are many different amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪! Amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 are a special type of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 that have a pointed bottom and two 𓏻 handles that were used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world!

Ancient Egyptian amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪, such as these one found at Malqata, were usually made of red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and then covered with a cream colored coat. They were then painted 𓏞𓏜 with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, or black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.

You can also see various wall paintings that once adorned the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 walls at Malqata! I can’t even imagine how beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and colorful this palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 once was! I hope you enjoyed seeing these objects from Malqata!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, the met, video

Blog

Hippos at Animal Kingdom

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 9, 2023

Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are one of my favorite animals and I was so excited to see them so close on the animal trails at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are on of my favorite animals not only because of ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also because of the blue hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 on “It’s a Small World.”

Fun fact: hippos 𓐍𓃀𓃯𓏦 actually don’t swim much in the water 𓈗 – they like to walk along the bottom of bodies of water 𓈗! Why? Swimming expends too much energy!

A Hippo at Animal Kingdom!

The hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 is one of the animals that appears frequently in Egyptian imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 starting from the predynastic period! This is because the people of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 needed to always be on their guard in regards to hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 since they could dominate both the land 𓇾𓇾 and the water 𓈗.

Hippos 𓂧𓃀𓃯𓏦 are indigenous to the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, unfortunately though, they are now extinct in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Just like animal species today, human expansion into habitats also played a role in population decline during ancient times.

Even as ancient Egyptian culture evolved over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years, Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 due to their strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and power. While hippos 𓂧𓃀𓃯𓏦 were the most feared animals along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of them could offer protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, such as in the form of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪!

A Hippo at Animal Kingdom!

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 who is associated with childbirth. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus 𓂧𓇋𓃀𓃯 and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 dedicated to her specifically!

Here are some ways you can write hippopotamus in hieroglyphs:

𓌉𓏏𓃯

𓐍𓃀𓃯

𓂧𓃀𓃯

𓂧𓇋𓃀𓃯

𓃯𓏺

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series! Next time you’re in Disney, be sure to check out the Hippos at Animal Kingdom! They can be found on the animal trails and also on the ride Kilimanjaro Safari!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags ancient egypt in disney, blog, taweret

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“It’s A Small World” Hippo

The first time I ever went to Disney World, I went with my Nonno and Nonna when I was four years old! When we went on “It’s a Small World,” I fell in love with the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 that winks at you! The hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 became my favorite part of the ride, and even to this day, I look forward to seeing the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! And yes I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE going on “It’s a Small World!” It’s one of my favorites! I’m not going to lie – I still to this day will wink back at the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯!

The hippo from “It’s a Small World” (top) and an ancient Egyptian hippo from the Brooklyn Museum

When I started studying ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 with my Nonno around when I was six years old, I always loved the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 because they reminded me of the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 on “It’s a Small World!” It’s amazing how I loved the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 even before I started studying ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

A lot of the hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 have lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over them to associate them with rejuvenation! The hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are most likely painted blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth. What’s really cool is that the “It’s a Small World” hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 also has flowers painted on it and is also that blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color!

A girl sitting on a “solar barge” in “It’s A Small World” at Walt Disney World!

I have also included the other scene that represents Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 in the ride – there’s a girl sitting in a boat that resembles Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 solar barge 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞, pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦 and a sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤!

The sphinx and pyramids in “It’s A Small World” at Walt Disney World!

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, artifact, blog, brooklyn museum

Blog

Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 7, 2023

I am a huge Star Wars fan and have been for a very long time, so finally getting to visit Galaxy’s Edge was an absolute dream come true! I had the most incredible time in the galaxy far, far away! To my surprise, there’s an obelisk 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 in Galaxy’s Edge!

Me with the Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge!

An obelisk 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 is defined as a structure with four 𓏽 sides that comes together at the top to form a pyramid shape. Obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 were made out of a single stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 and used to be at the entrance to ancient Egyptian temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪. Usually there were two 𓏻 obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 per temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 entrance. The obelisk 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 was invented by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪!

Me with the Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge!

The word “obelisk” is actually Greek, and the ancient Egyptians actually referred to these structures as “teḫen.” (𓏏=t, 𓐍=ḫ, 𓈖=n, 𓉶= determinative).

There are a couple of ways to write “obelisk” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 (the full word)

𓏏𓈖𓉶 (shortened variant of the word)

𓉶 (just the determinative could be used, in this case as an ideogram to mean the full word)

When Rome conquered Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, many of the emperors brought obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 to Rome. There are currently 13 obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 throughout Rome, eight of which are purely Egyptian, and the other five 𓏾 were procured by the emperors.

It’s so cool to see a structure invented by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 still inspiring projects today – even Star Wars related ones!