Tag: gods and goddesses

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Four Sons of Horus in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This sunken relief and inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is from the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of a man named Harkhebit who lived during Dynasty 26 (c. 595-526 B.C.E.). This sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is one of the better examples of Late Period ancient Egyptian stonework and is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

One of the best things about Egyptian art is that sometimes the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 act as “captions” and tell you exactly which deity 𓊹 you are looking at! The name 𓂋𓈖 of the deity 𓊹 usually appears above their head in an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 and Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿.

On the left, we can see Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 who is one of the Four Sons of Horus that was tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. ! Duamutef can also be spelled like 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑, and it would be pronounced the same! A lot of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏, and even pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had variants. A variant is just an alternate spelling of a word! A determinative could also appear at the end of the name 𓂋𓈖, which would make them appear as 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 and 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑𓀭. 

On the right, we can see Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿 who is also one of the Four Sons of Horus who was tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸! Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿 can also be spelled like 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋, and that variation is the one you will see most often so it was very cool to see this particular spelling! A determinative could also appear at the end of the name𓂋𓈖 , which would make them appear as 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 and 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋𓀭. 

Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌 and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑

On the left, we can see Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌, who is one of the Four Sons of Horus. Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺. Hapy’s name 𓂋𓈖can also be spelled like in “𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌” hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. The spelling seen on this sarcophagus (𓐑𓊪𓇌)is a less common variant! Even in English, Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌 can also be spelled like “Hapi!” 

On the right, we can see Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 who is another one of the Four Sons of Horus. Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼. The way that Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 is spelled on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is the most common way I have seen the name 𓂋𓈖 spelled! 

A determinative could also appear at the end of the name𓂋𓈖 , which would make them appear as 𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 and 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭. 

Much like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 were popular deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 to see on funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, the Sons of Horus were as well because they were tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. That is certainly an important job! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 does appear on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭, he’s just in a different spot! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Amun-Ra, “Lord of the Thrones”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 that includes the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹, and the honorific that follows the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹! 

Here’s a breakdown of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖: 

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓀭 – Amun-Ra

𓎟 – Lord 

𓎼𓎼𓎼 – Thrones

So the inscription fully reads “𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓀭𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼 – Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones.” “Lord of the Thrones 𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼” was a popular honorific to use after the name 𓂋𓈖 of a deity 𓊹 like Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓀭 because as he rose to popularity during the New Kingdom, he was considered to be the King of the Egyptian Gods. Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓀭 was also referred to as the “Supreme God” and is the combination of the individual deities Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 and Ra 𓇳𓁜. 

Here are some variants of Amun-Ra’s name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓀭

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺

𓁩

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅆

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Thoth: Lord of the Divine Writing

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name 𓂋𓈖 of not only a very popular deity 𓊹, but also one of my favorite deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 (besides Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 of course)!! 

This is the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! The name 𓂋𓈖 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 is actually the Greek version of his name 𓂋𓈖; the ancient Egyptians referred to him as Djehuty 𓅝𓏏𓏭!

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪 together 𓈖𓊗! 

The “ Ibis on Standard 𓅝” symbol is a variant of the “Ibis 𓅞” symbol and has the sound of “ḏḥwtj,” which we thing would sound like “Djehuty.” This symbol is an ideogram, so it represents the full sound of the word it is meant to represent. 

What’s interesting about the Middle Egyptian Language, is that even though ideograms like “𓅝” and “𓁟” would fully spell out Thoth’s name 𓂋𓈖, scribes would still add the phonograms to the end of the name 𓂋𓈖 if there was enough space on the monument/object to do so! This made inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 easier to read 𓎔𓂧𓀁 and also look nicer! The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were all about the aesthetic!

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The “two strokes 𓏭” symbol represents the sound “j” which in English would have the same sound as a “y.” It is usually only used at the end of a word!

Here are some variants of Thoth’s name 𓂋𓈖:

𓅤𓀭 

𓁟 

𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 

𓅝𓏏𓏭

𓅝

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and was thus the god 𓊹 of all record keeping. Due to his vast knowledge, 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 Thoth 𓁟 was thought to know magic and secrets that were unknown to the rest of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. He was also the god 𓊹 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪.

Let’s read the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 in the picture above: 

𓅝𓏏𓏭 – Thoth (Djehuty)

𓎟 – Lord

𓊹𓌃𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟 – Divine Words/Writing

“Lord of the Divine Words/Writing 𓎟𓊹𓌃𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟” was one of Thoth’s 𓅝𓏏𓏭 many titles! This title makes perfect sense since he was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥/hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Fun Fact: “writing” was usually written as “𓏟𓂂𓂂𓂂,” but on this coffin it is switched to “𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟!”

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 was originally god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹, but then later became associated with writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜. The moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 could be thought of as a “night sun,” which kind of places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Re 𓇳𓏺𓁛. 

