This raised relief in limestone is dated to the 12th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom c. 1981β1952 B.C.E.) and the reign of the pharaoh Amenemhat Iππ ππ π. Amenemhat I ππ ππ π is famous for moving the capital of Egypt ππ ππ from Thebes πππ to just south of Memphis π ππ€πππ΄π. He also began a co-regency with his son π , Senwosret I ππ΄ππππ ten π years before his death in order to maintain stability. This block was found at the foundation of Amenemhat Iβs ππ ππ π mortuary temple.
From the right, the upper part of a was scepter π can be seen supporting the sky πͺππ―. On the was scepter, a Uraeus πππππ is seen with the shen πΆ symbol of the universe around its neck. The falcon πππ‘π that is seen is actually the top part of the Horus name cartouche (which is usually rectangular shaped and is meant to represent a palace). The god πΉ Horus π π is seen presenting an ankh πΉ to the falcon πππ‘π . Due to the ram πππ horn πππΊ that can be partially seen on the left, it can be inferred that it is the god πΉ Khnum πΈππ that is being depicted.
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
On top of Horus π π reads: ππ§πππππΉ which translates to:
ππ§ππ- Edfu
πππΉ – May He Give Life (One of Horusβ π π titles is βHorus of Edfu.β)
In between Horus and Khnum the inscription is broken but reads: πππππ³ πππππ΄ππ which translates to: βHe who is before the house of protection, Words Spoken By…β
The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze ππ€ππ¦ was able to come to Egypt ππ ππ around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone ππππͺ and clay statues πππππΎ. The bronze ππ€ππ¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. Bronze ππ€ππ¦ statuary πππππΎ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.
The image ππ ±π of Isis π¨ππ₯ feeding Horus π π as a baby is one of the most popular images ππ ±ππ¦ of the Late Period through the Ptolemaic Period. Symbolically, Isis π¨ππ₯ was thought to be the mother π ππ of the pharaoh ππ», and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women πππππ, and a user of magic. As Isis π¨ππ₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. This image ππ ±π of a mother π ππ holding a child πππ is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.
Osiris πΉπ¨π was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion. This is because Osiris πΉπ¨π was the god πΉ of the dead π ππ± and the ruler of the afterlife πΌπΏππ, and Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death π ππ± and meeting with Osiris πΉπ¨π. When the pharaoh ππ» was alive, he was thought to be the living image ππ ±ππΉ of the God πΉ Horus π π, but more importantly when the pharaoh ππ» died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure.
As Iβve stated many times before (itβs a family trait – we always repeat the same stories π), my Nonno loved Sekhmet πππ ππ. Now every time I see a statue πππππΎ of her, I think of my Nonno.
In Egypt ππ ππ, most of the feline π ππ ±π deities were female! This was most likely intentional – much like a lioness π³πΉπΏππ can be gentle and nurturing with her cubs, she can also be extremely fierce and aggressive when she needs to protect π ππ‘π them. This duality is quintessential to not only Sekhmetβs πππ ππ role in the Egyptian pantheon, but to the other feline π ππ ±π goddesses πΉππͺ as well!
Sekhmet πππ ππ is always seen with a sun-disk π³πΊ on her head πΆπΊ, which shows that she is the daughter π π of Ra π³πΊπ. She was known as the goddess πΉπ of destruction/war, and her name ππ means βshe who is powerful.β She could also represent the destructive aspects of the sun π³πΊ, such as extreme heat. There were many religious rituals designed to appease her. Sekhmet πππ ππ was feared for being a very powerful and very destructive goddess πΉπ.
These particular statues πππππΎπͺ of Sekhmet πππ ππ was made during the rule of Amenhotep III π³π§π during the 18th Dynasty.
This is part of a limestone ππππ column that is representative of the god πΉ Bes ππ΄π and it is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (332-31 B.C.E.).
Bes ππ΄π was worshipped as the protector π ππ‘π of households ππΊ, mothers π πππͺ, children ππππͺ, and even childbirth. Bes ππ΄π also represented everything good, and was the enemy of anything evil. Bes ππ΄π is also thought to protect π ππ‘π people against sickness. Cups were fashioned in Besβ ππ΄π likeness and people thought if they drank from the cup, Bes ππ΄π would heal them! Small statues πππππΎπͺ and amulets ππͺπ πͺ of Bes ππ΄π were also placed in bedrooms as a form of protection.
