Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

How to Read a Three-Symbol Cartouche

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

When I was first starting to learn to read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were some of the first things I learned how to read and recognize! Learning the cartouches allowed me to become familiar with the different uniliteral, biliteral, and triliteral signs! By remembering the signs/meanings of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ associated with the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, I was able to then expand my knowledge using the Book of the Dead transliteration/translation!

A lot of the New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had simple three 𓏼 symbol throne name cartouches, which sometimes takes some practice to read because of the order of the symbols! For the three symbol cartouches, usually (not always) the symbols were read β€œMiddle-Right-Left” or β€œMiddle-Bottom-Top” depending on the orientation of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ.

For example, Hatshepsut’s throne name of (𓇳𓁦𓂓) would be read β€œMaatkare” (Maat 𓁦 ka π“‚“ re 𓇳) and the throne name of Thutmosis III (𓇳𓏠𓆣) would be read β€œMenkhepherre” (Men 𓏠 kheper 𓆣 re 𓇳).Β 

While to most this is just a piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, to me this is significant because this piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is inscribed with the cartouche of the throne name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I!

So in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Seti I’s cartouche reads (𓁦𓏠𓇳) or β€œMenmaatre” (Men 𓏠 maat 𓁦 re 𓇳), however, in most inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ his cartouche is written as (𓇳𓁦𓏠)! A lot of people will translate his name as β€œMaatmenre” (Maat 𓁦 men 𓏠 re 𓇳) because of the way it is written. So as you can see, the orientation of the three 𓏼 symbols definitely changes and can be confusing to a beginner! I have seen both Menmaatre and Maatmenre used in published books, but if we are going to get technical, the translation of Menmaatre (Eternal is the Truth of Re) makes a little more sense than Maatmenre (Truth is the Eternal of Re). 

I chose to use Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 cartouche for this example because Nonno loved Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

While this may just seem like the broken fragment of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (and I guess it is), I love this piece at the MET because it contains the cartouches of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“—!Β 

The Amarna Period, and the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— has always fascinated me, ever since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€”. Professional Egyptologists have tried to piece together the series of events that shaped this tumultuous time period of Egyptian history, mostly by looking at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ themselves.

Fragmented statue containing the cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Let’s start at the right column, since the directional symbols point that way!

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‹Ή – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre which means “Beautiful are the Forms/Manifestations of Re, the Unique one of Re” (Akhenaten’s throne name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

Now on to the left column! This first part is cut off, but it’s probably a variant Nefertiti’s title of β€œKing’s Great Wife, as you can see the ending of the word β€œ great 𓅩𓂋𓏏”

π“ˆ˜π“π“†‘ – His Beloved

π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— – Nefertiti (Neferneferuaten Nefertiti)

𓋹𓏏 – May She Live/The Living

𓆖 – Everlasting/Eternal/Eternity

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

What always gets me is Akhenaten’s throne name of π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre. This particular spelling of the throne name is only seen after he changed his given name from Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. The original spelling, before the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change was β€œπ“œπ“„€π“†£π“¦π“‡³π“Œ‘π“ˆ–.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is still pronounced the same and has the same meaning, but the falcon glyph π“œ was changed to just the sun disc 𓇳 (both pronounced Re/Ra).Β  Also, all of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– other names (Horus name, etc) underwent a change, to remove the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, but this one didn’t.Β 

I wonder why Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– didn’t change the throne name (π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–) to represent the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, just like how all of his other names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ were changed.Β  Nefertiti’s name also underwent a change; her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– went from just Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— to Neferneferuaten Nefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— around year 5 of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– reign. Year 5 in the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– is significant, because that is when we see most of the changes to Atenism begin to take place. Year 5 is when Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ became the supreme and only god π“ŠΉ, and the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ could not be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒.

Since this piece contains the β€œupdated” version of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– throne name and the longer version of Nefertiti’s π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, we can assume that this piece was made during or after year 5 of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Overseer of the King’s Scribe”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a word that appears a lot in funerary inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! This word is simple, so it is easy to remember and to recognize! So let’s get started – the word for today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ is β€œOverseer π“…“π“‚‹.”

