Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Triad Amulet

I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things!!!

Many gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon appeared in groups of threes 𓏼, which were known as Triads. They were groups of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that usually had some type of familial 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 relationship/significance to each other. One of the Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 triads during the Late Period was Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, and Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 on the left is a representation of this Triad!

The Ossirian Triad (the three 𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 to the right) is a representation of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (“Mistress of the House” and associated with vultures), Horus 𓅃𓀭 (god 𓊹 of the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 and the protector of the ruler 𓋾 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖), and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (goddess 𓊹𓏏 of healing and magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜).

Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, the sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife 𓈟𓏏 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 is representative of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus 𓅃𓀭 and that protective power extends to the wearer.

This type amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Eternity” in Hieroglyphs

When we last went to the MET on my birthday, I was so excited because my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 pointed to this relief and said that these symbols meant “eternity 𓆖” and I felt so proud! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 always reads my posts and has always been my biggest supporter (besides Nonno) in my study of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Eternity 𓆖 was a concept central to ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religion and culture. Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that “death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is only the beginning” and it was the start of their journey to eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹. The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that once they reached the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖, they were going to live the rest of eternity 𓆖 in paradise.

In the Old Kingdom, tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 (a pit, tomb shaft or structure made of mudbrick [mastaba]) were starting to be referred to as the “House of Eternity 𓉐𓆖.” Tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 made of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 were considered the best due to the durability of stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪: so stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 was also a representation of eternity 𓆖!

The word “eternity 𓆖“ appears frequently in so many inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 – if you can recognize the word, you will be able to pick it out in any museum you visit!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“To Be Happy” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s learn some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! Here we see an inscription with the symbols “𓃹𓈖𓆑.”

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The hare 𓃹 is a biliteral sign which means it represents two consonants. The 𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as both a phonogram and a determinative. 𓆑 is also a uniliteral symbol and represents the sound “f.” 𓆑 can function as a determinative in the word “father 𓇋𓏏𓆑.” “Father” can also be written as: 𓇋𓏏𓀀, 𓇋𓏏𓆑𓀀, 𓏏𓆑, or 𓏏𓆑𓀀 and in some cases, both “𓆑” and “𓀀“ function as determinatives because neither were pronounced!

When put together, 𓃹𓈖𓆑 reads like “wnf.” The word 𓃹𓈖𓆑, means “to be glad” or “to be happy.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken By” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s learn some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! Here we see an inscription with the symbols “ 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖.” This is a really popular introduction to an inscription 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 sound “mdw.”

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

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

When put together, 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 reads like “ḏd mdw ı͗n.” The word 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖, means “words spoken by…” or “speech by…”

Somewhat off-topic, but you probably recognize “𓌃” from the word for hieroglyphs (𓊹𓌃𓏪)! “Hieroglyphs” can translate to “god’s speech” –
𓊹 – God
𓌃 – Speech/Speak
𓏪 – makes the word plural

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“I Have the High Ground” Hieroglyph

“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! When I found this in an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 at the MET, I got very excited!!!!

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!

Are any of you guys Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦 fans too?! I absolutely loved the Kenobi show on Disney+ because I am a huge fan of Anakin and Obi-Wan!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The God Ptah

Ptah from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (The MET)

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 s from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET! This particular Book of the Dead is incredible because it is one of the most complete ones I have ever seen! Even though it is only in black 𓆎𓅓 or red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink and not in full color like some other versions, it is still so beautiful 𓄤 to look at and I am always mesmerized by the details!

One thing that is very obvious about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is that the symbols look like pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦! In art from the pre-dynastic and early dynastic periods, sometimes it is difficult to tell where the art ends and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 begin!

I really liked this drawing of the god 𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 because it looked like the determinative that appears after his name 𓂋𓈖 when it is written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here are some of the variations of Ptah’s name 𓂋𓈖:
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓀭
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰
𓊪𓏏𓎛

As you can see, the three phonogram symbols “ 𓊪𓏏𓎛” remain the same, it is just the determinative that changes! Once you know the phonogram symbols, his name 𓂋𓈖 is easy to spot because it doesn’t change! I personally love the determinative of Ptah in the shrine (𓁱) – just like what is shown on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Before Ushabtis

Wax Figures were the precursors to the famous Ushabti figures. (The MET)

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 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!

These precursor-ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 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.

These particular wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures belonged to Queen Neferu, who lived during the 11th Dynasty (c. 2051–2030 B.C.E) during the reign of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪. Her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 had many of these wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures, however in general, not many similar ones have been found (in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found)

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Interesting Roman-Egyptian Stela

Limestone stela from the Roman Period of Egyptian history

This is certainly an interesting stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 for sure! This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!

The first thing I noticed is that there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! So the only way to “decipher” it is by looking at who is depicted! At the top, you can see the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺, a symbol of life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and regeneration. Beneath the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 are two 𓏻 snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and the “ankh 𓋹,” which is the symbol for life 𓋹𓈖𓐍! While crudely carved, this is a very typical design to see on the top of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸.

In the middle panel, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (middle) is presenting the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 (left). This scene is a very typical one that you would see on a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! During the Roman times, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was viewed as the “conquerer of death,” and was depicted a lot with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person in artwork.

On the bottom panel, it is inferred that Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (left) and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (right) are pictured in a mourning stance. I say “inferred” because usually when Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are pictured, they have their crowns on their head which make them very easy to recognize! Here they do not, however, there might be a tiny indication of a crown on Isis’ 𓊨𓏏𓁥 head (though it is hard to see). I think the crowns are missing because the artist ran out of room!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Hatshepsut

Nicole (me) with the Red Granite Statue of Hatshepsut at The MET

In this red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, she is represented in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar 𓏌𓏺 in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢/offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 at the base of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 say that she is offering plants to Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭.

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted in the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 region of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖). Egyptologists/archaeologists have inferred that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 would have been placed on the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 side of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, hence why the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 is on her head 𓁶𓏺.

Hatshepsut wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt

One thing I love about this particular statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is that her Horus Name, “Wosretkau 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓”, is on the back of the statue! The name 𓂋𓈖 “Wosretkau 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”

Hatshepsut’s Horus Name, “Wosretkau.”

Usually her given name “Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪“ or her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓“ are the names that are written in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and fragments of these names are also on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, but they are badly damaged and difficult to photograph!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Duamutef in Hieroglyphs

Duamutef’s name in Hieroglyphs

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 was one of the four Sons of Horus and his job was to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars or in funerary art. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification. Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction.

Let’s take a look at Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! All of the symbols in Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 are phonogram symbols, which means that they represent sounds!

The “star 𓇼” functions as a triliteral phonogram for the sound “dw3” (almost like “dua”). Triliteral means that the symbol represents three consonants! In other words, it can also function as a determinative or ideogram.

The “vulture 𓅐” is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sounds “mjt/mwt.” It is also used as a determinative in the word “vulture 𓈖𓂋𓅐”

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 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is something like “duamwttf” – which is very similar to “Duamutef!” There’s no Greek version of the name here! For example, “Anubis” is a Greek name – “Inpu” is what the ancient Egyptians would have called Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!