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar which is one of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to astronomy! As their math an astronomy got better, Egyptian astronomers even adjusted the year to be exactly 365.25 days, which is the exact time it takes the Earth 𓇾𓇾 to revolve around the Sun 𓇳𓏺! How amazing is that!?

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Egyptian Artifacts

Viscera Figures

While the four 𓏽 figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the front of this display look like ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures, they are not!! There are some blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼  ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures behind the Four Sons of Horus though! 

So what are these Four Sons of Horus figures? These are actually called “viscera figures” and they were meant to protect the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! Usually, the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, liver 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, and intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼 were removed, dried with natron, and placed in Canopic Jars for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. 

In some cases, the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 were mummified and put back in the body. This is where the viscera figures come into play – the viscera figures were then placed inside the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the mummified organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦! 

From the left:  Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸. Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼. Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺. 

These pieces are dated to the Third Intermediate Period/21st Dynasty (c. 1000–945 B.C.E.). The viscera figures and the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures pictured were found in the burial chamber 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓉐 of Djedmutesankh in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Eye of Horus vs. Eye of Ra

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and the molds that were used to make them! These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, but also make the amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 small and detailed! The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are the Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 and the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! 

How do you tell them apart? The left eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 is the Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the right eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 is the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! The right/left sides is based on a human eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, so it would be opposite to the observer. In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, most of these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are actually Eyes of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! The one amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 at the top right is the eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭! If you get them mixed up don’t worry – I sometimes do too!

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 that Horus 𓅃𓀭 lost when battling Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 restored Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth or healing 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 due to the nature of the myth. The wedjat 𓂀 was also common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration.  The Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 was an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 used by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The Eye of Horus was also associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹! 

While most people associate the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 with Horus 𓅃𓀭, there is an Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 too! While the Eye of Ra was also an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, it was also associated with power. The Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 can be thought of as an extension of Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 power and thus an extension of the sun 𓇳𓏺 itself. The Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 can see everything, and even transformed into Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 in one of the myths! 

As you can see, it’s interesting how the two eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 both represent the sun 𓇳𓏺 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹- the two 𓏻 largest objects in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! One is associated with day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳, and the other night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛! The sun 𓇳𓏺 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 are almost like the two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 watching the Earth 𓇾𓇾! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Qebehsenuef” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at one of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of one of the Four Sons of Horus! 

Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, and was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊. 

Qebehsenuef can be written as both 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 and 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑, and sometimes a determinative was added to the end of the name 𓂋𓈖, which reads like 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭. 

The “water jar with water 𓏁 / 𓏂” symbols are both variants of each other and have the same meaning! These symbols mostly act as determinatives, however in the case of Qebehsenuef the symbols act as a triliteral phonogram with the sound “kbb/qbb” or “kbh/qbh.” 

The “arrowhead 𓌢” is a biliteral phonogram that is associated with the sound “sn.” Since the arrowhead 𓌢 is repeated three times in the name, that pluralizes the symbol and causes it to have the sound “snw.” 

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. The 𓆑 can be confusing for people learning hieroglyphs because it can also function as the word “he”! There are so many ways that 𓆑 and it takes practice to master them all!

So Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 may seem like a difficult name 𓂋𓈖 to pronounce but once you break down the symbols it’s not too bad! How the name 𓂋𓈖 is written with Romanized Letters is very similar to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 would would like “Qbh-snu-f.” 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Cow Statue of the Goddess Hathor


I am with a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of a cow’s 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 head, which of course is representative of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡.

Hathor 𓉡 is one of the most prominent goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, she is regarded as the “divine mother” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of love, joy, music, and dance – basically the fun things in life! Hathor is also the wife of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the daughter of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉡 is usually associated with cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and can take the form of a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

Fun fact: the words “beautiful woman” and “cow” are super similar in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪- only the determinative at the end is different! They are even pronounced the same (nfrt) Why? Probably because of Hathor 𓉡! I find this hysterical – you probably don’t want to mess these two words up (in English at least 😂). Even my family knows this fact about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, because I bring it up all the time!!

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 (beautiful woman)
𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 (cow)

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sistrum of Hathor

Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess of music, and music has been something that I have loved throughout my entire life. From listening to classic Italian music with my Nonno, to discovering artists myself, music has always been healing to me. I cannot go a day without listening to my favorite artists. Music has not only been essential to my life, but it was also culturally essential in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

The piece in the picture is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 with Hathor’s 𓉡 head depicted. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was almost like an ancient tambourine or rattle – while the part that makes the music is often not found intact, the handle with Hathor’s 𓉡 face usually is. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 can be found dating back to the Old Kingdom, but most that are found are usually from the Late – Graeco/Roman periods. We don’t know much about the songs that were sung in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 because the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 did not have any form of musical notation, however, archaeologists have been able to replicate various types of instruments based on archaeological findings and try to figure out how they would sound! Musicians were often associated with a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 or a particular god 𓊹/goddess 𓊹𓏏, and they usually held a decently high place in the social hierarchy.