Fun fact: the Spanish island of Ibiza is thought to be named after Bes ππ΄π! Bes ππ΄π was worshipped by the Phoenicians (whose pantheon mixed with the Egyptians) and Phoenician settlers brought their worship of Bes ππ΄π with them to Ibiza when it was settled. Ibiza actually means βIsland of Bes.β
For my whole life I have called this piece the βRoman Anubis Mummy!!!β
As anyone who has followed me for a while knows, I love absolutely anything that has to do with Anubis πππͺπ ±π£! He has been my favorite Egyptian god πΉ since I started learning about mythology at six πΏ years old! Since I was a kid who was obsessed with mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ too, it makes sense that Anubis πππͺπ ±π£, god πΉ of mummification and cemeteries would be a favorite of mine!
What is interesting about this image ππ ±π of Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ though is that he is depicted with the moon ππππΉ. Thoth π €π is usually represented with the moon (as he is god πΉ of the moon ππππΉ along with hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, writing πππ₯, wisdom etc.), while Anubisβ πππͺπ ±π£ connection to the lunar disc ππππΉ is not well understood. One of the earliest images ππ ±ππ¦ of Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ with the moon ππππΉ actually comes from Hatshepsutβs ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri π¦ππ¦π₯π, in the scene that βconfirmsβ that Amun ππ π was Hatshepsutβs ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ father πππ, thus she had the divine right to rule. Other scenes connecting Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ to the moon ππππΉ exist, but the relationship between two π» are not well understood and it is something I wish we knew more about!
This is the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ of a woman πππππ named Artemidora who lived in Egypt ππ ππ during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The text above Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ reads βArtemidora, daughter of Harpokras, died untimely, aged 27. Farewell.” The images ππ ±ππ¦ taken of her mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ using radiographic techniques confirm this age of death. Big thanks the @metmuseum for the translation, because while I can read and translate hieroglyphs πΉππͺ I certainly do not know Greek!
Thereβs a lot that I love about this picture ππ ±π – 1) obviously I love the bronze ππ€ππ¦ statues πππππΎπͺ, 2) itβs in the Petrie Museum, and 3) which I think is the best part – you can see me and Nonnoβs reflections in the mirror! We are squished together both trying to take pictures ππ ±ππ¦ of all the artifacts! We spent a big part of that day like that and I wish I could go back and re-live that day πππΊπ³ again. So while this is not the best picture ππ ±π artistically speaking, it really means a lot to me. While I am certainly no artist, I can fluently read hieroglyphs πΉππͺ (and have been for 23 years) so itβs all good π – canβt be good at everything!
From the left, the bronze ππ€ππ¦ statues πππππΎ represent Horus π π(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus π π), two π» statues πππππΎ of Imhotep ππ π΅ππͺ (a non-royal man who became deified – responsible for the construction of Djoserβs π¦ Step Pyramid amongst many other things), the fertility god πΉ Min ππΎπ€, and Khnum πΈππ (one of the oldest deities, god πΉ of the source of the Nile ππππ ±ππππΊ, fertility and was thought to have made humans out of clay from his potters wheel).
The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze ππ€ππ¦ was able to come to Egypt ππ ππ around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone ππππͺ and clay statues πππππΎπͺ. The bronze ππ€ππ¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. Bronze ππ€ππ¦ statuary πππππΎ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.
Here is a piece of an inscription ππ ±π from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus ππΉπππ at the MET.
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!!
ππ – Before π£ – βAnubisβ
A very simple inscription ππ ±π, but something that was important for the deceased π ππ± since Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ was tasked with the protection of the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ! In order for ancient Egyptians πππππͺ to journey through the Duat πΌπΏππ and eventually reach the Field of Reeds πππ ππΏππ ±π°π, the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ/body of the deceased π ππ± needed to remain intact! So a person definitely wanted to be near Anubis πππͺπ ±π’!
Anubisβ πππͺπ ±π£ name ππ Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations: πππͺπ ±π£ πππͺπ£ πππͺπ ± πππͺπ ±π’ π£ π€ π’
Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt ππ ππ, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ has been my favorite god πΉ since I was a child πππ. Why is he my favorite? Here are some fun facts about Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ so you can see why!
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is the god of mummification, graveyards/cemeteries, funerals, tombs ππ«πππ¦ and a bunch of other things associated with death π ππ±. Even as a kid πππ, I was fascinated by mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ and the process of mummification, so by default Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is my favorite!
The name ππβAnubisβ is actually the Hellenistic version of his name ππ – the Egyptians πππππͺ called him Inpw.
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is usually represented by the jackal ππΏππ₯ or having the head πΆπ€ of a jackal ππΏππ₯ because these canines were often found in cemeteries.
