Author: ancientegyptblog7

The Offering Formula

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 19, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the most common phrases you will encounter – The Offering Formula! The Offering Formula is found on all different types of funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, and false doors.

The purpose of the Offering Formula was to allow the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to partake in and accept offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. These offerings could be either the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 making an offering to a god 𓊹 (usually Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 or Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣) or the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 accepting offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 directly from family members.

The opening phrase of the Offering Formula, “An Offering the King Gives…” in hieroglyphs on a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus at the MET.

Here is the beginning phrase of the Offering Formula: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙. This translates to “An Offering the King Gives…”

𓇓 – King

𓏏𓊵 – Offering (shortened version of 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦)

𓏙 – Gives

Let’s break down each of the hieroglyphic symbols!

The “Sedge 𓇓” symbol functions as a biliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “sw.” Most commonly, the symbol is used as an ideogram for the word “King,” which is associated with the sound “nswt.”

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 when placed at the end of the word!

The “bread loaf on a mat 𓊵” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound “ḥtp” and is also an ideogram for “offering slab” which is also associated with the sound “ḥtp.”

The “bread mold 𓏙” symbol is functions as a phonogram for “d” or “ḏj” and also as “rdj” in the word for “give.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Flowers in Ancient Egypt

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 18, 2023

When we envision Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, we usually think of an arid desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊 environment. While Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is certainly a desert, it did have its own beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and flowers that were definitely appreciated by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪!

Plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and medicine 𓇋𓅱𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏦, so they were vital in that respect. Plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were considered to be so important that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 actually sent out an expedition of people to go and look for new plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 that could be used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 or medicine 𓇋𓅱𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏦! The word for “medicine 𓇋𓅱𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏦” in Middle Egyptian even has one of the plant hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in it!

Speaking of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, there is an entire section of Gardiner’s Sign List dedicated to all of the plant symbols! There are 44 hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that represent plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! For example, the phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant.

Different fragments from Amarna that show different flowers in ancient Egypt (Brooklyn Museum)

Here are some beautifully 𓄤 colored pieces of art that represent different plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! On the bottom left is a lotus flower 𓆸 and some grapes, the top right is a palm tree, and the bottom right is a small plaque or tile of some kind with daisies/rosettes!

I love how bright the green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 and yellow colors are! I will never stop being amazed that all of these beautiful pieces are still so vibrant after thousands of years!

These pieces are at the Brooklyn Museum and are dated to the Amarna Period (Dynasty 18). The Amarna Period is another phrase that Egyptologists and historians use to mark the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amphora with an Ibex Head

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 17, 2023

This amphora 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 with an ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 head is so beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! An amphora 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 is a special type of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 that has a pointed bottom and two 𓏻 handles that was used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world! While Greek amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 are the most recognizable, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had their own style too!

Amphora with an Ibex Head at the MET

Ancient Egyptian amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪, such as this 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. This vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 has some pretty 𓄤𓆑𓂋 lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and other types of flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 painted 𓏞𓏜 on it!!

A closeup of the Ibex head on the amphora at the MET

The best part about this vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 in my opinion is the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 head that is on it! The ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 head was not actually found attached to the amphora 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋, but it was found nearby and reattached. You can actually see where it was reattached by the line going across its neck! Also, take a look at how the head of the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 is in relation to the body of the animal – the head has a 3D effect which is just too cool! The body of the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 is painted on the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋, while the head/neck of the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 kind of “jump off” the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋! So creative!

While historians will refer to this type of pottery as an “amphora,” in Middle Egyptian, the standard word “mni 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋” was used which basically just means pot or pottery!

This piece is dated to the reign of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (18th Dynasty) and was found at his palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 in Malqata.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Cartouches of Montuhotep II – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 16, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to learn about the Cartouches of Montuhotep II!

