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! Today we are going to look at Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis!
All of the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 we are going to look at today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 are royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that all belonged to pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from the 18th Dynasty! The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because these little guys undergo much development during this time period and have so many different characteristics!
The wooden ushabti of Amenhotep III
The wooden ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is very interesting because it has a very distinct characteristic of 18th Dynasty ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that is not just one found on royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!
A closeup of the wooden ushabti of Amenhotep III to highlight where a hoe or other tools would have been placed in his hands!
There is a space in the hands where tools would have been inserted – such as a hoe 𓌸. Tools that were attached separately were only found in the 18th Dynasty!
The Shabti Spell on the ushabti of Amenhotep III
The “Shabti Spell” is also on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!
Limestone ushabti of Amenhotep II
The rock based ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 are all seen holding Ankh symbols in their hands which are crossed over their chest in a mummiform fashion.
Ushabti of Akhenaten holding Ankhs in each hand
I have only seen royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 with Ankhs 𓋹! I find this to be commentary on the religion because a deceased pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would not have to be doing work anyway – he probably was buried with ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 just in case! This is probably why some of the royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 have Ankhs 𓋹 and not tools!
Ushabti of Akhenaten holding Ankhs in each hand
These ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 also have false beards and are wearing some type of royal crown to distinguish that they are pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!
Ushabti of Akhenaten wearing a royal crown and false beard
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Let me introduce you to another one of my Ushabti Friends – the Ushabti of Nebhor 𓎟𓅄!
The Ushabti of Nebhor
This is one of my absolute favorite ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures at the MET just because he is so adorable! This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to the 21st-22nd dynasties and is made out of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and has features and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on it that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.
We can tell the age of this ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 just by looking at it! Let’s go through the process of narrowing down the age:
This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is holding a hoe 𓌸 in each hand, which is characteristic of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that were made from the 18th Dynasty to the 25th Dynasty!
This little guy is also holding a bag on his back (I don’t have a picture of that I’m sorry), which narrows down the age from the 19th-23rd Dynasties!
This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is also wearing a headband, which is usually only found on ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that were made from the 21st-22nd Dynasties, which is the defining characteristic and allows us to really narrow down the age!
Since I can’t help myself, Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris
𓎟𓅄 – Nebhor
𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice
“The Osiris 𓊩𓁹” part of the inscription means that Nebhor 𓎟𓅄, through the process of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎, becomes 𓆣 like the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓊩𓁹 who is the main god 𓊹 of the dead. This means that Nebhor 𓎟𓅄 will live on in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife) just like Osiris 𓊩𓁹 has!
“True of Voice 𓐙𓊤” means that Nebhor 𓎟𓅄 has lived a just and true life! This phrase appears quite often amongst funerary objects!
The Ushabti of Nebhor on display at the MET
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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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Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a very peculiar type of Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure that does not appear much! I’ve been wanting to write about this piece for so long so this series is the perfect opportunity!
A “Ushabti on a Bier”
These type of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are referred to as “Ushabti on a Bier” because they appear lying flat on a table like a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. While there are not many of this type of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, there are similar (yet more elaborate) ones at the Museo Egizio in Torino, the Louvre in Paris and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden.
There is actually no information about this piece on the MET website, but based on the piece and what I know about ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, I am going to make some inferences here!
I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty for two reasons: the first is that the similar ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 located in other museums are all dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and the second is that this piece is in a gallery at the MET that contains New Kingdom era pieces!
The “Ushabti on a Bier” on display at the MET. This piece is shown amongst other artifacts dated to the 18th Dynasty!
This piece also seems to be made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, and was part of a non-royal but still wealthy person’s burial.
This “Ushabti on a Bier” that is pictured plus the ones in other museums don’t contain any hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on them which is interesting because many ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 do contain hieroglyphic inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.
To me, the “Ushabti on a Bier” figures look like the wooden mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 figures that would be placed on the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏥 that went in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 during the Middle Kingdom.
These types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures leave me with more questions than answers which to me is both fascinating and frustrating!
What was the purpose of these unique type of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures?
Why do all instances of these ushabtis not contain any hieroglyphs?
Were these ushabtis inspired by the wooden model boats of the Middle Kingdom?
Why are all examples of these only dated to the 18th Dynasty, and why did they stop being made?
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May the Fourth Be With You! Happy Star Wars Day everyone! Today I am going to do a Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦 themed post!
“I have the high ground 𓀠” is one of the most quoted lines from Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦! The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 literally means “high ground 𓀠” and looks very similar to Obi-Wan during the end fight scene on Mustafar from Revenge of the Sith!
Whenever I see this hieroglyph in 𓊹𓌃 inscriptions𓏟𓏛𓏥 I get very excited solely because I relate it to Star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 Wars 𓂋𓆱𓂝𓏏𓏦 and I absolutely love Star Wars!
