Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Today ๐๐๐๐ณ we are going to look at the common phrase “Words Spoken By ๐๐๐๐.”
“Words Spoken By ๐๐๐๐” as seen in hieroglyphs from a Middle Kingdom coffin at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
โ ๐๐๐๐โ is a really popular introduction to an inscription ๐๐ ฑ๐ and it translates to โWords spoken byโฆ ๐๐๐๐.โ If you know this phrase, youโll be able to recognize the beginning of a lot of inscriptions!
โ๐๐๐๐โ is usually followed by the name ๐๐ of a god ๐น or goddess ๐น๐, so if you know the names of popular deities ๐น๐น๐น youโll be able to read that part too!
The โcobra ๐โ is a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The cobra ๐ is a uniliteral sign, so it represents just one consonant. It represents the sound โแธโ which would almost sound like a โjโ when pronounced.
The โstaff or walking stick ๐โ functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word โ staff ๐๐บโ). ๐ is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the three consonant sound โmdw.โ
The โreed ๐โ is a uniliteral phonogram for โฤฑอ,โ however it can also function as an ideogram for the word โreed ๐๐บ.โ
The โripple of water ๐โ is also a uniliteral phonogram. The โ๐โ is associated with the sound of โn!โ
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Have you ever asked yourself “Are these hieroglyphs the name of Thutmosis I ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ or Thutmosis II ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐?” The names are so similar, that if you’re reading hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช, you probably have!
The discovery of the tomb ๐๐ฉ๐๐ of Thutmosis II ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ is so exciting and I cannot wait to learn more about this discovery!! The 18th Dynasty is my favorite time period, and Hatshepsut ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช is my favorite pharaoh ๐๐ป so I am really excited about all of the new information that can be learned from this discovery!
In celebration of this wonderful discovery, Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
A display of scarabs which show the names of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs Thutmosis I and Thutmosis II. This display is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Can you find the name of Thutmosis II amongst the Thutmosis I scarabs?
In this beautiful ๐ค๐๐ display of scarabs ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ช at the MET, there is a collection with the names ๐๐๐ฆ of the pharaohs ๐๐ป๐ฅ Thutmosis I ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ and Thutmosis II ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐. Except there is a mistake in the display – one of the scarabs ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ช in the Thutmosis I ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ section actually belonged to Thutmosis II ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐!
Can you find it? Scroll below to see the answer once youโve looked!ย
Itโs the scarab ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ in the bottom row, second from the left! The throne names ๐๐๐ฆ of Thutmosis I ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ and Thutmosis II ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ are very similar to each other – there is only a one hieroglyph difference between the two!
Letโs take a closer look at the names:
๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ – โGreat ๐ป is the Manifestation ๐ฃ of the soul ๐ of Ra ๐ณโ (Thutmosis I)
๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ – โGreat ๐ป is the Manifestation ๐ฃ of ๐ Ra ๐ณโ (Thutmosis II)
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Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช from the Book of the Dead ๐๐๐๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐บ๐ผ๐บ!
Book of the Dead on display at the British Museum!
There is so much going on in this little image ๐๐ ฑ๐ of the Book of the Dead ๐๐๐๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐บ๐ผ๐บ from the British Museum!
The hieroglyphs for “Hail Osiris ๐๐๐๐๐น๐จ๐น” are highlighted in this image
The first line has the inscription โ๐๐๐๐๐น๐จ๐น,โ which would be translated as โHail ๐๐๐๐ Osiris ๐น๐จ๐น.โ
I love the word โ๐๐๐๐,โ because it has so many different meanings depending on the context! Phonetically, it would most likely be pronounced as โhey ๐๐๐๐โ which is one of the ways it can be translated! โ๐๐๐๐โ can mean hey/hi/hello in some contexts, it can also mean โhailโ like translated above, but itโs also sometimes translated as โcheer, rejoice, shout, or oh!.โ If there is a different determinative after the first two symbols โ๐๐๐,โ it will also change the meaning!
