Tag: hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 spells out the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. “Osiris” is actually the Greek version of the name 𓂋𓈖; the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 probably would have pronounced his name 𓂋𓈖 like “Isr.”

There are a couple of different ways to write Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖, but “𓁹𓊨𓀭” is the most common way! Other variations are:
𓇬𓈖𓈖𓄤𓀭
𓊩𓁹

Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is considered one of the most important deities in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. While he is mostly known as the god 𓊹 of the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (Duat), but that he also controlled all life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 from the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This means that Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was associated with the annual flooding of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 but also the growing vegetation and annual harvest. This makes sense since Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is strongly connected with regeneration and rebirth, and the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 also associated the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 with these characteristics. Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was even thrown into the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 after he was cut up by his brother 𓌢𓈖 Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣!

It was believed that every person, not just deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs, became associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 when they died! However people were not resurrected in this life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 (even Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 himself wasn’t technically resurrected), instead, the person was reborn into the next life and lived in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

White Limestone Sphinx of Hatshepsut

I was SO EXCITED to see the white limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 again! It has been so long since I’ve seen this piece; it was honestly like greeting an old friend! This Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 used to be in the main Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 gallery at the MET, but for some reason it’s no longer there! Now it is hidden in one of the smaller galleries which is a shame because it is such a beautiful piece!

Most of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 statuary 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 that was excavated from her temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 were carved from red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶, however this one is carved from limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 – the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 and this Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 are very different too. The white limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 have much more feminine features as compared to the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 ones most likely because they were used in different parts of the temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 for different purposes.

This Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 has been heavily reconstructed by using pieces that were modeled after the second Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 just like this one, which is in the Cairo Museum. These two 𓏻 sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 most likely guarded the upper terrace of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 while the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 would have guarded the lower terrace.

Thanks to Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 drive/intelligence and her architect Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, Hatshepsut will be remembered as one of the most prolific builders in Egyptian history! It’s such a shame that she doesn’t get the same recognition that Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 gets!

Instead of wearing the typical nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth that most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who were fashioned into sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 wear, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is actually wearing a lion’s 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 mane! This is very typical of Middle Kingdom art! This piece is dated to 1479–1458 B.C.E., and I love seeing New Kingdom art imitate styles from the past!

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 written backwards! It should be “𓏙𓋹” not “𓋹𓏙” as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left).

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!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

“Osiris Figure of Hatnefer”

This piece, titled the “Osiris Figure of Hatnefer” is dated to the joint reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.).

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece was found in Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓄿 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, though it inscribed 𓎘𓅱𓎖 with the name 𓂋𓈖 Hatnefer 𓄂𓄤𓁐. Hatnefer 𓄂𓄤𓁐 was Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 and due to his status as Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 most trusted advisor, he was able to give his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 a proper burial.

This”Osiris Figure,” which represents resurrection, is almost a cross between a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾(it contains the basic funerary text on it) and the popular Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures of the Late Period. The Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures always stood on a wooden base just like this. Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures represented birth, death, and resurrection. It’s interesting to see how the art has evolved over the years!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓄪𓇌𓏏 – Venerated (I believe this is a variant of 𓄪𓐍𓇌)
𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓊩𓁹 – Osiris
𓄂𓄤𓁐 – Hatnefer

I am always so amazed when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 pieces are still in such great condition – wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is organic and it can break down very quickly as compared to a material like rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bracelet Belonging to the Princess Sithathoryunet

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful is this?!?!

This beautiful 𓄤 bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖. She is thought to be his daughter because her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 is linked to his. Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry behind! The bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 is made out of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and other beautiful stones like turquoise! I just love how the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 colors all look together!

