Tag: hieroglyph lessons

Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

A couple of weeks ago I asked on my Instagram if there was an object people wanted to see more of, and someone suggested the Maned Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, so here it is!

I took a selfie with the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut!

Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were commonly represented as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 in ancient Egyptian art for many reasons. A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a mythical creature that has the body of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 and the head of a human. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 have been associated with kingship 𓇓𓇌 since prehistoric times due to their strength 𓌀 and ferocity. The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 was the perfect representation of the strength 𓌀 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself/herself.

A closeup of the hieroglyphs on the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌺𓏏𓇌 – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given

𓆖 – Eternity

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

I know this is strange, but “Given Life” is actually written backwards! It should be “𓏙𓋹” not “𓋹𓏙” as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left, because that’s the way the directional symbols are pointing).

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!

The hieroglyphs on the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut with their English translation next to them!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Everything Perfect and Pure Which a God Lives On”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 that appears along the top line on a Middle Kingdom era coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱! This phrase does appear pretty frequently across funerary equipment (stelae, coffin) so it is definitely a good one to know!

We will start reading the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 on the right since the directional symbols point to the right!

The phrase “Everything Perfect and Pure Which a God Lives On” on a Middle Kingdom era sarcophagus

This is the full phrase: 𓐍𓏏𓊵𓏦𓎟𓄤𓃂𓏏𓋹𓏏𓊹𓇋𓅓. Let’s break down each word!

𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏦𓎟 – Everything

𓄤 – Perfect/Beautiful/Good

𓃂𓏏 – Pure

𓋹𓏏 – Life/Live

𓊹 – God

𓇋𓅓- On (In, There, Among, etc.)

So all 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, the phrase translates to: “Everything perfect and pure which a god lives on.”

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs

Reading Hieroglyphs

Name in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the word for “name 𓂋𓈖” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and the religious/cultural significance that a person’s name had in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The word “Name” in Hieroglyphs as depicted on a relief in an Old Kingdom tomb

In order to exist, a person needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body 𓎛𓂝𓄼, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅡𓏤, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏤, and most importantly, the name 𓂋𓈖. Without a name 𓂋𓈖, the other four elements could not exist!

When a person’s name 𓂋𓈖 was written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, it meant that the person would live 𓋹 forever 𓎛𓇳𓎛. The visual representation of a person’s name 𓂋𓈖 had the power to give the person eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹. This is why pharaohs wanted their name 𓂋𓈖 on as many monuments as possible – their name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 had immense power!

This ancient belief about a person’s name 𓂋𓈖 having such significance is why I feel like I need to write about my Nonno and speak about him. My entire page is dedicated to his memory, and I feel like sharing his name 𓂋𓈖 and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 helps me to keep him alive even though he is no longer here.

Let’s break down each of 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 “ripple of water 𓈖” is a phonogram sign, and it functions as a uniliteral sign. 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!

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sistrums with Hathor

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 7, 2024

Music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 and musicians were highly regarded in ancient Egyptian culture. I love music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, and music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 is something that I cannot live without! This is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a musical instrument from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that is similar to a modern rattle or tambourine.

A faience sistrum with Hathor from the Ptolemaic Period

Since Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, she was portrayed on most sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 in her human form! However, even though Hathor 𓉡 is represented as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, she is recognized easily because of her characteristic cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears!

A closeup view of the sistrum with Hathor’s face! See if you can spot her cow ears!

I love these two sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 pictured below because while they are both from the Ptolemaic Period, they look so different! One of the sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 is made of blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 while the other is made of silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉.

A blue faience sistrum (front) and a silver sistrum (back) both with Hathor’s face on it from the Ptolemaic Period.

Fun fact: in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was actually considered to be more valuable because it was harder to obtain through trade! Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 does not naturally have a lot of silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉!

The silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 has hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the handle, however they are very hard to read due to cracks and natural wear. The blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 one has hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are much easier to read!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓎟𓈍𓈍𓈍 – Lord of Appearances

𓊪𓏏𓍯𓃭𓐝𓇌𓋴 – Ptolemaios (Ptolemy I)

𓋹 – Life

𓏇 – Like

𓇳𓏺 – Ra

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity

When 𓎛𓇳𓎛 and 𓆖 are used in the same phrase, it’s usually translated as “Everlasting Eternity” instead of “Eternity Eternity.”

