Tag: hatshepsut

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Board Game “Senet”

If an object has Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on it, I am going to get excited about it – no matter what the artifact is!

This piece is a type of ancient Egyptian board game called Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“ ! Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.). 

During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka π“‚“ (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word β€œSenet” π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  actually means passage or gateway (though there are other ways to write these words as well)! If you look really closely, you can see details of the β€œAnkh π“‹Ή,” which is the symbol that means β€œLife” along with the β€œDjed Pillar π“Š½β€ which means β€œStability” painted on the side of the game! On both the left and right sides, you can also see the word π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€ which means β€œHealth!” Such lovely messages on the side of a board game!

Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things an about humanity have not changed!Β 

The version of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that appears on the side of the Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  board is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is β€œMaatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

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Blog

Stela of Hatshepsut Replica

This is a replica of the Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ at the Musei Vaticani that my Nonno gave to me over fifteen years ago. I love this piece so much because the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on it are so accurate compared to the original stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

This is one of my most prized possessions because my Nonno have it to me. He brought this for me before we got to see the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ together, because he knew I would absolutely love it, and I do! 

Let me know if you guys enjoy seeing my little collection of Egyptian replica pieces that my Nonno has given me!

Here is one of my posts about this beautiful π“„€ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

I love this picture for two 𓏻 reasons: the first 𓏃 is because my Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ at the Musei Vaticani! I almost feel that this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 represents how Nonno saw me, and I’ve never shared it until today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ because I wanted to keep it as β€œmine.” I wish I could go back to this moment because look at the happiness π“„«π“„£ and joy π“„«π“„£ on my face! The second π“Œπ“» reason is because this Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is one of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts – it was a dream of mine to see this in person, and I’m so lucky I was able to!

I know I have posted about this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έa lot, however, today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³we are going to examine a different aspect of it! If you search “Hatshepsut” or “Vatican Museum,” you will be able to see my previous posts on this beautiful stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

This sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ depicts Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is wearing the blue (khepresh) crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ and is making an offering of nemset jars π“Œπ“Œπ“Œ to the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί. Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is wearing the White Crown π“„€π“‹‘ of Upper Egypt 𓇓! 

The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was meant to commemorate restoration works in West Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–! Many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 would restore the work of previous rulers π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύπ“ͺ to demonstrate their own power and to honor the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, not to honor the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! 

Another reason why restoring previous works and building lots of new buildings (which Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ did early in her reign π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ), was so significant was because it meant the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (in this case, Hatshepsut) would live on since the names were part of the buildings’ inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. All of these new projects also impressed upon the common people the economic prosperity of the Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ regime. This was important for her to demonstrate immediately because she was not only a female π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ ruler π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ, but she kind of pushed Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 to the side and named herself the legitimate pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Canopic Jar Lid Found in Senemut’s Tomb

This very simple and unassuming lid of a canopic jar was found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό (can also be written without a determinative π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…). Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό rose to become the most important official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ during Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ reign and held over 80 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† different titles.

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was referred to as a β€œHigh Steward 𓄂𓂝𓀀 (literally translated as β€œarm is in front”), which meant he was much more than just an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ in Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ government. In a lot of inscriptions, Senemut is sometimes simply referred to as an overseer 𓄓𓉐𓏀, since that seems to summarize his various roles. As the Chief Royal Architect, Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό supervised all of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ building projects, including at least one of her massive obelisks 𓉢𓉢𓉢.

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was also the tutor for Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, which is how he is depicted in statuary 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 a lot of the time. Some other common titles include Steward of Amun, Chief Steward of the King, Overseer of the Treasury, Granary, Fields, Cattle of Amun, a Controller of Works, and so many more! I guess Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was a workaholic!

Back to the canopic jar lid – it is actually debated l if this lid represents Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό or not! Based on other statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, I personally think that the canopic jar lid is in Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό likeness, however, that is just my inference/personal opinion. The lid is dated to the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.), however, based on what I have read the actual date this piece was made seems to be debated, even though it was found in Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ointment Jars from Deir el-Bahri

These ointment jars were found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. 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 π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!

These ointment jars that were found are made of travertine and many have hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ on them! Many of the jars found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 contain oil stains, which means that they were probably used primarily to hold oil that was used in ceremonies at the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. You can also see a blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, which were very common to find in foundation deposits too!

I love seeing the artifacts from the foundation deposits because they give a glimpse into cool things such as temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ construction and religious worship! The artifacts found in foundation deposits also contain the cartouches of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 under whom the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was constructed under!

