Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Book Recommendations

Book Review – “Pocket Guide to Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs”

The “Pocket Guide to Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs” was one of my favorite books as a child, and it is one I still love to go through! Believe it or not, my Dad actually brought this one for me in Barnes & Noble at the beginning of my journey of learning hieroglyphs! I remember that trip to the bookstore clearly because I was so excited to get this book! I must have been seven or with years old at the time!

While I definitely think adults can enjoy this book too (especially beginners) this really is geared more towards kids! What I love is that it teaches some grammar without it being too much, breaks down the types of hieroglyphic symbols, and delves into some common phrases that you will find in museums!

I find that this book makes hieroglyphs really accessible for kids and provides accurate age-appropriate information without watering it down. I feel like this book helps build confidence with the overwhelming task of learning hieroglyphs! When a child sees success and gains confidence, they will want to continue to learn! I think that is what makes this book powerful – it encourages learning and makes it fun!

This is a book I would recommend if your child wants to learn, but I think if you are an adult who wants to learn some basic information before delving into more adult-geared books, this provides some valuable insight! I truly love this book!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Anubis

I love this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 so much! I think it’s gorgeous 𓄤!! He’s Roman-ified and wearing a toga!! It’s a really nice piece and one of my favorites in the Vatican! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 even joined me for this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the Egyptian god 𓊹 of mummification, burial rites and tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥/cemeteries. However, when Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was conquered by Rome, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was likened to the Roman god 𓊹 Mercury! Mercury had many functions, but one of the traits that related him to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was that Mercury guided souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. It was part of Mercury’s function as the messenger god 𓊹!

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is even holding a caduceus in his hand – a symbol often associated with Mercury. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is also looking quite fashionable with his Roman style sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏦!

As you all know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god 𓊹. I also love this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 because it shows the blending of the Egyptian and Roman religions which happened after Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was defeated by Rome during the Battle of Actium.

The Battle of Actium (September 12th, 31 B.C.E.) was the last battle of the Roman Republic and gave rise to the Roman Empire (and the fall of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖). The battle was fought between Octavian and Marc Antony/Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇. With Octavian’s victory, he secured his place as the first Emperor of Rome.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II

This is a Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 (New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, c. 1292-1190 B.C.E.).

Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 was arguably one of Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 greatest builders, and his face/cartouche can be found pretty much everywhere you look in a museum (this is why his cartouches are good to learn – you will see them a lot).

Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was plundered in the 20th Dynasty, and only three 𓏼 of his wooden ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain! In 1049 B.C.E., the High Priest of Amun ordered Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 be moved from his original tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and to the Royal Cache, a place where many royal 𓋾 mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 were re-buried in order to protect the mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 from tomb robbers.

While the provenance of this ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is unknown, it is assumed that it was originally from Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 original tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 (KV 7).

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the “Shabti Spell” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. This spell gives the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Sarcophagus

This is a close-up photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis (or Inpw to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪) 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 from a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET. I chose to highlight this particular detail from the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 because while it is not part of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, this is my favorite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃; Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine! As many of you know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art!

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃: 𓃣 and 𓃤. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢, 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, 𓃣, 𓁢. Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god 𓊹 that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, burial places). While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐, shrines associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was called 𓉱𓊹, or the “God’s Booth.” One of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is: 𓏅𓊹𓉱 or “In front at the God’s Booth.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Two Wooden Statues of Metjetji

Whenever we were in a museum, my Nonno would always point out the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 whenever they were in great condition. He always explained to me that wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 decayed quickly and was harder to preserve than stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, so it was always remarkable whenever a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was able to retain its beauty 𓄤 and not decay over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years. Thanks to my Nonno’s teachings and enthusiasm, I have always been so appreciative of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 artifacts.

These are two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 named Metjetji who lived during the 5th or 6th Dynasty (c. 2371-2288 B.C.E.). These 𓏻 two statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 seem to represent Metjeti as a younger man 𓊃𓀀𓏤, while other statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 found in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 show him at an older age. When the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had their likeness preserved for eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛, they wanted themselves to be represented at the best – hence why in most statues/reliefs/paintings that are found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 looks so young.

The paint on these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 is remarkably well preserved, which can happen if the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is under the right conditions for thousands of years (which is rare – usually humidity and time can get the better of organic materials). Metjetji is wearing a kilt and broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 along with other pieces of jewelry. He is also holding a staff in his hand in the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 on the left. In both representations, Metjeti seems to be walking (because one foot is in front of the other – almost like a stride).

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Papyrus Depicting a Building Foundation Ceremony

Sorry for the glare, but I quite like this piece! This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is a very cool artifact – it is a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 depicting a building foundation ceremony from the 22nd Dynasty (c. 1069-664 B.C.E.).

On the top right side of the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛, Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 and Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 are pictured. The names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡 and Neith 𓈖𓏭𓏏 appear above their heads 𓁶𓏦, and act almost like captions which I always think is such a cool feature of Egyptian art! The names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 do not include the determinative symbols, just the phonograms! Even without the captions, Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 and Neith are easy deities to recognize because Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 is usually represented as a man’s 𓊃𓀀𓏤 body with a crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 head, while Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 is a slender woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔.

