Tag: hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

False Door of Metjetji

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to be looking at a section of a False Door from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ named Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋. Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 lived during the Fifth or Sixth Dynasties (Old Kingdom) during the reign π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Unas π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹΄ or slightly later.Β 

False Door of Metjetji
The False Door of Metjetji which contains a list of offerings for his use in the afterlife.

On the False Door, we see Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 on the left sitting in front of an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃. The offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 seems to have a lot of jars on it! The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that we see are a part of the offering formula! 

Fun fact: usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the person is facing the same way as the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!  Since the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (and also Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋) are pointing to the right, we will start reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from the right! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are always read from top to bottom, so we will read that way as well!  

This is a list of all of the things that Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 needs in order to sustain him in the afterlife! 

𓇓𓏏𓀻 – King’s Nobleman/King’s Gentleman

𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 – Metjetji

𓆼𓏐- A thousand bread

𓆼𓃾 – A thousand ox 

𓆼𓅿 – A thousand fowl 

𓆼𓍲 – A thousand alabaster (I think this is a mistake – it should be β€œπ“±β€ and not β€œπ“²β€)

𓆼𓋲 – A thousand linen 

𓆼𓏖 – A thousand round loafs of bread

π“†Όπ“Š – A thousand beer

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Osiris Cartouche

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a man named Amenemopet who lived during the early part of the 22nd Dynasty (c. 975–909 B.C.E.).Β This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 has what I like to call “The Osiris Cartouche” painted inside!

The Osiris Cartouche
The Osiris Cartouche is located on the bottom panel of this coffin at the MET.

If you look closely at the beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 artwork inside this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 there’s a lot of different things going on! The uppermost row of artwork in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 purifying π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, whose is surrounded by offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 covered in food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯! 

Above Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 there are some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (the ancient Egyptian word for β€œNetherworld”)

Is it Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 being referred to as the β€œLord of the Duat,” or is it Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­? Usually this epithet was used with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! 

One of the cool things you can see on the bottom panel is Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·! Usually the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a god π“ŠΉ will appear in the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· and since this coffin does not belong to a pharaoh, a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· is not expected! But Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was believed to be the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, so I guess a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· is fitting! 

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are: π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ŽŸπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›. Let’s break down the symbols! 

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris

π“ŽŸ – Lord

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

All π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this translates to β€œOsiris, Lord of Eternity.”

The cartouche is flanked by the Golden Horus symbol π“…‰ on either side which is a Falcon π“…ƒ standing on top of the symbol for gold π“‹ž. The common symbols of protection, the Eye of Horus and Eye of Ra also appear above the Golden Horus π“…‰, along with the shen ring in between the Falcon’s wings. The Shen 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness and eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›. 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Perfect, Beautiful, Neferet

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a very popular word that appears a lot in ancient Egyptian writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! The word β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹/𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏” translates to β€œbeautiful,” β€œperfect,” or β€œgood” and can be used not only in titles such as β€œπ“ŠΉπ“„€ Perfect God” or names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ such as β€œNefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“—,” but also in various words or phrases too! 

In Middle Egyptian there are a couple of ways to write β€œbeautiful,” β€œperfect,” or β€œgood:” 

π“„€ – the hieroglyphic symbol β€œnfr” (nefer) can be used on its own to represent the word. 

𓄀𓆑𓂋 – this would also be pronounced as β€œnfr” (nefer) as the sounds by the uniliteral phonograms would not be repeated. 

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏 – this would be pronounced as β€œnfrt,” (neferet) as this is the female form of the word! This is the one that is in my picture! 

When determinatives are used, the meaning of this word can change so be careful! β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“π“β€ with the woman determinative means β€œbeautiful woman” while β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“π“ƒ’β€ with the cow determinative means cow! Determinatives can totally change the meaning of the word!Β 

Neferet
Neferet in hieroglyphs from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus at the MET.

