Tag: gods and goddesses

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God’s Mother

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! What does the popular Middle Egyptian phrase “God’s Mother 𓊹𓅐” mean? Before we delve into the meaning, let’s break down the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

God's Mother
“God’s Mother” in raised relief on display at the MET

“God’s Mother” can be written three ways in hieroglyphs: 

𓊹𓏏𓅐

𓊹𓅐𓏏

𓊹𓅐

This phrase is a combination of two different words: the word “God 𓊹” and the word “Mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐/𓅐𓁐/𓏏𓅐𓁐.” 

The “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ hieroglyph is an ideogram for the word god. 𓊹 is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters “ntr” which may have been pronounced like “neter” or “netjer.” 𓊹 Is also a determinative for “god.” So the “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹!

The “vulture 𓅐” is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sounds “mjt/mwt” which we infer would be pronounced like “mut.” 

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.”

The phrase “God’s Mother 𓊹𓅐” can have two different (but related) meanings in Middle Egyptian inscriptions. It can be used to refer to the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and will usually appear after her name 𓂋𓈖 in inscriptions. This is in reference to the fact that Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, who is the mythological ruler of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was thought to be a representation of Horus 𓅃𓀭 on Earth. 

This brings us to the next meaning of this phrase! The phrase “God’s Mother 𓊹𓅐” was an honorific title held by the woman who gave birth to the current pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was a god on Earth, the woman who gave birth to him/her was quite literally the God’s Mother 𓊹𓅐! 

God's Mother
Another variant of “God’s Mother” painted on a piece of a sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum

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

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Animals in Ancient Egypt

Happy World Animal Day! Let’s learn about the significance of Animals in Ancient Egypt!

Animals in Ancient Egypt
Me with a blue faience hippo at the Brooklyn Museum! The blue faience hippos are one of my absolute favorite types of artifacts!

Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for “animal” – there was the word “𓌚𓅓𓄛” but it translates more accurately to “beast” than to all animals in general. What I love about language 𓂋𓏺 is that even a small detail such as this can show us so much about the culture of the people who spoke it! 

Animals in Ancient Egypt
An ibis on display at the MET

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, Animals were usually referred to by their name 𓂋𓈖 instead of as a singular category. What I love about Middle Egyptian is that the name 𓂋𓈖 the animal was given was sometimes very similar to the sound the animal made! For example, the Middle Egyptian word for cat is 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 (miu) which can be pronounced similarly to “meow.” The word for dog is 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱𓃥 (iwiw) which can almost sound like “woof woof.”

Animals in Ancient Egypt
A cat mummy on display at the MET

Why is this significant? It shows that the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 didn’t regard animals as different from humans or less than humans (unlike the Greeks and Romans, and eventually Western cultures). Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅡𓏺 (part of the soul that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 through death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 just like humans. 

Animals in Ancient Egypt
Hathor in her cow form from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep at the MET

Animals like cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪, ibises 𓉔𓃀𓅤𓏪, cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦, snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦, and many others were held in high regard due to the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 who could take the form of those animals! 

Animals in Ancient Egypt
A fish bowl on display at the Brooklyn Museum

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

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Video

Cow, Beautiful Woman, or Both? – Video

Did you know that the word for “cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” and “beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” are the same in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/the Middle Egyptian language? Well now you do! This is one of my absolute favorite “fun facts” about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and it has been since I was a little girl!

@ancientegyptblog

Did you know that the word for “cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” and “beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” are the same in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/the Middle Egyptian language? Well now you do! This is one of my absolute favorite “fun facts” about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and it has been since I was a little girl! The root of both of these words is “𓄤𓆑𓂋” which would probably be pronounced like “nefer.” This word could mean perfect, beautiful, or good in Middle Egyptian! Adding the “𓏏” to the end of the word makes it feminine, and then the determinative symbol distinguishes the meaning! So “𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏” could also mean a beautiful woman or beautiful/perfect! Both “cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” and “beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” would have probably been pronounced like “neferet” due to the addition of the uniliteral phonogram of “𓏏” which would have been pronounced like a “t.” In order to make words pronounceable in modern times, a lot of Egyptologists/linguists will add a soft “e” sound in between the consonants! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientegypt #egyptianhistory #egyptologist #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #hieroglyphs #hieroglyphics #languagelearning #egypt #hathor #metropolitanmuseumofart #historytok

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

The root of both of these words is “𓄤𓆑𓂋” which would probably be pronounced like “nefer.” This word could mean perfect, beautiful, or good in Middle Egyptian! Adding the “𓏏” to the end of the word makes it feminine, and then the determinative symbol distinguishes the meaning! So “𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏” could also mean a beautiful woman or beautiful/perfect! 

Both “cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” and “beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” would have probably been pronounced like “neferet” due to the addition of the uniliteral phonogram of “𓏏” which would have been pronounced like a “t.” In order to make words pronounceable in modern times, a lot of Egyptologists/linguists will add a soft “e” sound in between the consonants!  

I love learning little things like this about the culture of ancient Egypt! It’s incredible what a language can tell us!

