As part of my “Ushabti Friends” series, I am teaching you how to look at the different characteristics of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and how those characteristics can help you to narrow down the age/time period that the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is from!
18th Dynasty Ushabtis at the Brooklyn Museum
Both of these ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that we are going to look at today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 are from the Brooklyn Museum! Both of these ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and unique and are dated to the same time period even though they look different and are made of different materials! In the first image, the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on the left is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, while the painted ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on the right is made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼.
Both of these ushabtis are dated to the 18th Dynasty, but how do we know? Let’s go through the process of narrowing down the age:
In each hand, both of the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are holding a hoe 𓌸 which is characteristic of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that were made from the 18th Dynasty to the 25th Dynasty!
The real defining characteristic are the baskets that the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are holding in each hand – this is only found on ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 dated to the 18th Dynasty!
The Ushabti of Sati at the Brooklyn Museum (18th Dynasty Ushabtis)A closeup of the Ushabti of Sati holding a basket!
If you see a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and it’s holding a basket or a pot in each hand, it is an 18th Dynasty ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!
Limestone ushabti at the Brooklyn MuseumA closeup of the limestone ushabti at the Brooklyn Museum which highlights the baskets that it is holding!
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Did you know that more statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 have survived compared to any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? One of the more interesting ones is this statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠!
Did you know that more statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 have survived compared to any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? This is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠! Amenhotep the III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of the infamous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was originally named Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀, until he changed his name 𓂋𓈖 to reflect the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and his change to the Egyptian religion. The first thing that struck me about this statuette was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly. This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna-style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting because it seems like the Amarna-style art came out of nowhere, however, pieces like this show us that was not the case. The statuette is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. It consists of the pharaoh standing on a base, and the base contains hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 Heb Sed 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and then subsequent years afterwards. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production. The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This would also support the idea that this was of non-royal production. 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#egyptianhistory#egyptianmythology#anticoegitto#brooklynmuseum#amenhotepiii#akhenaten#ancientegyptblog
This is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠! Amenhotep the III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of the infamous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was originally named Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀, until he changed his name 𓂋𓈖 to reflect the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and his change to the Egyptian religion.
The first thing that struck me about this statuette was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly.
This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna-style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting because it seems like the Amarna-style art came out of nowhere, however, pieces like this show us that was not the case.
The statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. It consists of the pharaoh standing on a base, and the base contains hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.
The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 Heb Sed 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and then subsequent years afterwards. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production.
The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This would also support the idea that this was of non-royal production.
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Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was quite the interesting day in NY as we experienced an earthquake 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾 in the morning and an aftershock in the evening! We don’t have earthquakes 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾𓏦 in NY very often so it was quite the experience for many of us!
The ancient Egyptians believed that Geb’s 𓅬𓃀𓀭 laughter is what caused earthquakes 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾𓏦 to happen! Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 is the god 𓊹 of the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, which the ancient Egyptians called the Upper Earth. Anything that occurred on the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface was considered to be Geb’s 𓅬𓃀𓀭 domain!
The deity Tatanen 𓁯 is often associated with things that come from the interior of the Earth 𓇾𓇾 (Lower Earth) such as minerals, rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦, and plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! While today we know that earthquakes 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾𓏦 come from the interior of the Earth, the ancient Egyptians didn’t know that but it’s still so cool they made this distinction!
The god Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 can be depicted in art in a couple of different ways!
Wereshnefer’s sarcophagus at the MET showing Geb and Nut
On Wereshnefer’s sarcophagus is one depiction: Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭, the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky/cosmos 𓊪𓏏𓇯, is seen as a woman arched over the rounded Earth 𓇾𓇾 and is supported by Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the atmosphere. At Nut’s 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 feet is Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 who is represented by feet with two arms holding the rounded Earth 𓇾𓇾!
Wereshnefer’s sarcophagus at the MET showing Geb and Nut labeled with their names in heiroglyphs
On the painted depiction, Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 is seen lying underneath the rest of the figures such as Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 and Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the atmosphere.
A painted sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicting Nut, Shu, Geb and KhnumA painted sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicting Nut, Shu, Geb and Khnum with their names labeled in hieroglyphs
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One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).
One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.). This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐! 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 as well. The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 contained instructions/spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, the end of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or the names 𓂋𓈖𓏥 of certain mythological figures. My friend @EgyptologyLessons posted a video of a Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 yesterday so I was inspired to post one too! 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#egyptianhistory#egyptologist#ancient_egypt#historytok#egyptology#brooklynmuseum#bookofthedead#booktok#egyptianmythology
This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐!
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 as well.
The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 contained instructions/spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, the end of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or the names 𓂋𓈖𓏥 of certain mythological figures.
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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” 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!
Another variant of “God’s Mother” painted on a piece of a sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum
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How cute is this blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓃸?
A blue faience monkey statue from Amarna on display at the Brooklyn Museum
This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is from Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 and is dated to Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 in the 18th Dynasty. This piece strikes me as interesting for an Amarna-era piece because it doesn’t look like the “typical” Amarna-era art style! It’s more realistic looking instead of having exaggerated features!
