Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Gods” in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to look at the word for β€œGods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.” Just for some review, this is the word for β€œGod π“ŠΉ.” 

The β€œcloth on a pole π“ŠΉβ€œ symbol is an ideogram for the word god. π“ŠΉ is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters β€œntr” which may have been pronounced like β€œneter.” π“ŠΉ Is also a determinative for β€œgod.” So the β€œcloth on a pole π“ŠΉβ€œ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ!

Gods can be written as π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ or π“ŠΉπ“ͺ, and the word that was used depended on the amount of space that was available! 

Fun fact: in ancient Egyptian culture, a couple (husband and wife) was still considered to be singular even though they are two 𓏻 people – that is why the Egyptians use 𓏦, π“ͺ, or repeating the symbol three 𓏼 times to pluralize words! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, two 𓏻 was singular, and three 𓏼 was plural! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Eternity” in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to look at the word for β€œEternity – π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›.” Eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› was a concept central to ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ religion and culture. 

There are two common ways to write β€œEternity” – π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› and 𓆖. The words for eternity (𓆖 & π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›) appear frequently in so many inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ – if you can recognize the words, you will be able to pick them out in any museum you visit! 

In a previous post I spoke about β€œπ“†–,” so today we are going to focus on β€œπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›.”

The symbol β€œπ“Ž› – wick” is a uniliteral phonogram which means that it only represents one sound. The sound that it represents is β€œαΈ₯.” 

The symbol β€œπ“‡³ – sun” is usually seen as an ideogram for β€œRa.” The symbol β€œπ“‡³ – sun” can also be a determinative for sun, day, and time.

Since β€œeternity” is technically a measure of time, the proper way to write the word for eternity would be β€œπ“Ž›π“Ž›π“‡³,” with the sun disc acting as the determinative. However, π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› is more aesthetically pleasing, so that is how the word is written. Technically, π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› would be pronounced like β€œαΈ₯αΈ₯.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

Here is a β€œLarge Seated Statue of Hatshepsut” that is dated to the early 18th Dynasty (c.Β 1479–1458 B.C.E.), and most likely the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.Β 

Even though Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is β€œportraying herself as a male” (as described by some historians), she is actually portraying herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Paint can still be seen on the Broad Collar

She is wearing the nemes headdressΒ π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄Β and a broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹Β (necklace worn by royalty/the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ). Some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is actually still visible on the broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹! The face on this statue is completely destroyed, and this was definitely done on purpose.Β 

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

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘ – Bodily/Of Her Body

(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)

π“Œ»π“‡Œ – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓆖 – She Live Forever

Put together, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved, May She Live Forever.” Some of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is missing, so this is what I could see! 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! If she called herself the β€œSon of Ra” the inscription would look like β€œπ“…­π“‡³β€ instead of β€œπ“…­π“π“‡³. ” The word for β€œbodily π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘β€ is also feminized, and would be written as β€œπ“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“†‘β€ if it was referencing a male.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Isis” in Hieroglyphs

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

These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).Β 

This is a variant of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“Ί in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! More commonly, her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written as β€œ π“Š¨π“π“₯,” and the difference between the two is the determinative at the end. Why was the determinative not used in this inscription? Most likely due to spacing issues! 

The β€œseat π“Š¨β€ symbol has many different functions in Middle Egyptian! In the case of the name β€œIsis π“Š¨π“π“Ί,” the seat functions as a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œjs.” In other words, it can be a phonogram for the sounds β€œst,” and β€œhst.”  π“Š¨ is even an ideogram for the word β€œseat!” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The β€œstroke 𓏺” hieroglyph is used at the end of words when there is a bit of space left over – it’s all for the aesthetic! This symbol is not pronounced, it is solely used for punctuation/aesthetic purposes! 

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œIsis” is actually the Greek version of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of this goddess π“ŠΉπ“! If we were to pronounce her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– the way the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ did (or inferred how they did), her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– would be pronounced like β€œIst π“Š¨π“π“Ί.” 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Throne Name of Amenhotep III in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh π“‰π“‰» Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†! Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule π“‹Ύ was a time of prosperity for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!

This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue π“‡‹π“Ήπ“π“„Ώπ“Έπ“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces are original, but the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and plaster are not. 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in the cartouche: 

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra) 

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” 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 β€œra” or β€œre.”

The β€œπ“§ goddess with a feather” symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like β€œMaat.”

The β€œπ“Ž  basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of β€œnb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like β€œneb.” The π“ŽŸ alone can also mean the word β€œLord,” especially in the titles that come before a pharaoh’s cartouche. 

Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!

