Tag: hieroglyphs

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Middle Kingdom Coffin and Hieroglyph Translation

This is a stunning π“„€ example of a Middle Kingdom coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±(Late 12 to mid-13 Dynasty c. 1850–1750 B.C.E.). Many coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± from the Middle Kingdom were made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and elaborately painted. This coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± belonged to a person named Khnumnakht, who is an unknown individual except for this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±.

The panel of this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± that I chose to highlight is significant for many reasons. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”
π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos.”

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Montuhotep II

This beautiful π“„€ raised relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is originally from Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign. This dates the piece to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Hathor’s 𓉑 face was actually chiseled away during the Amarna Period, when Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed Egypt’s religion to the sole worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. After Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign, in Dynasty 19, some repairs were made to this piece.

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ birth name, throne name (both with titles), and Nebty name.

π“†₯(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

π“„₯𓇿𓇿 – The Uniter of the Two Lands (Nebty π“…’ Name)

In front of Hathor 𓉑 the inscription reads: π“„₯π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“Ž‘π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“‡π“‡‹π“Ž—π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“…Ίπ“„«π“π“„£π“ŽŸ which translates to β€œFor you I united the two lands as the powers commanded, all joy.”

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Raised Relief of Horus

This raised relief in limestone is dated to the 12th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom c. 1981–1952 B.C.E.) and the reign of the pharaoh Amenemhat Iπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚. Amenemhat I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ is famous for moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to just south of Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. He also began a co-regency with his son π“…­, Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– ten π“Ž† years before his death in order to maintain stability. This block was found at the foundation of Amenemhat I’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ mortuary temple.

From the right, the upper part of a was scepter π“Œ€ can be seen supporting the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. On the was scepter, a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is seen with the shen 𓍢 symbol of the universe around its neck. The falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘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 π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen presenting an ankh π“‹Ή to the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„. Due to the ram π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ƒ horn 𓄋𓏏𓏺 that can be partially seen on the left, it can be inferred that it is the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ that is being depicted.

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

On top of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ reads: π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–π“‚π“†‘π“‹Ή which translates to:

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–- Edfu

𓂝𓆑𓋹 – May He Give Life (One of Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ titles is β€œHorus of Edfu.”)

In between Horus and Khnum the inscription is broken but reads: π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“‰π“³ π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” which translates to: β€œHe who is before the house of protection, Words Spoken By…”

π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“ -Before/In front of

𓉐𓍳 – House of Protection

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” – ?

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin of Nephtys

This rectangular outer coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± and mummiform inner coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Nephtys who was a mayor’s daughter (the canopic jars from yesterday’s post belonged to her too). These are dated to the Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 12 – c. 1981–1802 B.C.E.).

The rectangular outer coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± is very standard for this time period. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The design is sometimes referred to as the β€œpalace facade.”

The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of Nephtys is still preserved in in the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾. The mask she is wearing has a gilded π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ face and is wearing a faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The standard offering formula is seen in the long line of text at the top of the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±!

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”

π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”

π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

π“‚žπ“†‘π“‰“ – β€œGiven a voice offering of…”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–π“‚žπ“†‘π“‰“

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos, Given a voice offering of…”

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Mummiform Coffin of Harmose

This (left) mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a singer named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Harmose who lived during the joint rule of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣(New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.). While Harmose was not royal, this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is still quite striking. The face is overlaid with gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ foil while the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are made out of inlaid alabaster (white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³) and obsidian (black π“†Žπ“…“). The coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 was found in the vicinity of Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ during excavations funded by the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the 1935-1936 dig season.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! By now, I’m sure those of you who have been following me for a bit can now recognize parts of the standard offering formula!

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives…”

π“Š©π“Ή – β€œ…Osiris…” (this is a not as common variation of his name)

π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“› – β€œ…Ruler of…”

𓆖 – β€œ…Eternity…”

π“‰Όπ“ŠΉ – β€œ…The Great God”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Œπ“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos…” (this is another variation – Abydos is more commonly written as π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–)

𓉓 – β€œ…A Voice Offering of…”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab of Hatshepsut

Here is a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ from the MET! The MET has so many of these beautiful π“„€ scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and I honestly love looking at them! I really like tiny things, so scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and other amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of my favorite pieces to see in museums!

This scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 has a very simple message:

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – β€œPerfect God”

𓇳𓁧𓂓 – β€œMaatkare”

Interestingly, Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ throne name Maatkare (which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re”) is usually written as 𓇳𓁦𓂓, however on the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, the symbol for Maat is slightly different! On this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, the symbol shows Maat holding an ankh 𓁧! It’s a very subtle but cool variation. It doesn’t change the meaning or the pronunciation of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but I love seeing little changes like this! Clearly, this was an artistic choice!

When learning hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, throne names are a great place to start learning because the names aren’t too complex! Let’s use Maatkare 𓇳𓁧𓂓 as an example!

𓇳 – Re

𓁧 – Truth (Maat)

π“‚“ – Soul (Ka)

With the three 𓏼 symbol cartouche, especially when Re 𓇳𓏺 is involved, it’s read middle-right-left. So why is Re 𓇳𓏺 written first but said last!? Honorific transposition! As a sign of respect, Re (or another god π“ŠΉ) is always written first!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Statue of a Pharaoh and Ancient Plagiarism

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is very interesting because it was originally made for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ during the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty. However if you look at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the cartouches of Rameses II can be read! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ used to recycle statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ all the time – this is a process known as usurping (taking one pharaoh’s monuments, erasing their nameπ“‚‹π“ˆ–, and putting yours!). It’s kind of like ancient plagiarism!

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is made of granodiorite, a type of volcanic (igneous) rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. It was quarried at Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– and then transported up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί to Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–, where it was sculpted.

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

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

(π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) – Rameses II (throne name Usermaatre)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“ˆ˜π“†‘ – His Beloved

(π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) – Rameses II

𓇳𓏇𓏺 – Like Ra

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below shows some of the ancient erasing that took place!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blades of Hatshepsut

Believe it or not, these two 𓏻 pieces were probably my favorite objects that I saw in the Petrie Museum.

I was so excited when I saw them, because Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 throne name appears on it! Since I absolutely love anything to do with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, I was incredibly excited to see something with her name on it. These two 𓏻 pieces are actually bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ blades that were once attached to a handle.

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

π“„€π“ŠΉ – Perfect God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name – translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.”)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (Deir el-Bahri temple)

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

Put together, the inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ƒπ“‚¦π“‚¦π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ β€œThe Perfect God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Holiest of Holies.”

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Small Relief from the Reign of Nectanbo

This is a small relief with beautifully π“„€ carved hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that dates to the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanbo 𓇳𓆣𓂓 in Dynasty 30.

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

π“†₯ – β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt”

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – β€œLord of the Two Lands”

(𓇳𓆣𓂓) – Kheperkare (β€œThe manifestation of the soul is Re”)

𓅭𓇳 – β€œSon of Ra”

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – β€œLord of Appearances”

(π“ˆ–π“π“π“‚‘π“ƒ­π“†‘) – (Nakt Nebef β€œThe Strong One of His Lord”)

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š– – β€œEdfu” or β€œBehdet” (Egyptian city in Upper Egypt. Horus of the Winged Disc or β€œBehdetite” was the chief god of the city)

π“ŽŸπ“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 – β€œLord of the Sky”

Here it is all out together:

π“†₯π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(𓇳𓆣𓂓)π“…­π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“ˆ–π“π“π“‚‘π“ƒ­π“†‘) π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–π“ŽŸπ“Šͺ𓏏𓇯

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Bateti

This is the False Door of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Bateti 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋 who was an official during the 5th Dynasty (2494-2345 B.C.E.). This particular False Door is interesting because it shows Bateti 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋 emerging from it – the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ served as a vessel for his soul π“‚“ to pass through the door. This False Door stood in the chapel of his mastaba tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. The False Door remains unfinished and his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– should be carved above the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, but only two 𓏻 hieroglyphic symbols were carved.

Bateti’s full name: 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋

What appears on the False Door: 𓏍𓏏𓏏 (the β€œπ“π“β€ has been fully carved but the β€œπ“β€ has only been sketched on to the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰).

False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 usually consisted of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯- bread 𓏐 and beer π“Š were two common ones! The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the soul π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could travel between the two lands 𓇿𓇿 through the False Door. They are also known as β€œka π“‚“ doors” or β€œsoul π“‚“ doors.”

False Doors were usually located on the western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 walls of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ because the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – when Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 makes his daily journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, sunset 𓇋𓐍𓐍𓅱𓇢 is representative of his death.

π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€