Month: August 2022

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Hieroglyphs and Korean!

So something you might have guessed about me is that I love to learn!! Something else about me is that when I like something – I really REALLY like it and need to learn everything about it. I’m very passionate and enthusiastic about my hobbies and interests. My normally stoic/cold exterior completely changes when I’m talking about stuff I love! My Nonno always got similarly excited when speaking about topics he loved.

One of the things I’m learning right now is Korean! I already speak English, Italian, and can read/write hieroglyphs (I would’ve failed as a scribe because I am awful at drawing the symbols – I’m kinda embarrassed to post my “handwriting” 😂) – so why do I want to learn Korean? It’s because of BTS!! I love their music and want to be able to understand it instead of reading translations!

One thing I noticed when I was learning the Korean alphabet (called Hangeul 한글) was that my name (Nicole) is written “similarly” in both hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and 한글!!!

𓈖𓇋𓎡𓍯𓃭
니콜

Now, obviously they don’t look similar at all but both are written as “Nikol” in romanized letters! When I was a kid I was insistent that my name in hieroglyphs be written as 𓈖𓇋𓎡𓍯𓃭𓇌 so it would match the English as much as possible – I was stubborn and didn’t care about phonetics.

Learning Korean has been so fun and so interesting (and very difficult) because it is so different from the other languages I know, however, I did like this similarity between hieroglyphs and Korean! It seems like I relate everything back to ancient Egypt in one way or another!

If you read this, 감사합니다!!!! (gam-sa-hab-ni-da AKA Thank You)!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

This is the large granite statue of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 in comparison to me! This statue is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous to look at! Hateshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 really does look regal in it!

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, because I don’t think I have ever discussed it much on this page: Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the only child of her father, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 Ahmose.

After the death of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 married her half brother, Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 lesser wives.

Thutmosis II died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child, so Hatsheput 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Temple of Dendur

The room at the MET that houses the Temple of Dendur doesn’t feel like a gallery in a museum – it feels like you are in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. This is one of my absolute favorite places. I could literally just sit in this place for hours just taking in the atmosphere – sometimes just existing and taking in a place without rushing around or having a plan is the best.

The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was actually commissioned by Augustus and building was complete by 10 B.C. Dendur is located in Nubia, and is just south of Aswan. Even though the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was built by Augustus, it definitely follows Egyptian style and not Roman style. The emperor is actually presented as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 worshipping Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on the walls of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was primarily used to worship the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This large granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is not in the “Hatshepsut Gallery” (as I like to call it) at the MET – in fact, she is right next to the Temple of Dendur! I find it an interesting placement in the museum because the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 and the Sphinx are from two very different time periods in Egyptian history. The temple of Dendur was built by Augustus while Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 ruled during the New Kingdom.

The Sphinx was one of six large sphinxes that would line her temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. It is made of granite, which was mined at Aswan and then transported ~500 miles up the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Granite is a super dense rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 so this was no easy task!

This is a large and absolutely beautiful 𓄤 piece in real life. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the false beard – typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis I

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (or 𓅝𓄟𓋴) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. His name 𓅝𓄟𓋴 means “Born of Thoth.” Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

This statue is in the British Museum! I dream of going back to the British Museum one day – I was lucky enough to be able to go there twice on my trip to London, and even luckier that I got to explore the museum with my Nonno💜.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Column of Rameses II

From Nonno’s point of view!!

He took a picture of me taking a picture while we were in the British Museum 😂 – I love it!!

Anyway, this is a red granite column that was originally inscribed for Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓! Both of his cartouches can be seen throughout -(𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) and (𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖). Also his titles such as “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” and “Lord of Appearances 𓎟𓈍𓏥” can be seen on top of his cartouches.

This column was definitely usurped by another pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at some point because some of the cartouches on this column don’t belong to Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖!

In the bottom of this picture you can see the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 for “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” very clearly!

