Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Fish Dish

Today I’m going to talk about fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ because fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ were an incredibly important part of life 𓋹𓏀 along the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί! Also, I love fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ and watching fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ swim π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ƒ€π“ˆ— is something I find so relaxing!

So why fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ on New Year’s Eve?! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ were seen as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration! Since the ancient Egyptian religion was primarily based on these ideas, symbols that represented them were considered important and very powerful in Egyptian culture.

One of the most common fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ you would find in the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί was tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†Ÿ, which is the type of fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ that this Fish Dish (18th Dynasty c. 1479-1400 B.C.E.) depicts. Nile tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†Ÿ are easily identified by their very long dorsal fin! The tilapia even has its own hieroglyphic symbol – β€œπ“†›,” and it definitely looks like the dish in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

The first Fish Dishes have been dated to the pre-dynastic period, and they are one of the types of every day objects that have persisted throughout the Egyptian civilization. It always amazes me how such ideas and objects were able to persist for thousands of years!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis Engraving on a Sarcophagus

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has been my favorite god π“ŠΉ since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€•. Why is he my favorite? Here are some fun facts about Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 so you can see why!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the god of mummification, graveyards/cemeteries, funerals, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ and a bunch of other things associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even as a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€•, I was fascinated by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ and the process of mummification, so by default Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ–β€œAnubis” is actually the Hellenistic version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– – the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called him Inpw.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is usually represented by the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ or having the head 𓁢𓏀 of a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ because these canines were often found in cemeteries.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has no temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ dedicated to him because every tomb/cemetery was considered a β€œtemple” to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs: π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒, π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, 𓃣.

Here are some titles that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with. His name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears with these a lot in hieroglyphic inscriptions:
π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹ 𓆑 – β€œUpon his hill”
𓏅 π“ŠΉ 𓉱 – β€œIn front at the God’s booth” (shrine)
π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š– – β€œHe who is in the mummy wrappings”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Ba Bird

In order to exist, a human needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

The Ba 𓅑𓏀 is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 can also be thought of as an individual’s personality. When a person died, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the part of the person that lived on after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

This particular Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 B.C.E.). Ba 𓅑𓏀 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±π“¦ or added as an attachment to a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

The details on this Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are absolutely beautiful π“„€. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 has a sun disk 𓇳𓏀 on its head 𓁢𓏀 and is wearing a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Tutankhamun

As a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• (and even now) I love the story about the discovery of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! The gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ funerary mask and all of the other artifacts found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ completely fascinated me and still fascinate me to this day!

Better known to the public as King Tut, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ wasn’t that significant of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but the discovery is his pretty much intact tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ helped to popularize him in the modern day. He is the son π“…­ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, and is credited with restoring the traditional Egyptian pantheon after Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed the entire Egyptian religion to the monotheistic worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ during his rule.

One of the things I love about Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is his cartouche!! Here is a breakdown of its meaning:
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– Amun
𓏏𓅱𓏏 Tut (image)
π“‹Ή Ankh (life)
𓋾𓉺𓇓 Ruler of Heliopolis/Upper Egypt

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œTutankhamun” in Middle Egyptian translates to β€œLiving Image of Amun.” However, this wasn’t his original name π“‚‹π“ˆ–; Tutankhaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“‡³ or β€œLiving Image of the Aten” was his actual birth name! When Tutankhamun brought back the old religion, he changed his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– to reflect the old religion!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Relief of Thutmosis III

This is a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief with the cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it. Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here’s the top line of text: π“†₯(𓇳𓏠𓆣)π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“ŽŸ π“Œ€π“π“Š–π“·π“„£π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“Š–π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ

π“†₯- King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(𓇳𓏠𓆣) – Menkhepera
π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – Montu
π“ŽŸ – Lord of
π“Œ€π“π“Š– – Thebes
𓁷𓄣 – middle/middle of
π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“Š– – Dendera
π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved
The full translation is: β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt, Menkhepera, Beloved of Montu, Lord of Thebes, middle of Dendera.”

Here’s the second line of text: 𓅭𓇳(π“…π“„ π“‹΄π“‡‹π“Šƒ) π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“ˆ–π“„«π“„£π“‡³π“‡π“Ίπ“†–
𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
(π“…π“„ π“‹΄π“‡‹π“Šƒ) – Thutmosis III
π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€ – Given Life, Stability, Strength
π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“ˆ–- Health
π“„«π“„£ – Happiness
𓇳𓏇𓏺 – Like Ra
𓆖 – Eternity
The full translation is: β€œSon of Ra, Thutmosis III, Given Life, Stability, Strength, Health, and Happiness, like Ra, for eternity.”

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Book Recommendations

Book Review – “The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology”

When my Nonno used to talk about taking me to the Petrie Museum, he would always tell me that he was excited to buy me the book that was at the museum! When we went there in 2015, he kept his promise and brought me the book “The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.”

My Nonno gave me a lot of his books. He would buy a book, read it and then give it to me to read. We would then talk about the stuff we learned. He also always brought me a book when we went to a museum or Barnes & Noble together. My collection of books aren’t just books about Egypt; they are memories of things that my Nonno and I did together and that is why the books are so special/important to me. Having my Nonno’s books are so comforting to me because they were a part of him and he loved them so much. Having his books makes me feel like I still have a part of him here with me.

