Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Let’s take a look at the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of a man named 𓂋𓈖 Wah, who lived during the early reign 𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏(12th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom). 

In the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see a dedication to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, which is better known as the “Offering Formula.” If you want to learn one 𓏺 phrase in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, learn this one!!! It is everywhere!! 

Here is the full inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓁹𓊨𓎟𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖. Let’s break down the offering formula because we haven’t done so in a while. Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris (his name is missing the determinative this time – usually it’s written as 𓁹𓊨𓀭)

𓎟 – Lord 

𓊽𓂧𓊖 – Djedu (usually written as 𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖)

So all together 𓈖𓊗, this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 reads: “An Offering the King gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu.” Djedu 𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖 refers to the birthplace of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! Inside the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would usually be laid on his side so his eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 matched up with the eyes on the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱! This was very typical of Middle Kingdom burial practices 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, and it was something my Nonno would always point out to me when we were in a museum! 

As a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀕 (and even now as an adult) I found this practice absolutely fascinating! Now every time I am in a museum, I tell the story to someone about the eyes 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like my Nonno told me!

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and canopic chest of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 who lived during Dynasty 12 of the Middle Kingdom. Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the chief treasurer, which is why he probably received such gorgeous 𓄤 funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, such as this canopic chest that contains dedications to the Four Sons of Horus. The purpose of the canopic chest was to hold the four 𓏽 canopic jars which contained the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Since the directional symbols are pointing towards the right, we will start reading from the right!

𓇋𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated/Revered/Honored

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef

𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Ukhotep

𓎟𓄪 – Possessor of Honor

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

“Honor 𓇋𓄪𓐍” is the full word while the phrase “𓎟𓄪 Possessor of Honor” only uses the “spine and spinal chord 𓄪” symbol to write “Honor.” Also, “𓎟𓄪 Possessor of Honor” can be written as “𓎟𓄪𓏺,” it just depends on the spacing on the object it is being inscribed on. 

As a beginner, the shortening of words can get confusing, but this is where practice comes in! 

These pieces are at the MET in NYC!