@ancientegyptblog
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to learn about the Cartouches of Montuhotep II! In the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, you can see Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 birth name and throne name (both with titles). 𓆥(𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name) 𓅭𓇳(𓇳𓊤𓎟) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name) Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs! 𓇳 – Ra 𓎟 – “Neb” (nb) 𓊤 – “Hapet” (ḫrw or ḥjpt) Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name/given name 𓂋𓈖! Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs! 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (𓈖 – n) (𓍿- t) (𓅱 – u/w) 𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Hotep (𓊵 – htp) (𓏏 – t) (𓊪 – p) This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 reign 𓋾. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11). This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphs #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #hieroglyphics #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #anticoegitto
♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

In the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, you can see Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 birth name and throne name (both with titles).

𓆥(𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(𓇳𓊤𓎟) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!

The Throne Name cartouche of the pharaoh Montuhotep II

𓇳 – Ra

𓎟 – “Neb” (nb)

𓊤 – “Hapet” (ḫrw or ḥjpt)

The Birth Name cartouche of the pharaoh Montuhotep II

Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name/given name 𓂋𓈖!

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (𓈖 – n) (𓍿- t) (𓅱 – u/w)

𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Hotep (𓊵 – htp) (𓏏 – t) (𓊪 – p)

This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 reign 𓋾. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Relief of Montuhotep II at the MET. Can you see the Cartouches of Montuhotep II on the full relief?

This is my personal video, photographs, and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, montuhotep ii, the met, video

Egyptian Artifacts

Hounds and Jackals Game

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 15, 2023

The ancient Egyptians loved playing games 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦, and many of examples of ancient games 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 such as senet 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 and Mehen 𓎔𓈖𓆓/𓎔𓈖𓆗 exist both as actual artifacts and as depictions in art!

The Hounds and Jackals Game was named after the Hounds and Jackals that appear on the top of the pegs! This is the most complete version of the game that’s ever been found!

The game 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is one that was named “Hounds and Jackals” by Howard Carter! Carter named the game after the hounds 𓍿𓊃𓅓𓄛𓏪 and the jackals 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥𓏦 that are at the tops of the pegs. This particular piece is the only game of “Hounds and Jackals” that has been found with the pegs! The game has also been referred to as “59 Holes” due to the holes that are on each side of the palm tree!

No one knows the rules to this game, but it is thought to be symbolic of the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and that the hounds 𓍿𓊃𓅓𓄛𓏪 and the jackals 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥𓏦 were used as pieces because they could be related to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Other less-complete versions of this game have been found in other tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦.

Unlike senet 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 and Mehen 𓎔𓈖𓆓/𓎔𓈖𓆗, games 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 which seem to have persisted throughout Egyptian history, “Hounds and Jackals” seems to be a Middle Kingdom exclusive! This piece is made of the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from a sycamore tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 and ivory 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓌟.

This piece was discovered in 1910 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon – I find this to be so cool because this was about twelve years before they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom, reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Amenemhat IV 𓇳𓌶𓂝𓊤𓅱 (12th Dynasty).

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Mother’s Day – Isis and Mut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 14, 2023

Happy Mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 Day to all of the moms – and especially to my Mom, Nonna, and Oma! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 I’m going to do a post about some of the Moms 𓅐𓏏𓁐𓏪 of Ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 who happen to be goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏!

A calcite statue accented with bronze of Isis feeding the baby Horus (Brooklyn Museum)

The first 𓏃 picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows a calcite 𓍱 and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭. This is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 has even appeared on the back of Roman Coins!

Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, and she was also a user of magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜.

A sunken relief of the goddess Mut, from a Ramesside-era stela (Brooklyn Museum)

The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 whose name 𓂋𓈖 happens to mean “Mother!” Symbolically, Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 was also thought to be the divine mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and this idea became popularized as Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 (her husband) became one of the most worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 during the 18th Dynasty. Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 didn’t appear in religious texts until the Middle Kingdom, and some think she was “invented” to be Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 wife and a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 figure.