People with the title of β€œOverseer 𓅓𓂋” worked for the nomarchs (kind of like governors and were appointed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻). The overseers 𓅓𓂋𓏦 helped the nomarchs run the local government, and the overseers 𓅓𓂋𓏦 had lots of people who worked for them, many of which were scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ.Β 

We start reading from the right, because the directional hieroglyphs (like the owl) are pointing to the right! π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“ž is “Overseer of the King’s Scribe”

The word/title of β€œOverseer 𓅓𓂋” was always followed by what specifically the person was an overseer π“…“π“‚‹ of. This brings me to the full inscription: π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“ž. 

π“…“π“‚‹ – Overseer

𓇓 – King/Royal

π“ž – Scribe

So the person who this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is for is the β€œOverseer of the King’s Scribe π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“žβ€ or β€œOverseer of the Royal Scribe π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“ž.” The word π“‡“π“ž by itself can also mean β€œKing’s Secretary!”

The word Overseer π“…“π“‚‹ can also be translated as β€œCommander.” Let’s take a look at some other Overseer π“…“π“‚‹ titles you might see:

𓅓𓂋𓀆 – Overseer of the Wab Priests

π“…“π“‚‹π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆŠπ“‰π“‰π“‰ – Overseer of the Forts

𓅓𓂋𓅱𓏏𓆇 – Overseer of the Embalmers

𓅓𓂋𓆓𓃀𓂝𓅱 – Overseer of the Seals

𓅓𓂋𓆼𓆼𓆼 – Overseer of the Herds

𓅓𓂋𓇏 – Overseer of the Fields

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Shrine or Pylon Stela

While this piece doesn’t look like a regular stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ (stone, rounded top), it is still considered to be one! This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ has taken the shape of a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ or pylon π“ƒ€π“π“ˆ–π“π“‰ and that’s what makes this wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece very unique! I also love this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ because it shows the two 𓏻 sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯!

On the left, we see an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and on the right we see an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡. Part of a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“› recited by the two 𓏻 sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ are located in the middle of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. I love how symmetrical ancient Egyptian art is!

The crowns on their heads is one of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that is used in their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ (𓉠and π“Š¨), which makes both Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify in Egyptian art.

You can also identity Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 by reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

Starting on the left:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

𓉠𓏏𓆇 – Nephthys

Now on the right:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis

𓅨𓂋𓏏 – Great One

The Middle:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“π“₯π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“…’ – The Two Ladies (Nekhbet and Wadjet)

𓇅𓏏𓏭𓇅𓁐𓁐 – The Two Crowns (𓇅𓇅𓏏𓏭𓁐𓁐 and π“‡…π“‡…π“π“­π“†˜π“†˜ is another way to write this)

π“ŽŸπ“²π“¦ – Lords/Master

𓉐𓏺 – House

𓆖 – Eternity

This piece is dated to the Ramesside Period (19th-20th Dynasties, c. 1295–1070 B.C.E.).

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

“Wide Heart” or “Happiness”

π“„«π“„£ – β€œBe Happy, β€œHappiness,” β€œBe Cheerful,” β€œJoy,” – or in Middle Egyptian, β€œWide Heart.” 

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful is this piece!? While this piece of jewelry may be unassuming to most who walk past it in the galleries as it is very small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©, it carries such a universal message that has permeated for thousands of years – Happiness π“„«π“„£! I LOVE how the actual Middle Egyptian version of the word is β€œWide Heart” – I think it carries so much meaning in such a little phrase. β€œAncient Egypt makes my heart wide” sounds cooler than β€œAncient Egypt brings me joy/happiness” 

I always love seeing Happiness/Joy π“„«π“„£ written on objects because that is exactly how I felt when I was in a museum and looking at Egyptian artifacts with my Nonno. The only emotion I could feel at the time was joy π“„«π“„£ and I was so lucky. I would do anything to go to a museum with my Nonno and experience those emotions again. While I do feel immense joy π“„«π“„£ in museums now, there’s always a sadness to it as well because I truly miss my Nonno more than anything. I would love a piece like this as a necklace – sometimes we all need a reminder to find joy π“„«π“„£! 

𓄫𓄣𓏏, 𓄫𓏏𓄣𓏺, and 𓄫𓄣𓏺 are all common variants of the word, that I have seen many times in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ too! 

