Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs from the Abydos King List!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These beautiful 𓄤 hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the Abydos King List at the British Museum. There are two 𓏻 surviving King Lists from temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. One temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son 𓅭 Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos, while Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 was excavated and brought to the British Museum. 

While the two 𓏻 lists were very similar, Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 had more rows to accommodate the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 so it appears to be shorter. There are three 𓏼 rows of cartouches on the remaining limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief – the upper two 𓏻 rows contain the cartouches of earlier pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, while the bottom row shows Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 throne name and birth name alternating – this is the part we will be reading today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to start from the right!

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – Rameses II, Beloved of Amun (birth name)

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 Rameses II (“Usermaatre” throne name)

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓁩𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Rameses II (birth name variant)

“By Permission Of 𓅓𓂞𓂞” is meant to signify that Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 commissioned the creation of this King List! It’s also cool how different variants of the name 𓂋𓈖 were used throughout the relief!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Aswan Granite

After limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙, “Aswan Granite” was the third most used rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 by the ancient Egyptians! “Aswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 area, even though they aren’t all granitic! Diorite and granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 are other igneous rocks looped into this category, even though granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 is a felsic rock (lighter in color and lower in density with more quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙) as opposed to diorite/granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 (intermediate rock, less quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, both dark and light in color). 

The most common of the “Aswan Granite” rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 is known as red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶. Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦, obelisks 𓉶𓉶𓉶, and for parts of buildings and temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪! 

Quarrying of the “Aswan Granite” started in the Old Kingdom and was even used to build the Pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Giza! During the New Kingdom (particularly 18th Dynasty), red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 became extremely popular again, especially amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏪 and many of them had their statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 carved out of this durable stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪! 

One of the best examples of these red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. She had the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 shipped 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 miles up the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 from Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! 

The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were such master geologists they even distinguished regular “granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿” from “red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶” in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below is a close up of a sample red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 from my collection so you can get a better look at this gorgeous 𓄤 rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Alexander the Great in Hieroglyphs

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 conquered Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! This was the beginning of the Hellenistic Period of Egyptian history. 

So why was Alexander 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 recognized as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 saw him as the person who liberated them from the Persians! Alexander 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 also restored many of the Egyptian temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 and even built new monuments 𓏠𓏍 dedicated to the Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹! Some of these monuments 𓏠𓏍 show him worshipping Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, who basically would’ve been the Egyptian version of Zeus. After Alexander’s 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in Babylon, Ptolemy I 𓊪𓏏𓍯𓃭𓐝𓇌𓋴 became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Since Alexander 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 was Macedonian and not native Egyptian, his cartouche is very phonetic – all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 used are uniliteral signs, which means that they correspond to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. Let’s take a closer look! 

𓄿 – The “Egyptian Vulture 𓄿” represents the sound “3” which would be pronounced like “ah.” 

𓃭 – the “recumbent lion 𓃭” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for the sound “rw,” however, during the Hellenistic Period it adopted the sound of “L.” 

𓎡 – The “Basket with a Handle 𓎡” symbol has the sound of “k.”

𓊃 – The “doorbolt 𓊃” symbol represents the sound “z” or “s.” It’s also the ideogram for the word “doorbolt.” 

𓇋 – The “reed 𓇋” represents the sound of “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

𓈖 – The “ripple of water 𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

𓂧 – The “hand 𓂧” represents the sound “d” and is also the ideogram for the word “hand.” 

𓂋 – The “mouth 𓂋” symbol is used to represent the sound “r.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

𓊃 – see above! 

The hieroglyphs of “𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃” basically spell out “Alksindrs.” It’s pretty cool to see the versatility of the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols with examples of foreign names 𓂋𓈖𓏦!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Tutankhamun and Amun

This diorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 portrays Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 and the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖. Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 is credited with restoring the Cult of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, after it was eradicated by his father Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 in order to solely worship the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is very interesting because it displays Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 very large, while Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩. Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was considered a god 𓊹 on Earth 𓇾𓇾, they were usually depicted as large, intimidating, and regal figures. However, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏪 were second to the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 themselves – especially Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 who was the king 𓇓 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. So in the presence of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩. 

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 has sustained damage, most notable is the fact that Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 head is missing. This is because this era of the 18th Dynasty was supposed to be ‘forgotten’ by history. The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏪 that came after Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 tried to erase all evidence of the Amarna era. Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 fell victim to this as well, even though he restored the traditional Egyptian pantheon. It was due to his familial relation to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 that he was also subjected to having his images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 destroyed. 