Despite most likely being the daughter of Senwosret II 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖, the bracelet displays the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat III 𓇳𓈖𓐙𓌳𓂝𓏏.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓄤 – Great God
𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands
𓇳𓈖𓐙𓌳𓂝𓏏 – Amenemhat III
𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

What’s exciting about this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is that these are all phrases that we have covered in the past! A lot of the same titles and phrases pop up on various types of objects!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Ointment Jar Translation

This is an ointment jar that was found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! In Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 time, the temple was referred to as 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 or the “Holiest of Holies” (or djeser-djeseru). There are many different hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 variations of the word as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓏏𓊹𓄤 – The Great Goddess
𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿 – Lady of the Two Lands
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
𓋹𓍘 – May She Live!
𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun
𓅓 – In
𓂦𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies
𓌺𓏏𓇌 – Beloved

So all together, the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 reads: “The Great Goddess, Lady of the Two Lands, Maatkare, May She Live! Beloved of Amun who is in the Holiest of Holies.”

Fun fact about the word “𓅓!” This one symbol, usually associated with the modern letter “m,” can have many meanings such as: in, as, by, with, from, when, through, and what!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis – Name in Hieroglyphs

Can you tell that I love Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣?!?! 🖤 And yes, I did take a selfie with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 that was on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 when I was the MET!

Nicole (me) with Anubis!

There are so many misconceptions about Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 especially in pop culture (Anubis was the villain for like seven seasons of Stargate SG-1)! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is always depicted as the “bad guy,” when in reality, he most certainly was not! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was an extremely respected Egyptian god 𓊹 due to his role in protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, preserving the body (mummification) and aiding the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in reaching the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife) through the Weighing of the Heart.

In the Old Kingdom, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was the most prominent god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, however, he was replaced by Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 during the Middle Kingdom when Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 became the more prominent god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in hieroglyphs

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 played a big role in the myth of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 as well – after Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 recovered Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 body parts, she brought them to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 who wrapped them in cloth and performed the Opening of the Mouth on Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The Opening of the Mouth was a ritual that would restore the senses to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and allow them to work in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II – Birth Name Cartouche

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Montuhotep II

Same relief from yesterday, but different hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name/given name 𓂋𓈖, and that is the cartouche we will be looking at today!

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Montuhotep II

Let’s look even closer at the individual words!

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

Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 refers to one of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 was a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 of war who was mainly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. He is mentioned as early as the Pyramid texts, but he didn’t rise to importance until the 11th Dynasty. However, Montu’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 importance waned beginning in the 12th Dynasty as Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 rose to power in the Theban region. However, Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 wasn’t forgotten because Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴(who was quite the general/military leader) frequently compared himself to Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱!

The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” translates to the word “satisfied” or “content.” The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” can also mean “offering” or “peace!”

So the name 𓂋𓈖 Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 means “Montu is satisfied” or “Montu is content.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II – Throne Name Cartouche

𓇳𓎟𓊤 – Nebhapetra

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).

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

While Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name 𓂋𓈖, the cartouche we are looking at is his throne name 𓂋𓈖!

𓇳𓎟𓊤 – Nebhapetra

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

Most of the time when you have a three 𓏼 symbol throne name, the glyphs are read middle, right/bottom, and then top/left. The symbol for Ra 𓇳 is written first but said last, due to honorific transposition! Basically, out of respect for the god 𓊹, their name 𓂋𓈖 is written first!

In English (and other languages like Italian) we have something similar to this – we say “ten dollars” but write it as “dollars ten” – $10!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Cones

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 collections of museums, these funerary 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!

Nicole (me) with funerary cones at The Met!

Funerary cones are made of clay and usually found at the openings of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. 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).

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with the name of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 occupant as well as a god 𓊹. These objects can also be referred to as “funerary stamps.”

An example inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that is common on a funerary cone would be something like:

“Venerated before Osiris, Son of X, Name of Deceased.”

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated
𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wepwawet

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is not the only jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥-headed god 𓊹 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and it can be easy to get some of them confused because they look similar! Even in ancient texts Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 can be confused with each other but they are separate deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹! This is a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧! While the head is cut off, the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is in front of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 on this piece!

This piece was likely used in a royal procession, as Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was one of the symbols carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during certain rituals/ceremonies. Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “opener of the ways,” and he was even associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! This is probably why he was carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions!

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

There are a couple of different variations of Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:
𓃧
𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧
𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

The first way the name 𓂋𓈖 is written is just the determinative symbol, while the other two 𓏻 ways show the name 𓂋𓈖 spelled out the same, but the determinative at the end is different!

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).