This particular hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol has been named the “excited man” by James Allen (but I will be calling it “Kenobi”), and I happen to think that is a very fitting description! The “excited man 𓀠” functions as both an ideogram and a determinative.
When acting as an ideogram, 𓀠 means “high ground.”
When acting as a determinative, 𓀠 can be found at the end of words such as:
𓄿𓎛𓀠 – Mourn 𓎛𓂝𓂝𓅱𓏏𓀠 – Joy 𓍯𓄿𓈙𓀠 – be strong, be honored 𓋴𓈎𓄿𓀠 – raise, to set right 𓈎𓄿𓀠 – to be high, to be loud
These words all express strong emotions, so the “excited man 𓀠“ is definitely a symbol that summarizes the meaning of the word!
Since “Revenge of the Sith” is one of my absolute favorite movies, I am really quite amused by the meaning of this hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! It is such a cool coincidence!
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This is the first post in a new series I am doing called “Ushabti Friends,” which aims to educate on the fascinating funerary objects called Ushabtis!
There are so many different types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Today, we are going to start off with the first known ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure which is called a “wax ushabti”
Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 we know and love evolved in the 12th Dynasty, wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figurines that looked like humans (and had their own mini coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦) were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! They are known to Egyptologists as “wax ushabtis.”
These precursor-ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were made of beeswax and beeswax was said to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, resurrection, and regeneration.
The figures are somewhat detailed and were wrapped in a linen cloth 𓍱 and placed in the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 did not identify any role or jobs that the figure had (like the text on a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 could identify what it’s job was), but it did identify the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Sometimes even the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 an offering the king gives) appeared on the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 as if it were a real one!
If these figures weren’t workers, then what was their purpose? It is thought that this figure would take the place of the body should the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be destroyed.
Not many of these “wax ushabtis” have been found, especially in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found!
Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom.
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Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the word “Image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾.”
“Image” in sunken relief hieroglyphs
The word “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾” is one I use frequently in my descriptions and I always get excited when I see it appear in inscriptions! The reason I get so excited is because it was one of the first words I learned how to read in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and I remember being so proud that I knew what it meant!
I have provided two different examples of the word – the first one is in sunken relief/carved hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 while the second is in cursive hieroglyphs! Cursive hieroglyphs is the version of hieroglyphs that would appear on handwritten papyri!
“Image” in Cursive Hieroglyphs from a funerary papyrus
So what does “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾” mean? The word “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾,” which can also be commonly written as “𓏏𓅱𓏏” or less commonly “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏛” can mean Image, Likeness, Statue, Figure, and Complete. The word has a phonetic value of “twt,” but is inferred to be pronounced like “tut.”
Let’s break down the symbols!
The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.”
The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u.
The “Mummy Standing 𓀾” symbol is both an ideogram and a determinative! The symbol is an ideogram for “twt – Statue and Likeness.” It is a determinative for “Mummy, Statue, Likeness, and Form.”
The reason why “𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 or 𓏏𓅱𓏏” was one of the first word I learned how to read is because it appears in the cartouche of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓! Tutankhamun’s name means “Living Image of Amun.”
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This section of a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is from the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht” which is dated to the Ramesside Period (New Kingdom c. 1320–1200 B.C.E.). Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 was the tax master 𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 (I’m sure he was popular) and this high position is what allowed him to have such a gorgeous funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!
This entire papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is composed of what has been called Chapter 168 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, otherwise known as the “Chapter of Offerings.” However, most of the time this text is found alone and not with other parts of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 (as is the case with this papyrus) and is considered now to be its own text and not necessarily a part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺.
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
A section of the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht”
The two sections of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point in two different directions; the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above the Falcon headed god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 point to the right while the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 point to the left. We are going to start with the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋.
Here is the text all together: 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊
Here are the individual phrases broken down:
𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By
𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 – Osiris Wennefer
𓏄 – Foremost
𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West
Here is the translation: “Words Spoken By Osiris-Wennefer, Foremost of the West.” This is a super common introduction for a god in a funerary text. It also lets you know who is depicted in the images!
Before we read the next section of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s take a look at some of the art! On his shoulder, Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 is holding the goddess Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 while he is holding up his other hand in adoration of the god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is the goddess of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 and we know it’s her because of the feather 𓆄 that’s on her head!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to be reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽. These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point to the left so we will start reading them from the left!
Here is the text all together: 𓏏𓇼𓀢𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓁹𓊨𓀭𓉻𓂝𓏛𓈖𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡𓄓𓉐𓏤𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽
Here are the individual phrases broken down:
𓏏𓇼𓀢 – Praise/Worship (should actually be written as “𓇼𓏏𓀢”)
𓈖 – of
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓏄 – Foremost
𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – The Osiris
𓉻𓂝𓏛 – Great
𓈖 – the/of
𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 – Tax Master
𓄓𓉐𓏤 – Overseer
𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 – Sethnakht
Here is the translation: “Praise for Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Osiris, the Great Tax Master, the Overseer Sethnakht.”