A lot of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏦 were usurped by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖, who was not only Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 general 𓀎𓏦, but was the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Let’s read some Hieroglyphs!

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet 𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹. Right Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 Column: 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance 𓉡 – Hathor 𓊹𓍛 – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally “God’s Servant”) All together, this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 would read “The King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” The title “King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏“ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Left Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 Column: 𓎟 – Possessor 𓌳𓐍𓄪 – Reverence 𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹 – Niankhwadjet “Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.” Let’s put it all together! 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏𓉡𓊹𓍛𓎟𓌳𓐍𓄪𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹 “The King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.” This is mh personal video and original text – Do NOT repost! #ancientEgypt #ancientegyptblog #egyptology #hieroglyphics #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #egitto #egyptianhistory #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #hieroglyphs

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet 𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹. 

Right Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 Column:

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance

𓉡 – Hathor

𓊹𓍛 – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally “God’s Servant”) 

All together, this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 would read “The King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” The title “King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏“ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

Left Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 Column: 

𓎟 – Possessor

𓌳𓐍𓄪 – Reverence

𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹 – Niankhwadjet

“Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Let’s put it all together! 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏𓉡𓊹𓍛𓎟𓌳𓐍𓄪𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹

“The King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Here is my past post (with photographs) on this beautiful piece!

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Book Recommendations Video

Video – Hieroglyphic Dictionaries Recommendations

@ancientegyptblog

Here are my recommendations of hieroglyphic dictionaries to get you started on your journey to reading hieroglyphs! Like with learning any language, getting a good dictionary to help you learn is going to be vital! I love all my dictionaries that I share in this video, and I hope you can all enjoy them too! I started to teach myself ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs starting at the age of six and I’ve been reading them for over 25 years now! I love teaching people how they can learn too – if I can do it, anyone can! This is not an ad – I brought all of these books myself and these are my honest opinions. You can check out my “Recommendations” highlight for links to the books! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #hieroglyphics #languagelearning #ancientegyptianlanguage #hieroglyphs #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #bookrecommendations #ancientegyptblog #egyptology

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

Hi 𓉔𓇌𓀁 everyone! I’m back with another book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 recommendation! These are four 𓏽 hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 dictionaries that I really like and use all the time! I would definitely recommend these dictionaries if you’re studying hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

The two 𓏻 dictionaries by Bill Petty are easy to get because they are still in print, however, the Budge dictionaries are old and you’ll probably have to get them second hand! My Nonno gave me the Budge dictionaries over 20 𓎆𓎆 years ago and what’s wild is they were old books 20 𓎆𓎆 years ago! 

Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 to my friend 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐 @elianubis for sending me this beautiful 𓄤 shirt as a gift! I love it!! 

Here are affiliate links, where you can purchase the books that I recommended in the video! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps to keep my website and educational content free for all!

English to Middle Egyptian Dictionary

Hieroglyphic Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Middle Egyptian Language 

Budge Dictionary Volume 1

Budge Dictionary Volume 2

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Trial Piece of Two Hands

For some reason, this very simple relief of two 𓏻 hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 was one of my favorite things that I saw at the Petrie Museum in London! 

Flinders Petrie was one of the main excavators at present-day Tel el-Amarna, the site of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 new capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.  Amarna as it is commonly referred to as, is the modern name 𓂋𓈖 for “Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 – Horizon of the Aten,” which replaced Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 as the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

During excavations at Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 the workshops 𓄯𓏏𓉐𓏦 of artists were found, which contained a lot of unfinished reliefs. These “trial pieces” are though to have been made by young artists who were learning their craft. Even though this is such a simple relief of hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 with many cracks, I find it to be so beautiful 𓄤. The art of the Amarna period fascinates me because it is so different stylistically from other Egyptian art! I love seeing all of the unfinished pieces that were found at Amarna – it’s kind of like getting a behind the scenes view of the art! 

A lot of reliefs in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were made on limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉. From a geological perspective, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (due to its composition of the mineral calcite 𓍱 – which comes from dead marine organisms), is a very easy rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 to sculpt and work with because calcite 𓍱 is a softer mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙. Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 used to be completely under water 𓈗 hundreds 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of millions 𓁨𓁨𓁨 of years ago, hence why limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (and sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙) are so abundant – both of these rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are classified as sedimentary rocks, which are primarily formed under large bodies of water 𓈗!

Limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is composed of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 marine organisms, which I find correlates with ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as a whole – their entire life 𓋹/religion focused on preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and they basically built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 their civilization out of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 things! 

It’s so fascinating how geology and Egyptian history are so closely interrelated! Did you know that Petrie was a geologist and that he was the first to apply stratigraphy (studying rock layers) to the field of archaeology?! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Rameses II Adoring the Sphinx at Giza”

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief is called “Rameses II adoring the Sphinx at Giza” and it is such a beautiful 𓄤 piece! Let’s take a closer look!

By the time Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 at Giza was already ancient (~1200 years old) – which is almost mind blowing to think about!!! During the 18th Dynasty (the dynasty before Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) the cult of the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 began to reach its peak in terms of religious importance. 

During the first 𓏃 year of their reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take a trip to the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 as almost a right of passage. They would then build monuments 𓏠𓏍 to document the occasion. This relief is representative of that trip that Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 took! 

The New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓐆 knew the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 as Hor-em-Akhet 𓅃𓐝𓈌 which translates to “Horus in the Horizon.” The name 𓂋𓈖 most likely came from the fact that the Sphinx’s 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 head is seen in between Khufu 𓐍𓆑𓅱 and Khafre’s 𓇳𓈍𓆑 pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏪, and can appear like the sun disc 𓇳 when approached from a certain direction. It’s definitely a creative name 𓂋𓈖! 

Let’s read some simple hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here’s a breakdown of the name 𓂋𓈖 Horus in the Horizon 𓅃𓐝𓈌! Can you spot this on the relief?

𓅃 – Horus

𓐝 – em = in the

𓈌 – akhet = horizon

There are actually two 𓏻 different versions of this relief! If you look at the pictures above versus the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 below, the reliefs are facing two 𓏻 different directions!

For a closer hieroglyphic study, we are going to be looking at the relief facing the left because I was able to get better pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this one! Both reliefs are pretty much identical except for the direction that they face!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below. Some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are missing, but I was able to infer what was being written:

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances 

𓇳𓁩𓄟𓋴𓋴𓌸 – Rameses II (Birth Name Variant) (this cartouche is too damaged for me to know which variant, so I made my best guess)

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre (Rameses II throne name)

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God 

𓎸𓅓(𓏲𓅆)(𓀭) – Khnum (these hieroglyphs are cut off, but my best guess is this is the start of the name of the god Khnum)

Here’s the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 translation for the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below:

𓅃 – Horus

𓐝 – in the

𓈌  – Horizon

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓆑 – His

𓎟 – All

𓊽 – Stability

𓌀 – Strength

𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 – Health

𓄫𓄣𓏏 – Joy

𓎟 – All

𓇳𓏇 – Like Ra

𓇳𓎟 – Every day

This beautiful 𓄤 and unique relief is located at the Louvre in France!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The “King’s Acquaintance”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a Title that appears 𓈍 on statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and in funerary inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. The title of “𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance” is used to denote people who were close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and can be written in two ways: 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – if the person was female

𓇓𓏏𓂋𓐍 – if the person was male

In the case of this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, which was for a female, King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 is written in the female form of the word! The Title has also been translated as “Gentlewoman,” and “Court Lady,” while the male version (𓇓𓏏𓂋𓐍) can also be translated as “Custodian of the King’s Property.” 

Let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that make up this title! 

The “Sedge 𓇓” symbol is one of the most common hieroglyphs you will see in inscriptions! It 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.” In this case of this title, the sedge is functioning as an ideogram!

The “placenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “ḫ.” This symbol is actually considered “unclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

The “mouth 𓂋” symbol functions most commonly as a uniliteral phonogram and is used to represent the sound “r.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

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! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Board Game “Senet”

If an object has Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 on it, I am going to get excited about it – no matter what the artifact is!

This piece is a type of ancient Egyptian board game called Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠! Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.). 

During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka 𓂓 (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word “Senet” 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 actually means passage or gateway (though there are other ways to write these words as well)! If you look really closely, you can see details of the “Ankh 𓋹,” which is the symbol that means “Life” along with the “Djed Pillar 𓊽” which means “Stability” painted on the side of the game! On both the left and right sides, you can also see the word 𓋴𓈖𓃀 which means “Health!” Such lovely messages on the side of a board game!

Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things an about humanity have not changed! 

The version of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 that appears on the side of the Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 board is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.”