Tag: hieroglyph lessons

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to look at the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓!

It always felt like my Nonno took pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏪 of everything in museums – I definitely learned from the best! I’m so happy that the two 𓏻 of us did take pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏪 of everything because all of the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏪 you see on this account were either taken by me, Nonno, or sometimes another family member! Even though the glass in front of the artifacts can cause a glare and make it more difficult to take a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m thankful for it now because you can see my Nonno’s reflection! 

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 with the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of Rameses II on it. 

Cartouches of Rameses II
Cartouches of Rameses II on a calcite vase at the Louvre.

We are going to start with the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the right! This is the throne name of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖, which is preceded by the normal royal title! 

𓎟 – Lord 

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name 𓂋𓈖 more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Now let’s look at the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the right! This is the birth name of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 which is also preceded by the normal royal title! 

𓎟 – Lord 

𓈍𓏥 – Appearances 

𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Ramessu mery Amun

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Ramessu mery Amun 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓” translates to “Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun.” The name 𓂋𓈖 could also be translated as “Ra Bore Him.” Let’s look at the name 𓂋𓈖 more closely:

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

𓈘 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

Rameses II’s birth name cartouche has many variants and can also be written like this: 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓. Certain symbols can be substituted for each other because 𓇋𓏠𓈖 and 𓁩 both mean Amun 𓁜 and 𓇳𓏺 both mean Ra. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at an incomplete piece of a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief! This piece at the Brooklyn Museum is so beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 because even though it is just a fragment, the colors are so striking and I just love looking at it! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 has always been my favorite color, and the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on this relief is still so bright even after thousands of years! 

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs
Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs at the Brooklyn Museum

Since the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the left, we are going to start reading the symbols from the left! 

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is a super common symbol that you will see in a lot of inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram sign, which means it has the sound of a single consonant. The “𓅱” is representative of the sound “w” or “u.” This symbol is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram! The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” The “𓈖” has many grammatical functions on its own, and it can mean “to,” “of,” “for,” “we/us/our,” “in,” “because,” “through,” and some others! How do we know which word it is? Context clues! In the case of this inscription, too much is missing for us to know what the word is! 

The “tall loaf of bread 𓏑” symbol is an ideogram for “bread 𓏑,” which usually appears in offering formulas. Surprisingly, it can also be used as an ideogram for “Thoth” as well! 

The “hobble for cattle 𓎂” symbol is a biliteral phonogram which means it is associated with the sound of two consonants. The “𓎂” is associated with the sound “z3” (pronounced like “zah”) and is usually used in words such as “protection 𓎂𓏦/𓎂𓏛” and other related phrases.

The “forepart of lion 𓄂” symbol is an ideogram for the word “front” and “foremost.” It is associated with the sound “h3t” which would be pronounced like “hat.” 

The last word all the way on the right I can actually see in full – this is the name 𓂋𓈖of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Acquaintance, Knowledge, and more in Hieroglyphs!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at an interesting word (𓂋𓐍𓏏 – rḫt) that has many meanings depending on its determinative hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! The determinative symbol is the last symbol in a word 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁 that helps to summarize the meaning of the whole word 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁! 

Acquaintance, Number, and more in Hieroglyphs!
𓂋𓐍𓏏 on a relief at the MET

In the context of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, this word 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁 means “acquaintance 𓂋𓐍𓏏” and the full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is the title of “King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏.” In the title, the determinative in the word “acquaintance” is not written! Usually, when you see 𓂋𓐍𓏏 on its own without a determinative, it means “list 𓂋𓐍𓏏.” 

However, just like any language, simple small words can act as the root of bigger words or phrases! Pay attention to the determinatives at the end of some of these words and how they can relate to each other in some way! Let’s take a look at some of them: 

𓂋𓐍𓏏 – List

𓂋𓐍𓏏𓂝 – To Wash Clothes

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance (Title)

𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏛 – Female Friend, Female Acquaintance

𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏛 – Knowledge, Number, Amount 

𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏦 – Knowledge, Number, Amount, List (notice how this version has two determinatives – the “𓏦” is making it plural)

𓂋𓐍𓏏𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏜 – The Wise

𓂋𓐍𓏏𓎟𓏏 – More, Most

Let’s breakdown the symbols:

The “mouth 𓂋” symbol functions most commonly as a uniliteral phonogram and is used to represent the sound “r.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

The “placenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “ḫ.” This symbol is actually considered “unclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine when placed at the end of the word! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut

@ancientegyptblog

Here’s a video on the Maned Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! (𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare 𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun 𓌺𓏏𓇌 – Beloved 𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given 𓆖 – Eternity (Forever) “Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.” I know this is strange, but “Given Life” is written backwards! It should be “𓏙𓋹” not “𓋹𓏙” as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left). There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #ancientegyptblog #egyptology #hieroglyphics #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #egitto #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #hieroglyphs #anticoegitto #egyptologist #hatshepsut #sphinx

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

Here’s a video on the Maned Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌺𓏏𓇌 – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given

𓆖 – Eternity (Forever)

“Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.”