Iโve mentioned this before but I love the โcaptionsโ that the ancient Egyptians would put next to gods ๐น๐น๐น and goddesses ๐น๐น๐น๐ in the art so you know which deity you are looking at! In the bottom image you can see Isis ๐จ๐๐, Anubis ๐๐๐ช and Nephthys ๐ ๐๐ who are three prominent funerary deities with the mummy ๐๐น๐ ฑ๐พ of the deceased.
The hieroglyphs for important deities are highlighted in this image.
Isis ๐จ๐๐ and Nephthys ๐ ๐๐ are also in the top image on the barge with the mummy ๐๐น๐ ฑ๐พ of the deceased. Much like how they would appear on coffins, Isis ๐จ๐๐ is always at the feet of the mummy ๐๐น๐ ฑ๐พ while Nephthys ๐ ๐๐ is at the head of the mummy ๐๐น๐ ฑ๐พ.
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This piece is known as an โOvoid Stoneโ or a โHammering Stoneโ and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction.
A closeup image of the Ovoid Stone and the hieroglyphs on it!
Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! I divided the inscription into two parts, and then translated each of the individual words so you can get a sense of the sentence structure used in the Middle/New Egyptian language!! Hereโs the first row:
โโฆat the stretching of the cord over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!โ
The โStretching of the Cordโ was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt. โHoliest of Holiesโ is the name for Hatshepsutโs temple at Deir el-Bahri.
A larger view of the display that contains the Ovoid Stone
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Here I am with the Kingโs List in the British Museum! In the picture ๐๐ ฑ๐, Iโm pointing to where Hatshepsutโs ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ name ๐๐ should be because she was one of the pharaohs left off the list – she was left off because she was considered to be a non-legitimate pharaoh.
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.
The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods ๐น๐น๐น, and as we know, pharaohs ๐๐ป๐ฅ were considered gods ๐น๐น๐น on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ and Rameses II ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ด๐ to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs ๐๐ป๐ฅ of Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐.
A closeup of the cartouches on the King’s List
Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! We are going to look at the Throne Name cartouches of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs to show where Hatshepsutโs ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ name is missing! We will start reading from the right since the hieroglyphs point in that direction!
๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ – Thutmosis I โGreat is the manifestation of the soul of Raโ
๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ – Thutmosis II โGreat is the manifestation of Raโ
๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ – Tutmosis III โLasting is the Manifestation of Raโ
๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ – Amenhotep II โGreat is the manifestation of Raโ
๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ – Thutmosis IV โLasting are the Manifestations of Raโ
๐ณ๐ง๐ – Amenhotep III โPossessor of the Truth of Raโ
As you can see, the cartouches jump right from Thutmosis II ๐ณ๐ป๐ฃ๐ to Thutmosis III ๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ and totally skip Hatshepsut ๐ณ๐ฆ๐!
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Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Today ๐๐๐๐ณ, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ and hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
This display combines two of my favorite things: Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs! This ushabti belonged to a woman named Isis and is on display at the MET.
This ushabti ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ is made out of limestone ๐๐๐๐ and was made for a woman named Isis ๐จ๐๐๐ who was ironically a singer for the Aten ๐๐๐๐ณ !
This ushabti ๐๐๐๐ค was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten ๐๐๐๐ณ๐ ๐๐. The 18th Dynasty is almost the โgolden ageโ of ushabtis ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ because they undergo much development during this time period. Itโs very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten ๐๐๐๐ณ was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabtiโs ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue!
Hereโs the full inscription on the ushabti: ๐๐๐๐๐ ฎ๐๐๐๐ณ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ค
Letโs break down the inscription by each individual word:
๐๐๐ – Singer
๐ – of
๐ ฎ – (indicates past tense)
๐๐๐๐ณ – Aten
๐จ๐๐๐ – Isis
๐๐๐๐ค – True of Voice/justified
While limestone ๐๐๐๐ is not the most common material for ushabtis ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ to be made out of, itโs not unheard of to have ushabtis ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ like this during the 18th Dynasty period.