One of the ointment jars has some simple text on it! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“ŠΉπ“π“„€ – The Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut as Female King

I seem to always talk about the white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ because it’s my favorite, but I never seem to discuss the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ or β€œHatshepsut as Female King.” This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is my second π“Œπ“» favorite!

The most striking aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so she would be forgotten from history. Many blame Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 for this, but actually any motivation behind this deliberate destruction of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is unknown and mostly speculation.

It’s very difficult to read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this statue, but you can make out that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is using the female version of titles, and referring to herself as a woman!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!
π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare

Something interesting about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (that cannot be seen in my pictures) is that Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ that protects π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ in childbirth (and women/children in general), is actually carved into the back of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! This is the only deity π“ŠΉ that is overtly carved into Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary so this allows Egyptologists to infer that the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was probably meant to belong in the Hathor 𓉑 shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and was probably used in cult worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒. It’s interesting that a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ specifically aimed towards women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ was chosen to be carved!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut at the MET!

Happy 600 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 (on Instagram at least)!!

I am so thankful for everyone who reads my posts and follows this account. Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 for helping me to keep my Nonno’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 alive! That is my main reason for starting this account/website, and I just want to share everything he taught me with the world.

Today I π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ wanted to post something special, so here I am with the two 𓏻 best preserved statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ we have of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! These are also my two 𓏻 favorite statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ from Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! I always seem to celebrate this milestones with my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, because these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ mean the absolute world to me!

While they look different and are made of different materials, these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are similar to each other in the way that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is portrayed in female dress, but also with the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth to show that she is in fact the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the inscriptions on both statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ use the female versions of words when referencing her. For example, β€œLady π“ŽŸπ“β€ is used instead of β€œLord π“ŽŸ.”

Both of these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ were found during excavations at Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This gallery at the MET, which houses these striking statues, has always been my favorite room in any museum. I’m so thankful my Nonno taught me about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and for all of the memories we have in this gallery looking at her statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ together π“ˆ–π“Š—. Seeing these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ as a child π“π“‡Œπ“€” helped to ignite my love for studying Egyptian history.

As a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€”, seeing a woman portrayed so beautifully π“„€ and so strong was incredibly inspiring. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ has been my idol and inspiration since I was a small child π“π“‡Œπ“€”, and my Nonno even said to me β€œWhy be the queen when you can be the king,” and that is something I try to live by!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Closeup of the Hatshepsut Stela

Here’s a closeup of a part of the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ from the Vatican Museum in Rome! My Nonno took this picture on one of his trips to the museum. He knows how much I love this piece (it’s second only to the limestone statue of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 at the MET).

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

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see the cartouches for the throne names (or prenomen) of both Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III. The prenomen was one of the five royal names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

𓇳𓁦𓂓 = Maatkare (Hatshepsut)
𓇳𓏠𓆣 = Menkhepra (Thutmosis III)

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in between the two cartouches spell out 𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏇 which translates to β€œgiven life like Ra”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Osiride Bust of Hatshepsut

This is a bust of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ in the form of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (Osiride) and originally stood over 15 π“Ž†π“Ύ feet high! This β€œstatue” is originally from her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri – this statue was not free-standing – it was actually carved from the blocks that were part of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!!! Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ holds the traditional crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… across her chest along with an Ankh π“‹Ή and scepter π“Œ€. She once wore the white crown π“‹‘ of Upper Egypt on her head.

About twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† years after Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 died, these statues were cut off of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and thrown into a pit towards the front entrance. There, these Osiride portraits of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 remained buried until they were discovered by excavators from the MET in the 1930s.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarabs of Hatshepsut with a Translation


Eventually everyone is going to get tired of me talking about Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 but I don’t care! I love anything that has her cartouche on it, and the scarab collection at the MET is no exception!! The MET has a new way of displaying the scarabs that makes it much easier to take pictures, and you can really see each one close up! There are a lot of the scarabs, so eventually you guys will see them all!

These two scarabs have very similar inscriptions carved into them, however one little symbol makes a total difference in the meaning of the inscription! The scarab on the left says β€œπ“‡³π“¦π“‚“π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ which translates to β€œMaatkare, Lord of the Two Lands” while the scarab on the right says β€œπ“‡³π“¦π“‚“π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ which translates to β€œMaatkare, Lady of the Two Lands.”

The symbol β€œπ“β€ makes the phrase feminine! It’s really interesting to see a scarab with just the symbol for Lord π“ŽŸ because while Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, most of the inscriptions that pertain to her use the female form of words.