You can also watch the video on TikTok!

@ancientegyptblog

Did you know that the word for “cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” and “beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” are the same in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/the Middle Egyptian language? Well now you do! This is one of my absolute favorite “fun facts” about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and it has been since I was a little girl! The root of both of these words is “𓄤𓆑𓂋” which would probably be pronounced like “nefer.” This word could mean perfect, beautiful, or good in Middle Egyptian! Adding the “𓏏” to the end of the word makes it feminine, and then the determinative symbol distinguishes the meaning! So “𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏” could also mean a beautiful woman or beautiful/perfect! Both “cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒” and “beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐” would have probably been pronounced like “neferet” due to the addition of the uniliteral phonogram of “𓏏” which would have been pronounced like a “t.” In order to make words pronounceable in modern times, a lot of Egyptologists/linguists will add a soft “e” sound in between the consonants! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientegypt #egyptianhistory #egyptologist #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #hieroglyphs #hieroglyphics #languagelearning #egypt #hathor #metropolitanmuseumofart #historytok

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

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

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Ptah

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 from the Third Intermediate Period is striking to see in person not just because of its wonderful state of preservation, but its size as well!

Bronze Statue of Ptah
Bronze Statue of Ptah on display at the MET

For a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, it is quite large! In antiquity, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 would have been covered in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf, and it’s amazing that you can still see some of the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 on the statue! Imagine how magnificent it would have looked in all gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉! I also love how the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are still perfectly preserved; they really stand out among the bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 and the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉! 

The staff that Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 is holding in his hands is actually a merging of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 and the Was Scepter 𓌀. The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for Djed 𓊽 means “stability” while the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for the Was Scepter 𓌀 means “strength,” and this staff exemplifies Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 representation of both! 

One of the epithets that follows Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 name 𓂋𓈖 in inscriptions is “The One of Fair Face 𓄤𓁷𓏤𓀭” and I think that description totally fits with how beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represents him! That epithet could also be translated as “Kindly of Face 𓄤𓁷𓏤𓀭” and can also be written as “𓄤𓆑𓂋𓁷𓏤𓀭.”

Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was not created; he existed before anyone else and anything. In short, he was the creator of the other creator gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, like Atum 𓇋𓏏𓂟𓀭. Due to Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 creativity, he is also the designated god 𓊹 of all forms of craftsman such as carpenters , shipbuilders, potters, metalworkers, and sculptors.

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 would have been housed in a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 and would have received offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 from priests 𓊹𓍛𓏪. 

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

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Four Sons of Horus on a Sarcophagus

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the Brooklyn Museum shows the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓆇 with the Four Sons of Horus! The Four Sons of Horus were an integral part of ancient Egyptian religion – usually in a funerary aspect so it makes sense that they would appear on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭! 

The Four Sons of Horus usually appeared as the lids of canopic jars, which were the jars used to store the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of a deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process. When they appears as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 or on sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏥, the Four Sons of Horus served as protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

The Four Sons of Horus on a Sarcophagus

The Four Sons of Horus are easy to recognize because they usually appear together in funerary art! Another way to recognize them is by reading their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Something interesting about this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is the way the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of the Four Sons of Horus are spelled! The spellings of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 here are some interesting variants that aren’t seen too often! We will start reading from the left! 

Hapi 𓐑𓊪𓇌(can also be spelled 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭) had the head of a baboon and he protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺. 

Imseti 𓐝𓊃𓍿 (can also be spelled 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭/𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 ) had the head of a human and he protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸. 

Duamutef 𓇼𓂟𓅐𓏏𓈖𓆑(can also be spelled 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭/𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑) had the head of a jackal and he protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. 

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓈖𓈖𓈖𓌢𓏏𓏥𓆑(can also be spelled 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭) had the head of a Falcon and he protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼. 

Can you spot all of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖? 

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

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Lord of the Nine Bows

Did you know that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was referred to as the “Lord 𓎟 of the Nine Bows 𓐀𓏺𓏏” in certain religious texts? The most famous example of the use of this title for Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is from the Pyramid Texts! Let’s take a closer look at what this means! 

The “nine bows 𓐀𓏺𓏏” was a phrase that was used to refer to the enemies of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Egyptologists and historians actually still don’t know the exact countries or territories were represented by the nine bows 𓐀𓏺𓏏, but they are agreed to be foreign lands. 

Lord of the Nine Bows
Anubis, the Lord of the Nine Bows on a scarab/seal on display at the MET.

In statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 can be depicted standing on nine bows 𓐀𓏺𓏏, however on scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 or seals such as this one pictured, the nine bows 𓐀𓏺𓏏 are represented by the images of nine captives with their hands tied behind their backs. A recumbent jackal (aka Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣) is seen presiding over the nine captives. 

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is most commonly known as the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎, however, in many early myths he had proven himself in battle hence why he was given the title “Lord 𓎟 of the Nine Bows 𓐀𓏺𓏏.” 

Seals such as these were popular in the Theban necropolis during the 18th Dynasty. This is such a small piece, but one that contains so much meaning. I of course love it because I look for any representation of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 that I can find! 

