Tag: hatshepsut

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blade With Hatshepsut’s Name

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name!

Bronze Blade With Hatshepsut's Name
Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name in the hieroglyphic inscription at the Petrie Museum

While it doesn’t look like much, this piece is actually a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 that was once attached to a handle. This was one of my favorite objects that I saw at the Petrie Museum because it has Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name on it!

I also think this piece is unpublished, so it was a total surprise for me to see that it even existed! Since her name 𓂋𓈖appears on the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴, it means that it was most certainly made during Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 time as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

𓄤𓊹 – Great God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name which translates to “Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳.”)

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓏃 – Foremost 

𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (the name given to Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri. It can also be written as 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐). 

𓌺𓇌 – Beloved 

Put together, the inscription reads: 𓄤𓊹(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐𓌺𓇌 “The Great God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Foremost of the Holiest of Holies.” 

Interestingly, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is referred to as “The Great God 𓄤𓊹” instead of the “Great Goddess 𓄤𓊹𓏏” as she usually is in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. Certain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 towards the later part of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 did sometimes omit the feminine ending of the word, so this might mean the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 is from the late part of her rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏. Or this could just be a spacing issue – the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 is small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 so maybe not all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 could fit! 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Video

Large Granite Statue of Hatshepsut – Video

This large red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is large and majestic and one of the most beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! 

The most striking aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 besides the size is the fact that Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so she would be forgotten from history.

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar 𓏌𓏺 in each hand 𓂧𓏏𓏺. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, kneeling is considered a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢/offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 position. A pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 only kneels to another god 𓊹, who in this case is probably Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the false beard which was typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the back of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 show her throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓. 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! 

Steatite Wedjat Amulets
Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written! 

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.” 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part II)

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at two 𓏻 more steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! Just like the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 we looked at yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, these are also on display at the MET! 

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut
Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

Alright so let’s get to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

These two 𓏻 steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are interesting because while at first glance the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 look similar (and they are) they are also quite different! On them Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is referred to as both “Lord of the Two Lands” and “Lady of the Two Lands.” Her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” appears on both scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪. 

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left! 

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

𓎟 – Lord 

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right! 

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

𓎟𓏏 – Lady

𓇾𓇾 – Two Lands

In order to make nouns feminine in Middle Egyptian, a “𓏏” is added to the end of the word so “Lord 𓎟” becomes “Lady 𓎟𓏏.” This is significant in this case because on these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪, there’s a mix of both when it comes to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! From the early to mid part of her  reign, Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary contained inscriptions more commonly with the feminine form of the words. Towards the end of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 she started using the masculine form of words.  

You can also see the two 𓏻 different variants used for “two lands” (𓇿𓇿  vs. 𓇾𓇾 )on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! These two 𓏻 variants were pretty much used interchangeably so not much to analyze in this case! 

Read Part I Here!

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part I)

Here is another example of steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! 

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut
Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Before we read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s “read” the geology! I always tell my students that rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the language of our planet! 

Most scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from this time period are made of a metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 called steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 which is also commonly known as soapstone. Simply put, steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 is made when the mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 talc is exposed to tremendous amounts of heat and pressure at subduction zones (areas where oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust). Steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 has been used by ancient civilizations all over the world for carving because it is both durable and easy to work with! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the shorter variant of Hatshepsut’s birth name cartouche. Hatshepsut’s full name is “𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” but that’s not what appears on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 because it’s too long! Let’s take a look:

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

𓀼𓏏𓏪 – Noble Women (Shepsut)

So Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 variant on the scarab translates to “Foremost of the Noble Women.” 

The Egyptians were very clever with spacing too – if you look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 at the bottom of the picture, the “𓏏” is shared between the 𓄂 and 𓀼 glyphs! I will forever be impressed by. the ingenuity of the Egyptian artists!

Read Part II Here!

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Defaced Hatshepsut

There’s a lot going on in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 and I’m going to do my best to talk about it all! This is a red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a defaced Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 which was found during the excavation of her temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. This excavation was a joint effort between the MET and the Egyptian government. 

Defaced Hatshepsut
A closeup of a Defaced Hatshepsut statue on display at the MET

I love that the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and yellow paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still retained on the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth. The nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth is a traditional striped piece of linen 𓍱 or fabric that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 wore on their heads. There was usually a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the forehead, but on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is missing. On a lot of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 would just get broken off in antiquity, however, this one seems to have been deliberately destroyed. 

Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can also still be seen on the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing around her neck. The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 of choice for royals and the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹.

The most prominent feature on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is the fact that the face has been seemingly hacked away in antiquity. About 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name 𓂋𓈖 taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! 

Usually pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 would just usurp the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of previous rulers, but Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 didn’t do this with Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary, it was just destroyed and then buried. The running theory is that the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were too “Hatshepsut-like” and thus could not be reused! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Inscribed Stones

There are two 𓏻 things that completely fascinate me: ancient Egyptian history and geology so these “inscribed stones” are so interesting to me! I love when I can combine my passion for these two 𓏻 subjects! Rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏥 are basically the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾! What’s even better is when hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 appear on pieces/fragments of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 – it’s like hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 inception! 

