Tag: hieroglyphs

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Shabti Spell

We are going to be taking a (virtual) trip to the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳! As many of you know, I love ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures, so let’s take a closer look at this one! 

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti 𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the “Shabti Spell” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. This spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 gives the ushabti 𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. Many people (if they could afford it) were buried with at least 365 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏾 ushabti 𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year! Some were buried with even more! 

The “Shabti Spell” usually starts off with the following phrase: 

𓋴𓌉𓆓𓇶 – The Illuminated One

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – The Osiris

(Look at the first line of text on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and start reading from the right!)

However, my favorite part of this ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure is that the word “𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 shabti” appears very clearly on the piece! It is part of the spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that says: “O these shabtis, if you are counted, to do all the works to be done there in the realm of the dead.” 

Can you find “𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾” on the piece in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? 

There are a bunch of different ways to write “ushabti” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Just like in other languages, we can use the words “shabti” and “ushabti” to denote the same figures!

𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾

𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 (shortened version)

𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphic Offering Vessel

This is a “Hieroglyphic Offering Vessel” that is dated to c. 3,000 B.C.E.! For some context, the unification of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 took place c. 3,100 B.C.E., and this period was known as the Early Dynastic Period. 

In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, especially during this time period, the distinction between art and writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 was almost interchangeable – so much so that sometimes it is hard to tell if images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, drawings or even both! 

This Offering Vessel is a combination of two 𓏻 hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪: the ankh 𓋹 and the ka 𓂓. So, let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The “Ankh,” is a triliteral phonogram that has the sound “ˁnḫ” which would sound like “ankh.” Although it can be an ideogram for “sandal strap” and “mirror,” the “sandal strap 𓋹” is much more commonly seen as the word for “Life.” 

The “two arms 𓂓” symbol is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound “k3,” which would be pronounced like “ka.” This is the symbol for the word “soul.” The ka 𓂓 was the soul or life force of a person. 

So how do life 𓋹, soul 𓂓 and this Offering Vessel all connect to each other? Together 𓈖𓊗, the life 𓋹 and soul 𓂓 form an essential relationship between the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even if the person is dead, the ka 𓂓 still requires nourishment in the form of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and drink. This Offering Vessel allows the ka 𓂓 to receive water 𓈗, so it can continue to live on. 

Essentially, the vessel allows for the ka 𓂓 to continue to receive offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 so it can continue to be sustained! It’s always amazing to me how Egyptian funerary beliefs didn’t really change over time, they just continued to evolve, for example, into False Doors and Offering Tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃𓏪! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Life, Stability, and Strength” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a popular inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥! This inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is on an ostracon, which is basically either a broken piece of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (in this case), pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋, a rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙, etc. that was used for drawing/writing practice 𓋴𓅓𓄧𓏜. You can definitely tell that this was practice 𓋴𓅓𓄧𓏜 because you can still see the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 grid lines on the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉! The grid lines were really important because it allowed the artist to draw out the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 evenly, so everything was the same size!

I have definitely spoken about this phrase before, but let’s take a closer look! 

𓋹 – Life 

𓊽 – Stability 

𓌀 – Strength 

The “sandal strap 𓋹” more commonly known as the “Ankh,” is a triliteral phonogram that has the sound “ˁnḫ” which would sound like “ankh.” Should it can be an ideogram for “sandal strap” and “mirror,” the “sandal strap 𓋹” is much more commonly seen as the word for “Life.” 

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,” like in the inscription above. The Djed Pillar 𓊽 is thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

The “animal headed staff 𓌀” is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sounds “w3s,” which would probably be pronounced like “was.” The symbol functions as an ideogram for the word “staff,” but most of the time, you will see it represent the word “Strength.” 