It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten ๐๐๐๐ณ๐ ๐๐ completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis ๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ, remained.
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The images ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ฅ in this post are from the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel ๐ป๐ด๐ of Raemkai. The West ๐๐๐๐ is significant in ancient Egypt because the West ๐๐๐๐ is the realm of the dead. In a typical tomb chapel ๐ป๐ด๐ built during the Old Kingdom, the West Wall would have a False Door and then scenes that would be typical of offering rituals.ย ย
In the ancient Egyptian religion/culture, it was thought that the carvings on the walls of tombs ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ช could come to life. If people were depicted providing food ๐ฌ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ฅ to the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ, then it was thought that the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ would have enough sustenance for the afterlife ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐!
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this first image shows a butchering scene
This first image ๐๐ ฑ๐ is a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which shows a butchering ๐๐๐ด scene. Meat ๐๐น was one of the most important offerings ๐ ๐ that could be given to the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ which is why this type of scene would be included in a tomb chapel ๐ป๐ด๐.ย
While you can probably tell that the people in this image ๐๐ ฑ๐ are butchering ๐๐๐ด๐ช cattle ๐๐ฆ, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
In the image ๐๐ ฑ๐, you can see the word โ๐๐๐ดโ which means โto slaughterโ or โto butcher.โ This word can also be written as โ๐๐๐ด๐ชโ which is the same word but with the determinative at the end! I prefer it when the words have determinatives because it makes everything easier to read!
If you look closely, the ๐ด symbol is actually carved backwards which confused me at first because if you read the word the opposite way, it becomes โ๐ด๐๐โ which translates as โto know/to learnโ which does not make sense in the context of the scene!
So here are some new vocabulary words for you:ย
๐๐๐ด to slaughter/to butcher
๐ด๐๐ to know/to learn
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this image shows a butchering scene
This second image ๐๐ ฑ๐ is also a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which also shows a butchering ๐๐๐ด scene. Meat ๐๐น was one of the most important offerings ๐ ๐ that could be given to the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ!ย
While you can probably tell that the people in this image ๐๐ ฑ๐ are butchering ๐๐๐ด๐ช cattle ๐๐ฆ, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! I love these ancient Egyptian โcaptionsโ because there arenโt a lot of hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช so itโs not too overwhelming to translate if youโre just starting out!
Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Here is a breakdown of the inscription ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐น:
๐ฎ – to cook/to bake
๐๐๐ – bone marrow
๐๐น – meat
This tomb chapel ๐ป๐ด๐ is on display at the MET and is absolutely beautiful to go in and explore! Hereโs a tip for your next visit: it is kind of hidden and located directly across from the Blue Faience Tiles from Saqqara and itโs not very crowded so you can really enjoy it!
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Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Today ๐๐๐๐ณ, at an uncommon variant of Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ญ! As you may know, Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is my favorite word to spot (no matter the variant) in inscriptions!
This particular โspellingโ of Anubisโ name ๐๐ is a not-as- common variant of the common way to write his name which is โ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ.โ However, even though some of the symbols are different, his name ๐๐ would still be pronounced the same! The proper way to say Anubis in Middle/New/Late Egyptian is โฤฑอnpwโ (pronounced like โInpuโ or โAnpuโ).
Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ญ is my favorite Egyptian god ๐น, so I love spotting the different variants of his name ๐๐! His name turns up a lot because Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ญ is one of the main funerary gods ๐น๐น๐น, and a large part of Egyptian artifacts that are in museums happen to be funerary objects ๐๐๐ด๐๐๐ญ!
Can you spot the uncommon variant of Anubis “๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ญ” in the inscription above?
Letโs take a closer look at the symbols!
