Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Gold Statuette of Amun

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 10, 2022

This gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 statuette 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is so beautiful 𓄤 to see in person! In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks large but it is only about 7 inches (~18cm) tall! This statue is dated to the 22nd Dynasty (c. 945–712 B.C.E.). While the artistic features of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 definitely reflect this Third Intermediate Period, there are some callbacks to the 18th Dynasty artistic styles (the facial features in particular).

This solid gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a very rare example of the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 that filled the sanctuaries of the temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐. There is a trace of a loop on Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 crown, which means that this statuette 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 could have been worn by a priest 𓊹𓍛 or by another statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. Or, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 could have been mounted on top of a scepter or standard. The exact use is speculation right now! The color of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was often associated with the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶, and the skin of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 were thought to be made of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉.

Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is depicted with his flat topped crown, with the characteristic feathers 𓆄𓆄𓆄 having been lost in antiquity. He is wearing the false beard, and is carrying the Ankh 𓋹, a symbol of life 𓋹𓈖𓐍, in his hand. In the other hand he carries a scimitar 𓌛𓏺, which in temple reliefs, Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is usually seen presenting to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. This gift of a scimitar 𓌛𓏺 is usually meant to ensure military victories!

The god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 gained popularity during the Middle Kingdom, however, it was during the New Kingdom (18th Dynasty in particular) that Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 became the most important/most prominent god 𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 had many different roles and was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a creator god, solar god, fertility god, warrior god, and king of the gods. Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is also considered the “universal god” meaning that his power permeated the cosmos and all that the cosmos contained!

Tags amun, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stelae – “Cippus”

These pieces are known as Magical Stelae, or a Cippus.

The Cippus depicts Horus 𓅃𓀭 (or technically Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭, the Greek version of Horus 𓅃𓀭) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏥 and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and scorpions 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫𓏪 in each hand. The god 𓊹 Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 also appears above Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 head 𓁶𓏺. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 was known to ward off evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨 and bad luck.

Normally, stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 were used to commemorate the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 so a Cippus is almost like a protective amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the form of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. This Cippus was used by the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was called upon as a defender against snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 or scorpion 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 bites. Placing the Cippus on a wound would evoke its magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 and healing powers. Cippus stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏦 due to their protective nature.

Cippus pieces have also been found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 , but the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 too.

One thing I love about this display at the Louvre is now all of the Cippus pieces are together 𓈖𓊗 in one single case! I also think the one in the middle, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 holding a Cippus is very unique; this was the first time I saw a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 like that!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

Boat of Mutemwia

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 4, 2022

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dedicated to Mutemwia 𓏏𓅐𓅓𓊞 who was a minor wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 and mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠.

This statue was originally meant to show Mutemwia 𓏏𓅐𓅓𓊞 on a sacred boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞(her body has been broken off). The boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 has the goddess Hathor 𓉡 on the front. The sides of the boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 are inscribed with the name and titles of Mutemwia 𓏏𓅐𓅓𓊞 along with a carving of the Wedjat 𓂀. Cartouches showing the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of Mutemwia 𓏏𓅐𓅓𓊞 and Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 are also inscribed on the boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞.

Mutemwia 𓏏𓅐𓅓𓊞 held many titles such as the “Great King’s Wife His Beloved 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞𓅩𓂋𓏏𓈘𓆑,” “Lady of the Two Lands 𓎛𓏌𓏏𓇿𓇿,” “God’s Mother 𓊹𓅐,” and “King’s Mother 𓇓𓅐.” The latter two titles mean the same thing – since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠) was a god 𓊹 on Earth 𓇾𓇾.

Something interesting though that these titles listed above were only used after the death of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼. It seems that Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 elevated his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 status when he became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. In the Luxor Temple, Mutemwia 𓏏𓅐𓅓𓊞 is depicted in the reliefs of the divine birth of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 – and these reliefs are almost an exact copy of the ones from the divine birth of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐.

The boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 is made of the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 granodiorite, which is an igneous (volcanic) rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 that is kind of the mix of both granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 and diorite. Granodiorite is an intrusive rock, meaning it formed underground, which also makes it a very strong and durable piece of material!

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum, geology, thutmosis iv

Egyptian Artifacts

Large Scarab at the British Museum

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 3, 2022
1 Comment on Large Scarab at the British Museum

This is definitely the largest scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 that I have ever seen! I was shocked when I saw just how big it was in the British Museum! I have honestly never seen anything like it in any of the other museums I have visited!

This scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 represented Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭 the god 𓊹 that was associated with the “rising of the sun 𓅃𓈌𓏏𓏭𓀭” (these hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 translate to “sun at dawn”) and thus he is associated with life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and rebirth. Scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 were extremely popular as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, and were considered to have the strongest 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 powers.

The “scarab beetle 𓆣” hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 symbol is a determinative, ideogram and phonogram symbol! It is associated with the sound ḫpr (like “Kheper”) is also used to write the words “evolve,” “manifestation,” and “become.”

From a geologic perspective, this scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is made of the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 diorite. Diorite is an intrusive igneous rock (meaning it forms underground from the solidification of magma). Diorite is an extremely durable rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 (one of the strongest found on Earth 𓇾𓇾), and is comparable to granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 in terms of strength and method of formation.

However, diorite usually doesn’t contain a lot quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, a very strong 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 mineral which is abundant in granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿, hence the difference between the two 𓏻 rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦. One of the reasons why this scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is so well preserved, is probably due to the strength of the diorite! Diorite, like granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿, was usually mined by the Egyptians in Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓌕𓊖

As you all know, ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is one of my biggest passions, however I actually have degrees in Earth and Environmental science! I love combining my passions for Egyptian history and geology together 𓈖𓊗!

Tags artifact, british museum, geology, gods and goddesses, khepri, scarab

Egyptian Artifacts

Canopic Jar Lid Found in Senemut’s Tomb

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 25, 2022

This very simple and unassuming lid of a canopic jar was found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 (can also be written without a determinative 𓌢𓈖𓅐). Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 rose to become the most important official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 during Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 reign and held over 80 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 different titles.

Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was referred to as a “High Steward 𓄂𓂝𓀀 (literally translated as “arm is in front”), which meant he was much more than just an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 in Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 government. In a lot of inscriptions, Senemut is sometimes simply referred to as an overseer 𓄓𓉐𓏤, since that seems to summarize his various roles. As the Chief Royal Architect, Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 supervised all of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 building projects, including at least one of her massive obelisks 𓉶𓉶𓉶.

Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was also the tutor for Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, which is how he is depicted in statuary 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 a lot of the time. Some other common titles include Steward of Amun, Chief Steward of the King, Overseer of the Treasury, Granary, Fields, Cattle of Amun, a Controller of Works, and so many more! I guess Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was a workaholic!

Back to the canopic jar lid – it is actually debated l if this lid represents Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 or not! Based on other statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, I personally think that the canopic jar lid is in Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 likeness, however, that is just my inference/personal opinion. The lid is dated to the joint reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.), however, based on what I have read the actual date this piece was made seems to be debated, even though it was found in Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐.

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, senemut, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ointment Jars from Deir el-Bahri

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 23, 2022

These ointment jars were found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐!

These ointment jars that were found are made of travertine and many have hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 on them! Many of the jars found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 contain oil stains, which means that they were probably used primarily to hold oil that was used in ceremonies at the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. You can also see a blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, which were very common to find in foundation deposits too!

I love seeing the artifacts from the foundation deposits because they give a glimpse into cool things such as temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 construction and religious worship! The artifacts found in foundation deposits also contain the cartouches of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 under whom the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was constructed under!

One of the ointment jars has some simple text on it! Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓏏𓄤 – The Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
𓋹𓍘 – May She Live!

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut as Female King

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 23, 2022

I seem to always talk about the white limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 because it’s my favorite, but I never seem to discuss the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 or “Hatshepsut as Female King.” This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is my second 𓏌𓏻 favorite!

The most striking aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so she would be forgotten from history. Many blame Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 for this, but actually any motivation behind this deliberate destruction of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is unknown and mostly speculation.

It’s very difficult to read the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this statue, but you can make out that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is using the female version of titles, and referring to herself as a woman!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓄤𓊹𓏏 – Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare

Something interesting about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (that cannot be seen in my pictures) is that Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, the goddess 𓊹𓏏 that protects 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 in childbirth (and women/children in general), is actually carved into the back of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! This is the only deity 𓊹 that is overtly carved into Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary so this allows Egyptologists to infer that the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was probably meant to belong in the Hathor 𓉡 shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, and was probably used in cult worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢. It’s interesting that a goddess 𓊹𓏏 specifically aimed towards women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 was chosen to be carved!

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut at the MET!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 19, 2022

Happy 600 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 (on Instagram at least)!!

