Author: ancientegyptblog7

The Cartouches of Augustus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 23, 2023

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a look at one of the sunken reliefs on the Temple of Dendur at the MET! This relief shows Emperor Augustus wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt 𓌉𓏏𓋑 standing before Horus 𓅃𓀭.

The Cartouches of Augustus – can you spot all three?

To me, what is most interesting though are the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of Augustus! Unlike the Greek rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that spelled out their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 using phonogram symbols, Augustus went a different route when having his name 𓂋𓈖 represented in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see all three 𓏼 of his cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦:

𓈎𓇌𓊃𓂋𓊃𓋹𓆖 – (Kaisaros)

𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 – (Autokrator)

𓉐𓉻𓀀 – (Pharaoh (pr-ˁ3))

“Autokrator” is the Greek word for “Emperor,” “Kaisaros” is the Greek word for “Caesar,” and “pr-ˁ3” is the Middle Egyptian word for “pharaoh.”

In Middle Egyptian the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 literally translates to “Great House.“ This is a direct reference to the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 where the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 resided during his/her rule.

𓉐 – House (pr)

𓉻 – Great (ˁ3)

The third cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is the one I have always found so fascinating because it is literally the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Middle Egyptian plus the male determinative sign 𓀀. Most names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 (even when spelled out with phonograms) are followed by a determinative for a male 𓀀 person or female 𓁐 person. By choosing to have his name 𓂋𓈖 depicted in this way, Augustus was literally calling himself the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

Augustus chose to have various words for “ruler” as his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule!

Can you spot three of Augustus’ cartouches in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏?

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags augustus, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, roman, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II and Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 20, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at this fragmented relief from the Louvre which depicts the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 and the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭! Horus is holding Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 hand and leading him. How do we know that this is a depiction of Horus 𓅃𓀭 since there are many falcon gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹? The word “Edfu 𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖” in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is a major clue – Horus 𓅃𓀭 of the Winged Disc or “Behdetite” was the chief god 𓊹 of the city 𓊖!

Look at who is leading Horus 𓅃𓀭- it’s the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who is the “Opener of the Ways!” Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 appears on a standard and is associated leading ritual processions.

Relief showing Rameses II and Horus

Above the depiction is actually part of Rameses II’s royal titularly! Each pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 had five names, and the first one that appears is known as the “Horus Name.” Rameses II had many variants of his Horus Name, but we will look at the one that appears here: “𓂡𓃒𓁧𓌺 Strong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

𓂡 – Strong

𓃒 – Bull

𓁧 – Maat

𓌺 – Beloved

After that, the Nebty Name 𓅒 is listed! The Nebty Name is distinguished by the Nebty or Two Ladies symbol “𓅒.” Only the partial name appears on the relief: “𓅖𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖 Protector of Egypt.”

𓅖 – Protector

𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖 – Egypt (Kemet) (most commonly, Kemet is written as “𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖,” however this is another variant).

The full name is as follows: 𓅖𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖𓅱𓂝𓆑𓏲𓂡𓈊𓏏𓏦 “Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands.”

Relief showing Rameses II and Horus

Above Horus 𓅃𓀭 appears:

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓎟- Lord

𓇯 – Sky

𓄤 – Perfect

𓊹 – God

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”)

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓌀 – Strength

All together the inscription says: “Edfu, Lord of the Sky, the Perfect God Usermaatre setep en Ra Give Life and Strength.”

To the left of Rameses II:

𓃹𓈖𓈖 – It Is

𓄤 – Perfect

𓊹 – God

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra

All together the inscription says: “It Is the Pefect God Usermaatre setep en Ra.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, horus, louvre, rameses ii

Egyptian Artifacts

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 19, 2023

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are one of them! The little hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are a nice plus too because they are so cute!

Me with the Hippos and Hedgehogs at the Brooklyn Museum!

The the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨! William has lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱, which is a concept central to the ancient Egyptian religion. This association occurred because when food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 is scarce, hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 will retreat into their underground burrows for long periods of time. Hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 only re-emerge from their burrows during times of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 abundance. This disappearing/appearing pattern strongly correlated with the concept of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 to the ancient Egyptians.

The hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are made out of blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 just like the hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Amenhotep III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 17, 2023

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 we looked at a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to examine a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to his 𓆑 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠!

An ebony wood Ushabti of Amenhotep III on display at the MET

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. The inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are a striking blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and white which make this piece really stand out not only amongst other artifacts, but amongst other ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures too!

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is a typical mummiform piece – the ushabti has its arms crossed over its chest, and at some point was probably holding a holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 which have been lost in antiquity. The crown on its head has also been lost, which is a shame. I wonder what the crown would have been made of?

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are wonderfully preserved. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are carved into the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, and then we’re filled with paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦! I love how much the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 stand out against the ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 – I think it’s beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋!

Can you spot Amenhotep III’s birth name (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆) and throne name (𓇳𓁧𓎠) on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾? Let me know!!!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 16, 2023

There are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 and some of them are on display at the MET! This particular Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 Figure of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 though broken in half, has a wonderfully preserved face and partial inscription!