My absolute favorite artists are No Doubt, Il Volo, BTS, and One Direction! I also listen to a lot of other Italian artists, Broadway cast recordings, and classic rock music! Do you guys have some favorite musicians that you listen to?

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis – Names and Titles in Hieroglyphs

It’s no secret that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (Inpu in Egyptian – the name Anubis is actually Greek) is my favorite of the Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹! I have always been a fan of mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪, so it makes sense that the god of embalming, tombs, cemeteries, etc ended up being my favorite! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 also could act as a guide to souls in the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐(referenced in the Pyramid Texts of Unas).

The inscription (which is read from left to right on this particular text) states: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖.

The translation is:
𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An offering the king gives
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣- Anubis
𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑 – Upon his hill/mountain
𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖 – He who is in the mummy wrappings

The title “𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” refers to Anubis’ role as the protector of the tombs while “ 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖” refers to Anubis’ importance as the god 𓊹 of embalming/mummification.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Three Layers in the Temple of Dendur

One of my favorite things about the Temple of Dendur at the MET are the incredible details that are carved into the walls! The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was built by the Roman Emperor Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀(who liked to refer to himself as just pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in his cartouche) and was meant to be a place of honor for the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. Just like most other Egyptian temples, the common people weren’t allowed to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 inside of it. 

A lot of Egyptian architecture was built in three 𓏼 layers! In the case of the Temple of Dendur specifically, the three 𓏼 layers are the Earth 𓇾𓇾, the Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, and then what happens between the Earth 𓇾𓇾 and the Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯. The “between the 𓇾𓇾 and 𓊪𓏏𓇯” section is the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 itself! This section would be where the carvings of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are! 

The picture above details the section of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 that represents the Earth 𓇾𓇾. I love this because it looks like papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸𓏪 plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 are growing out of the base of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! I think it is such a beautiful 𓄤 way to represent the Earth 𓇾𓇾! The ancient Egyptians really like plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 so it makes sense that they would want to represent them realistically in this way! How do we know that the ancient Egyptians liked plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦? Art like this allows us to make these inferences! 

Fun fact! There are so many ways to write “papyrus” in Middle Egyptian! Here are a few:

𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 – papyrus roll/scroll 

𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 – papyrus plant

𓍯𓇅 – papyrus

𓇅𓆰 – papyrus

𓆓𓇌𓏏𓇇 – papyrus marsh

Let’s now take a look at the “in-between” layer!

Augustus making an offering to Osiris and Isis

What I like most about the  “between the Earth 𓇾𓇾 and Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯” section is the depiction of Emperor Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 with many different Egyptian deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹! He doesn’t look like an Emperor though – he looks like a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Augustus can be seen wearing many articles of Egyptian royal 𓋾 fashion such as the Atef crown 𓋚, the double crown 𓋖, a false beard, a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, armlets 𓄟𓋴𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏦, and bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏦. These are all features that are associated with Egyptian pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, even though Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 was Roman. 

In the following reliefs, Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 is making offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. In the first image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, he is making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. You can even see the papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸𓏪 flower plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 from yesterday’s post just below the relief! 

Hathor (right), Horus (middle) and Augustus (right) with me!
A closeup view of Horus and Augustus

In the second/third images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 above, Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 is making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 of wine to Horus 𓅃𓀭 and Hathor 𓉡! 

You can also see three 𓏼 of Augustus’ cartouches in these images! Can you spot them all?

𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 – Autokrator (Greek for “Emperor”)

𓈎𓇌𓊃𓂋𓊃𓋹𓆖 – Kaisaros (Greek for “Caesar”)

𓉐𓉻𓀀 – Pharaoh 

The next and final layer we are going to talk about is the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! The winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disc 𓇳𓏺 appears above all of the entrances to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐.

The wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 belong to Horus 𓅃𓀭, who was often represented as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄. Horus 𓅃𓀭, whose  realm was the Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, was one of the most important gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. Horus 𓅃𓀭 was not only the mythological representation of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also a sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 god 𓊹. Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 means “The Distant One,” due to him residing in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! 

Due to the symbol’s association with Horus 𓅃𓀭, the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disc 𓇳𓏺 also represents royalty 𓋾, power, divinity 𓊹, and order vs. chaos. There are many different representations of Horus throughout Egyptian mythology. The the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disc 𓇳𓏺 design is also known as “Horus the Behdetite” and is a representation of Horus 𓅃𓀭. 

The sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 was not only the realm of Horus 𓅃𓀭, but many other deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 as well. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭, Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 and others were deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 associated with the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯. The sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 was where the divine 𓊹 resided, hence why it was so heavily represented in Egyptian mythology and architecture. 

The two 𓏻 columns represent papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 growing from the ground/Earth 𓇾𓇾 to the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! These columns can be seen as forming a connection between all three 𓏼 layers of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! I will never not be amazed by the symbolism and craftsmanship of Egyptian architecture!