I am so thankful for everyone who reads my posts and follows this account. Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 for helping me to keep my Nonno’s name 𓂋𓈖 and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 alive! That is my main reason for starting this account/website, and I just want to share everything he taught me with the world.

Today I 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 wanted to post something special, so here I am with the two 𓏻 best preserved statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 we have of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! These are also my two 𓏻 favorite statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 from Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! I always seem to celebrate this milestones with my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, because these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 mean the absolute world to me!

While they look different and are made of different materials, these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are similar to each other in the way that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is portrayed in female dress, but also with the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth to show that she is in fact the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the inscriptions on both statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 use the female versions of words when referencing her. For example, “Lady 𓎟𓏏” is used instead of “Lord 𓎟.”

Both of these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were found during excavations at Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. This gallery at the MET, which houses these striking statues, has always been my favorite room in any museum. I’m so thankful my Nonno taught me about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and for all of the memories we have in this gallery looking at her statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 together 𓈖𓊗. Seeing these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 as a child 𓐍𓇌𓀔 helped to ignite my love for studying Egyptian history.

As a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀔, seeing a woman portrayed so beautifully 𓄤 and so strong was incredibly inspiring. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 has been my idol and inspiration since I was a small child 𓐍𓇌𓀔, and my Nonno even said to me “Why be the queen when you can be the king,” and that is something I try to live by!

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

White Cross-Lined Ware Pottery with Crocodiles

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 19, 2022

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to travel all the way back to predynastic Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 (c. 3650-3500 B.C.E.)! More specifically, this piece is dated to the Naqada II Period (also known as the Gerzean Period), which is a period of accelerated development in art and culture. This time period is when more elaborate pottery began to appear and people started to get buried in larger and more elaborate tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪! This was all before the first 𓏃 writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 even appeared, which was during Naqada III (3200-3000 B.C.E.).

This piece of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 is commonly referred to as “white cross-lined ware” by archaeologists. Flinders Petrie, the first Egyptologist to try and date predynastic pottery, described white cross-lined ware pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 as being a reddish-brown or dark red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 color that was decorated with white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 or geometric drawings. White cross-lined ware pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 is usually only found in Upper Egypt 𓇓, near Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and Naqada.

I absolutely love this piece of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 because beautifully 𓄤 drawn crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 that are on it! Much like the hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯, the crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 is one of the animals that appears frequently in early Egyptian imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 probably because the people of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 needed to always be on their guard in regards to crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 since they could come out of the water 𓈗 and on to the banks of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺!

Even as ancient Egyptian culture evolved, Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 due to their strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and power. While crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 were the feared animals along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of them could offer protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, such as in the form of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 which evolved much later.

Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋, the god 𓊹 was both feared and revered due to him being a crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌! He was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in order to ensure the fertility of both people and crops, but also to protect against crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 attacks. Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 was one of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that was named in the Pyramid Texts, which makes him one of the oldest deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon, however, this piece of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 is still older than Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋!

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Harpokrates

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 19, 2022

While a lot of the same themes and ideas persisted through the Egyptian religion for thousands of years, changes and evolution did occur from time to time! One of the ways those changes showed up were in the evolution of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏. In both classical Egyptian and Graeco-Roman times, Horus 𓅃𓀭, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 were very popular deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, however, their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 and roles did evolve. For example, Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was replaced/referred to as Serapis 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 by the Ptolemies. Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the ways that Horus evolved 𓅃𓀭!

In this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is represented in his Greek form Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 (or Harpocrates), with his trademarked “finger to lips” pose. This pose represents the “be quiet” gesture because to the Greeks, Harpokrates was the god 𓊹 of silence. In the Hellenistic world, Harpokrates could also be the god 𓊹 of secrets, confidentiality, and even the embodiment of hope!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 is actually a Greek adaptation of the Egyptian “Heru-pa-khered” or “Heru-pa-khart” which translates to “Horus the Child” or “Horus the Younger.” This name 𓂋𓈖 makes sense when you look at the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, because Horus 𓅃𓀭/Harpokrates is represented as a child! Also, the determinative hieroglyph (last symbol in the phrase) for the word child “𓐍𓇌𓀔/𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔” shows a seated boy with his hand to his mouth, which is where the idea for the representation of Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 is thought to have originated from!

Here is a breakdown of Harpokrates’ name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:
𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 – Harpokrates

𓅃𓀭 -Heru
𓅮𓄿 – pa
𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 – khered/khart

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

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