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ has no temples ππππ¦ dedicated to him because every tomb/cemetery was considered a βtempleβ to Anubis πππͺπ ±π£!
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs: πππͺπ ±π’, πππͺπ ±π£, π£.
Here are some titles that Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is commonly associated with. His name ππ appears with these a lot in hieroglyphic inscriptions: πΆπΊπ π – βUpon his hillβ π πΉ π± – βIn front at the Godβs boothβ (shrine) ππΆπ ±πππ – βHe who is in the mummy wrappingsβ
In order to exist, a human needed to have five πΎ essential elements: the body πππΌ, the shadow πππ ±πΌ, the Ba π ‘π€, the Ka (soul/life force) ππ€, and the name ππ.
The Ba π ‘π€ is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body πππΌ. The Ba π ‘π€ can also be thought of as an individualβs personality. When a person died, the Ba π ‘π€ was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb ππ«ππ, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ. The Ba π ‘π€ was the part of the person that lived on after death π ππ±.
This particular Ba π ‘π€ statue πππππΎ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332β30 B.C.E.). Ba π ‘π€ statues πππππΎπ¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs ππ«πππ¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π΄π ±πππ±π¦ or added as an attachment to a stela ππ ±ππΈ.
The details on this Ba π ‘π€ statue πππππΎ are absolutely beautiful π€. The Ba π ‘π€ has a sun disk π³π€ on its head πΆπ€ and is wearing a broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood π±ππΊ (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold ππππ leaf!
The ancient Egyptians used amulets ππͺπ πͺ a lot in both their daily life and afterlife πΌπΏππ! No matter who was wearing it, amulets ππͺπ πͺ had the same function: to invoke magical protection π ππ‘π for the wearer! Amulets ππͺπ πͺ could represent gods πΉπΉπΉ and goddesses πΉπΉπΉπ, everyday objects, hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, plants πΎπ°π°π°, and many other things!
In this display at the British Museum, there are a bunch of different amulets ππͺπ πͺ featured! The Osiris πΉπ¨π amulet (3) is considered unusual because it shows Osiris πΉπ¨π sitting on a throne wearing the Atef crown π, just how he would be depicted in the Book of the Dead or on various reliefs. The Osiris πΉπ¨π amulets were the most popular form of funerary jewelry and were tasked with overall protection π ππ‘π for the deceased π ππ±.
The Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ amulet (4) was most likely only used by the dead π ππ± because of Anubisβ πππͺπ ±π£ association with mummification and tombs ππ«ππ. It most likely protected π ππ‘π the body of the dead to ensure the deceased π ππ± could make it to the afterlife πΌπΏππ.
The Triad Amulet (5) (sometimes referred to as the Ossirian Triad) is a representation of Isis π¨ππ₯ (goddess πΉπ of healing and magic), Horus π π (god πΉ of the sky and the protector of the ruler of Egypt), and Nephthys π ππ (βMistress of the Houseβ and associated with vultures). Isis π¨ππ₯ is the mother π ππ of Horus π π, the sister π’ππ of Nephthys π ππ, and the wife ππ of Osiris πΉπ¨π. The amulet ππͺπ is representative of Isis π¨ππ₯ and Nephthys π ππ protecting Horus π π and that protective power extends to the wearer. This amulet ππͺπ became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ for protection π ππ‘π on their journey into the afterlife πΌπΏππ. The amulet ππͺπ was either placed on the chest, stomach ππ£π», or the thighs of the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ.
The carpenterβs tools π (16) are interesting because they might have guaranteed eternal π righteousness and equilibrium. This is an example of an everyday object that had magical powers when an amulet ππͺπ ! These would have been placed on a mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ!
The staircase amulets π (17) represent the primordial mound from which all life πΉππ was created. Here is the short version of the myth because it can be long/complicated and there are many versions:
The ancient Egyptian creation myth begins with endless dark water without any purpose or matter. Out of this dark water π, rose the primordial hill and the god πΉ Atum ππππ (or Ptah πͺπππ± in some of the myths). Then with his own shadow, Atum ππππ gave birth to Shu ππ ±π (god πΉ of the atmosphere/principles of life) and Tefenet πππππ (goddess πΉπ of moisture/order). Since there was only the primordial hill, Shu ππ ±π and Tefenet πππππ gave birth to Geb π ππ (god of the Earth πΎπΎ) and Nut πππ―π (goddess of the sky πͺππ―/cosmos). Geb π ππ and Nut πππ―π eventually gave birth to the more recognizable gods – Osiris πΉπ¨π, Isis π¨ππ₯, Seth πππ‘π£, and Nephthys π ππ.