The โreed ๐โ is a uniliteral phonogram for โฤฑอ,โ however it can also function as an ideogram for the word โreed ๐๐บ.โ
The โred crown ๐โ is also a uniliteral phonogram. The โ๐โ is associated with the sound of โn,โ just like the โripple of water ๐.โ This symbol can also act as a determinative for โred crown.โ
The โstool ๐ชโ symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound โp.โ
The โQuail Chick ๐ ฑโ is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word โchick ๐ ฑ๐บ.โ
The โseated god ๐ญโ is a determinative symbol and isnโt pronounced! It acts as โpunctuationโ at the end of the name of a male god!
The name ๐๐ โAnubisโ is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name ๐๐, so that is why the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช donโt match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu/Anpuโs name ๐๐!
Here are some common variants of Anubisโ name:
๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ญ (the one pictured)
๐๐๐ช๐ฃ
๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ
๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ข
๐๐๐ช
๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ
Which variant do you prefer? My favorite is ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ!
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Today ๐๐๐๐ณ we are going to look at one of the most common and recognizable uniliteral phonogram hieroglyphic symbols: the owl ๐ ! The owl hieroglyph is very unique because it is viewed head-on instead of in a profile view!ย
The Owl Hieroglyph from a Middle Kingdom coffin at the MET
I personally love the โowl ๐ โ hieroglyph because it reminds me of Hedwig from Harry Potter! Iโve been a huge Harry Potter fan since 2001 and whenever I see an owl it reminds me of my favorite books – especially when the hieroglyph is painted to look like a snowy owl! In ancient Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐, owls were seen as protective/guardian figures, which is exactly what Hedwig was to Harry! I love it when ancient Egyptian mythological themes persist through time!
A uniliteral sign is a hieroglyphic symbol that corresponds to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. The โowl ๐ โ symbol represents the sound of โmโ and it has many different uses!
The โowl ๐ โ symbol is one that appears in inscriptions all the time and is most commonly seen as part of other words! Some words that use the โowl ๐ โ symbol are:
๐ ๐ โ Overseer
๐๐ ๐๐ โ Kemet (Egypt)
๐ ๐๐๐ โ Papyrus Roll
๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช – Imhotep
Of course these are not all the words that contain the โowl ๐ โ symbol!
But what happens if the โowl ๐ โ symbol appears by itself in an inscription and isnโt part of another word? The โowl ๐ โ symbol has its own meaning when it appears alone! I guess you can say it functions as the all-around preposition! For example, the โowl ๐ โ hieroglyph can mean: In, On, At, By, With, and As! This symbol has so many meanings/uses!
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Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! This is my second post on Cleopatraโs Needle and here is a link to the first!
This obelisk ๐ถ was commissioned to be built by Thutmosis III ๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ during his 18th Dynasty reign to highlight his military victories. On the obelisk ๐ถ, not only can you see Thutmosis IIIโs ๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ throne name cartouche, but you can also see both the throne name and birth name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh ๐๐ป Rameses II! Rameses II usurped this monument, as he did with the monuments of many past pharaohs! He not only put his cartouches, but at the top of the obelisk ๐ถ his Horus Name also appears in the serekh!
A closeup image of the hieroglyphs on Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!
The name ๐๐ Menkhepperra ๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ is Thutmosis IIIโs throne name and it appears multiple times on the obelisk. The name ๐๐ translates to โLasting is the Manifestation of Ra.โ
๐ณ – Ra
๐ – Lasting
๐ฃ – Manifestation
The name ๐๐ โRamessu Mery Amun ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ด๐โ is Rameses IIโs birth name. The name ๐๐ translates to โRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun,โ but could also be translated as โRa Bore Him, Beloved of Amun.โ
๐ฉ – Amun
๐ – Ra
๐ – Beloved
๐๐ด๐ – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of
The name ๐๐ โUsermaatre setep en Ra ๐ณ๐๐ง๐ณ๐๐โ is Rameses IIโs throne name and translates to โThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.โ
๐ณ – Ra
๐ – Powerful
๐ง – Justice (Maat)
๐ณ – Ra
๐๐ – Chosen
Can you spot the three different cartouches in my picture ๐๐ ฑ๐? I will probably be doing another post on the inscriptions and their meaning so look out for that post too!
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