Another way to write “Lord of Appearances” is like this – 𓎟𓈍𓏥 – using three strokes “𓏥” instead of repeating the “sun over the horizon 𓎟𓈍𓈍𓈍” hieroglyph three times! Both of these ways are the correct way to write the phrase, however the three strokes “𓏥” is usually used more because it takes up less space!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hathor, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

“To Rule” in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 7, 2024

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the word “𓁷𓁶,” which has a bunch of different (but seemingly related) meanings in Middle Egyptian!

“To Rule” in raised relief from a Middle Kingdom relief at the MET

Here is a list of some of the meanings of the word “𓁷𓁶”:

-To Rule

-Who is Upon

-Nomarch (kind of like a governor who was appointed by the pharaoh)

-Governor (this would be a more modern interpretation of the word)

-Leader

-Magician

Let’s take a closer look at the two symbols which comprise this word!

The “face 𓁷” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound ḥr and is an ideogram for the word “face.”

The “head 𓁶” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “tp” and is an ideogram/determinative for the word “head.”

So all together the word “𓁷𓁶” would have a sound value of “ḥr-tp.”

The “face 𓁷” symbol is always fascinating to see because it’s artistically different from most of the other 750+ hieroglyphic symbols. The “face 𓁷” symbol is so different because it is a front view of a face instead of a profile view. Most ancient Egyptian art is done in profile, so this symbol really stands out to me amongst other hieroglyphic symbols.

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Lord of the Sacred Land

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 11, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the significance of the epithet “Lord of the Sacred Land 𓎟𓇾𓂦.”

An epithet is almost like a title, except it comes after a name 𓂋𓈖 instead of before it! The epithet “Lord of the Sacred Land 𓎟𓇾𓂦” (some also translate it as “Lord of the Necropolis), will commonly follow the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in inscriptions! This phrase is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The “sacred land” that is being referred to is actually the tombs/cemeteries for the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

“Lord of the Sacred Land” painted on a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus

Let’s break down the phrase!
𓎟 – Lord
𓇾 – Land
𓂦 – Sacred

This phrase gives us a nice and simple look at Middle Egyptian sentence structure! In Middle Egyptian, the adjectives follow the noun hence why it reads “lord land sacred” instead of “Lord Sacred Land.” In English, the adjective comes before the noun in a sentence!

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

The “basket 𓎟” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “nb” which is thought to have been pronounced like “neb.” The 𓎟 alone can also mean the common words “Lord,” “Possessor,” and “All.”

The “strip of land with sand 𓇾” symbol is an ideogram for land, Earth and world. It is also a biliteral phonogram for the sound “t3” and can be a determinative in the word “eternity 𓆖.”

The “forearm with brush 𓂦” symbol is both an ideogram and determinative for “sacred” and is associated with the sound “ḏsr.”

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Tags anubis, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs

Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II’s Birth Name

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 11, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to be looking at the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 for the Middle Kingdom pharaoh Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪!

Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 name is a combination of two different Middle Egyptian words! Let’s break down the two words:

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (𓈖 – n) (𓍿- t) (𓅱 – u/w)
𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Hotep (𓊵 – htp) (𓏏 – t) (𓊪 – p)

Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 refers to of the falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 of war who was mainly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” translates to the word “satisfied” or “content.” The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” can also mean “offering” or “peace!” The name 𓂋𓈖 Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 means “Montu is satisfied” or “Montu is content.”

The birth name cartouche of the Middle Kingdom pharaoh Montuhotep II

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols!

The “𓏠 game board and pieces” is a biliteral phonogram. The “ 𓏠” is associated with the sound “mn” which could be pronounced like “men,” “mun,” “mon,” etc.

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram associated with the sound of “n!” Here it is a phonetic complement!

The “𓍿 hobble/tie” is a uniliteral phonogram sign associated with the sounds of “ṯ” or “t.”

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u.

The “bread loaf on mat 𓊵” symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound “ḥtp” and is also an ideogram for “offering slab” which is also associated with the sound “ḥtp.”