I know this is strange, but “Given Life” is written backwards! It should be “𓏙𓋹” not “𓋹𓏙” as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left). 

There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Djed Pillar

The “Djed Pillar 𓊽” is one of the most common symbols seen in Egyptian art and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This particular Djed Pillar 𓊽 is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 is in the Predynastic Period!

Djed Pillar

The Djed Pillar 𓊽 can be seen in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 as a hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃, as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 for mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 or the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪,  in tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 art, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, and so much more! This is a wonderful symbol to understand the meaning of because it is everywhere! 

In terms of religious symbolism, The Djed Pillar 𓊽 is thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. When a person died 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and became “The Osiris,” The Djed Pillar 𓊽 was then thought to represent their spine! The spine was thought to keep Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 upright and able to function as the primary god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is even referenced in the The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.” 

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! The “reed column 𓊽” more commonly known as the “Djed Pillar” is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound “ḏd” which sounds like “Djed.” It also functions as an ideogram for “Stability.” 

There are many common words and phrases that have the Djed Pillar 𓊽 in it: 

𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀 – Given Life, Stability, and Strength

𓊽𓊽𓈋𓅱𓊖 / 𓊽𓊽𓅱𓊖 – Djedu 

𓊽 / 𓊽𓏏 – Stability, Endure

𓋴𓊽𓊽 – Make Permanent

𓊽𓂧𓏛 – To Be Stable

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“High Priest” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

High Priest

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a common word that is seen on many funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦! These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 pictured translate to “Priest 𓊹𓍛,” “Prophet 𓊹𓍛, “High Priest 𓊹𓍛” or even “High Priestess 𓊹𓍛” in English, but if you were to breakdown the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, it translates to “God’s Servant 𓊹𓍛” in Middle Egyptian! 

𓊹 – God 

𓍛 – Servant

The word for “Servant” on its own is usually written with the determinative and looks like this: 𓍛𓀀 (for males) and 𓍛𓏏𓁐 (for females). For a phrase such as “God’s Servant 𓊹𓍛,” the determinative is left out! 

Usually, the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏 would come before the phrase “God’s Servant 𓊹𓍛.” For example, 𓉡𓊹𓍛 would translate to “High Priest of Hathor” and 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓊹𓍛 would translate to “High Priest of Ptah.” 

Let’s take a closer look at each of these symbols! 

The “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ symbol is an ideogram for the word god. 𓊹 is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters “ntr” which may have been pronounced like “neter.” 𓊹 Is also a determinative for “god.” So the “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹!

The “launderer’s club 𓍛” is a biliteral phonogram which means it represents the sounds of two consonants. “𓍛” represents the sound “ḥm.”

There are so many different ways to write priest in Middle Egyptian because there were so many different types of priests! Here are some of the other popular ones: 

𓋴𓅓 – Sem Priests (responsible for the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony 𓄋𓏏𓂋𓏺)

𓃂 / 𓃂𓈗 – Wab Priest

𓀆 – To Be a Priest

𓂖 / 𓂗𓀀 – Ka Priest/Soul Priest/Priest of the Dead

𓂝𓈎𓂭𓂭𓀀 – Priest

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris’ Name in a Cartouche

Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷? Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

This is a fragment of a beautifully 𓄤 painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. I would estimate its from around the later New Kingdom period or later because that’s when painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 such as these became popular! 

Osiris' Name in a Cartouche
Osiris’ name in a cartouche on a sarcophagus fragment

I love this piece because of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but also because there is so much other stuff going on even though it’s small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛 which translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.” Let’s break down the symbols! 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

I haven’t seen that many pieces like this, so I just found this one so cool! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is what appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but in this case it’s Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and his title! The top of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 also has the Atef Crown 𓋚 on it, which is the crown that is associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

The ancient Egyptians talked about “eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛” a lot and were actually the civilization to derive the concept of “eternity 𓆖.” There were two 𓏻 very common ways they expressed the word for “eternity” in hieroglyphic symbols: 

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity/Everlasting

There are some other popular hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this piece!! See if you can spot them! 

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

Both of the phrases appear symmetrically on either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 which is something that is common on these types of pieces! 

Let’s take a look at some of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that appear! If you look in the lower left, you can see part of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 with a large table of offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 in front of him. On the top left, below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺 is a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. On the top right, there is an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. 

