Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Thutmosis III

I’m going to post another British Museum picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because I’m nostalgic and I like remembering how amazing that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 was!

This red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is definitely an interesting one because it actually has the cartouches of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ carved into the chest! This is what Egyptologists call usurping – meaning that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ took statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and monuments from his predecessors, erased their name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and put his own!

Egyptologists don’t think this was done out of disrespect for the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, instead it was just Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ promoting his own rule.

Fun fact! Much like modern geologists, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ differentiated between granite and red granite rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! How do we know?! The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are different:

Granite – π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ
Red Granite – π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ

I love rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ and geology so much! I actually got interested in geology as a kid because I wanted to know what all of the statues were made out of!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela (Cippus)

This is known as a Magical Stela, or a cippus. It depicts Horus π“…ƒπ“€­(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“₯ and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ and scorpions π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†«π“ͺ in each hand. The god Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also appears above Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ head 𓁢𓏺. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was known to ward off evil and bad luck.

Magical Stela (Cippus) at the MET

Normally, stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ were used to commemorate the dead so this is almost like a protective amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† in the form of a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. This cippus was used by the living for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. Cippus stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺.

However, cippus pieces have also been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the living, but the dead too.

Fun fact! The Middle Egyptian word for scorpion is π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« which can be pronounced like β€œSerket.” Serket π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was represented by a scorpion and she was associated with healing, protection, and magic. Serket π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« could also be written like this: π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“.

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Blog Egyptian Artifacts

Look at all the Hippos!

Look at all the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦!!! So I have a story: The first time I ever went to Disney World, I went with my Nonno and Nonna and I think I was four years old at the time! When we went on β€œIt’s a Small World,” I fell in love with the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― that winks at you! The hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― became my favorite part of the ride, and even to this day, I look forward to seeing the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―! And yes I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE going on β€œIt’s a Small World!” It’s one of my favorites!!!

The winking hippo in “It’s a Small World”

So when I started studying ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– with my Nonno, I always loved the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues because they reminded me of the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― on β€œIt’s a Small World!” I have included a picture of the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― in Disney World so you guys can also see the similarities!

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil!

Hippo artifacts at the MET

A lot of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ have lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over them to associate them with rejuvenation! The hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are most likely painted blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and rebirth. What’s really cool is that the β€œIt’s a Small World” hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― also has flowers painted on it!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut

Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of the most abundant items excavated in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and I love them! I think they’re cute, but they also hold a lot of meaning for the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ. Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were symbols of regeneration and rebirth, which was one of the main aspects of the religion.

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ, while at first glance may look very similar but actually mean different things!

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut at the MET

The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left says β€œπ“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œLord of the two lands, Maatkare.” The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right says β€œπ“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œLady of the two lands, Maatkare.” When a β€œπ“β€ glyph is added to words, it makes the word feminine.

While a very tiny difference, it is interesting because one of the misconceptions about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ I see a lot was that she was β€œtrying to be a man” – she wasn’t trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, she was just traditionally representing herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, as all other pharaohs did. The pharaonic representations just tended to have male characteristics because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were men. Most of her art contains the feminine form of titles in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, which is why I find these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ interesting. It’s not common to see her use the male form of words/titles.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Wooden Plaque with Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!

This little wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 plaque was once part of a brick that was part of the foundation at the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Mentuhotep II π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€ at Deir el-Bahri. Mentuhotep II π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€ was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during the 11th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom).

Wooden Plaque with Hieroglyphs at the MET

The inscription reads: π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“…†π“‡³π“…†π“ŽŸπ“ˆΉ π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“†₯(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) 𓋹𓆖

Let’s break it down:
π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“…†π“‡³π“…†: Montu-Re
π“ŽŸ: Lord
π“ˆΉ: Thebes (This symbol is a combination of π“Œ€π“ŠΎπ“ˆˆ. π“Œ€= Thebes, π“ŠΎ= a divine status and π“ˆˆ = the determinative of districts)
π“Œ»π“‡Œ: Beloved (can also be written like π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ sometimes)
π“†₯: King of Upper and Lower Egypt
(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) Nebhapetra (Throne Name of Mentuhotep II)
𓋹𓆖: Eternal Life

So all together this inscription reads: β€œBeloved of Montu-Re, Lord of Thebes, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebhapetra, Eternal Life.”

Due to what’s called β€œhonorific transposition,” Montu-Re π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“…†π“‡³π“…† appears first in the inscription since it’s the name of a god π“ŠΉ even though beloved π“Œ»π“‡Œ is read first.

We actually do use honorific transposition in English too! We read $20 as β€œtwenty dollars” and not β€œdollars twenty.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Sketch of Osiris

While this may seem like a simple sketch of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, I actually find it very interesting! This is easily recognizable as the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ because the lord π“ŽŸ of the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… , and wearing the Atef crown π“‹š. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ adorning the sides.

