Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Sarcophagus

This is a close-up photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis (or Inpw to the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ) π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 from a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ at the MET. I chose to highlight this particular detail from the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ because while it is not part of an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, this is my favorite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ; Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine! As many of you know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art!

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ: 𓃣 and 𓃀. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒, π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, 𓃣, 𓁒. Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god π“ŠΉ that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, burial places). While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰, shrines associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was called π“‰±π“ŠΉ, or the β€œGod’s Booth.” One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is: π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰± or β€œIn front at the God’s Booth.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Two Wooden Statues of Metjetji

Whenever we were in a museum, my Nonno would always point out the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ whenever they were in great condition. He always explained to me that wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 decayed quickly and was harder to preserve than stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, so it was always remarkable whenever a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was able to retain its beauty π“„€ and not decay over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years. Thanks to my Nonno’s teachings and enthusiasm, I have always been so appreciative of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 artifacts.

These are two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ named Metjetji who lived during the 5th or 6th Dynasty (c. 2371-2288 B.C.E.). These 𓏻 two statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ seem to represent Metjeti as a younger man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, while other statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ show him at an older age. When the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ had their likeness preserved for eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, they wanted themselves to be represented at the best – hence why in most statues/reliefs/paintings that are found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 looks so young.

The paint on these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ is remarkably well preserved, which can happen if the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is under the right conditions for thousands of years (which is rare – usually humidity and time can get the better of organic materials). Metjetji is wearing a kilt and broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ along with other pieces of jewelry. He is also holding a staff in his hand in the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ on the left. In both representations, Metjeti seems to be walking (because one foot is in front of the other – almost like a stride).

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Egyptian Artifacts

Papyrus Depicting a Building Foundation Ceremony

Sorry for the glare, but I quite like this piece! This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is a very cool artifact – it is a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 depicting a building foundation ceremony from the 22nd Dynasty (c. 1069-664 B.C.E.).

On the top right side of the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛, Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ and Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ are pictured. The names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘ and Neith π“ˆ–π“­π“ appear above their heads 𓁢𓏦, and act almost like captions which I always think is such a cool feature of Egyptian art! The names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ do not include the determinative symbols, just the phonograms! Even without the captions, Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ and Neith are easy deities to recognize because Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ is usually represented as a man’s π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ body with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head, while Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ is a slender woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”.

The other people (drum and tambourine players) are dedicating the foundation of the building that is to be built to Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ and Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹. There are also workers who are breaking ground, using various tools (on the bottom left you can see them using a hoe, which is also a popular hieroglyph π“ŒΊ).

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Sarcophagus of Nectanbo I

Here I am with the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who ruled π“‹Ύ during the 30th Dynasty (c. 379-361 B.C.E.)! In a previous entry I posted, we learned how to read the titularly from this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­! So let’s take a bigger look at it!

Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 was actually the founder of the 30th Dynasty, which is the last native dynasty of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! The inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ are beautifully π“„€ carved!

In the second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 in a kneeling position making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of what seems to be bread 𓏑. I am making the assumption that it is bread 𓏑 because the carving in the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is the same as the hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ: 𓏑! You can also see a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on his head 𓁢𓏀!

Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 was actually a military general π“€Žπ“¦ and came to power by overthrowing the previous pharaoh, Nepherites II (who ruled π“‹Ύ for only four 𓏽 months and has no known cartouches). It is thought that Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 killed Nepherites!

Here are Nectanbo’s cartouches that appear on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­:

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (throne name)
π“ˆ–π“†±π“π“π“‚‘π“ƒ­π“†‘ – Nakht Nebef (birth name)

The sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is at the British Museum!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scribe Statuette

How cute is this little π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ?! I think he is just adorable!!! Though small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©, the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is wonderfully detailed. The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, nose π“†‘π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‰, wig, and hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 can all be clearly seen with great detail.

The base of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is interesting too! You can see part of the Offering Formula, except it’s written a little β€œstrangely.” Let’s take a look!

Here is the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on the base of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ:

π“Š΅π“π“™π“‡“π“‡“π“™π“Š΅

The inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ can be read β€œsplit” down the middle:

π“Š΅π“π“™π“‡“ || π“‡“π“™π“Š΅

As you can see in the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ itself, the direction of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ change which indicates that you start reading in a different direction! When written out β€œproperly,” the Offering Formula looks like this: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™.

So obviously the symbols are mixed up, and even the 𓏏 is missing from the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ at the right. This was done probably because of spacing issues – this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© when you see it in person!

Scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ were very highly regarded in ancient Egyptian society. Due to the complexity of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ/hieratic, those who were able to master it were extremely valued. Scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ recorded magic spells, wills and other legal contracts, medical procedures, and tax records. Most importantly for us, scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ also helped to preserve Egyptian culture throughout time. They were considered part of the royal court and did not have to serve in the military because their job as a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ was so essential.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Viscera Coffin

This is a β€œviscera coffin” dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1400 B.C.E.). A β€œviscera coffin” (sometimes called a coffinette) is very similar to a canopic jar because it stored the mummified organ of the deceased, however it looks like a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 instead of a jar! These were popular during the 18th Dynasty. Most famously, Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were found in tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© viscera coffins that were almost exact replicas of the larger coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 that he was found to be buried in!