One really cool feature about this monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓃸 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that his ears are pierced! It’s possible that in antiquity the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 had earrings – how cool is that? The Brooklyn Museum has speculated that the presence of an earring would be an indication that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represented a household pet. If a person had a monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 as a household pet in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, that meant that the person was extremely wealthy because monkeys had to be imported into Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 from far away and were extremely expensive!
The monkey 𓎡𓇌𓃸 also seems to be holding something round in his hands – my guess is that it’s some type of fruit!
There are a lot of different ways to write the word for “monkey” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, however, a lot of these variants are similar except for the determinative used at the end! Here’s a list of some of the variants here (there are actually too many to list):
𓎼𓄿𓆑𓃻
𓎼𓄿𓆑𓃸
𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛
𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄜
𓎡𓇌𓃸
𓆓𓎛𓆓𓎛𓃻
Thank you to my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐 for taking this wonderful picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!
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Happy World Animal Day! Let’s learn about the significance of 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!
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.”
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.
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!
A fish bowl on display at the Brooklyn Museum
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My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 has always said that this piece reminds her of the children’s book “The Rainbow Fish,” and thanks to her that’s how I always refer to this piece!
Do you think this little fish rattle at the Brooklyn Museum looks like The Rainbow Fish?
This beautifully 𓄤 colored fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 represents a tilapia 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓏏𓆛! The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 viewed the tilapia 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓏏𓆛 as a symbol of regeneration and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. Both of these concepts were super important in the Egyptian religion, so they held tilapia 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓏏𓆛 in very high regard!
What is so cool about this piece is that it is actually a rattle! There are little clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 pellets inside of it, which represents the eggs. This was most likely a ritual object; either played during childbirth or placed in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 with their rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱!
The blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 coloring on the fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 is purely decorative as tilapia 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓏏𓆛 are not this color in real life! However, these particular colors used (blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and black 𓆎𓅓) are very typical of the color palette used at Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 palace at Malqata and at Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 during Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign. This piece is estimated to be from the late 18th Dynasty and is thought to be from Saqqara 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖.
From a hieroglyphic standpoint, the tilapia symbol 𓆛 is the main determinative for “fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛!” This demonstrates just how important the Egyptians viewed the tilapia – a lot of their fish related words contained the tilapia 𓆛! Tilapia also has its own word which is “𓇋𓆛𓈖𓏏𓆛.”
The Rainbow Fish with the word for “tilapia” in hieroglyphs!
Thanks 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 to my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 for taking this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
This stunningly painted piece is the Inner Cartonnage of a person named Gautseshenu. This piece would have been placed inside a larger coffin and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 and it’s amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are.
This stunningly painted piece is the Inner Cartonnage of a person named Gautseshenu. This piece would have been placed inside a larger coffin and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 and it’s amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are. The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 was the central god 𓊹 in the scene, and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it. For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather. If Anubis determines there’s balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. The simplified version of the scene represented on this cartonnage is missing Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏. If you’re looking at the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 from the front, you can see Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts of it in a very small amount of space! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientegypt#egyptianhistory#egyptologist#historytok#egypt#brooklynmuseum#anubis#bookofthedead
The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 was the central god 𓊹 in the scene, and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it.
For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather. If Anubis determines there’s balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. The simplified version of the scene represented on this cartonnage is missing Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏.
If you’re looking at the inner cartonnage/coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 from the front, you can see Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts of it in a very small amount of space!
You can also watch this video (with music) on TikTok!
This stunningly painted piece is the Inner Cartonnage of a person named Gautseshenu. This piece would have been placed inside a larger coffin and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 and it’s amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are. The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 was the central god 𓊹 in the scene, and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it. For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather. If Anubis determines there’s balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. The simplified version of the scene represented on this cartonnage is missing Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏. If you’re looking at the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 from the front, you can see Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts of it in a very small amount of space! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientegypt#egyptianhistory#egyptologist#historytok#egypt#brooklynmuseum#anubis#bookofthedead
My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐 sent me this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 that she took at the Brooklyn Museum and I immediately knew that I had to share it with all 𓎟 of you!
Hippopotamus Statues from the Middle Kingdom on display at the Brooklyn Museum
It’s no mystery that I love the ancient Egyptian hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪! My favorites are the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ones that are typically dated to the Middle Kingdom time period!
What I love about this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is it shows the diversity of the art that was created during the Middle Kingdom! The blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a lot more detailed and refined, while the clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are a little rougher!
The hippo 𓐍𓃀𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 in the forefront of the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are made out of clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and were most likely used as a kind of offering during the “Feast of the White Hippopotamus.” During this festival, a hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 was dragged on a sled before the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The base that these two 𓏻 hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have are representative of that sled!
The blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is always a treat to see and I love seeing them across various museums! There are lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 painted on the sides of the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 to represent the different plants that grew along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺! The legs on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 are actually restored!
FUN FACT: did you know that most blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have broken feet because they were broken on purpose so the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 would not be a threat to the deceased person it was buried with?
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