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Since the horned viper 𓆑 is pointing to the left, we will start reading from the left! 

The β€œheart and windpipe 𓄀” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound β€œnfr” which in modern times we pronounce like β€œnefer.”

The β€œhorned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œf.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. As a stand-alone symbol, it can also mean he/his. 

The β€œ mouth – 𓂋” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œr” and can be an ideogram for the word β€œmouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Pyramid Texts of Pepy I

This small relief on display at the Petrie Museum is a section of β€œThe Pyramid Texts” which is the oldest known funerary/religious writings in the world. The original text dates back to the Old Kingdom.Β 

The Pyramid Texts of Pepy I
A small relief which contains the Pyramid Texts of Pepy I

The Pyramid Texts can be thought of as a precursor to both the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺! The main differences between these religious texts are that the Pyramid Texts were only accessible to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because they were only carved inside of the pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦. Also, the Pyramid Texts were also not illustrated!

This particular section of the Pyramid Texts contains a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“› that Pepy I π“Šͺ𓇋π“Šͺ𓇋 would say that would provide him with food and drink for eternity 𓆖! Here is a piece of the leftmost column that I could translate (a lot is cut off): 

𓇋𓅱 – My/I

π“‡¬π“ˆŽπ“ˆŽ – Eat

𓏏𓏐- Bread

π“Š- Beer

The cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of the 6th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Pepy I π“Šͺ𓇋π“Šͺ𓇋 was one of the first cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ I learned to read/recognize because it’s written with only uniliteral hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! A lot of the Old Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ have names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ spelled with uniliteral signs, which makes them great for beginners to read/learn! One of the ways I started learning hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ was by practicing reading the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯! 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in Pepy’s π“Šͺ𓇋π“Šͺ𓇋 cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·: 

The β€œstool π“Šͺ” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œp,” and does not have any other grammatical functions!

The β€œreed 𓇋” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and most commonly represents the sound of β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Cones

I love Gallery 117 at the MET so much! The objects in here may not look like much to the average person (they probably just look like a bunch of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦), but to me they are a beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 piece in the story of ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!Β 

Funerary Cones
Me in Gallery 117 at the MET – the Funerary Cones are in a display behind me!

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ collections of museums, these β€œfunerary cones” were always something my Nonno pointed out to me! He thought they were so interesting and now every time I go to museums, I actively seek these out as a way to remember my Nonno! He loved this little gallery at the MET solely because of the funerary cones! 

Funerary cones (a modern name given to these objects) are made of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and usually found at the openings of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (almost exclusively). They were used primarily during the 18th Dynasty (though there are examples that date to the 11th Dynasty or as late as the 19th-20th Dynasties).

While the exact usage of the funerary cones is not known, but they are inferred to be architectural decorations, tomb labels, symbolic offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦, or even as passports to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of these cones have been excavated to date! Every museum I have been to has a collection of these funerary cones!

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ with the name of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ occupant as well as a god π“ŠΉ.

An example inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that is common on a funerary cone would be something like: β€œVenerated before Osiris, Son of ____, Name of Deceased.” 

π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œ – Venerated 

𓐍𓂋 – Before

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris

π“…­ – Son

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ on display at the Brooklyn Museum.Β Β 

Stela of Rameses II
Stela of Rameses II on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ talk about how Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– there. The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was a way to commemorate Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ presenting statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³. 

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! 

Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook π“‹Ύ) from the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³. This is meant to represent that Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ saw Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ as a legitimate and rightful ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ (in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–/Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ kind of replaces Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ in popularity as king 𓇓 of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and that they were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.Β 

It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ appear on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!Β These names appear on the top two rows of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here are Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ five 𓏾 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦:Β 

π“ƒ’π“‚‘π“‡³π“Ίπ“€­π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Horus π“…ƒ Name (The Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra) 

π“…–π“Ž‘π“†Žπ“π“Š–π“…±π“‚π“†‘π“²π“‚‘π“ˆŠπ“π“¦ – Nebty π“…’ Name (Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands”)

π“Œ‚π“π“‚‘π“„˜π“‚§π“‚‹π“‚‘π“Œ”π“π“€π“» – Golden Horus π“…‰ Name (β€œPowerful of Arm, He Who Has Subdued the Nine Bows”)

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Throne Name (β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra”)

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Birth Name (β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun”)

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Blog

Spaceship Earth

There is a wonderful ride at EPCOT called Spaceship Earth! You board a β€œtime machine” and take a journey on how human communication has changed from the dawn of time to now! I have always loved this ride because it has an entire room dedicated to ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! 

The narrator highlights some of ancient Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– important contributions to human communication such as the invention of papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!Β 

Spaceship Earth
A scene from Spaceship Earth showing a the pharaoh, the great wife, and a scribe writing on papyrus

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Yes, some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this ride are actually real! In the picture above, behind the pharaoh sitting on the throne, is the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of Seti I! What’s funny is that this looks like Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ throne, but Seti I is sitting on it!Β 

Spaceship Earth
A closeup of the hieroglyphs on Spaceship Earth, showing the birth name cartouche of pharaoh Seti I

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra (one of the titles that appears before the birth name cartouche)

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›- Ptah 

π“£π“‡Œ – Belongs to Seth (pronounced like β€œSeti”) 

π“Œ» – BelovedΒ 

Spaceship Earth
The replica of an ancient Egyptian temple on Spaceship Earth

The picture above shows what looks like a temple, but you can spot Seti I’s throne name cartouche, 𓇳𓁦𓏠:Β 

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt (title that appears before the throne name cartouche)

𓇳𓁦𓏠  – Menmaatra (β€œEternal 𓏠 is the Truth 𓁦 of Ra 𓇳”)

You can also see some other common phrases/titles on this temple such as β€œMonuments 𓏠𓏍,” β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ,” β€œPerfect God π“ŠΉπ“„€,” β€œIt is/To Be π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“ˆ–,” and β€œSky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯.” 

Spaceship Earth
A man making papyrus paper on Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth
Another view of the temple on Spaceship Earth, this time showing Anubis

The pictures above show a man making papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and the temple – and you can see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in the bottom left!

I hope you’re enjoying my β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series! Let me know in the comments!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Horus Name of Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the Horus Name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! The Throne Name (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) and the Birth Name (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) usually appear more in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ so let’s take a closer look at the Horus Name! 

The Horus Name is the oldest way that a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was written/identified and is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade π“Š, Horus the Falcon π“…ƒ standing on top of the palace π“Š, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace π“Š. The palace π“Š hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is pronounced like β€œserekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·! 

Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ had a lot of different variations of his Horus Name, so let’s take a look at the two 𓏻 that are pictured!Β 

Horus Name of Rameses II
Two variants of the Horus Name of Rameses II

π“‚‘π“ƒ’π“›π“ŒΊ – β€œStrong Bull, Beloved of Ra”

π“‚‘π“ƒ’π“§π“ŒΊ – β€œStrong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

β€œStrong Bull π“‚‘π“ƒ’β€œ was a very popular way to start off the Horus Name for male pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 because bulls 𓃒𓃒𓃒 were a symbol of strength π“Œ€ and fertility, both of which are qualities that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to have!

Let’s break down the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– even further: 

π“‚‘ – Strong

𓃒 – Bull

𓁧/𓁛 – Maat/Ra

π“ŒΊ – Beloved

Both variants of Rameses II’s Horus Name contain the shortened variants of certain words! 

𓁧 – Maat (π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§)

𓁛 – Ra (𓇳𓏺𓁛)

π“ŒΊ – Beloved (π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ)

Variants can be tricky for those starting to learn hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, but with practice they become much easier – especially the shortened version of the words!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Augustus

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a look at one of the sunken reliefs on the Temple of Dendur at the MET! This relief shows Emperor Augustus wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ standing before Horus π“…ƒπ“€­.Β 

The Cartouches of Augustus
The Cartouches of Augustus – can you spot all three?

