Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead – The Field of Reeds

“The Field of Reeds” from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (MET)

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. Fun fact: Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 version of the Book of the Dead is mostly complete, and is over 70 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 feet long!

This page illustrates Spell 110, which gives Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 the ability to enjoy various earthly activities. This takes place in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. Spell 110 states “…being in control there, being a blessed one there, plowing and harvesting there, eating and drinking there, and doing everything that one was used to do on earth.”

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is actually seen doing work in the field 𓇏𓏏𓈇 – he can be seen using a scythe to harvest grain (just like Spell 110 states)! So the things he used to do on earth, he could also accomplish in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. This is where ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures came into play – instead of the deceased doing all of the work, the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures would have taken care of it all!

The Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 was mentioned a lot on Marvel’s show Moon Knight! In the show, Marc and Steven traveled through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 on a boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞, but in reality, this mode of transport was typically reserved just for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

On the show, the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 was literally depicted as just a field 𓇏𓏏𓈇, while in Egyptian culture it was meant to be a better version of life 𓋹 on earth. There were many different depictions; a lush land with waterfalls, islands that could be traveled amongst by boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏦, farmland, and lots of parties! Access to the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and the ability to farm were considered to be the ultimate reward for a good and truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 life 𓋹!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis and his Common Title

Here is a close up of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 from a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET! While this is only part of the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, it is my favorite part! It’s my favorite because this is the part of the inscription that is the dedication to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! Whenever I see Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 in the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 I get really excited – as if I’m seeing a celebrity!

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣 – Anubis
𓁶𓊪𓈋𓏺𓆑 Upon His Hill

This inscription can also be written as: 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑. If you notice, on the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭, Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 is missing the “𓅱” hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 might have been pronounced “Inpw,” but here it’s written just as “Inp!”

Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢
𓃣
𓃤
𓁢

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

“Upon His Hill 𓁶𓊪𓈋𓏺𓆑” refers to Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as the protector of the tombs and cemeteries. Most of the time, tombs/cemeteries we’re surrounded by cliffs, hence the title! It could also be translated as “Upon His Mountain.”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Emperor Augustus

The Emperor Augustus depicted on the Temple of Dendur at the MET

Here is the Emperor Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋! He doesn’t look like an Emperor though – he looks like a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Augustus is seen wearing the Atef crown 𓋚, a false beard, a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, armlets 𓄟𓋴𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏦, and bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏦. These are all features that are associated with Egyptian pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, even though Augustus was Roman.

In this sunken relief, Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 is making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 of Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 to another god 𓊹. Augustus had many temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 constructed that adhered to Egyptian religion and culture instead of the Roman/Hellenistic ways. This was a strategy that Augustus used to legitimize himself as the ruler of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and gain the respect 𓈙𓆑𓄅 of the local population. This particular image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Temple of Dendur, which is at the MET.

To me, what is most interesting though are the cartouches 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 two 𓏻 (of his three 𓏼) cartouches:

𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 Augustus (Autokrator)
𓈎𓇌𓊃𓂋𓊃𓋹𓆖 Augustus (Kaisaros)

“Autokrator” is the Greek word for “Emperor,” while “Kaisaros” is the Greek word for “Caesar.”

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!

A close-up of Augustus’ cartouche on the Temple of Dendur at the MET

Here is another variant of Augustus’ cartouche:
𓉐𓉻𓀀

This cartouche I have always found so fascinating because it is literally the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Middle Egyptian plus the determinative sign 𓀀. Most names (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 depicted in this way, Augustus was literally calling himself the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

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

𓉐 – House
𓉻 – Great

Augustus chose to have various synonyms for “ruler 𓋾” as his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (Emperor, Caesar, Pharaoh). 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!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“The Great God”

The Great God 𓊹𓄤 or The Perfect God 𓊹𓄤 is another extremely common phrase you will find in hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 across all different types of artifacts and monuments. It is definitely a good one to know and recognize because it is so common!

The Great God 𓊹𓄤 is usually found before 𓐍𓂋 the titles that accompany the prenomen (throne name) cartouche of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Another popular title that often accompanies the prenomen is 𓎟𓇿𓇿 , which translates to “Lord of the Two Lands.” Sometimes both titles will appear together!

Whether or not “𓊹𓄤” is translated as “The Great God” or “The Perfect God” is really up to the translator – I have equally seen it both ways in fantastic books!! I just tend to translate it as “The Great God” for some reason!

Let’s break this down: 𓊹𓄤
𓊹 – God
𓄤 – Good/Beautiful/Perfect

For a female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the title would look like this: 𓊹𓏏𓄤 which would translate to “The Perfect Goddess.” Adding a “𓏏” to the word 𓊹 makes it the feminine version!

𓄤 on its own in inscriptions translates to “beautiful” and appears often as well! This is another great word/symbol to be on the lookout for!

I hope you all are enjoying these little hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase posts! It’s different from other things I have done but I have enjoyed going through my photos and making them!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Offering Formula

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! While I have spoken about this particular inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 a lot, it’s a great one to review because it always shows up! Without fail if you got to a museum, you will see this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥! It appears on pieces from pretty much every time period of Egyptian history! Also, look at how beautiful 𓄤 these hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are! The colors are so bright even after thousands of years!

This is the famous Offering Formula! The Offering Formula is: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 which translates to “An Offering the King Gives.” This particular inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is arranged differently than usual because of the space that is available on the piece! If you know how to read these four 𓏽 symbols, you are well on your way to reading stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦, false doors, coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾/𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and more! The offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 was being made to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as a way to sustain them in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Let’s break it down:
𓇓 – King
𓏏𓊵 – Offering (this is the shortened version of the word. 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 is the actual word for offering)
𓏙 – Gives

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 Is always followed by the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 (usually Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 or Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, but other gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 will make appearances 𓈍𓏦 too).

If you would like to read more about the full Offering Formula, check out my “Hieroglyph Fun Facts” highlight – I have a lot of information there!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Let’s Put it all Together!

These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of Nectanbo 𓇳𓆣𓂓, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who ruled 𓋾 during the 30th Dynasty! The sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is at the British Museum!

I think it’s time we read a full inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥! We have gone through some of the popular titles that accompany the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, so let’s put it all together! We will start reading from the right, since the symbols point to the right!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt
𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands
𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s Throne Name)
𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances
𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓃭𓆑 – Nectanbo (Nakht Nebef)

I hope you were able to recognize some of these phrases from previous posts! Keep practicing them! These titles come up frequently in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! These were some of the first phrases I learned, and I was so proud when I was able to read a full inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 like this for the first time! I really studied cartouches too, and maybe we should do those next! The cartouches are another great way to learn phrases/symbols! Since I can’t help myself, let’s get started!

𓇳𓆣𓂓 Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s Throne Name) translates to “The manifestation of the soul is Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra
𓆣 – Manifestation (kheper)
𓂓 – Soul (ka)

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Lord of Appearances”

I have been highlighting various titles seen commonly because they are a great way to practice reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and I realized that I didn’t talk about one of the titles that appeared in yesterday’s post, so I’m going to talk about it today! Oops!

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances another popular title that is seen across many different types of monuments across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and museums around the world. To review: a title is a phrase that appears before a cartouche, which is the oval that encloses the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The meaning of 𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances seems to be the one that can confuse people the most and the meaning can kind of be a little subtle/abstract. I always took it to mean that when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 arrived or appeared somewhere it was a BIG DEAL; basically a god 𓊹 showed up! Since the pharaoh was a god 𓊹 on Earth𓇾𓇾, his/her arrival needed a whole title to mention it!

Let’s break down the title:

𓎟 – Lord
𓈍𓏥 – Appearances

The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for appear 𓈍 is the sun 𓇳𓏤 rising over the horizon, which is to signify Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 daily journey across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯. The addition of the three strokes 𓏥 makes the word plural, hence why it is translated as “appearances” instead of just “appear.”

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Lord of the Two Lands”

𓎟𓇿𓇿 “Lord of the Two Lands,” is an extremely common title that is seen across many different types of monuments across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and museums around the world. A title is a phrase that appears before a cartouche, which is the oval that encloses the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. I have been highlighting various titles seen commonly because they are a great way to practice reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

𓎟𓇿𓇿 “Lord of the Two Lands” is in reference to Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt and the unification of both by Narmer 𓆢𓍋 who is regarded as the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of a fully united Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The current pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 always wanted to be associated with the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 of the past (most of the time not so much Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖) because that association would legitimize their own rule 𓋾.

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:
𓎟 – Lord
𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

The title can also be written as 𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿 or “Lady of the Two Lands” if the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was female! This was the case for Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪!

“𓎟 Lord” becomes “𓎟𓏏 Lady” with the addition of the 𓏏!

Soon you will be able to read a full inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥! This is very exciting!!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“He of the Sedge and the Bee”

𓆥 is an extremely common title that is seen across many different types of monuments across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and museums around the world. A title is a phrase that appears before a cartouche, which is the oval that encloses the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

This gorgeous 𓄤 and colorful sunken relief of the phrase 𓆥 comes from the King List that is currently located in the British Museum. I love it when ancient works of art retain their color, because it allows us to see the art as the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 themselves saw it. The blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and yellow paint is so bright and beautiful 𓄤!

𓆥 can either be translated as “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or more simply “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.”

𓇓 (a sedge) is the symbol that is used to represent Upper Egypt, while the 𓆤 (bee) is the symbol that is used to represent Lower Egypt.

𓆥 is such a common phrase and you can find it everywhere – if you know how to recognize it, you can really impress people (and most importantly, yourself) in museums! Since the titles appear so often in sculpture, they are a great way to practice reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 because you see them over and over again! I didn’t learn over night – it took years of practice for me to be able to read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 with the ease I do now!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Son of Ra”

“Son of Ra”

𓅭𓇳 – Let’s learn some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓅭𓇳 simply means “Son of Ra.” Let’s break down the phrase:
𓅭 – Son
𓇳 – Ra

𓅭𓇳 is a very common title and you will see it in any museum you go to! A title is a phrase that is seen before 𓐍𓂋 the cartouche 𓍶 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and can be viewed as an “introduction” so that way the reader knows that the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is about to show up!

Now, the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is no mystery because it always appears in a cartouche 𓍶 but the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to make sure their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 were known/preserved for all eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛!

The phrase “Son of Ra 𓅭𓇳“ also implies that the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is the child of a god 𓊹, which would give them the divine right to rule. A pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was considered to be a god 𓊹 on Earth 𓇾𓇾!

This beautiful 𓄤 inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is from the King’s List Relief that is located in the British Museum!