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten on display at the MET

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾.

Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray. While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. Let’s take a look at the partial inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

You can see the inscription of “𓆥,” which as we have learned previously can translate to “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” As we know, this is a very popular title to be seen before a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

The “𓇳” in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is part of one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne names, which would most likely be “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖,” since that is the only one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne name 𓂋𓈖 variants that begins with a “𓇳.”

Even though “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖” translates to “The Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra, the Unique one of Ra,” this variant was only seen after the name 𓂋𓈖 change from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags akhenaten, artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 15, 2023

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 gneiss statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is called “King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure” and is on display at the MET!

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

This is the only statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the 5th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 that exists – all other representations are on reliefs. We know that this is 𓇳𓃃𓅱 because his cartouches appear on the right side of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 headcloth and the false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸 which is the usual fashion worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The “divine figure” that is standing next to Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 on the left is a personification of the 5th Nome of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (later called the Coptite Nome). During the Old Kingdom, the nomes (or provinces) of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were usually drawn as people! The “divine figure” is offering the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 an Ankh 𓋹. The “divine figure” also has the “double falcon emblem 𓈺” carved on his head, which was the nome standard!

Something I love about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Here’s a little geology lesson: Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain 𓈋𓅳 building or plate tectonics), that the minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦 have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance – can you spot the banding on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾?

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry 𓎛𓏏𓏏𓉐 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, sahure, the met

Video

Wooden Models of Meketre – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 13, 2023

This video shows the Wooden Models of Meketre!

@ancientegyptblog
These wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 which was during the Middle Kingdom. Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial. The first wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Porch and Garden 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈” that has a pool 𓈙𓈇 in the center that could have been potentially filled with water 𓈗! The second wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a bakery 𓂝𓅓𓂋𓉐 and brewery 𓂝𓏏𓉐𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏪. The third wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐. The “top” section of the model is of the actual granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐, where the grain 𓈎𓄿𓅱𓏸𓏦 was stored. The “bottom” section is of the accounting area, where scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 are seen keeping records with supplies such as papyrus rolls 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and wooden boards. The fourth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a slaughterhouse. Cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and geese 𓊃𓂋𓅬𓏦 are being slaughtered by butchers, and dried out meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹 can be seen hanging above them. The fifth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter. There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Meketre. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! I love the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models so much – as a kid, they looked like dollhouses to me! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐 loves these models too and are one of her favorite things to see in museums! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #ancientegyptblog #anticoegitto #egyptology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egitto
♬ sonido original – Vibes by Ley

These wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 which was during the Middle Kingdom. Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial.

The first wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Porch and Garden 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈” that has a pool 𓈙𓈇 in the center that could have been potentially filled with water 𓈗!

Porch and Garden Model from the tomb of Meketre

The second wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a bakery 𓂝𓅓𓂋𓉐 and brewery 𓂝𓏏𓉐𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏪.

Model of a bakery and brewery from the tomb of Meketre

The third wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐.

Model of a granary from the tomb of Meketre

The fourth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a slaughterhouse. Cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and geese 𓊃𓂋𓅬𓏦 are being slaughtered by butchers, and dried out meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹 can be seen hanging above them.

Model of a slaughterhouse from the tomb of Meketre

The fifth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter.

Model of a cattle stable from the tomb of Meketre

There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Meketre. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo!

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, the met, video

Egyptian Artifacts

“The Opener of the Ways”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 12, 2023

Whenever people see an Egyptian artifact that looks like a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, they think it’s Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, however, there are other canine deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon! This small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicts the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who was known as “The Opener of the Ways!”

Small statue of the god Wepwawet at the MET

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was depicted as either a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or a wolf 𓃹𓈖𓈙𓇋𓏲𓄛 and one of the best ways to distinguish between Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is by looking for their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 since they are artistically very similar looking!

Another way to tell Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is usually shown in the recumbent position (𓃢, 𓃣, 𓃤) while Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is usually shown standing up (𓃧, 𓃨).

Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Opener of the Ways,” which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 were also carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions for this reason!

Other variants of Wepwawet’s name 𓂋𓈖 include:

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

𓄋𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐𓀭

𓃧

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met, wepwawet

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 11, 2023

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is my favorite version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 due to the incredibly detailed drawings and beautiful script 𓄤𓆑𓂋. It was a dream come true to see it in person at the British Museum!

The text was clearly written by an expert scribe 𓏟𓀀, and since Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 was a scribe 𓏟𓀀, was it possible that he wrote his own Book of the Dead?

Me with the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The script in Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is known as “Cursive Hieroglyphs” or “Hieroglyphic Book Hand” and I can read it because it’s not in Hieratic like a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 are!

The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The “Weighing of the Heart,” or the “Judgement of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭” is my favorite part! In this scene, Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is being weighed against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣. If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two, then Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the “Book of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 “𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺” translate to!

Let’s take a closer look:

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

𓅓 – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where “book” comes from)

In its simplest form, The Book of the Dead is a collection of magic spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is dated to the 19th Dynasty.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 10, 2023

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written!

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories