Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

“Treasury” in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the word for “treasury 𓉒.” I see this word pop up on False Doors a lot because people who worked in the treasury 𓉒 were wealthy enough to have a nice burial!

The word “treasury 𓉒” is written with a Composite Hieroglyph (which in this case also functions as an ideogram). A Composite Hieroglyphic symbol is a combination of multiple symbols into a single glyph. I like to think of Composite Hieroglyphs as a math equation!

𓉐 + 𓌉 = 𓉒

pr + ḥḏ = prḥḏ

The “schematic house plan 𓉐“ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “pr,” but it can also function as an ideogram for the word “house 𓉐𓏺.” This symbol is commonly used as a determinative for words that have to do with buildings (tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐) or places (Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐).

The “mace with a round head 𓌉“ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “ḥḏ.” While I have seen it mostly used as a phonogram, this symbol can also be an ideogram for the word “mace 𓌉𓏺.”

What’s great about the Composite Hieroglyphs is that the two singular symbols retain their original meaning even when combined! This was a great space saving option on various objects, reliefs, etc.

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouche of Seti II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the cartouche of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti II 𓁣𓇌𓈘𓈖𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰! Seti I 𓁣𓇌𓈘𓈖𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰 and Seti II 𓁣𓇌𓈘𓈖𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰 have the same birth name so we know that these cartouches belong to Seti II 𓁣𓇌𓈘𓈖𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰 based on the throne name/where the object was found.

This piece is an inlay, which means that it was once part of a larger object. Seti II 𓁣𓇌𓈘𓈖𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰 (son 𓅭 of Merenptah 𓌺𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁧𓈖𓊵𓁷𓏺) ruled Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for a couple of years towards the end of the 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom).

Here’s the birth name: 𓁣𓇌𓈘𓈖𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰

𓁣𓇌 – Belongs to Seth

𓈘𓈖 – Beloved

𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰 – Ptah

So all together, the name 𓂋𓈖 reads “The one who belongs to Seth, Beloved of Ptah.” This is only one of the variants of the birth name, as there are many different ways to write the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, seti ii, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Lung and Windpipe” Hieroglyphic Symbol

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look more closely at the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol of “𓄥.” Many will confuse this symbol with the ever popular “𓄤 nfr” as they look very similar to each other!

The “lung and windpipe 𓄥” is a triliteral phonogram which would represent the sound zm3/sm3. This symbol only functions as a phonogram!

The 3 is part of the phonetic alphabet and sounds like “ah” – it is a good idea to learn the phonetic alphabet of you want to learn the hieroglyphic “sounds”.

Here are some words that have the symbol 𓄥 in them:

𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 – Lungs

𓄥𓏏𓂝𓏺𓃉 – Offering (variant of 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦)

𓄥𓄿𓏜 / 𓊃𓌴𓄥 – Unite

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Two Alabaster Monkey Vases

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

These are two 𓏻 alabaster vases at the MET which show a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 monkey holding a baby monkey!

These are dated to Dynasty Six of the Old Kingdom (c. 2289–2246 B.C.E.). Archaeologists think that these vases allude to fertility because they were probably given to some of the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 favorite couriers during the jubilee. In the second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the vase on the left is inscribed with the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Merenre 𓇳𓌻𓂋𓈖 and the vase on the right is inscribed with the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Pepi I 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 (you can’t see it in my picture – sorry!).

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt (He of the Sedge and the Bee)

(𓇳𓌻𓂋𓈖) – Merenre

𓆖 – Eternal

𓋹 – Life

I’ve said this before (it’s still true), that the names of the earlier pharaohs are a great way to practice reading phonogram hieroglyphs! Let’s take a closer look at Merenre 𓇳𓌻𓂋𓈖!

The symbol “𓇳 – sun” is usually seen as an ideogram for “Ra/Re.” The symbol “𓇳 – sun” can also be a determinative for sun, day, and time. “Ra 𓇳” is written in the cartouche first and said last due to honorific transposition.

The “hoe 𓌻” (and it’s variants 𓌸, 𓌺, and 𓌸) are biliteral phonograms that represent the sound “mr” (might have been pronounced like “mer”).

The “ mouth – 𓂋” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “r” and can be an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.”

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!”

All together, the name 𓂋𓈖 Merenre 𓇳𓌻𓂋𓈖 means “The Beloved of Re” or “The One Re Loves.”

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Joy” and “Happiness”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is a new word for all of you! While I haven’t seen it often, it’s probably a good one to know!

“𓄫𓏏𓄣” is the Middle Egyptian word for “joy” or “happiness!” What I love about this word is that if we were going to literally translate it into English, instead of joy or happiness, it would translate directly to “wide heart.” How cute is that?!?!

Let’s break down each of the symbols!

The “spine and spinal cord 𓄫” symbol is a biliteral phonogram that is used to represent the sound “3w.”

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” symbol 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!

The “heart 𓄣” symbol is an ideogram for heart and mind that can also be used to represent the sound “ı͗b”. The heart 𓄣 can also be used as a determinative in the word for heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣.

So all together, the transliteration of 𓄫𓏏𓄣 would be 3wt-ı͗b. Other variations of the word are “ 𓄫𓏏𓄣𓏺,” or “ 𓄫𓄣𓏺.”

What makes my heart wide 𓄫𓏏𓄣? Going to museums, writing out my Instagram post each day, Marvel comic books, Harry Potter, and of course listening to BTS 방탄소년단!!!!!

Let’s all share something that makes us happy/our hearts wide 𓄫𓏏𓄣!

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Mislabeled Canopic Jars

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

These canopic jars are very famous pieces from the British Museum! Any time you read a book on mummification or Egyptian funerary practices, these canopic jars will make an appearance! The first book on Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 my Nonno ever gave me was Carol Andrews’ book on the mummies at the British Museum, and of course these canopic jars were in the book! It was so exciting to see them in person! However, these are “dummy” canopic jars; they aren’t even totally hollow inside so they definitely weren’t used during the mummification process.

But that’s not what is the most interesting here; what’s most interesting is in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Each canopic jar has a lid that represents one of the Four Sons of Horus. Each one has the task of protecting a specific organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹 of the deceased!

From the left:

-Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 (falcon head) held the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼

-Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 (human head) held the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸

-Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 (baboon head) held the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺

-Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 (jackal head) held the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻

Now, if you take a closer look at the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the jars – Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 is labeled with Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 and vice versa!

I’m not sure if it is an ancient mistake or a mistake by the museum! I’m always so amused when I come across stuff like this!

The inscription above the names is a common one that we have gone over before:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓁹𓊨𓊹 – Osiris (the symbol for “god 𓊹” is used as the determinative here instead of the usual “𓀭” – I love seeing variation)!!

Tags artifact, british museum, Duamutef, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, mummy, sons of horus

Reading Hieroglyphs

Royal Inscription of Amenemhat I

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 has all words on it that I have taught already!! See if you can read it before looking at the translation!! Since the directional hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Also, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are always read starting at the top line of symbols!

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 – Amenemhat I (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓇳𓏇- Like Ra

𓆖 – (For) Eternity

Now, this relief is only partial because some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are cut off, but based on the symbols that remain, and the formulaic way that royal titulary was always written, I have a pretty good idea what the line above the cartouche says! Let’s take a look:

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓊹𓄤 – The Great God

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Now, before people come at me (it happens every time) for the translation of “ 𓊹𓄤 – The Great God,” yes, “𓄤” can be translated to “great,” “beautiful” and “perfect.” Much like in English (and I’m sure all other languages) in Middle Egyptian, words can have multiple meanings/translations!!! Also, there can be two different words that mean the same thing – “𓉻 / 𓉼” can also be translated to “great” – just like in the word for “pharaoh 𓉐𓉻,” which literally translates to “Great House.”

Tags amenemhat i, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Amenemhat I at the MET

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to look at an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 that is on a relief at the MET! I chose this one because this relief shows the cartouches of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 I haven’t spoken about much – Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏!

Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1939-1910 B.C.E.). He was of non-royal birth, and it is unknown how he acquired the throne. It is possible that he was the same Amenemhat 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 that was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep IV 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and then took the throne after Mentuhotep IV’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Since the directional hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Once again, some of these words (especially the titles) I have taught before and you may recognize!

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 – Amenemhat (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt or He of the Sedge and the Bee

𓇳𓋴𓊵𓏏𓊪𓄣 – Sehotepibra (Throne Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

The name 𓂋𓈖 Amenemhat 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 translates to “Amun is in the Front” -let’s break this down too:

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓅓 – in

𓄂𓏏 – Front/Foremost

Tags amenemhat i, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken by Osiris”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 30, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to combine two words/phrases we have already learned! Here we see an inscription with the symbols “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭.” This translates to “Words spoken by 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.” 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is usually followed by the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏 in inscriptions!

The “cobra 𓆓” is a uniliteral phonogram, so it is a symbol that 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 “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

The “eye 𓁹” is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “jr.” The “eye 𓁹” can also function as an ideogram for “eye 𓁹𓏺” and also as a determinative.

The “𓊨 seat” is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound “st.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the words seat/place.

The “seated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as “punctuation” at the end of the name of a male god!

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, osiris

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Thutmosis III – Menkheperra

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 30, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to look at one of the many cartouches of Thutmosis III!

Like many pharaohs, Thutmosis III had many different cartouches, and then different variants of those cartouches! Today we are going to be looking more closely at the cartouche of his Throne Name: 𓇳𓏠𓆣. This is a great cartouche to be able to recognize, because I see it more than his birth name cartouche!

Let’s break down each of the symbols!

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.”

The “𓏠 game board and pieces” is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The “ 𓏠” is associated with the sound “mn” which could be pronounced like “men,” “mun,” “mon,” etc.

The “scarab beetle 𓆣” is a phonogram sign. It is a triliteral sign, which means it represents three consonants. The “𓆣” is associated with the sound “ḫpr” which could have been pronounced like “kheper.” The “ scarab beetle 𓆣” is also both an ideogram and determinative for the word “scarab beetle 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣.”

So all together, the Throne Name cartouche of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 would be pronounced like “Menkheperra.”

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, thutmosis iii

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