Ancient Egypt Blog
This beautiful π€ sculpture is a raised relief of a quail chick π ± hieroglyph πΉπ dates to the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt ππ ππ. This relief shows the full hieroglyph πΉπ in beautiful π€ detail. This style of an object being βunfinished but actually finishedβ was very popular during this time period. Limestone pieces such as these are often referred to as βsculptors modelsβ by Egyptologists because they are very detailed and only show one part of the object.
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! This inscriptionΒ ππ ±πΒ has all words on it that I have taught already!! See if you can read it before looking at the translation!!Β Since the directional hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Also, hieroglyphsΒ πΉππͺΒ are always read starting at the top line of symbols!Β
ππ ππ ππ – Amenemhat I (Birth Name)
ππΉ – Given Life
π³π- Like Ra
π – (For) Eternity
Now, this relief is only partial because some of the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are cut off, but based on the symbols that remain, and the formulaic way that royal titulary was always written, I have a pretty good idea what the line above the cartouche says! Letβs take a look:
π π³ – Son of Ra
πΉπ€ – The Great God
ππΏπΏ – Lord of the Two Lands
Now, before people come at me (it happens every time) for the translation of β πΉπ€ – The Great God,β yes, βπ€β can be translated to βgreat,β βbeautifulβ and βperfect.β Much like in English (and Iβm sure all other languages) in Middle Egyptian, words can have multiple meanings/translations!!! Also, there can be two different words that mean the same thing – βπ» / πΌβ can also be translated to βgreatβ – just like in the word for βpharaoh ππ»,β which literally translates to βGreat House.β
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
Today we are going to look at an inscriptionΒ ππ ±πΒ that is on a relief at the MET! I chose this one because this relief shows the cartouches of a pharaohΒ ππ»Β I havenβt spoken about much – Amenemhat IΒ ππ ππ ππ!Β
Amenemhat IΒ ππ ππ ππ was the first pharaohΒ ππ»Β of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1939-1910 B.C.E.). He was of non-royal birth, and it is unknown how he acquired the throne. It is possible that he was the sameΒ AmenemhatΒ ππ ππ ππ that was the vizierΒ π ·ππΊπΒ to the pharaohΒ ππ»Β Mentuhotep IVΒ π ππΏπ ±π΅ππͺΒ and then took the throne after Mentuhotep IVβsΒ π ππΏπ ±π΅ππͺΒ deathΒ π ππ±.Β
Since the directional hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Once again, some of these words (especially the titles) I have taught before and you may recognize!
π π³ – Son of Ra
ππ ππ ππ – Amenemhat (Birth Name)
ππΉ – Given Life
π₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt or He of the Sedge and the Bee
π³π΄π΅ππͺπ£ – Sehotepibra (Throne Name)
ππΉ – Given Life
The name ππ Amenemhat ππ ππ ππ translates to βAmun is in the Frontβ -letβs break this down too:
ππ π – Amun
π – in
ππ – Front/Foremost
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! Today we are going to combine two words/phrases we have already learned! Here we see an inscription with the symbols βπππππΉπ¨π.β This translates to βWords spoken by ππππ OsirisΒ πΉπ¨π.βΒ ππππβ is usually followed by the name ππ of a god πΉ or goddess πΉπ in inscriptions!Β
The βcobra πβ is a uniliteral phonogram, so it is a symbol that represents just one consonant. It represents the sound βαΈβ which would almost sound like a βjβ when pronounced.
The βstaff or walking stick πβ functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word β staff ππΊβ). π is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound βmdw.β
The βripple of water πβ is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The βπβ is associated with the sound of βn!β
The βreed πβ is a uniliteral phonogram for βΔ±Ν,β however it can also function as an ideogram for the word βreed ππΊ.β
The βeye πΉβ is a biliteral phonogram for the sound βjr.β The βeye πΉβ can also function as an ideogram for βeye πΉπΊβ and also as a determinative.
The βπ¨ seatβ is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound βst.β It can also be used as an ideogram for the words seat/place.
The βseated god πβ is a determinative symbol and isnβt pronounced! It acts as βpunctuationβ at the end of the name of a male god!
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! 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: π³π π£. This is a great cartouche to be able to recognize, because I see it more than his birth name cartouche!
Letβs break down each of the symbols!
The βπ³ sun discβ symbol is an ideogram for βraβ or βre,β 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 βraβ or βre.β
The βπ game board and piecesβ is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The β π β is associated with the sound βmnβ which could be pronounced like βmen,β βmun,β βmon,β etc.
