Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Eternity” in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to look at the word for β€œEternity – π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›.” Eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› was a concept central to ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ religion and culture. 

There are two common ways to write β€œEternity” – π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› and 𓆖. The words for eternity (𓆖 & π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›) appear frequently in so many inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ – if you can recognize the words, you will be able to pick them out in any museum you visit! 

In a previous post I spoke about β€œπ“†–,” so today we are going to focus on β€œπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›.”

The symbol β€œπ“Ž› – wick” is a uniliteral phonogram which means that it only represents one sound. The sound that it represents is β€œαΈ₯.” 

The symbol β€œπ“‡³ – sun” is usually seen as an ideogram for β€œRa.” The symbol β€œπ“‡³ – sun” can also be a determinative for sun, day, and time.

Since β€œeternity” is technically a measure of time, the proper way to write the word for eternity would be β€œπ“Ž›π“Ž›π“‡³,” with the sun disc acting as the determinative. However, π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› is more aesthetically pleasing, so that is how the word is written. Technically, π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› would be pronounced like β€œαΈ₯αΈ₯.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis – drawing, hieroglyph or both?

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. While this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is not part of an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, this is my favorite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ; Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰!Β 

As many of you know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art! 

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ: 𓃣 and 𓃀. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃀

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃀

𓃣 or 𓃀

𓁒

Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. This is not all of the variations of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but the ones you will see the most! 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god π“ŠΉ that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, places of burial). 

While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰, shrines associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was called π“‰±π“ŠΉ, or the β€œGod’s Booth.” 

One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is: π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰± or β€œIn front at the God’s Booth.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

Here is a β€œLarge Seated Statue of Hatshepsut” that is dated to the early 18th Dynasty (c.Β 1479–1458 B.C.E.), and most likely the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.Β 

Even though Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is β€œportraying herself as a male” (as described by some historians), she is actually portraying herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Paint can still be seen on the Broad Collar

She is wearing the nemes headdressΒ π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄Β and a broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹Β (necklace worn by royalty/the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ). Some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is actually still visible on the broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹! The face on this statue is completely destroyed, and this was definitely done on purpose.Β 

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

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘ – Bodily/Of Her Body

(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)

π“Œ»π“‡Œ – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓆖 – She Live Forever

Put together, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved, May She Live Forever.” Some of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is missing, so this is what I could see! 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! If she called herself the β€œSon of Ra” the inscription would look like β€œπ“…­π“‡³β€ instead of β€œπ“…­π“π“‡³. ” The word for β€œbodily π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘β€ is also feminized, and would be written as β€œπ“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“†‘β€ if it was referencing a male.

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Egyptian Artifacts

William the Hippo!

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are one of them! At the MET, the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is named π“‚‹π“ˆ– William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 and is kinda the unofficial mascot of the museum, so I just tend to call all of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 no matter what museum I am at!Β 

William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil! William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and rebirth.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets and Amulet Molds

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and the molds that were used to make them!

Amulets and Amulet Molds at the MET

These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, but also make the amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺΒ small and detailed! The amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are grape and daisy/rosette amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! In the mold on the top left (and the two grape amulets next to it), you can even see the cartouche β€œπ“‡³π“§π“Ž  Nebmaatra,” which is the throne name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†!

Flowers were really popular in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! If you look at lists of hieroglyphic symbols, there are tons of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that represent plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! The phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was found with flowers π“†Όπ“…±π“†°π“¦, as were other royal mummies. Even commoners would adorn their dead with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° arrangements. This is why amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° designs were so popular!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

I had the most amazing day at the Brooklyn Museum with my sister and parents! This was the best birthday (May of 2021) I have had in a long time and I’m so lucky that my family not only supports me in my love of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, but that they went out of their way to make my day special! Thank you Amanda for following me around and taking pictures πŸ˜ƒ.

Here I am with a figure of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 from the Ptolemaic Period! As you all know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god π“ŠΉ so I was really excited to see this beautiful π“„€ piece! This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue shows Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in his jackal form. The kneeling position is representative of him guarding the necropolis from high above on a hill/mountain- as was his role as the god of cemeteries (and mummification). It’s also similar to his determinative hieroglyph 𓃣.

One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles is β€œupon his hill π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘β€ and this hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ phrase usually follows his name in dedication texts! Another common title associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is β€œhe who is in the mummy wrappings π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–.β€œ

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Blog

Memories at the MET

This picture is one of my absolute favorites. It kinda looks like we are in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! It was from one of my birthday trips to the MET – I believe this is my 16th birthday (I am 30 now).

I have such amazing memories here – there was a time when there was no glass covering the walls inside the mastaba (fun fact: mastaba means bench in Arabic)- I will never forget being inside this tomb seeing it without glass – as it was meant to be seen. Nonno was so happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 that I would be able to experience that!! The inside of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ is beautifully decorated with hieroglyphics π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and paintings!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hippos at the Brooklyn Museum

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are one of them! At the MET, the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is named William and is kinda the unofficial mascot of the museum, so I just tend to call all of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ William no matter what museum I am at!

William was made Between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil! William has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile and rebirth.

I love the little hedgehog that’s on display too!!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of a Statue of Akhenaten

My Nonno and Nonna took my sister and I to the Brooklyn Museum for the first time over 15 π“Ž†π“Ύ years ago – one of the things I loved most about it was the beautiful collection of artifacts from the Amarna Period – aka the rule of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

This piece is a fragment of a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Although the cartouches have been β€œerased,” stylistically, the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is obviously of him due to the way the chest is carved.

Petrie is credited with finding this – he found 17 π“Ž†π“€ partial statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ during his excavation of the city in the 1890s. He also found tons of statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that seemed to be purposefully smashed. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ were definitely unpopular due to not only moving Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– capital but also because they changed the religion from polytheistic to the monotheistic worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. This mass destruction of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ showed that the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ wanted to erase Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Neith at the Brooklyn Museum

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ was able to come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ and clay statues. The bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. The Brooklyn Museum had a lot of beautiful bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ pieces!

Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.

Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ was one of the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ of war and rose to popularity during the 16th Dynasty because her central city of worship, Sais, was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– at the time. She is also the protector of Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, the son of Horus whose canopic jar contains the stomach. Due to this, she was seen as a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 along with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Nephytys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and Selket π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“. She is usually seen wearing the red crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” of Lower Egypt or with a shield and crossed arrows on her head.