The word for “mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐/𓅐𓏏” in Middle Egyptian seems to predate the appearance of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐, so it’s possible that her name 𓂋𓈖 was intended to mean “mother.”

There are multiple variants for “mother” in Middle Egyptian/hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, so let’s take a look at them:

𓅐𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏

𓅐𓅆𓆇

𓅐𓏏𓐎

𓅐𓏏𓁐𓅆

Happy Mother’s Day!

These are my personal photographs and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, isis, mut

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 13, 2023

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 also shows a shabti coffin! The shabti coffin allowed for the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to take the place of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in case the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was destroyed! I like to think of this as a call back to the original “wax ushabtis” of the Middle Kingdom, which served the same purpose.

Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 was the eighth pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty and he was actually not supposed to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! His brother 𓌢𓈖 was chosen successor by their father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪, but Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 usurped the throne and made himself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

A Ushabti of Thutmosis IV (left) and a shabti coffin that also belonged to Thutmosis IV (right) on display at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! Let’s take a closer look at the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾:

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Menkheperura “Established Manifestations of Ra” (Throne name of Thutmosis IV)

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

𓁹𓊨 – Osiris (Osiris’ name is written without the determinative symbol here (𓁹𓊨𓀭))

𓌸𓇌 – Beloved

So all 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗 the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 says: “The Perfect God, Lord of the Two Lands, Menkheperura, True of Voice, Beloved of Osiris.”

The tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 in the Valley of the Kings was excavated by Theodore Davis and Howard Carter in 1903, which is where these objects were found! Many blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces were found during this excavation! I love how bright the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 color still is; it’s really striking in person!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met, thutmosis iv, ushabti

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken By” in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 11, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

A raised relief showing the phrase “Words Spoken By” in hieroglyphs

Here we see an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 with the symbols “ 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖.” This is a really popular introduction to an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 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 “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

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!”

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

What are some other words that are related to these? Let’s take a look!

𓆓𓂧 – Say, Tell, Speak

𓆓𓌃 – Recitation

𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏦 – Sayings

𓆓𓋴 – Self/Own

These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the Chapel of Rameses I 𓇳𓄟𓋴𓇓𓅱. This chapel was originally located in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖. Rameses I 𓇳𓄟𓋴𓇓𓅱 was old when he took the throne, and most of his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were either finished by or made by his 𓆑 son 𓅭, Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 10, 2023

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

Me with the wooden Ushabti of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum!

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

Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was plundered in the 20th Dynasty, and only three 𓏼 of his wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain! Tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 robbing during ancient Egyptian times was a huge problem even though the tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥 were “hidden” in the Valley of the Kings!

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.

The wooden Ushabti of Rameses II with the Shabti Text carved into the wood

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 𓎛𓂓𓏛 gives the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. I love how detailed the hieroglyphs are!

This ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 has a lot of mummiform details; it is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and there is an intact Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on his forehead. Like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, it is wearing a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, and is holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, rameses ii, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Menat Necklace

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 9, 2023

This is a picture of a special type of necklace called a menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧. The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace is unique because it consists of a keyhole shaped piece and a lot of beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦. The beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 on this menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and there are some glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 near the keyhole piece! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 is my favorite color, so I really love how blue was such a popular color in ancient Egyptian art!

A beautiful example of a menat necklace on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace not only appears a lot in Egyptian art, but it was clearly used by real people too! The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was often carried or worn by women during religious ceremonies. Similar to a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was shaken like a rattle. The person would hold the keyhole piece and then shake the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 to create the rattle-like sound!

The sound produced was meant to appease gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 or goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏. Similar to the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was often associated with Hathor 𓉡, who was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 (amongst other fun things). Hathor 𓉡 is often seen in art giving the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 to a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian art.

This particular menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was found at Malqata and is dated to the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (c. 1390 – 1352 BCE). 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. It would be interesting to know if this menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 was specifically used during his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, jewelry, the met

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