This common phrase “𓋹𓊽𓌀” is seen everywhere, and a lot of the times appears as “𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀 – Given Life, Stability and Strength” or “𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀𓆖 – Given Life, Stability and Strength for Eternity.” This phrase was so popular because it held a lot of meaning in ancient Egyptian culture/religion! This phrase is almost like a blessing, ensuring that the person being spoken about in the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is all of these qualities! This phrase can be used with both the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“May He Be Foremost…” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 from a Middle Kingdom relief from the reign 𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 (c. 2010-2000 B.C.E.). 

The inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 reads: 𓃺𓈖𓆑𓏅. Let’s break this down! 

𓃺𓈖 – Be (could also mean “Exist”) (sounds like “wn”)

𓆑 – He (sounds like “f”)

𓏅 – Foremost (could also be “In Front Of”)  (sounds like ḫnt)

So the translation of 𓃺𓈖𓆑𓏅 would be “May He Be Foremost…” or “May He Be In Front Of.” The name 𓂋𓈖 of a deity 𓊹 or other religious figure (such as soul 𓂓) would usually follow, but that part of the relief is cut off! 

By itself, the word “𓃺𓈖𓆑” can actually mean “to be glad” or “to be happy” – the last symbol at the end changes the meaning of the phrase! 

The word “foremost 𓏅” can also be written as “𓄂𓏏” – “𓄂𓏏” can also be translated as “best.” 

Just like any language, in Middle Egyptian there can be two different ways to write/say the same word or one single word can have multiple meanings!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“A Voice Offering” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

“A Voice Offering” in Hieroglyphs

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃  “𓉓.” As a reminder, a composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is a single symbol that is actually a combination of multiple symbols! 

While a lot of the composite hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are combinations of two 𓏻 symbols, “𓉓” is actually a combination of four 𓏽 symbols! I like to think of composite hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 as a math equation: 

𓉓 = 𓉐 + 𓊤 + 𓏑 + 𓏊

Here is the modern name designated to each of the symbols that are part of 𓉓:

𓉐 – house plan 

𓊤 – oar 

𓏑 – bread 

𓏊 – beer jug

In terms of meaning, “𓉓” is an ideogram (a single symbol that takes on the meaning of a full word) for the phrase “invocation offering or voice offering” and is a part of the standard offering formula that is seen on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, false doors, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪/coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦 and other funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭. 

𓉓 would be pronounced like “prt-ḫrw.” 𓉓 Is definitely a great symbol to recognize because it is very common!!!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Duck” Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the “duck 𓅭” symbol! The “duck 𓅭” is biliteral phonogram and is thought to have the sound of “z3” (like “zae”). Although it is not technically classified as an ideogram, the “duck 𓅭”definitely functions like one as the word for “son.”

In most inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, seeing the “duck 𓅭” symbol by itself (like in the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏), it will translate to the word “son.” However, in “proper” grammar, the word for son actually is written as: 𓅭𓀀! So the “duck 𓅭” functions as the phonogram, while the “man 𓀀“ functions as the determinative! Grammar rules aside, I’m going to be honest, I’ve never seen son written as “𓅭𓀀“ in a royal inscription! 

If you add a “𓏏,” the word “son 𓅭” becomes “daughter 𓅭𓏏!” ”Daughter” can be written with the determinative at the end too “ 𓅭𓏏𓁐,” but you will rarely see it. 

Here are some ways that the “duck 𓅭” can be used: 

𓇓𓅭 – Son of the King (prince) 

𓇓𓅭𓏏 – Daughter of the King (princess)

The most common way you will see this symbol is in the Royal Titles: 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin of Wah at the MET

Let’s take a look at the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of a man named 𓂋𓈖 Wah, who lived during the early reign 𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏(12th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom). 

In the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see a dedication to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, which is better known as the “Offering Formula.” If you want to learn one 𓏺 phrase in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, learn this one!!! It is everywhere!! 