To me, what is most interesting though are the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of Augustus! Unlike the Greek rulers of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– that spelled out their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ using phonogram symbols, Augustus went a different route when having his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– represented in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see all three 𓏼 of his cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦: 

π“ˆŽπ“‡Œπ“Šƒπ“‚‹π“Šƒπ“‹Ήπ“†– – (Kaisaros)

π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“π“‚‹ – (Autokrator)

𓉐𓉻𓀀 – (Pharaoh (pr-ˁ3))

β€œAutokrator” is the Greek word for β€œEmperor,” β€œKaisaros” is the Greek word for β€œCaesar,” and β€œpr-ˁ3” is the Middle Egyptian word for β€œpharaoh.”

In Middle Egyptian the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 literally translates to β€œGreat House.β€œ This is a direct reference to the palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 where the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 resided during his/her rule. 

𓉐 – House (pr)

𓉻 – Great (ˁ3)

The third cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· is the one I have always found so fascinating because it is literally the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Middle Egyptian plus the male determinative sign π“€€. Most names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ (even when spelled out with phonograms) are followed by a determinative for a male π“€€ person or female 𓁐 person. By choosing to have his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– depicted in this way, Augustus was literally calling himself the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! 

Augustus chose to have various words for β€œruler” as his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule! 

Can you spot three of Augustus’ cartouches in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II and Horus

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at this fragmented relief from the Louvre which depicts the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– and the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­! Horus is holding Rameses II’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– hand and leading him. How do we know that this is a depiction of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ since there are many falcon gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ? The word “Edfu π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–” in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is a major clue – Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ of the Winged Disc or β€œBehdetite” was the chief god π“ŠΉ of the city π“Š–!

Look at who is leading Horus π“…ƒπ“€­- it’s the god π“ŠΉ Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 who is the β€œOpener of the Ways!” Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 appears on a standard and is associated leading ritual processions.Β 

Rameses II and Horus
Relief showing Rameses II and Horus

Above the depiction is actually part of Rameses II’s royal titularly! Each pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 had five names, and the first one that appears is known as the β€œHorus Name.” Rameses II had many variants of his Horus Name, but we will look at the one that appears here: β€œπ“‚‘π“ƒ’π“§π“ŒΊ Strong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

π“‚‘ – Strong

𓃒 – Bull

𓁧 – Maat

π“ŒΊ – Beloved

After that, the Nebty Name π“…’ is listed! The Nebty Name is distinguished by the Nebty or Two Ladies symbol β€œπ“…’.” Only the partial name appears on the relief: β€œπ“…–π“Ž‘π“†Žπ“π“Š– Protector of Egypt.”

π“…– – Protector 

π“Ž‘π“†Žπ“π“Š– – Egypt (Kemet) (most commonly, Kemet is written as β€œπ“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–,” however this is another variant).

The full name is as follows: π“…–π“Ž‘π“†Žπ“π“Š–π“…±π“‚π“†‘π“²π“‚‘π“ˆŠπ“π“¦ β€œProtector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands.” 

Rameses II and Horus
Relief showing Rameses II and Horus

Above Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ appears:Β 

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š– – Edfu

π“ŽŸ- Lord

𓇯 – Sky

π“„€ – Perfect

π“ŠΉ – God 

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”)

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life 

π“Œ€ – Strength

All together the inscription says: “Edfu, Lord of the Sky, the Perfect God Usermaatre setep en Ra Give Life and Strength.”

To the left of Rameses II: 

π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“ˆ– – It Is

π“„€ – Perfect

π“ŠΉ – God 

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre setep en Ra

All together the inscription says: “It Is the Pefect God Usermaatre setep en Ra.”

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

@ancientegyptblog