This beautiful π“„€ clasp belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ is linked to his. Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful π“„€ jewelry behind! The clasp is made out of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and carnelian, which is a stone with a red color. I will speak more about the jewelry in future posts, it is is so beautiful π“„€ and I love jewelry!

Since I shared what makes me happy π“„«π“„£, I’d love to hear from all π“ŽŸ of you! Share something that makes you happy/your heart wide π“„«π“„£! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Colorful Hieroglyph Relief

A lot of the time, the pieces that catch my eye in the museums are the unassuming limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ fragments that contain colorful hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Once upon a time, most Egyptian reliefs were as colorful as this piece, however with the passage of time, most of the colors faded. It’s so cool to almost catch a glimpse of what the colors were like thousands 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of years ago!

Let’s read some (very fragmented) hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ – or at least examine the symbols that we can! We are going to start from the left, since the symbols are pointing to the left!

π“Ÿ – the β€œibis headed god” symbol is both an ideogram and determinative for β€œThoth” and is associated with the sound β€œαΈαΈ₯wtj.” 

π“ŽŸ – the β€œbasket π“ŽŸβ€ symbol is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound β€œnb” (pronounced like β€œneb”). Can be used to represent the words Lord, All, Every, and many others! 

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – This word means β€œGreat God.” β€œπ“ŠΉβ€ is the triliteral symbol for God and has the sound β€œntr” which would be pronounced like β€œneter.” β€œπ“‰Όβ€ is the symbol for β€œGreat,” which is a biliteral phonogram and has the sound of β€œΛ3” which would be pronounced like β€œah.” Β 

𓂧𓏏π“₯ – the first symbol 𓂧 looks like the uniliteral phonogram β€œd,” the second symbol 𓏏 is the uniliteral phonogram β€œt” and then the third symbol 𓏦 is the β€œthree strokes” symbol which can be used to make a word plural, but can also mean they, them, their, of, three, and much more. This word might mean β€œhands,” or β€œhandful,” but I don’t have a full inscription so I don’t know! 

π“Ž›π“­π“…± – this word means β€œwould that” or β€œplease” and can also be written as β€œπ“Ž›π“…±π“­.” It is associated with the sound β€œhwy.” 

π“€­π“€­ – the β€œseated god” symbol acts as a determinative for the words God or King, and can even be used as the pronoun β€œI” when the God or King is speaking! 

𓏃 – the β€œwater jars in a rack 𓏃” symbol is most commonly used as a triliteral phonogram, and is associated with the sound αΈ«nt. This symbol usually is used for the prepositional phrase β€œIn Front Of” but can also be used to mean β€œFirst.”

This relief is from an 18th-19th Dynasty tomb wall. The 18th-19th Dynasty was part of the New Kingdom Period of ancient Egypt, and is my favorite time period to study!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela with a Dedication to Anubis

This sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ piece, located in one of the tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© offshoot galleries at the MET is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ from the New Kingdom (c. 1400–1390 B.C.E.) with two 𓏻 people, Siamun and Taruy, worshipping Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! Usually on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, people are shown worshipping Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, so seeing Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 on one makes me very happy! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! I’m going to start on the right, with the cartouche!

(𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼) – Thutmosis IV 

Now, above Anubis: 

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“…± – Anubis

π“ŽŸ – Lord

π“‡Ύπ“€π“ˆ…π“‚¦ – Sacred Land

Above the Two People: 

π“‚‹π“π“‚žπ“€’ – Giving Praise

π“‡‹π“ˆ– – To

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓏲 – Anubis

π“‡‹π“ˆ– – by the 

𓃂 – Wab Priest

(These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are etched out, but probably read β€œSiamun”)

π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ – Sister

π“ˆ˜π“ – Beloved

𓆑 – His

𓏏𓄿𓂋𓏀𓏭𓅱 – Taruy

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads: 

β€œπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“…±π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“€π“ˆ…π“‚¦β€ – Anubis, Lord of the Sacred Land

β€œπ“‚‹π“π“‚žπ“€’π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“²π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ƒ‚β€¦π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“ˆ˜π“π“†‘π“π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“€π“­π“…±β€ – Giving praise to Anubis, by the Wab Priest (Siamun) to his beloved sister Taruy.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Beloved of Maat”

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

This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is very simple because it contains the shortened variant of both of the words! 

