Tag: gods and goddesses

Statue of Amun and Horemheb

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date March 27, 2023

This is a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖. This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is special because my Nonno took it at the Museo Egizio in Torino, Italy.

Statue of Amun (left) and the pharaoh Horemheb (right) at the Museo Egizio in Torino, Italy

Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 was the final pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty, having taken over the throne from Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏. Before he was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 was the commander of the army for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓. He continued the restoration of traditional Egyptian religious practices that Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 began, and he also usurped a lot of monuments from both Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏 and Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓.

Let’s take a closer look at the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 (left) is depicted larger than Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 (right) because the only person more important than the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 himself was another god 𓊹!

A closer view of the hieroglyphic inscription that appears on either side of Amun’s throne on the statue.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to start on the left side of Amun’s throne!

𓊹𓄤 – The Perfect God

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Horemheb (Throne Name – The sacred one of the manifestations of Ra, chosen of Ra)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓌺𓇌 – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗 the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads: “The Perfect God, Lord of the Two Lands, Horemheb, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Given Life.”

Now let’s look at the left side of the throne:

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌺𓄿𓋔𓐝𓎱 – Horemheb (Birth Name – Horus in Jubilation, whom Amun has loved)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓌺𓇌 – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗 the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads: “Son of Ra, Lord of Appearances, Horemheb, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Given Life.”

While the last part of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is the same on either side of the throne, the titles are different because of Horemheb’s birth name versus the throne name! Different titles in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are associated with each name 𓂋𓈖!

Notice how the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are mirrored on either side of the throne! This makes it so all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are facing Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 legs! The ancient Egyptians loved to have symmetry in their art!

Tags amun, artifact, gods and goddesses, horemheb, museo egizio

Video

Video – Statues of Isis and Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date March 12, 2023

@ancientegyptblog
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms – especially my mom who is my director/camerawoman! Anytime you see me on camera or a picture of me, my mom is the one who probably took it! In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s take a look at Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Horus 𓅃𓀭! The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦, stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪, and even as small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time. While my Nonno loved Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 like this in museums whenever I visit! Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, and a user of magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 holding a child 𓐍𓇌𓀕 is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby. Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptology #mothersday #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #anticoegitto #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ancientegyptblog #horus
♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. This video examines the significance of the statues of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭!

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦, stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪, and even as small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time.

While my Nonno loved Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 like this in museums whenever I visit!

Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, and a user of magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 holding a child 𓐍𓇌𓀕 is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, the met, video

Egyptian Artifacts

The Tyet Knot

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date March 2, 2023

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a symbol known as the Tyet Knot 𓎬 or the Isis Knot 𓎬!

The Tyet Knot drawn in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (the MET)

This particular Tyet Knot 𓎬 is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Tyet Knot 𓎬 from the First Dynasty/Early Dynastic Period! It always amazes me how the same religious symbols just persisted through Egyptian history!

The Tyet Knot 𓎬, also known as the Isis knot 𓎬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and came to be associated with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that knots 𓎬 were able to bind and then release magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜. The Isis Knots 𓎬 were also mostly used in a funerary context, such as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏦 (starting in the New Kingdom) placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 or as part of spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺.

In chapter 156 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, it states that the Tyet Knot 𓎬 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 should be made of red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 jasper and placed on the neck of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The spell states that the Tyet Knot 𓎬 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 “will drive away whoever would commit a crime against him.”

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! Called the “tie 𓎬” by Gardiner, this symbol is an ideogram for “Tyet Knot 𓎬” or “Isis Knot 𓎬” and is associated with the sound “tjt” which would be pronounced like “tyet.”

Tags artifact, book of the dead, gods and goddesses, isis, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Rameses III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 25, 2023

This striking red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺. Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 20th Dynasty and he ruled for 32 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏻 tumultuous years. His reign was marked by political, economic, and military issues.

The most interesting part about Rameses III’s 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺 reign for me is what is known as the “Harem Conspiracy” – Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 secondary wife, Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁐, plotted to have Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 killed so her son 𓅭 Pentawer 𓊪𓈖𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏹 could become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 instead of the chosen heir, Rameses IV 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃. While Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁐 and her conspirators (other high officials) succeeded in killing Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺, they did not succeed in establishing Pentawer 𓊪𓈖𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏹 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. All of the conspirators were caught and put to death and Rameses IV 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃 succeeded Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺 as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The red granite sarcophagus of Pharaoh Rameses III, which depicts the goddess Isis

Here, on the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is depicted where the feet of the deceased would be placed. Isis’ 𓊨𓏏𓁥 sister Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is usually located where the deceased’s head would be located. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is easily recognized in Egyptian art because she is normally shown with the headdress of a throne, 𓊨, which is also one of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in her name 𓂋𓈖. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown with wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 and sitting on the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for “gold 𓋞.”

Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is known as a devoted wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 and mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, but was also associated with resurrection 𓄟𓍿𓅱 due to her role in piecing her brother/husband Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 back together after he was dismembered by their brother Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. She is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, who was magically conceived after Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 brought Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 back to life 𓋹.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, isis, louvre, rameses iii

Blog Egyptian Artifacts

My Favorite Egyptian Artifacts

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 22, 2023

Happy 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 on Instagram!! Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 all 𓎟 for your continued support – it means the world 𓇾𓇾 to me!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 for a special post, I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 artifacts that I have seen in museums! Now, these objects aren’t the “big ticket” items, or objects that most people run and see, however, these are the ones that I love and items that you can probably see at your local museums!

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – it’s no secret that I love reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and I love seeing them no matter what object they appear on!

Me with the King’s List in the British Museum

Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾- my favorite little guys who perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! There are so many different types across various time periods of Egyptian history! I love them all!

The Ushabti display at the Brooklyn Museum

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪- Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was one of the only commoners to be deified, and he was the architect of Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 first 𓏃 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴! My Nonno loved Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, and I do too! This Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 pictured is my favorite one at the Vatican!

My favorite Imhotep statue at the Vatican Museum – Look at those ears!!

Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺- better known to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 as the “Book of Going Forth By Day,” this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 would provide spells needed for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This one pictured is the Papyrus of Hunefer, which contains my favorite “Weighing of the Heart” scene.

The Weighing of the Heart Scene from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

Wooden Sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 (with the Eyes) – The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! My Nonno told me this every time we were in a museum and saw a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 like this!

Middle Kingdom sarcophagus with the eyes! (the MET)

Anything Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 – Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and tombs, has been my favorite god 𓊹, so I get excited every time I see him! Reliefs, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, – you can find Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 all over!

My favorite relief of Anubis (from the Middle Kingdom) at the MET

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪- I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things so of course I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 come in all different designs – every day objects, deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, animals – the list is endless! There are so many different types and functions, however their main function was protection of the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

Various amulets on display at the MET – including the winged scarab which is one of my favorites!

Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 – I am obsessed with the Egyptian Hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues! Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and revered along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺! I always look to see if a museum has one of these!

William, the blue faience Egyptian hippo at the MET

I hope you enjoyed this highlight of some of my favorite Egyptian artifacts!

Tags anubis, artifact, blog, book of the dead, british museum, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, imhotep, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Amenhotep III and Sekhmet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 20, 2023

I have spoken a lot about Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, because she is my Nonno’s favorite goddess 𓊹𓏏/religious figure in the Egyptian pantheon! Today we are going to look more into the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 that can be found in museums all around the world 𓇾𓇾! These particular Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 I am with are at the British Museum, but there are a lot at The MET, Louvre, and Vatican Museums too!

Me with statues of Sekhmet, which were commissioned during the reign of pharaoh Amenhotep III at the British Museum.

During his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 had over 730 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 made! That is almost two statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 for every 𓎟 day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 of the year! Most of the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 you see that look like the ones in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above are from this time period!

So why Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐? This is where stuff gets really interesting – Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was often referred to as the “Eye of Ra,” because she was created from the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 when he looked upon the Earth 𓇾𓇾. The obsession with solar deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 didn’t just happen when Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 came to the throne – Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was most likely influenced by his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 (and gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 like Sobek-Ra) hit its peak during the reign of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆.

All of the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 are made of black 𓆎𓅓 granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌, which is not just a coincidence! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the color black 𓆎𓅓 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. These statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were most likely connected to the jubilees 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 (The Heb Sed festival), and contain various epithets on them, such as:

“The son of Ra Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes beloved of Sekhmet, the great, mistress of the sky, for eternity.”

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum, gods and goddesses, sekhmet

Egyptian Artifacts

Sistrum with the Face of Hathor

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 17, 2023

Hathor 𓉡 is one of the most prominent goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, she is regarded as the “God’s mother 𓅐𓏏𓊹” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of love 𓈘𓏏, joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏, music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, and dance 𓂋𓅱𓂻- basically the fun things in life!

Two sistrums with Hathor’s face on them at the Louvre

In some variations of Egyptian mythology, Hathor 𓉡 is also the wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉡 is usually associated with cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏪 and can take the form of a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

The piece above is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a musical instrument from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument that is similar to a modern rattle or tambourine. Since Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, she was portrayed on most sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 in her human form! However, even though Hathor 𓉡 is represented as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, she is recognized easily because of her characteristic cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears!