On either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, the god 𓊹 Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 (god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺/flooding of the Nile) is shown. There are two 𓏻 of him because if you look closely, you can see both symbolically tying up papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸 plants together. This was meant to represent the union of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt! You can easily recognize Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 because of the papyrus flowers 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 on his head! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Common Hieroglyphic Phrases

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

This hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 text from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Imhotep contains some really common hieroglyphic phrases and words!  These phrases are short and easy to recognize, so once you learn them, you’ll be reading through some partial inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 in no time! 

Some parts of this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 are written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, which is very cool because I can read it! I have not mastered Hieratic at all, which is what a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and Books of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 are written in! Hieratic is pretty much short-hand hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I really want to learn Hieratic, and it’s one of my long term goals, but there are a lack of books on the subject which has hindered me from learning!

Common Hieroglyphic Phrases

Let’s break down the following text: 𓃹𓈖𓄤𓀭𓐙𓊤

𓃹𓈖 – It Is

𓄤 – Perfect/Beautiful

𓀭 – God

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice/Justified

All together the text reads: “It is 𓃹𓈖 the perfect god 𓄤𓀭, true of voice 𓐙𓊤…” 

The phrase “It is” can be written as 𓃹𓈖 or 𓃹𓈖𓈖 – both are grammatically correct, it’s just spacing that can become an issue which is why sometimes only one “𓈖” appears! 

Let’s break down each of the symbols individually!

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a biliteral phonogram. The  𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

The “heart and windpipe 𓄤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound “nfr” which in modern times we pronounce like “nefer.”

The “seated god 𓀭” symbol is a determinative for the word “God” or “King.” 

The “platform 𓐙” symbol is a triliteral phonogram which represents the sound “m3ˁ” which would be pronounced like “mah.” 

The “oar 𓊤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sound “ḫrw.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche Box of Shosenq II

This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 shaped box is a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 yet interesting piece at the MET! I stumbled upon this piece because it is in a display with lots of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! One of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts is Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 box, and while this is a smaller and less elaborate version of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, I still love it! 

This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 shaped box is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 825-773 B.C.E.) which would be in the 22nd Dynasty! The box is also inscribed for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Shosenq II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺. 

Cartouche Box of Shosenq II
Cartouche Box of Shosenq II

Even though they may be difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances 

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name)

𓊹𓋾𓉺 – God and Ruler of Heliopolis

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏 – Shosenq II (Shoshenk, Son of Bastet, Beloved of Amun)

There are a lot of interesting things going on in this inscription! The first 𓏃 interesting thing is that Shosenq II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺 has the same throne name as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓! The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

The second interesting thing is that all of the titles appear before both names 𓂋𓈖𓏦, instead of being broken up and appearing before either the throne name or the given/birth name! 

Another interesting thing is that the part of Shosenq II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺 birth name, “God and Ruler of Heliopolis𓊹𓋾𓉺,” appears at the beginning of this birth name instead of at the end, hence why I broke it up in my translation! The name 𓂋𓈖 should appear like this in the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥: 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺, but instead  appears as 𓊹𓋾𓉺𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏! 

The fourth interesting part is that neither the birth name nor the throne name appear in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! I guess the whole box is the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 so maybe the artist felt that the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 didn’t need a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥?! 

Who knew such a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 piece could hold so many interesting things! It’s amazing what can be discovered by just reading a couple of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ushabti Box of Yuya

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the ushabti box (and one of the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures) of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼. The purpose of the ushabit box was to store the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person. Since people who could afford it were buried with over 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures, the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 needed a place to store them in the tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 so the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 wouldn’t be all over the place!

Although Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were not of royal lineage, their daughter 𓅭𓏏 Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 became the “King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏,” (queen) of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠. 

This part of the 18th Dynasty when when all of the “fun” began! Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 grandparents and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 great-parents! Due to their daughter’s 𓅭𓏏 status, Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were given an elaborate burial in the area that is now known as the Valley of the Kings (KV46). 

This ushabti box is made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 that has been beautifully 𓄤𓆑𓂋 painted 𓏞𓏜 and inscribed 𓎘𓅱𓎖 with hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

The ushabti box (back) and ushabti figure (front) of Yuya at the MET
The ushabti box (back) and ushabti figure (front) of Yuya at the MET

Let’s take a closer look at the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti box! 

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated

𓐍𓂋 – Before 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎿𓇌 – Favored One/Praised One

𓈖 – of

𓊹𓄤 – The Perfect God 

𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 – Yuya 

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this ushabti box are very typical of funerary inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that appear on many different kinds of funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 throughout Egyptian history.

This ushabti box is from the 18th Dynasty and is dated to c. 1390–1352 B.C.E. The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 also belongs to Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼! The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is inscribed with the “Shabti Spell,” which is the magic spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 which makes the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure come alive to perform a specific task for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!