This viscera coffin is made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and overlaid with gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf, which was a very popular way to make it look like a piece was made of solid gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ when it wasn’t! There are also lots of beautiful π“„€ inlaid stones π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ𓏦 of many different colors. The stones π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ𓏦 make up the Nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ and the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is wearing! While it is it in the most pristine condition, I like how the wear and tear gives us a look into the different materials that make up the piece!

Obviously, I love this piece because this viscera coffin shows Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! As everyone knows, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my absolute favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ so I always get so excited when I see a unique piece that depicts him! Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the god π“ŠΉ of mummification, burial rites and tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“₯/cemeteries, so it makes sense to have him on a visceral coffin!

There are two 𓏻 words for β€œcoffin” and another for β€œsarcophagus” in Middle Egyptian:
𓅱𓇋𓀾 – Mummiform coffin
π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± – Coffin
π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ – Sarcophagus

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Box

I love ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and so did my Nonno (we have so many pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of them)! During the Ramesside period and onward, due to the increasing number of ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures that people were buried with, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ started putting them in boxes! Like the example in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the Ushabti Boxes were used to hold hundreds of ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Much like sarcophagi, ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ boxes usually look different for different people! Some were only single compartment, but some ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ boxes could have up to three 𓏼 compartments full of the figures! Some were elaborately decorated, but this one is just a plain wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 rectangular box with six 𓏿 columns of hieroglyphic text π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on the front. Unfortunately due to the angle of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I can’t translate the text – but I can see the Offering Formula (π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™) on the first column on the right! I can also see that some of the ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ have a dedication to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ on them!

Usually people were buried with over 400 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 of the figures – one for each day of the year. Fun Fact: the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ had calculated the year to be 365 π“²π“²π“²π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ύ days, and then they revised it to 365.25 days – which is the actual length modern scientists calculated! How incredible is that?!

The ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that you see in this box are worker ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and you can tell because they are holding tools (π“ŒΊ) in their hands 𓂝𓏦! The remaining overseers ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were there to make sure all of the others were doing their work!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Symbolism on Hatshepsut’s Statue

No surprise here, but I am back speaking about the white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! I want to highlight a detail on the side of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ that I have not spoken about yet on this account!

𓋍 – this symbol on the side of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is a combination of many different things! Most prominently, it is thought to be representative of the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯. The lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί are a symbol of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the windpipe π“„₯ was a symbol of Lower Egypt 𓆀. The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was always referred to as the β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ or β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt π“†₯” because Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆀 Egypt, although united, were in fact very different from each other. They each had their own natural resources, cultures and local gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

Just like how the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯ need to work together in order for a person to survive, Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆀 Egypt needed to be unified in order for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– to be a strong country!

The lung π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and windpipe π“„₯ design 𓋍 was usually found on objects that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. In this case, it is on the side of one of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ most beautiful π“„€ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ!

The design 𓋍 also contains elements that look like lilies 𓇕𓇕𓇕 and papyrus 𓇉𓇉𓇉! It’s such a cool design 𓋍 with so much to interpret! I remember being so puzzled by it as a kid when I saw it for the first time!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Stelae

Here are two 𓏻 beautifully π“„€ decorated stelae from the British Museum. Nonno always loved looking at the various stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ in the museums. They were among his favorite artifacts – and he of course passed that love on to me!

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ were often used to commemorate the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and keep their memory alive. That is one of the things I am doing for my Nonno through this account – keeping his memory alive and sharing what an amazing person he was with the world 𓇾𓇾. In addition, I am also keeping his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– alive because in Egyptian culture the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was one of the most important elements of a human. In order to exist, a person needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

On the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ on the left, there is a Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue attached to the top, which was a very popular style during the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 B.C.E.), so I am going to assume that stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is Ptolemaic. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 can also be thought of as an individual’s personality. When a person died, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

I like the combination of the Ba 𓅑𓏀 and the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ because they are connected – the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was meant to commemorate the deceased, while the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was part of their soul. It makes sense for the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ to attach the two 𓏻 together!

I wish I had closer pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of both stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, but it was probably difficult with the glass. On the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ on the left, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. On the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ with the Ba 𓅑𓏀, there is so much happening! I would probably need to make three 𓏼 posts to interpret it all!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amarna Art (Part 1)

One of the reasons I loved the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology so much was because of the amount of pieces from Amarna (the modern name of Akhenaten’s capital of Egypt) that are in the collection! While Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is my second favorite! I seem to like the β€œuntraditional” pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who didn’t play by the rules!

One of the many charms of the Petrie Museum is that most of the pieces aren’t considered striking or grand when you first look at them. This museum is for those who truly appreciate ancient Egyptian culture as a whole, not just the shiny gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ pieces or jewels.

This piece is a quartzite inlay or either Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– or Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­. Quartzite is a very difficult rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ to work with because it is so dense and strong. Quartzite is a metamorphic rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ that is formed when heat and pressure is applied to the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™. A process called recrystallization occurs due to the heat and pressure, which causes the sand grains in the sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ to increase in size and become more dense! As a person who knows her geology, always amazes me when the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ worked with quartzite! Quartzite is usually found in quarries π“Ž›π“π“π“‰π“¦ in Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š–, as is granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ!

Egyptologists can’t tell if the inlay was supposed to be Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– or Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ because they were usually represented very similarly; the style during Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule π“‹Ύ was very different than the traditional Egyptian art styles, which makes it so weird and wonderful in its own way! While this piece itself was an inlay, a stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ was most likely supposed to go in the hole that represents the eye 𓁹𓏀! So this is two 𓏻 inlays in one 𓏺!