Music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 was essential to many religious rituals, so it was considered to be extremely important! There is even a word in Middle Egyptian just for “Sistrum Player/Music Priest: 𓇋𓎛𓇋𓌂”!!!

I love music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 and it is something that brings me so much joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏! I love how Hathor 𓉡 is associated with both of these things, because I do truly think that music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 and joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏 are linked together 𓈖𓊗 – and I’m sure that the ancient Egyptian people did too!

BTS 𓃀𓏏𓋴 and Il Volo 𓇋𓃭 𓆑𓍯𓃭𓍯 are my absolute favorite artists and I love 𓈘𓏏 listening to their music 𓇋𓎛𓇌! What I love 𓈘𓏏 about BTS 𓃀𓏏𓋴 most are their lyrics – they have written some truly beautiful 𓄤 songs!

Tags artifact, bts, gods and goddesses, hathor, louvre

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Djed Pillar

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 16, 2023

The “Djed Pillar 𓊽” is one of the most common symbols seen in Egyptian art and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This particular Djed Pillar 𓊽 is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 is in the Predynastic Period!

The Djed Pillar 𓊽 can be seen in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 as a hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃, as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 for mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 or the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪, in tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 art, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, and so much more! This is a wonderful symbol to understand the meaning of because it is everywhere!

In terms of religious symbolism, The Djed Pillar 𓊽 is thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. When a person died 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and became “The Osiris,” The Djed Pillar 𓊽 was then thought to represent their spine! The spine was thought to keep Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 upright and able to function as the primary god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is even referenced in the The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.”

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! The “reed column 𓊽” more commonly known as the “Djed Pillar” is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound “ḏd” which sounds like “Djed.” It also functions as an ideogram for “Stability.”

There are many common words and phrases that have the Djed Pillar 𓊽 in it:

𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀 – Given Life, Stability, and Strength

𓊽𓊽𓈋𓅱𓊖 / 𓊽𓊽𓅱𓊖 – Djedu

𓊽 / 𓊽𓏏 – Stability, Endure

𓋴𓊽𓊽 – Make Permanent

𓊽𓂧𓏛 – To Be Stable

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, osiris, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris’ Name in a Cartouche

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 13, 2023

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!

This is a fragment of a beautifully 𓄤 painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. I would estimate its from around the later New Kingdom period or later because that’s when painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 such as these became popular!

Osiris’ name in a cartouche on a sarcophagus fragment

I love this piece because of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but also because there is so much other stuff going on even though it’s small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛 which translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.” Let’s break down the symbols!

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

I haven’t seen that many pieces like this, so I just found this one so cool! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is what appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but in this case it’s Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and his title! The top of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 also has the Atef Crown 𓋚 on it, which is the crown that is associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.

The ancient Egyptians talked about “eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛” a lot and were actually the civilization to derive the concept of “eternity 𓆖.” There were two 𓏻 very common ways they expressed the word for “eternity” in hieroglyphic symbols:

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity/Everlasting

There are some other popular hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this piece!! See if you can spot them!

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

Both of the phrases appear symmetrically on either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 which is something that is common on these types of pieces!

Let’s take a look at some of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that appear! If you look in the lower left, you can see part of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 with a large table of offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 in front of him. On the top left, below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺 is a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. On the top right, there is an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭.

On either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, the god 𓊹 Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 (god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺/flooding of the Nile) is shown. There are two 𓏻 of him because if you look closely, you can see both symbolically tying up papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸 plants together. This was meant to represent the union of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt! You can easily recognize Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 because of the papyrus flowers 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 on his head!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hapi, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, horus, louvre, osiris

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Nauny

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 11, 2023

The Weighing of the Heart (sometimes called the Judgement of Osiris 𓊩𓁹) is my absolute favorite part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. I love how each version is unique and not a single one is the same! I find this particular papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 to be absolutely stunning.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually called “Coming Forth By Day 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺,” and it was a collection of magic spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 that are written!

This particular Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are also at the MET!

Isis (left) and Nauny (right)

Starting from the left: the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown next to Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, who is shown holding her eyes 𓁹𓁹 and mouth 𓂋 in her hands. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is weighed by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 against Maat 𓁦. Usually, Maat’s 𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 is used, but this time Maat 𓁦 herself is shown on the scale, and is represented by the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that is used in her name 𓂋𓈖! Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is shown on top of the scale, and his job is to record the findings. Osiris 𓊩𓁹 presides over the scene.

Anubis

Luckily for Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, the scales are in balance which means that she lead a true 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹 and is worthy enough to enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and enjoy eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹 with Osiris 𓊩𓁹! Above the Weighing of the Heart scene, Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 is seen standing by her own tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Horus 𓅃𓀭.

Osiris

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, osiris, the met

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