I have always loved seeing the columns in museums because you can get a sense of the grand scale of the Egyptian monuments. Since I have never been to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, it’s nice to see just how grand their building was! I love the design of this column; the top looks like a flower 𓆸!

Cartouche for Rameses II (𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓).
Another side of the column!
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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III

Not going to lie, I have had a love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 my whole life 😂 – I know that sounds weird to say about a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who I clearly have never met, but it’s the only way I can describe it!! This piece is in the MET, and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are inscribed so beautifully on it! Definitely very eye-catching!

When I first started learning about Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 as a kid, I was (and still am!) so completely fascinated by her and how she became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Since Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a child when Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 died, Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 became the co-regent, until she named herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and pretty much “took the throne.” Since females were never in line for the throne, even though Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was the daughter of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his main queen 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞, she was never in line to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

So why my love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Well, for the longest time it was thought that after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, when he relcaimed the throne, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 had Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 monuments destroyed and her name erased from as many things as possible. Did he actually do this? Scholars aren’t sure it happened to the extent that it was once thought. But I don’t think we will ever have an answer.

What were some of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 accomplishments? He was a great military leader and conquered all of Syria. This is in great contrast to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, who focused more on trade and economic endeavors than military campaigns.

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Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum King’s List

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List.

There are two surviving King Lists from temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. One temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos, while Rameses II’s 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, Smenkhare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣, Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this picture, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name should be, but is missing due to the fact that she was purposefully left off the list!

You can see Thutmosis III’s the one name 𓇳𓏠𓆣, and then I’m pointing to the space next to his name. Why next to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Even though Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was technically named as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 first, and since he was too young to rule (he came to the throne at as young as two years old according to some historians), Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was his co-regent until she named herself the sole pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Here is a closer look at the King’s List – how stunning are these hieroglyphs?! I’m always so amazed that even after thousands of years, the colors on the monuments are still there!

On the left hand side, you can see the inscription 𓆥(𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖). This is his prenomen, or Throne Name:

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt
𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre Setepenre, which means Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Chosen by Ra.

Next to that inscription, you can see the following: 𓅭𓇳 (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃).

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – Rameses, Beloved of Amun.

Here’s an even further breakdown of Rameses II’s Nomen:
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘 – Beloved of Amun
𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – can be translated multiple ways “Born of Ra,” “Ra bore him,” etc.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Thoth

This is a limestone relief of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅤𓀭 at the Vatican Museum! While Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was always my second favorite because he was the god 𓊹 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 and writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥! Since I love hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was always a figure that I found fascinating!

Here are some fun facts about Thoth!
-“Thoth” is actually his Greek name – in Egyptian his name is “Djehuty”

-While Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is mainly known as being the patron of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 and the god 𓊹 of writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥/creator of language, he is also considered the god 𓊹 of the sciences and the moon!

-He is credited with inventing the calendar and controlling space and time!

-Thoth 𓅤𓀭 has also provided guidance to the other gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and can also be associated with truth and justice.

-Since Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was the god 𓊹 of the moon, he replaced Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 in the sky at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛.

-He can be represented as an Ibis𓅞, as a human body with an Ibis head𓁟, or as a baboon𓃻!

-He was the bookkeeper at the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bastet vs. Sekhmet

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows bronze statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of the beloved 𓌻𓂋𓇌 Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐. Here are some fun facts about Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐!!

The goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 were both depicted as cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪, however, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 usually had the body of a woman while Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 usually had the body of a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠.

However, when Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was depicted with the body of a woman, she was usually holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 in one hand! Since Hathor 𓉡 was usually seen with sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪, this shows a link between the two 𓏻 goddesses!

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 were believed to be the two unpredictable personalities of the same goddess 𓊹𓏏. While Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 represented the destructive and unpredictable side, Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was the gentler and calmer side.

Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of pregnancy and childbirth and was considered to be the protective form of the goddess 𓊹𓏏.

Bastet’s 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 father was Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! Which is why her alter ego Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 can be associated with the sun.