The book contains highlights of the museum’s collection and a history of how the museum came to be. Petrie had a huge influence on archaeology (he taught Howard Carter), so it’s interesting to see the history of Egypt and then the history of how archaeologists studied Egypt combined into a beautiful book. The pictures in it are beautiful and capture the uniqueness of this incredible place!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III

The MET has a very large collection of objects from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. These women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ were named Menhet π“π“‚Ÿπ“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“‡Ώπ“π“, Menwi π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“Œπ“―π“‡‹π“, and Merti π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“ƒ­π“˜π“‡‹π“ and were buried in an undecorated tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ located near Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. The country of origin of these women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ is unknown.

This gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ has a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head on each end. While this piece is dated to the New Kingdom (18th Dynasty c. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ have been used to adorn mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ since the Old Kingdom (c. 2649 B.C.E.). Broad Collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ were the necklace of choice amongst the elites and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

The Vulture Pectoral is also most likely from the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ as the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ pictured. Vultures are common funerary symbols and are usually associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ. Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ was usually depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 with the head 𓁢𓏀 of a vulture. She is the patron goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt 𓇑 (hence why her name has the β€œπ“‡‘β€ symbol for upper Egypt) and was also tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ royal women 𓀻𓋴𓏏𓁐.

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Egyptian Artifacts

β€œProcessional Way of the Sphinxes”

This display of sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ at the Louvre is referred to as the β€œProcessional Way of the Sphinxes” and it contains six 𓏿 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ dated to the later period of Egyptian history (no exact date is known but inferences have been made and will be mentioned as you read further).

It is thought that these limestone sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ lined the processional way to the Serapis Temple at Saqqara (also known as the β€œSerapeum of Saqqara”). This temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was originally the burial place for sacred bulls (it was believed that the bulls were representations of the god π“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±). Fun fact: Saqqara is the modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for the area, but the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called it Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–!

This area has quite a history because construction started in c. 1400 B.C.E. (New Kingdom), and continued through to the end of the Ptolemaic Period/end of Cleopatra VII’s π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 rule (c. 31 B.C.E.). The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, during Ptolemaic rule, then was dedicated to the cult of Serapis (the Greco-Egyptian deity of the sun 𓇳𓏀).

So who built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 these magnificent sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦? There are two theories: it’s possible that the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 of the 30th Dynasty had over 600 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ built to line the processional way to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. However, some historians think that the sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ were built by Ptolemy I π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄ as he changed the area to be dedicated to Serapis. The reasoning for this is that the sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ share artistic features of the Ptolemaic Period, and they also don’t have inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on them, which is also typical of Ptolemaic objects. We will probably never know!

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Blog

Keeping a Person’s Name Alive

π“ˆ–π“―π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“― – Nonno ❀️

This was my Christmas gift to myself this year – it is a bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 that says Nonno π“ˆ–π“―π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“― in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. I can now carry his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– with me every day. I love this bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 and I’m so happy I was able to have it made for myself and for my sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ too.

Talking about my Nonno π“ˆ–π“―π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“― and saying his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is so important to me. Wearing his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– has been so important to me – Nonno would not have been happy with me getting a tattoo (πŸ˜‚) so this bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 is perfect. My students know all about Nonno π“ˆ–π“―π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“― too and I will talk about him any chance I get to anyone who will listen! I want everyone to know who he was and what an absolutely incredible person he was.

I have likened this account to a Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ in the past, but I also truly believe in the Egyptian cultural aspect of the importance of a person’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and it being essential to them living on. Me wearing his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, speaking his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and writing about him is how I help my Nonno to live on even if he isn’t here with me presently (which really really hurts – the grief has been unimaginable).

In ancient Egyptian culture, a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was considered the most essential part of the person because the other four 𓏽 elements could not exist without the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. If a person wanted to survive after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, not only was mummification essential, but even more so was preserving the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. If a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was removed from a monument or forgotten, it meant that the person was deprived of their entire existence.

I don’t want my Nonno’s name to ever be forgotten. Thank you all for listening to me and helping me to have Nonno’s name live on!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Husband and Wife

This is a beautiful π“„€ limestone statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of husband π“‰”π“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“‚Ίπ“€€ and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 that is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). The names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the people depicted are not preserved in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that adorn the back of the statue, π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ but the funerary prayers are preserved.

It is assumed that these types of statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ are of husband π“‰”π“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“‚Ίπ“€€ and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐, even though it’s not explicitly stated in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ because the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was held in such high regard in Egyptian culture. This is why entire families π“‚§π“ˆ–π“Œπ“π“…±π“€€π“Έπ“Έπ“Έ can be found buried in the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was to stay together π“ˆ–π“Š— forever 𓆖!!

Here are some fun facts about marriage in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Marriages were not arranged/forced in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–; it was a personal choice between the couple! Also, there seems to be no official marriage ceremony; the couple decided they wanted to be together π“ˆ–π“Š— and let their friends and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 know! The marriage seems to become β€œofficial” with a contract that allowed for the transfer of property. Divorce was a very common occurrence as was having four 𓏽 to seven 𓐀 children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ!

Though the symbol β€œ 𓏦” is usually used to denote plural words, it is used in the singular term family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 because there are multiple members in a single family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 group! Instead, the Egyptians had a different word to represent multiple family groups (in English, families β€œπ“‚§π“ˆ–π“Œπ“π“…±π“€€π“Έπ“Έπ“Έβ€) and β€œπ“Έπ“Έπ“Έβ€ is used the pluralize it!