Sketch of Osiris at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are as follows:
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ

It simply says β€œOsiris, the great god.” In this caption, Osiris is written β€œbackwards” and without the determinative π“€­ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ. This was probably due to the fact that the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ would appear neater when written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“Ήβ€ instead of like this β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨.”

Also, β€œgreat god” is written like this β€œπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉβ€ instead of this β€œπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ.” It was either done to take up the appropriate amount of space (aesthetics were everything, and was much more important than proper spelling/grammar πŸ˜‚) or to emphasize Osiris’ greatness. It could’ve even been for both reasons!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer

This mask is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom c. 1492-1473 B.C.E). It is also made of catonnage, which is the ancient Egyptian version of paper-mache – cartonnage is usually made of up linen. Just like the Roman mask I posted yesterday, this mask is also overlaid with gold foil π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰. Gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ is a metallic element, and one of the properties of metallic elements is that they are malleable. This means that they can be hammered into very thin sheets. This made gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ very easy to work with!

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer at the MET

I love the eyes 𓁹𓏏π“₯ of this mask! The eyes 𓁹𓏏π“₯ are made of two different types of stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. The white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³ part is alabaster π“±π“ˆ™π“Šƒ, which is usually a form of the minerals calcite or gypsum. The black π“†Žπ“…“ part is made of obsidian. Obsidian is an extrusive igneous rock which form when lava from a volcano cools instantaneously. This rapid cooling gives obsidian a glass-like appearance which is why obsidian is often referred to as volcanic glass.

This mask belonged to a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Hatnefer who died in her 70s. Hatnefer was able to get such a mask because her son π“…­ was Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, aka Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ most trusted advisor! Due to Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό rise in status, he was able to provide a nice burial and tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ for his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐. Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό also used his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 death as an opportunity move his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 from his original burial place into this tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰.

Hatnefer’s tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ was discovered in 1936, during the MET’s Egyptian Expedition.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask (Late Period)

Mummy Mask (Late Period) at the Brooklyn Museum

Another mummy mask?! Why not!! This mask of a woman is dated to the Late Period (1st Century B.C.E). It is also a cartonnage mask, which was a very popular type of material to use because it was easy to work with and the mask could be made relatively quickly. The colors on this mask are so bright and well preserved – especially the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. I love how the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and the blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color together π“ˆ–π“Š— a lot. I love that color combination!

I have also provided a close-up of the art on the wig that shows the goddesses Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇(right). Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 were sisters (which means their brothers are Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£). While Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ were also married, so were Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are shown together quite frequently, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ are rarely shown together in art because Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 was considered to be a positive figure instead of negative. She is usually depicted with either just Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, or with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.

You can easily tell Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 apart from each other in Egyptian art based off of the crowns that they are wearing. The crowns correspond to the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that make up their names!

Isis (π“Š¨π“π“₯) wears β€œπ“Š¨β€ as a crown!
Nephthys (𓉠𓏏𓆇) wears β€œπ“‰ β€ as a crown!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask (Roman Period)

One of the features of Egyptian funerary practices that persisted throughout time was the mummy masks. Mummy masks first appeared during the First Intermediate Period (~2181 BCE), and were last used during the Roman Period (~395 AD). While the styles certainly changed, their purpose of protecting the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 remained the same. The function of protection is made explicit by Spell 151 from the Book of the Dead. Spell 151 also restores the ability of the dead to see through the mask. Spell 151 even appears on the back of the mask of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“!

Mummy Mask (Roman Period) at the Brooklyn Museum

This mask is from the Roman Period, and it’s always so interesting to see the merging of the two 𓏻 different styles. The mask is made of cartonnage (kind of like paper mache) and is covered in gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf, which is typical of Ptolemaic/Roman masks. The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is wearing a nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ style headdress, and Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 (the winged scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣) can be seen on the head 𓁢𓏺. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭 is a symbol of rebirth.

What makes this mask so beautiful π“„€ are all of the small details in the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf. The most prominent is the deceased (as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾) standing before 𓐍𓂋 Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The protective cobras π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ also adorn the mask. Daisies/Rosettes are seen as decoration along with the Wedjat-eyes π“‚€ on each side. Both of these are also symbols of rebirth!

During Roman times, masks were mass produced in workshops so it is unlikely that this mask represents a specific person.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin Fragment with Isis

When I saw this piece I really liked it because of how colorful it was! No matter how many times I see artifacts in museums, I’m always shocked by how bright the colors still are on some objects!

Coffin Fragment with Isis at the Brooklyn Museum

This is a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 fragment (Late Period, Dynasties 26-31 c. 664-332 B.C.E.) that shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— in mourning. Since in Egyptian mythology Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ assisted in the resurrection of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, it was believed that she would be instrumental in the rebirth of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is why she was always seen on coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ or sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The inscription I have translated is on the right column: β€œπ“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†—π“…¨π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“…β€

π“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By
π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – the Great (greatness)
π“ŠΉπ“… – Goddess (can also be written as π“ŠΉπ“)

Put together, the inscription reads:

β€œWords spoken by Isis, the great goddess…” The rest of the inscription is cut off.