Fun Fact: Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montu in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to learn how to read the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ MontuΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“€­!Β MontuΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“€­Β was a war god and was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom.Β 

A closeup of the name “Montu” in hieroglyphs from a stela at the MET

The β€œπ“  game board and pieces” is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The β€œ 𓏠” is associated with the sound β€œmn” which could be pronounced like β€œmen,” β€œmun,” β€œmon,” etc. 

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

The β€œπ“Ώ hobble/tie” is also a uniliteral phonogram sign. The β€œπ“Ώβ€ is associated with the sounds of β€œαΉ―β€ or β€œt.” 

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral symbol that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word β€œchick π“…±π“Ί.”

The final symbol in the name, β€œπ“€­ seated god,” is one that is not pronounced! This is a determinative symbol, which means that it is a symbol used to show the general meaning of the word! It is basically used as punctuation at the end of the word to show you that it is over!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Two Sides of the Same Coffin!

Dedication to Osiris on a coffin at the Brooklyn Museum

In the picture above, you can see a dedication to Osiris – π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ π“ŽŸπ“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š– – β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu”

Djedu π“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š– refers to the birthplace of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it!

Dedication to Anubis on a coffin at the Brooklyn Museum

In the picture above, you can see a dedication to Anubis – π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹ 𓆑 – β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, upon his hill…”

β€œUpon his hill” is in reference to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 being the god π“ŠΉ of cemeteries, and looking over cemeteries from the cliff or hill above it!

Why dedications to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣?! They are the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ most commonly associated with death!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Statue of Senwosret III

This is a black granite statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“. Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ is thought to be the most powerful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty because his successful military campaigns gave rise to an era of peace π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. Peace π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ led to economic prosperity, and this led to a newfound revival in artistry and craft works.

Statue of Senwosret III at the Brooklyn Museum

This newfound artistry during this time period then led to some new styles in how the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was portrayed in statuary. The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ are so distinctive that they can be immediately recognized as his, even without reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Some parts of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are realistic, like the protruding eye sockets and the lines on his face, while some features, like the young and strong torso, are most likely idealized. Egyptologists can only speculate on why he was portrayed this way – some argue that it’s because Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ wanted to be seen as human before divine.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ in particular shows Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ wearing the royal nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ headcloth. Beneath his feet are nine bows – each meant to represent one of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– enemies. Since the enemies are beneath his feet, it shows successful defeat by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see his Horus nameπ“…ƒπ“Š[π“ŠΉ 𓆣𓅱] which I think means β€œHorus in divine form.” Also, you can see his prenomen or β€œthrone name” which is marked by the π“†₯ (he of the sedge and the bee aka King of Upper and Lower Egypt) hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ before the cartouche. π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ means β€œthe Souls of Ra have returned.”

Statue of Senwosret III at the Brooklyn Museum
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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Pair Statue

This type of statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is referred to as a Pair Statue.

The front of a Pair Statue at the Brooklyn Museum

Pair Statues first appeared in the Third Dynasty during the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦, however, this example is from the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom – either the reign of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 or Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ).

The purpose of the Pair Statue was to show closeness between two 𓏻 individuals. This pair statue represents a husband and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐! The man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ is named Nebsen and he was a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ in the treasury, while the woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 is named Nebet-ta, and she was a singer in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. Both scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and singers were held in high regard and were of high status, which is probably how they had the means to procure such a beautiful π“„€ pair statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ!

What I love about this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is how beautiful π“„€ the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are!

The word β€œwoman” can be written multiple ways, either π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ or 𓂑𓏏𓁐. The latter can also mean β€œwife.”

There is also a dedication to the god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ (right column on the back):

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II

There are two 𓏻 different types of reliefs; raised and sunken reliefs. In a raised relief, the images project upward from the rock, while in a sunken relief, the images are carved within the rock.

Most of the time, especially for temple and royal inscriptions, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ chose to to raised reliefs because it was less likely to be completely washed out by the sun 𓇳𓏺! Sunken reliefs were mainly used when time was of the essence, because sunken reliefs took less time to carve or when the rock was too hard/dense. Sunken reliefs actually became more popular starting with the 18th Dynasty.

Full Relief of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum.

This relief shows Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. What is interesting is the hieroglyphs are sunken reliefs, while the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 are raised reliefs.

Usually reliefs were either one or the other, however, this relief has both sunken and raised aspects to it! Many of his titles/cartouches are used in this relief.

Close-Up of the Hieroglyphs.

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ β€œlord of the two lands”
π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– Rameses II (Usermaatre – throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ β€œlord of appearances”
π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name)

π“ŒΊπ“©π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name variant)