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

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Nephthys in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓉠! Luckily, this sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum has her name 𓂋𓈖 written in two ways! 

Nephthys in Hieroglyphs
Nephthys in Hieroglyphs on a sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum

Most commonly, the type of symbol that is used in Nephthys’ 𓉠 name 𓂋𓈖 is called a Composite Hieroglyph. A Composite Hieroglyphic symbol is a symbol that is the combination of multiple phonographic symbols into a single glyph. 

The three 𓏼 symbols “𓎟𓏏𓉗” can be combined to make the “𓉠” symbol! In statuary and funerary art, the crown on her head 𓁶𓏺 is the composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that is used to write her name (𓉠), which makes Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify in tomb art/funerary art. Since the goddess depicted on this sarcophagus is wearing the “𓉠” on her head, we know it’s Nephthys! 

But what if she wasn’t wearing the crown? How would we know it was Nephthys 𓉠 that is depicted? Luckily, most ancient Egyptian funerary art came with “captions” – usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deity was written next to them! In this case, we can see Nephthys’ full name 𓂋𓈖 written out as “𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓆇” right next to her face! 

Here are the two ways we see Nephthys’ name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the sarcophagus: 

𓉠

𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓆇

Some other variants of Nephthys’ name 𓂋𓈖 are: 

𓉠𓏏𓆇

𓉠𓏏

𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓉐𓁐

𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓏒𓏯𓆗 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Anubis in Hieroglyphs
Anubis in Hieroglyphs on a sarcophagus at the MET

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to look at my favorite word to spot in inscriptions: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, so I love spotting the different variants of his name 𓂋𓈖! His name 𓂋𓈖 turns up a lot because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is one of the main funerary gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and a large part of Egyptian artifacts that are in museums happen to be funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭! 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols! 

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.” 

The “recumbent jackal on shrine 𓃣” is used as both an ideogram and a determinative. 𓃣 is the determinative in the word “Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣” and also an ideogram for “Anubis 𓃣. When 𓃣 functions as an ideogram, the “𓃣” would be pronounced the same as “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣,” which is the full way to write the name. This is my absolute favorite hieroglyphic symbol!

The proper way to say Anubis in Middle Egyptian is “ı͗npw” (pronounced like “Inpu” or “Anpu”). Even though the quail chick is missing in this variant, the determinative of Anubis 𓃣 just implies the full spelling! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Anubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name 𓂋𓈖, so that is why the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu/Anpu’s name 𓂋𓈖! 

Here are some common variants of Anubis’ name: 

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣 (the one pictured)

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 

𓇋𓈖𓊪

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Words Spoken By Duamutef

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to look at the following inscription: “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 – Words Spoken By Duamutef” which is painted on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 that is dated to the Middle Kingdom. One of my favorite things about this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is the bright colors! It’s always incredible how beautiful and bright the colors are even after thousands of years!

Words Spoken By Duamutef
“Words Spoken By Duamutef” painted on a sarcophagus from the Middle Kingdom

“ 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is a really popular introduction to an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 and it translates to “Words spoken by… 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖.” “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is usually followed by the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏. 

The “cobra 𓆓” is a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The cobra 𓆓 is a uniliteral sign, so it represents just one consonant. It represents the sound “ḏ” which would almost sound like a “j” when pronounced. 

The “staff or walking stick 𓌃” functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word “ staff 𓌃𓏺”). 𓌃 is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the three consonant sound “mdw.”

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

Let’s take a look at Duamutef’s 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! All of the symbols in Duamutef’s 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 are also phonograms! 

The “star 𓇼”  functions as a triliteral phonogram for the sound “dw3” (almost like “dua”). In other words, 𓇼 can also function as a determinative or ideogram. 

The “forearm with bread 𓂟“ symbol could either function as a uniliteral or biliteral phonogram depending on the word! 𓂟 represented the sounds “m” or “mj.” The “forearm with bread 𓂟” could also be a determinative in the word for “give 𓂋𓂟.”

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 “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. 

So Duamutef’s 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is something like “duamwttf” – which is very similar to “Duamutef!”

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Osiris Cartouche

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

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.). 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 𓄤𓆑𓂋 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 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 purifying 𓋴𓃂𓈗 the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, whose is surrounded by offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 covered in food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥! 

Above Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 there are some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓎟 – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (the ancient Egyptian word for “Netherworld”)

Is it Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 being referred to as the “Lord of the Duat,” or is it Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭? Usually this epithet was used with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! 

One of the cool things you can see on the bottom panel is Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 and since this coffin does not belong to a pharaoh, a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is not expected! But Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was believed to be the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, so I guess a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is fitting! 

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛. Let’s break down the symbols! 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.”

The cartouche is flanked by the Golden Horus symbol 𓅉 on either side which is a Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the symbol for gold 𓋞. The common symbols of protection, the Eye of Horus and Eye of Ra also appear above the Golden Horus 𓅉, along with the shen ring in between the Falcon’s wings. The Shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛. 

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

@ancientegyptblog