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Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a piece titled “Model of a Scribe’s Palette Inscribed for Amenhotep.”
While this was not a scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 that was used during this person’s life, it is dated to the 18th Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆. Since Amenhotep was a popular name 𓂋𓈖 at the time, many people including pharaohs, shared this name 𓂋𓈖! This piece is made of the chemical sedimentary rock travertine, which is more commonly known as alabaster 𓍱!
We are going to be translating the right side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 first! Also if you are new here, please know that I do all of the translations myself!
Here is the full inscription on the right side: 𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏅𓈖𓏏𓏭𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓊹𓉼𓎟𓂋𓏤𓍬𓏦𓈉𓄪𓐍𓇌 𓐍𓂋𓏌𓏏𓇯 𓄟𓋴𓊹𓊹𓊹𓊩𓁹𓇓𓏞𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗𓐝𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼
𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪 – An Offering the King Gives
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓏅𓈖𓏏𓏭 – Foremost of
𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West
𓊹𓉼 – The Great God
𓎟 – Lord of
𓂋𓏤𓍬𓏦𓈉 – Rosetau
𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated
𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓏌𓏏𓇯 – Nut
𓄟𓋴 – Child of, Born of
𓊹𓊹𓊹 – Gods
𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris
𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary
𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗 – Overseer
𓐝 – of
𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖 – Memphis
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼 – Amenhotep
The full inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Great God, Lord of Rosetau, Venerated before Nut, Born of the Gods, The Osiris, the Royal Scribe, Overseer of Memphis, Amenhotep.”
It is very interesting to see both forms of the god Osiris’ name in the same inscription (𓁹𓊨𓀭 and 𓁹𓊩). This is done because the second variation of the name in the inscription indicates that the deceased person (Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼) has become “The Osiris 𓁹𓊩” in death and has been reborn in the netherworld. This is ver common in funerary texts, and both men and women would be referred to as “The Osiris 𓁹𓊩.”
We are going to be translating the left side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 now!
𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary
𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗 – Overseer
𓐝 – of
𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖 – Memphis
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼 – Amenhotep
The full inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Ruler of Peace in Abydos, Venerated before Hathor, Lady of the Sycamore, Mistress of the West Roads of Horus (?), The Osiris, the Royal Scribe, Overseer of Memphis, Amenhotep.”
This side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 gave me a tiny bit of trouble for three reasons:
The phrase “Ruler 𓋾 of Peace 𓊵𓏛” is an iffy translation for me and I don’t know if it’s one word or two or something totally different!
This variant of “Abydos 𓋁𓃀𓈋𓊖” is one I do not see a lot at all and I had to look it up! Usually Abydos is written as “𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖” and while the one symbol difference may not seem like a big difference sometimes it can be! At quick glance it looked like “East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓈉”
After “Mistress 𓎺𓏏” the hieroglyphs are very hard to read and I am totally guessing here! Upon first glance it looked like “Desert 𓈉 Road 𓈐𓏏” which does not sound right to me?! I had to consult my trusty dictionary and the phrase “Roads of Horus 𓅃𓈐𓏏𓏏𓈉” was there and it looks like it could be a variant of that too. The second one is probably more accurate due to the association between Hathor and Horus.
I guess this was a glance into my thought process! It goes to show that no matter how much you study or learn, translating hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 will always present fun and unique challenges! I’m posting my thoughts and challenges with the text to show that everyone goes through this while translating and if you’re learning now and struggling it’s okay!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
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This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece, called a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” has a lot of contradictory information about it – the MET website and books both have different information about it! The MET website dates this piece to the reign of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 (18th Dynasty) and this piece is in Gallery 119, which is not where it should be based on the books!
The “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” on display at the MET
The books I have talk about how this piece was found in the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓. An embalming cache is a collection of the supplies and materials that were used during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process. The embalming cache was usually kept separate from the actual tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 itself, though sometimes these supplies were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the person.
But what exactly is a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” and what is its purpose? Sometimes, small mummy masks were placed on mummified internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 and then placed in larger jars. However, all of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were placed in mini canopic coffins in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, so the purpose of this lone miniature mask is quite confusing – what was it doing in his Embalming Cache?
This mini mask (it’s just over 5 inches in height) is made of cartonnage (a material composed of linen and plaster – like an ancient Egyptian paper mache) and the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 colors on it are still strikingly bright! I love the details of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, and blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 and the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth! The lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and the vulture, who represents the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟(protector of Upper Egypt and its rulers) are also beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 touches!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!