Here is the full inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓁹𓊨𓎟𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖. Let’s break down the offering formula because we haven’t done so in a while. Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris (his name is missing the determinative this time – usually it’s written as 𓁹𓊨𓀭)

𓎟 – Lord 

𓊽𓂧𓊖 – Djedu (usually written as 𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖)

So all together 𓈖𓊗, this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 reads: “An Offering the King gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu.” Djedu 𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖 refers to the birthplace of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! Inside the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would usually be laid on his side so his eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 matched up with the eyes on the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱! This was very typical of Middle Kingdom burial practices 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, and it was something my Nonno would always point out to me when we were in a museum! 

As a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀕 (and even now as an adult) I found this practice absolutely fascinating! Now every time I am in a museum, I tell the story to someone about the eyes 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like my Nonno told me!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Inscription from the False Door of Mery at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet 𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹. 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a different type of title! A title is a phrase that usually appears before someone’s name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. A title is basically a summary of the person! I’ve only really talked about royal titles before, but today let’s look at a non-royal title! 

Right Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 Column:

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance (literally “King’s 𓇓 Knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏(𓏜)”)

𓉡 – Hathor

𓊹𓍛 – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally “God’s Servant”) 

All together, this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 would read “The King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” The title “King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏“ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

Left Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 Column: 

𓎟 – Possessor

𓌳𓐍𓄪 – Reverence

𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹 – Niankhwadjet

“Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Let’s put it all together! 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏𓉡𓊹𓍛𓎟𓌳𓐍𓄪𓈖𓇅𓏏𓋹

“The King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Lotus Plant” Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the “lotus plant 𓆼” symbol! The “lotus plant 𓆼” has many functions in Middle Egyptian and it is a symbol you will see a lot! It is a biliteral phonogram and represents the sound “ḫ3.”

Some words that can be written with the “lotus plant 𓆼” are:

𓆼𓅡𓋴𓇼𓇼𓇼 – Starry Sky

𓆼𓏏𓉐𓏭 – Office

𓐍𓆼𓄿𓏏𓁣 – Illness/Disease

𓋴𓆼𓄿𓀁 – To Remember

The most common way you will see the “lotus plant 𓆼” symbol used is when it is used as an ideogram to represent the number “one thousand 𓆼.” For example: 

𓆼 – 1,000

𓆼𓆼 – 2,000

𓆼𓆼𓆼 – 3,000

Used in a sentence (the Offering Formula), it looks like this:

𓉓𓆼𓏐𓏊𓆼𓃾𓅿𓆼𓍱𓋲

“ A voice offering 𓉓 (of) a thousand 𓆼 bread 𓏐 and beer 𓏊, a thousand 𓆼 ox 𓃾 and fowl 𓅿, a thousand 𓆼 alabaster 𓍱 and linen 𓋲.”

The Offering Formula on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦 and False Doors will be the most common way you will see this symbol in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! 

The “lotus plant 𓆼” symbol can also be simply used as an ideogram for the word “lotus plant 𓆼𓏺.”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Canopic Chest and Mummy of Ukhotep

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and canopic chest of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 who lived during Dynasty 12 of the Middle Kingdom. Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the chief treasurer, which is why he probably received such gorgeous 𓄤 funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, such as this canopic chest that contains dedications to the Four Sons of Horus. The purpose of the canopic chest was to hold the four 𓏽 canopic jars which contained the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Since the directional symbols are pointing towards the right, we will start reading from the right!

𓇋𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated/Revered/Honored

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef

𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Ukhotep

𓎟𓄪 – Possessor of Honor

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

“Honor 𓇋𓄪𓐍” is the full word while the phrase “𓎟𓄪 Possessor of Honor” only uses the “spine and spinal chord 𓄪” symbol to write “Honor.” Also, “𓎟𓄪 Possessor of Honor” can be written as “𓎟𓄪𓏺,” it just depends on the spacing on the object it is being inscribed on. 

As a beginner, the shortening of words can get confusing, but this is where practice comes in! 

These pieces are at the MET in NYC!