π“ŒΊ – Beloved (π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ)

𓁧 – Ma’at (π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§)

I haven’t spoken about Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ in a while, so let’s learn a bit more about her! So why would a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 want to be the β€œBeloved of Maat π“ŒΊπ“§?”

Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§, the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of truth π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„, justice π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ, harmony and was an extremely important goddess π“ŠΉπ“ in the Egyptian pantheon. 

Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ was not only a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ but also a concept in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– – to live π“‹Ή by Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ was to always act truthfully and with good intentions, as opposed to chaotically – which is how the ancient Egyptians viewed other societies at the time. The goddess Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ was the personification of these concepts and of cosmic order. 

Being a β€œBeloved of Maat π“ŒΊπ“§β€ was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 taking the place of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ in the creation myth. When Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 emerged from the primeval mound, he set his daughter 𓅭𓏏 Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ in the place of chaos and to keep cosmic order. One of the roles of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was to do the same. 

Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ is always portrayed as having a feather 𓆄𓏺 on her head, whether in reliefs or even in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! You can always tell that an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ by looking for the feather 𓆄𓏺! 

Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ most important role was in the judgement of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.  The god π“ŠΉ Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 would weigh the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased against Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather 𓆄 to see if they lived a true π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ and just life π“‹Ή. If the deceased’s heart  𓇋𓃀𓄣 was balanced with the feather 𓆄, they were declared β€œtrue of voice π“™π“Š€,” and could meet Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. 

Also, notice the similarities between all of these words that have to do with Maat – the determinatives are different, which changed the meaning of the word, but they would have been pronounced the same! 

π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ – Truth

π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ – Justice

π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§ – Maat

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Anubis

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ I am going to be re-sharing one of my absolute favorite reliefs of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! This relief of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is from a larger limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ piece that was made for Amenemhat I’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ β€œHeb Sed” festival,Β  better known as the 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† Year Jubilee!Β 

There are so many amazing facts about Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒; I could probably write a book about him! Aptly named, β€œLord of the Necropolis π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦π“ˆŠ,” he was guardian of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ and cemeteries. Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 was the god π“ŠΉ of mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž, and the title β€œHe who is in the mummy wrappings π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–β€œ signifies Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 role in the mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process, which is what he is most known for.Β 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 also could act as a guide to souls π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ in the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐(referenced in the Pyramid Texts of Unas π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹΄). One of his most famous roles is in the Weighing of the Heart, in which the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 would be weighed against Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣.  Basically, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 played a big role in all aspects of a person’s death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was a huge part of the Egyptian religion. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (the ones above Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 head)! This is part of a much larger inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯!

π“Άπ“…±π“π“Ž- He Who is in the Mummy Wrappings – (the first symbol is cut off in my picture, π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–, but it actually can be written both ways)

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands (we have seen this one many times before – part of the titles of the pharaoh)!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Given Life”

β€œGiven Life 𓏙𓋹”

Such a simple and easy phrase, however, this phrase was extremely powerful in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! If you look at inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, it is literally everywhere! A lot of inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ either started or ended with β€œGiven Life 𓏙𓋹.” Usually, inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ were meant to preserve the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the deceased, so their soul 𓂓𓏺 could continue to live on. 

My Nonno π“ˆ–π“―π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“―π“€€ loved ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and shared his passion with me; he is the reason I’m able to read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and is the reasons I have a lifelong passion for the history of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. My Nonno π“ˆ–π“―π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“―π“€€ gave life 𓏙𓋹 to my passion, and now I am giving life 𓏙𓋹 to his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and memory.

As Christmas approaches, dealing with the grief of not having Nonno here for a third Christmas has been extremely difficult. Grief can be an overpowering emotion. This morning I had no inspiration to write because while usually going through my pictures and writing helps me handle my grief on a daily basis, this morning that felt impossible until I came across this picture I took. 

The simple phrase β€œGiven Life 𓏙𓋹,” that I’ve read thousands of times over the years gave me comfort. It is wild how a phrase uttered and written by people thousands of years ago, can bring comfort to me today. The power of words, language, and ideas never cease to astound me.