Author: ancientegyptblog7

The Wilbour Plaque

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 7, 2022

This is one of my absolute favorite pieces and I was so excited to see it again in person at the Brooklyn Museum after so long!

After Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because of just how different/bizarre his rule was compared to everything/everyone else. The Brooklyn Museum has an amazing collection of artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule!

The top piece in the display is known as the Wilbour Plaque, after Charles Wilbour who acquired it in 1881. The plaque is interesting because it is complete as is it was never part of a larger scene and was most like used as a model for sculptors. While there aren’t any inscriptions to confirm this, it is assumed that the people represented here are Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭. However, some argue that the person accompanying Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 in the image could either be Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 or Smenkare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣.

To me this piece is interesting because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 is no where in sight! Usually Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is always accompanied by an image of the sun 𓇳𓏺/Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 with sun rays shining on him. It’s almost kinda weird to see him like this!

The second piece in the display is another sculptor’s model!

Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, brooklyn museum, nefertiti

Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian “Rainbow Fish”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 7, 2022

My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 said that this piece from the Brooklyn Museum reminds her of the children’s book “Rainbow Fish,” and now I can’t unsee it!!

This beautifully 𓄤 colored fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 represents a tilapia! The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 viewed the tilapia as a symbol of regeneration and rebirth. Both of these things were super important in the Egyptian religion, so they held tilapia in very high regard!

What is so cool about this piece is that it is actually a rattle! There are little clay pellets inside of it, which represents the eggs. This was most likely a ritual object; either played during childbirth or placed in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 with their rebirth!

The blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 coloring on the fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 is purely decorative as tilapia are not this color in real life! This piece is estimated to be from the Amarna period and the rule of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Isis” in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 7, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).

This is a variant of the name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! More commonly, her name 𓂋𓈖 is written as “ 𓊨𓏏𓁥,” and the difference between the two is the determinative at the end. Why was the determinative not used in this inscription? Most likely due to spacing issues!

The “seat 𓊨” symbol has many different functions in Middle Egyptian! In the case of the name “Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺,” the seat functions as a biliteral phonogram for the sound “js.” In other words, it can be a phonogram for the sounds “st,” and “hst.” 𓊨 is even an ideogram for the word “seat!”

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 “stroke 𓏺” hieroglyph is used at the end of words when there is a bit of space left over – it’s all for the aesthetic! This symbol is not pronounced, it is solely used for punctuation/aesthetic purposes!

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Isis” is actually the Greek version of the name 𓂋𓈖 of this goddess 𓊹𓏏! If we were to pronounce her name 𓂋𓈖 the way the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 did (or inferred how they did), her name 𓂋𓈖 would be pronounced like “Ist 𓊨𓏏𓏺.”

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

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Sekhmet at the Brooklyn Museum

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2022

Every time I go to a museum, I need to get a picture with Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐!

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was one of my Nonno’s absolute favorite Egyptian goddesses 𓊹𓏏𓏪. Whenever I see Sekhmet, 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 she makes me think of my Nonno. He probably really liked her due to her strength and power!

In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, most of the feline 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 deities were female! This was most likely intentional – much like a lioness 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓏏𓄛 can be gentle and nurturing with her cubs, she can also be extremely fierce and aggressive when she needs to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 them. This duality is quintessential to not only Sekhmet’s 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 role in the Egyptian pantheon, but to the other feline 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 goddesses 𓊹𓏏𓏪 as well!

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 is always seen with a sun-disk on her head, which shows that she is the daughter of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. She was known as the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of destruction/war, and her name means “she who is powerful.” She could also represent the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺. There were many religious rituals designed to appease her. Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was feared for being a very powerful and very destructive goddess 𓊹𓏏.

This particular statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was made during the rule of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 during the 18th Dynasty.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, nonno, sekhmet

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Pharaoh Pepy II and his Mother

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2022

Pharaoh Pepy II 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 ruled during Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 6th Dynasty (Old Kingdom). He became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at only six years old, and his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 (Ankhnes-meryre II) served as his co-regent. His throne name, Neferkare 𓇳𓄤𓂓 means “The Soul of Re is beautiful.”

Pepy II’s 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 reign actually marked the decline of the Old Kingdom – this was due to the fact that the power and influence of the governors (also called nomarchs) were growing, so the powers of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 declined. Since there was no strong central power, chaos began to erupt amongst the nomarchs.

This alabaster piece at the Brooklyn Museum is one of the more famous representations of Pepy II 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 and his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, mostly because the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 has two “front” sides!! The statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 shows Pepy II 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 seated in his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 lap. By placing Pepy II 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 and his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 in opposite directions, it creates a multi-view statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾! This is very different than other art from the Old Kingdom!

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, pepy ii

Reading Hieroglyphs

Throne Name of Amenhotep III in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2022

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule 𓋾 was a time of prosperity for Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!

This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces are original, but the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and plaster are not.

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

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra)

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.”

The “𓁧 goddess with a feather” symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like “Maat.”

The “𓎠 basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of “nb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like “neb.” The 𓎟 alone can also mean the word “Lord,” especially in the titles that come before a pharaoh’s cartouche.

Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!

Fun Fact: Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖!

Tags amenhotep iii, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Montu in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2022

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to learn how to read the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓀭! Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓀭 was a war god and was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom.

A closeup of the name “Montu” in hieroglyphs from a stela at the MET

The “𓏠 game board and pieces” is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The “ 𓏠” is associated with the sound “mn” which could be pronounced like “men,” “mun,” “mon,” etc.

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 “𓍿 hobble/tie” is also a uniliteral phonogram sign. The “𓍿” is associated with the sounds of “ṯ” or “t.”

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral symbol that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”

The final symbol in the name, “𓀭 seated god,” is one that is not pronounced! This is a determinative symbol, which means that it is a symbol used to show the general meaning of the word! It is basically used as punctuation at the end of the word to show you that it is over!

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, montu, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Vessels of Pepy II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 2, 2022

Here are some vessels from the MET that are from the rule of Pepy II 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋. Made of alabaster, the purpose of these vessels was to keep cosmetic oils cool.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, on the middle vessel you can see Pepy II’s 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 cartouche. On the vessel to the left, you can see his throne name, Neferkare 𓇳𓄤𓂓, which means “the soul of Re is beautiful.”

In the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the vessel on the right is a little more clear. You can see Pepy II’s 𓊪𓊪𓇋𓇋 cartouche, however the title 𓅭𓇳, “Son of Ra,” is also embedded in the cartouche instead of on top of it. This was a stylistic thing that occurred during the Old Kingdom. However, the title 𓆥, “King of Upper and Lower Egypt” is present before the cartouche in this instance. The placement of the hieroglyphs can be super interesting!

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, pepy ii, the met

Blog

Ushabti Friends!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 2, 2022

Just hanging out with my ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 friends!

Me and the Ushabti display at the Brooklyn Museum!

I love ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 so much, and it’s probably because my Nonno loved them. If you can’t tell, I’m really happy in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 – even with the mask on you can tell I’m smiling big!

Nonno always pointed them out in museums and he would tell me stories about how the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 were buried with the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 so they could do chores in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and I thought that was so cool! I also liked them because they reminded me of little dolls!

As the display shows, ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 come in all different sizes and colors. Depending on the time period they were also made of varying materials such as faience, clay, limestone or sometimes even bronze (which is much rarer).

The ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾(most of the time people were buried with 365 worker ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 -one for each day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 of the year and then also a bunch of overseer ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾) often had spells inscribed on them which showed the task they were responsible for!