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” Here it is a phonetic complement!

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.” Here it is a phonetic complement!

Read about Montuhotep II’s Throne Name in this post!

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, montuhotep ii

Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II’s Throne Name – Nebhapetra

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 11, 2023

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to be looking at the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 for the Middle Kingdom pharaoh Montuhotep II! While Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name 𓂋𓈖, the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 we are looking at in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is his throne name 𓂋𓈖, which is “Nebhapetra 𓇳𓎟𓊤.”

The throne name cartouche of Montuhotep II which reads “Nebhapetra”

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!
𓇳 – Ra
𓎟 – “Neb” (nb)
𓊤 – “Hapet” (ḫrw or ḥjpt)

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun 𓆄𓅱𓇳, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, and for words associated with time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.” Re is written first but pronounced last due to “honorific transposition” – the name of the god is written first out of respect.

The “𓎠 basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of “nb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like “neb.” The 𓎟 alone can also mean the common words “Lord,” “Possessor,” and “All.”

The “oar 𓊤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram or an ideogram. As a triliteral it represents the sound “ḫrw,” and as an ideogram for “oar” it represents the sound “ḥjpt” which is the sound used in this case!

So all 𓎟 together his name 𓂋𓈖 means “Possessor of the Oar of Ra.”
𓇳 – Ra
𓎟 – Possessor
𓊤 – Oar

This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 reign 𓋾. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Read about Montuhotep II’s Birth Name in this post!

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, montuhotep ii

Reading Hieroglyphs

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 11, 2023

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱!

A lot of people know him by the name 𓂋𓈖 “Cheops,” which is the Greek version of his name 𓂋𓈖. However, when you read his cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, it is very clear that his name 𓂋𓈖 is Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 is best known for constructing the Great Pyramid at Giza!

The name of the Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

Let’s break down the meaning of the name 𓂋𓈖 “Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱,” which means “He Protects Me.”
𓐍𓅱 – Protects
𓆑 – He
𓅱 – Me/I

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

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u and sometimes functions as an ideogram. It mostly appears as a uniliteral phonogram and is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions!

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. It can also be the pronoun “he/him.”

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, khufu

Reading Hieroglyphs

How to write “Hieroglyphs” in Hieroglyphs!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 21, 2023

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Middle Egyptian word that we translate as “hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏬!” The word “hieroglyph” is a modern word and is not what the ancient Egyptians called their writing system/language. Today we are going to learn the special meaning behind the real name for the ancient Egyptian language!

The word for “hieroglyphs” in hieroglyphs! This inscription is painted on a sarcophagus at the MET.

Before we break down the meaning, are some common ways to write “hieroglyphs” in hieroglyphs:

𓊹𓌃𓏪

𓊹𓌃𓏬

𓊹𓌃𓌃𓌃

Let’s take a closer look at each of the symbols! This will help us to understand the meaning better!

The “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ hieroglyph 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 “staff or walking stick 𓌃” functions as both a phonogram (in this word) and as an ideogram (for the word “ staff 𓌃𓏺”). 𓌃 is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound “mdw” or it can be a biliteral phonogram for “md” in certain cases. This symbol is used in a lot of words that have to do with speech (for example, “Words Spoken By 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖”).

The “three strokes 𓏥,” “three grains of sand 𓏬” and the “three repeated staffs 𓌃𓌃𓌃” symbols are what makes “words/speech” plural in the word! The plural is associated with the sound “w.” Now what’s interesting is that the “staff or walking stick 𓌃” symbol is already “mdw” so this is a case of a phonetic complement too!

So what does “𓊹𓌃𓏪” actually mean? While we translate it as “hieroglyphs,” the actual phrase in Middle Egyptian is better translated as “God’s Words,” “Divine Speech,” or “God’s Speech.” This makes sense since the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was said to have invented hieroglyphs!

The word “𓊹𓌃𓏪” would have been pronounced like “mdw ntr” even though “ntr 𓊹” was written first due to honorific transposition! Usually the possessing noun (god’s) is written second, but out of respect for the gods, it was written first but then pronounced second! It’s like how we say “ten dollars ($10)” instead of “dollars ten.”

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs

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