Inscribed Stones
Many Inscribed Stones with the cartouche of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

The MET has these listed as “inscribed stones,” which were most likely intentionally put at the base of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Valley Temple as offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. Three 𓏼 different types or rocks are shown in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above: limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 and quartzite. All three 𓏼 of these rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏥 are found in abundance across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, especially the sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 and limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉! 

Inscribed Stones
A closeup of an Inscribed Stone with the throne name of Hatshepsut on it! Look at how beautiful the carvings are! The details on the “ka 𓂓” symbol are particularly stunning!

While many of these “inscribed stones” have very rough carvings on them, the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 that appears in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above on the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 is quite beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! The version of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 that appears on these fragments of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.” 

Let’s take a closer look at what the symbols in her name mean:

𓇳 – Ra

𓁦 – Maat (Truth) 

𓂓 – Ka (Soul)

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts Video

Statue of Senemut – Video

This is a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 usually had Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤 (complete with her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle. 

@ancientegyptblog

This is a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 usually had Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤 (complete with her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle. It’s interesting to see a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding something other than Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, because he is usually depicted with her. Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her. This is my personal video and original text – DO NOT repost! #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #ancientegyptblog #hatshepsut #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #anticoegitto

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

It’s interesting to see a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding something other than Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, because he is usually depicted with her. 

Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪  Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. 

Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her. 

Statue of Senemut
Statue of Senemut holding a sistrum at the MET

This is my personal photo, video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The “Hatshepsut Hole”

Gallery 115 𓏲𓎆𓏾 at the MET holds an incredible collection of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 which depict Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 greatest female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (and just one of the greatest pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 ever), Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪. This room is my happy place; there is just something so incredible about being in Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 presence! 

Most pharaohs’ 𓉐𓉻“greatness” is based upon how extensive their building projects were, and Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 had a lot of them. She built the first obelisk 𓉶 in over 90 years, had her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 constructed (where the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 in this gallery were found), and had multiple projects from Sinai to Nubia. 

However, despite her extensive building projects, much of her work had been usurped or destroyed. Most of the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 in this gallery have been reconstructed; the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were found in pieces and put back together like ancient puzzles by archaeologists. 

The "Hatshepsut Hole"
Me with some reconstructed/restored statues of Hatshepsut in Gallery 115 at the MET. These statues were found in The “Hatshepsut Hole.”

At Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, the “Hatshepsut Hole” is where many of these fragmented statues were found buried during an excavation by the MET and the Egyptian government. About 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name 𓂋𓈖 taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! 

Ironically, while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 tried to destroy and erase Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, by burying the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, they have survived in pretty good condition thanks to the Egyptian sand. In a way, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 did Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 (and archaeologists) a favor by allowing the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 to be preserved instead of exposed to the elements/other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Video

White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut – Video

@ancientegyptblog

“É un capolavoro” – (It) Is a masterpiece! Anyone who has been following me knows that I love nothing more than the white limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 at the MET! Seeing this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in the museum gives me so much joy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 each time! Yesterday I was teaching my 8th graders about different sedimentary rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦, and of course I used pictures of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as an example of what limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 could look like! Hatshepsut’s birth name, 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, and throne name,𓇳𓁦𓂓, both appear on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and take a look at what her names mean! Her birth name – 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun 𓎹𓏏- United with (Khnemet) 𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat) 𓀼𓏪 – Noble Women (Shepsut) So Hatshepsut’s birth name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.” Her throne name – 𓇳𓁦𓂓 𓇳 – Ra 𓁦 – Maat (Truth) 𓂓 – Ka (Soul) So Hatshepsut’s throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.” (As a side note, “Capolavoro” is my favorite song from Sanremo 2024 and @ilvolomusic is one of my absolute favorite groups! I have been listening to their music for longer than ten years and knew I had to use this song with this piece!!) Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #hatshepsut #ilvolo #hieroglyphics #egitto #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egyptology #ancientegyptblog @ilvolomusic @Ginoble Gianluca

♬ Capolavoro – Il Volo

It’s no secret 𓃀𓋴𓆟𓏛 that the White Limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is my absolute favorite artifact that has ever been found in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! This is the piece that captured my imagination and I’ll never forget the first 𓏃 time I saw this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 with my Nonno! 

Nonno was always so excited to tell me about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, because she was the most successful female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Her twenty 𓎆𓎆 year rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏 was marked by big building projects (her mortuary temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐), economic prosperity (the expedition to Punt 𓊪𓃺𓈖𓏏𓈉) and peace! 

Not only is this White Limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 just absolutely stunning 𓄤, I love the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on it because Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 refers to herself using the female form of words in the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! These were also some of the first inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 I learned how to read, so they are very special to me! 

White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut
White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut at the MET

Check out this post for a more in-depth look at this beautiful 𓄤 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! No matter how many times I see it, I am still in awe of its beauty 𓄤!

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.