The other people (drum and tambourine players) are dedicating the foundation of the building that is to be built to Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 and Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋. There are also workers who are breaking ground, using various tools (on the bottom left you can see them using a hoe, which is also a popular hieroglyph 𓌺).

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Sarcophagus of Nectanbo I

Here I am with the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who ruled 𓋾 during the 30th Dynasty (c. 379-361 B.C.E.)! In a previous entry I posted, we learned how to read the titularly from this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭! So let’s take a bigger look at it!

Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 was actually the founder of the 30th Dynasty, which is the last native dynasty of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! The inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 are beautifully 𓄤 carved!

In the second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 in a kneeling position making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 of what seems to be bread 𓏑. I am making the assumption that it is bread 𓏑 because the carving in the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is the same as the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃: 𓏑! You can also see a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on his head 𓁶𓏤!

Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 was actually a military general 𓀎𓏦 and came to power by overthrowing the previous pharaoh, Nepherites II (who ruled 𓋾 for only four 𓏽 months and has no known cartouches). It is thought that Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 killed Nepherites!

Here are Nectanbo’s cartouches that appear on the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭:

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (throne name)
𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓃭𓆑 – Nakht Nebef (birth name)

The sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is at the British Museum!

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Blog

The Mummy

This post is a little bit different for today but that’s okay! I have had this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 in my drafts for a while!

I don’t think that anyone is surprised to hear that my absolute favorite movie of all time is The Mummy (and I also love the Mummy Returns too)! I’ll never forget watching the movie for the first time when I was eleven years old with my mom. I related so much to Evie because she could read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and loved ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 just like me!! Evie instantly became my favorite movie character, and she still is to this day!

At Universal Studios in Hollywood, I ran into the Golden 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 Book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 from the movie and felt like I met a celebrity (you can definitely see how happy I am in this picture)!! Even though the Golden Book of Amun-Ra and the Book of the Dead (as it is in the movie at least) does not exist historically, they are still such fun and iconic movie props – I always wanted one of my own!

Let’s learn some actual vocabulary associated with the movies!
𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 – Gold
𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 – Papyrus Roll (Book)
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra
𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 – Mummy

While the movies are obviously not historically accurate, The Mummy and the Mummy Returns are my absolute favorite movies so I wanted to make this post about how much I love them! My Nonno really enjoyed them too and we would watch them together! He was always so disappointed that he couldn’t ride Revenge of the Mummy because we all loved it so much (it’s a rollercoaster and he was too old to ride it safely).

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Scribe Statuette

How cute is this little 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 scribe 𓏟𓀀 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾?! I think he is just adorable!!! Though small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is wonderfully detailed. The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, nose 𓆑𓈖𓂧𓂉, wig, and hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 can all be clearly seen with great detail.

The base of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is interesting too! You can see part of the Offering Formula, except it’s written a little “strangely.” Let’s take a look!

Here is the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the base of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾:

𓊵𓏏𓏙𓇓𓇓𓏙𓊵

The inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 can be read “split” down the middle:

𓊵𓏏𓏙𓇓 || 𓇓𓏙𓊵

As you can see in the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 itself, the direction of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 change which indicates that you start reading in a different direction! When written out “properly,” the Offering Formula looks like this: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙.

So obviously the symbols are mixed up, and even the 𓏏 is missing from the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 at the right. This was done probably because of spacing issues – this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 when you see it in person!

Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 were very highly regarded in ancient Egyptian society. Due to the complexity of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/hieratic, those who were able to master it were extremely valued. Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 recorded magic spells, wills and other legal contracts, medical procedures, and tax records. Most importantly for us, scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 also helped to preserve Egyptian culture throughout time. They were considered part of the royal court and did not have to serve in the military because their job as a scribe 𓏟𓀀 was so essential.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Viscera Coffin

This is a “viscera coffin” dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1400 B.C.E.). A “viscera coffin” (sometimes called a coffinette) is very similar to a canopic jar because it stored the mummified organ of the deceased, however it looks like a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 instead of a jar! These were popular during the 18th Dynasty. Most famously, Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were found in tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 viscera coffins that were almost exact replicas of the larger coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 that he was found to be buried in!

This viscera coffin is made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and overlaid with gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf, which was a very popular way to make it look like a piece was made of solid gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 when it wasn’t! There are also lots of beautiful 𓄤 inlaid stones 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪𓏦 of many different colors. The stones 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪𓏦 make up the Nemes head cloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴 and the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is wearing! While it is it in the most pristine condition, I like how the wear and tear gives us a look into the different materials that make up the piece!

Obviously, I love this piece because this viscera coffin shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! As everyone knows, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my absolute favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 so I always get so excited when I see a unique piece that depicts him! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the god 𓊹 of mummification, burial rites and tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥/cemeteries, so it makes sense to have him on a visceral coffin!

There are two 𓏻 words for “coffin” and another for “sarcophagus” in Middle Egyptian:
𓅱𓇋𓀾 – Mummiform coffin
𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 – Coffin
𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 – Sarcophagus