Month: July 2022

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken by Osiris”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to combine two words/phrases we have already learned! Here we see an inscription with the symbols β€œπ“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.” This translates to β€œWords spoken by π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– OsirisΒ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.β€Β π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–β€ is usually followed by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a god π“ŠΉ or goddess π“ŠΉπ“ in inscriptions!Β 

The β€œcobra 𓆓” is a uniliteral phonogram, so it is a symbol that represents just one consonant. It represents the sound β€œαΈβ€ which would almost sound like a β€œj” when pronounced. 

The β€œstaff or walking stick π“Œƒβ€ functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word β€œ staff π“Œƒπ“Ίβ€). π“Œƒ is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound β€œmdw.”

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

The β€œreed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The β€œeye 𓁹” is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œjr.” The β€œeye 𓁹” can also function as an ideogram for β€œeye 𓁹𓏺” and also as a determinative. 

The β€œπ“Š¨ seat” is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound β€œst.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the words seat/place. 

The β€œseated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as β€œpunctuation” at the end of the name of a male god! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Nehebukau

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ is an Egyptian snake god π“ŠΉ whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œhe who harnesses the spirits” and was he considered to be a helpful deity! Β Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ is usually depicted as a snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 with human legs, and as a kid I always got a kick out of this!!Β 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was a very popular god π“ŠΉ to see represented on amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ worn by the living (especially New Kingdom and later) because amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ were thought to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the wearer from snake π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†™ bites! 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was thought to be the god π“ŠΉ that announced the new pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to the other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ at the beginning of his/her rule π“‹Ύ.  When the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» died, it was Nehebukau’s π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ job to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and feed the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» or other deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 person. The drink that the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 would be fed was called β€œThe Milk of Light,” and it would protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against bites from poisonous animals. Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was one of the forty-two gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ who helped judge the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 in the Hall of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦. 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ had no cult or priesthood associated with him because most would use magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ spells π“Ž›π“‚“𓏛𓏦 to invoke his protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ.  

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Thutmosis III – Menkheperra

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to look at one of the many cartouches of Thutmosis III!Β 

Like many pharaohs, Thutmosis III had many different cartouches, and then different variants of those cartouches! Today we are going to be looking more closely at the cartouche of his Throne Name: π“‡³π“ π“†£. This is a great cartouche to be able to recognize, because I see it more than his birth name cartouche! 

Let’s break down each of the symbols! 

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“  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€œscarab beetle 𓆣” is a phonogram sign. It is a triliteral sign, which means it represents three consonants. The β€œπ“†£β€ is associated with the sound β€œαΈ«pr” which could have been pronounced like β€œkheper.” The β€œ scarab beetle 𓆣” is also both an ideogram and determinative for the word β€œscarab beetle π“π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣.” 

So all together, the Throne Name cartouche of Thutmosis III π“‡³π“ π“†£ would be pronounced like β€œMenkheperra.”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Osiris Statues at the Museo Egizio

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was taken by my Nonno at the Museo Egizio! While I have never been to the Museo Egizio, my Nonno always spoke so highly of the museum; he absolutely loved it there! He always brought me back books whenever he went! I always got an English and Italian version so I could practice my Italian too!Β 

These are three bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are dated to the Late Period. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ Is typically depicted as a mummy π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύ wearing the Atef crown π“‹š and holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flailπ“Œ… . The crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… are symbols associated with kingship. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are highly abundant and have been associated with worship π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ in homes and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ but have of course been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ. 

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion.  This is because Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the ruler of the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.  The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ after the Weighing of the Heart ceremony; but only if their heart was in balance! 

When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Frog Amulet

How cute is this frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amuletΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†?!?!

Frog Amulet at the MET

In ancient Egyptian religion and culture, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were thought to have magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ powers and bestow them upon its wearer. Β Worn by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, different amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ served various religious and protective functions. To understand the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulet’sΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†Β function we need to understand the significance of the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† in ancient Egyptian religion and culture!Β 

Scientifically speaking, frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ would appear after the flooding of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, so they were associated with life π“‹Ή/the regenerative qualities of water π“ˆ—. Not only is water π“ˆ— necessary for humans to consume, but also for irrigating land for agriculture. 

The frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† is also associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† who is represented as a woman with a frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† head. Also, the frog determinative 𓆏 appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– so she was clearly associated with frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦. Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of birth and rebirth. She also protected π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ during the childbirth process. 

Frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were worn by women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ for both protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ during childbirth and for an easy childbirth. Frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were also found on mummies π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύπ“ͺ of both men π“Šƒπ“€€π“ͺ and women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, with the purpose that the amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† would help them with a successful rebirth in the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. 

Categories
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! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Sobekhotep

This is the stelaΒ π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰ΈΒ of a man named Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ who was a scribe that worked at a wine cellar! This stelaΒ π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰ΈΒ is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and the reign of Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β (c. 1390-1352 B.C.E.).Β This stela is at the British museum.

The stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸 is divided into three 𓏼 different sections. On the top, Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 are worshipping Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (right) and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 (left). Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 have their arms raised, which is how it is interpreted that they are worshipping π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ those gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are the two 𓏻 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are generally worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ on funerary stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸π“ͺ because they are the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ most associated with death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. 

In the middle section, Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 and one daughter 𓅭𓏏 are receiving offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 presented by four 𓏽 of their sons π“…­π“¦. More sons π“…­π“¦ and daughters π“…­π“π“¦ appear in the scene on the bottom of the stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸. The family π“…•π“‰”𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ life π“‹Ή and culture, as was religion, which is why funerary stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸π“ͺ usually represented both. 

As a side note, I really love Sobekhotep’s π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

𓆋 – Sobek

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Hotep (peace, satisfied, etc)

So the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can be translated to β€œSobek is satisfied.” Can you find Sobekhotep’s π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on the stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸? (Hint: the name usually appears next to the person)!!

Categories
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₯.” 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis – drawing, hieroglyph or both?

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. While this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 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 π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰!Β 

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 π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. 

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 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃀

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃀

𓃣 or 𓃀

𓁒

Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. This is not all of the variations of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but the ones you will see the most! 

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, places of burial). 

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.” 

Categories
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.