The βscarab beetle π£β is a phonogram sign. It is a triliteral sign, which means it represents three consonants. The βπ£β is associated with the sound βαΈ«prβ which could have been pronounced like βkheper.β The β scarab beetle π£β is also both an ideogram and determinative for the word βscarab beetle ππͺπππ£.β
So all together, the Throne Name cartouche of Thutmosis III π³π π£ would be pronounced like βMenkheperra.β
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
Today we are going to look at the word for βGods πΉπΉπΉ.β Just for some review, this is the word for βGod πΉ.βΒ
The βcloth on a pole πΉβ symbol is an ideogram for the word god. πΉ is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters βntrβ which may have been pronounced like βneter.β πΉ Is also a determinative for βgod.β So the βcloth on a pole πΉβ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs πΉππͺ. If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods πΉπΉπΉ!
Gods can be written as πΉπΉπΉ or πΉπͺ, 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 π» people – that is why the Egyptians use π¦, πͺ, or repeating the symbol three πΌ times to pluralize words! In ancient Egypt ππ ππ, two π» was singular, and three πΌ was plural!
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
Today we are going to look at the word for βEternity – ππ³π.β Eternity ππ³π was a concept central to ancient Egyptian ππππ religion and culture.
There are two common ways to write βEternityβ – ππ³π and π. The words for eternity (π & ππ³π) appear frequently in so many inscriptions πππ₯ – 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 βπ,β so today we are going to focus on βππ³π.β
The symbol βπ – wickβ is a uniliteral phonogram which means that it only represents one sound. The sound that it represents is βαΈ₯.β
The symbol βπ³ – sunβ is usually seen as an ideogram for βRa.β The symbol βπ³ – sunβ can also be a determinative for sun, day, and time.
Since βeternityβ is technically a measure of time, the proper way to write the word for eternity would be βπππ³,β with the sun disc acting as the determinative. However, ππ³π is more aesthetically pleasing, so that is how the word is written. Technically, ππ³π would be pronounced like βαΈ₯αΈ₯.β
This is another closeup image ππ ±π from Imhotep’s ππ π΅ππͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. While this image ππ ±π is not part of an inscription πππ₯, this is my favorite hieroglyph πΉπ; Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ on top of a shrine πππ ππ!Β
As many of you know, Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is my favorite Egyptian god πΉ and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ in any form of Egyptian art!
There are two π» variations of this particular hieroglyph πΉπ: π£ and π€. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions πππ₯.
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs πΉππͺ:
πππͺπ ±π’
πππͺπ ±π£ or πππͺπ ±π€
πππͺπ£ or πππͺπ€
π£ or π€
π’
Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions πππ₯. This is not all of the variations of the name ππ, but the ones you will see the most!
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god πΉ that is associated with themes surrounding death π ππ± (mummification, places of burial).
While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is πππ ππ, shrines associated with Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ was called π±πΉ, or the βGodβs Booth.β
One of Anubisβ πππͺπ ±π£ titles that commonly appears after his name ππ in hieroglyphs πΉππͺ is: π πΉπ± or βIn front at the Godβs Booth.β
Here is a βLarge Seated Statue of Hatshepsutβ that is dated to the early 18th Dynasty (c.Β 1479β1458 B.C.E.), and most likely the joint reign of Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ and Thutmosis IIIΒ π³π π£.Β
Even though Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ is βportraying herself as a maleβ (as described by some historians), she is actually portraying herself as the pharaohΒ ππ»!
She is wearing the nemes headdressΒ ππ π΄Β and a broad collarΒ π ±π΄ππΊπΒ (necklace worn by royalty/the gods πΉπΉπΉ). Some of the paintΒ π¨ππ ±ππΈπ¦Β is actually still visible on the broad collarΒ π ±π΄ππΊπ! The face on this statue is completely destroyed, and this was definitely done on purpose.Β
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
π ππ³ – Daughter of Ra
πππ‘ππ – Bodily/Of Her Body
(ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ) – Hatshepsutβs cartouche (birth name)
π»π – Beloved
πΉππ – She Live Forever
Put together, the inscription ππ ±π reads: βBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved, May She Live Forever.β Some of the inscription ππ ±π is missing, so this is what I could see!
Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman πππππ – itβs in the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! If she called herself the βSon of Raβ the inscription would look like βπ π³β instead of βπ ππ³. β The word for βbodily πππ‘ππβ is also feminized, and would be written as βπππ‘πβ if it was referencing a male.
Just some beautifully π€ painted hieroglyphs πΉππͺ from the Brooklyn Museum to brighten your day πππΊπ³! On the right side, you can even make out the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ for Osiris πΉπ¨π!
The rest of it is unreadable because itβs incomplete. I just love this relief because of the bright colors – it really stood out in the galleries because of the paint. Itβs amazing how the paint still looks so beautiful π€ even after thousands of years!
My first thought when I saw this was β π€πππ ±πππβ or βhow beautiful this is.β