Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of an “Amarna King”

The Amarna Period and Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 has always fascinated me. All of the radical changes that were made – such as changing the religion from polytheistic to the monotheistic worship of Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, to moving the capital, to the changes in the art – it must have been quite crazy during those years!

This is actually one of my favorite pieces in the Brooklyn Museum – the Museum has the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ labeled as β€œAmarna King” but to me it’s clear that this piece represents Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. He is represented in typical Amarna art style here: distended belly/large hips, very long arms, narrow neck and angular face. It is not known whether these are exaggerated features, or if the art was meant to be a more realistic representation of what the royal family looked like. Usually Egyptian art depicted people at their finest, with idealized features rather than realistic ones.

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is wearing the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown with the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 preserved at the front, a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ necklace and a skirt. While this limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue’s π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ paint is preserved beautifully the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ that is seen is actually gold leaf and not paint!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sunken Relief of Ptolemy II

This sunken relief in granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ depicts Ptolemy II Philadelphos π“‡³π“„Šπ“‚“π“Ίπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜. Although the Ptolemaic Period of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– had Greek/Macedonian rulers, they were still depicted in the ways of classical Egyptian art. This relief shows Ptolemy II π“‡³π“„Šπ“‚“π“Ίπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜ in full Egyptian fashion – he is wearing the nemes headdress π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ with a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the forehead.

Above Ptolemy II’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“‚“π“Ίπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜ head 𓁢𓏺, you can see the hieroglyphs β€œπ“ŽŸπ“Šͺ𓏏𓇯” which translates to β€œlord of the sky” or β€œlord of the heavens.” This title is usually associated with the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–.

Above his raised arms, you can see the bottom of a cartouche, which most likely held Ptolemy II’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. Userkara π“‡³π“„Šπ“‚“π“Ίπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜ β€œThe strong one of the soul of Ra, beloved of Amun” was Ptolemy II’s throne name, while his birth name in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ was simply π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄ Ptolemaios. It was not uncommon for the Greek rulers to phonetically spell their names with the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! It can honestly make them very easy to read for people who are just beginning to learn!

This piece is from the Ptolemaic Period (c. 282-246 B.C.E.).

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Model Boat from the Tomb of Ukhhotep

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is from the tomb of a man named Ukhhotep. This is one of two 𓏻 funerary boats that were found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – most Middle Kingdom tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that had wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models always contained two 𓏻 boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ – In the tomb one was oriented to the north and the other towards the south. During the actual funeral, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would take one last journey across the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Models of boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ (usually funerary boats), were usually found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ as a way to symbolically bring the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

I really love this model because of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 that you can see underneath the canopy! The canopy also has a leopard skin at the top. The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is accompanied by two 𓏻 women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ mourners – they are probably meant to represent Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇. There is also a priest π“ŠΉπ“› (dressed in the leopard skin) who holds a scroll with a funerary offering on it. There is a second priest π“ŠΉπ“›, also dressed in leopard skin with his arm 𓂝𓏺 extended outward in a mourning gesture.

Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were very popular amongst Middle Kingdom tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦. This particular boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is dated to the 12th Dynasty (c. 1981–1802 B.C.E.)

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Middle Kingdom Coffin and Hieroglyph Translation

This is a stunning π“„€ example of a Middle Kingdom coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±(Late 12 to mid-13 Dynasty c. 1850–1750 B.C.E.). Many coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± from the Middle Kingdom were made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and elaborately painted. This coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± belonged to a person named Khnumnakht, who is an unknown individual except for this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±.

The panel of this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± that I chose to highlight is significant for many reasons. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”
π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut

It’s been a little bit since I’ve spoke about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!! As many of you know, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and she has been an inspiration to me ever since I was a little kid! The β€œHatshepsut Room” at the MET is my most favorite gallery in any museum that I’ve been to – I feel so lucky that it’s so close to me here in NY! I still get so excited every time I get to step into the gallery! It is breathtaking every single time! Even with the mask, I think it’s very easy to see just how happy I am in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏.

This is a bust of Pharaoh Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, in the form of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (Osiride). The statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ originally stood over 4.6 m (15 ft) high and is originally from Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was not a free-standing statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ- it was actually carved from the blocks that were once 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€. In antiquity, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“„€π“‹‘ on her head. About twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† years after Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ died, these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were cut off of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and thrown into a pit near the entrance. The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ remained buried until they were discovered by excavators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1930s.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Montuhotep II

This beautiful π“„€ raised relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is originally from Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign. This dates the piece to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Hathor’s 𓉑 face was actually chiseled away during the Amarna Period, when Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed Egypt’s religion to the sole worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. After Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign, in Dynasty 19, some repairs were made to this piece.

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ birth name, throne name (both with titles), and Nebty name.

π“†₯(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

π“„₯𓇿𓇿 – The Uniter of the Two Lands (Nebty π“…’ Name)

In front of Hathor 𓉑 the inscription reads: π“„₯π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“Ž‘π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“‡π“‡‹π“Ž—π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“…Ίπ“„«π“π“„£π“ŽŸ which translates to β€œFor you I united the two lands as the powers commanded, all joy.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Corn Mummies

Corn Mummies are an interesting part of Egyptian religious practices. While millions of animal mummies have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies made of grains like wheat and barley have also been found. Corn mummies are found in cemeteries and are usually dated from the Third Intermediate Period through Roman times though they first appeared during the Middle Kingdom. This particular corn mummy is from the Ptolemaic Period (332–30 B.C.E.).

Corn Mummies are meant to be a representation of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Egyptologists came to this conclusion because the β€œcoffins” that contain the corn mummies almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name and his titles/epithets. Another reason Egyptologists made the connection to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the cyclic nature of growing grains – in Egyptian religion, anything that was cyclical was related to the birth-life-death cycle humans experience.

Even though the corn mummies are dedicated to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, they are almost always found in cases with a falcon head. The falcon head is representative of the god Sokar π“Šƒπ“Ž‘π“‚‹π“…‹, who is often connected to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. Their connection goes all the way back to the Old Kingdom, and The Pyramid Texts are the one of the first instances in which they are shown to have a connection.

Sokar π“Šƒπ“Ž‘π“‚‹π“…‹ was originally thought to be the god π“ŠΉ of craftsmanship, but due to his association and worship at Memphis, he became a prominent god π“ŠΉ of the afterlife. The combination forms of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, Sokar-Osiris (Middle Kingdom), Osiris-Sokar (New Kingdom) and the most popular Ptah-Sokar-Osiris also emphasizes this connection between the two 𓏻.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Realistic Lion Statue of Amenhotep III or IV

This lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was originally meant to represent the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž . The Egyptians believed that lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ represented strength and might, which is why pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be represented as lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ (and why the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was so popular). While being represented as a sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was considered the β€œnormal” in Egyptian art, being represented as a full lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› was very rare. Also, sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are usually represented in a β€œhead-on” type style, while this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ represents the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ in a more realistic fashion.

To me, this piece showcases the incredible skills that Egyptian artists possessed – not only could they make idealized/traditional statues like sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦, but they were also masters at making realistic statues too.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ has gone through many changes and was recycled by many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! It was originally made for Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž , however, an inscription was added to the chest by Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ (better known as Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change).

The inscription reads β€œLion of rulers, wild when he sees his enemies tread his path.” The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below shows a close up of this inscription, however it is hard to read – I got some help from the British Museum website for the translation because when hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are faded, especially when looking at them from my photographs, they can be extremely difficult for me to read!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Dog, Horse, and Gazelle at the MET

Here are some of the more striking pieces from the Egyptian Galleries at the MET!

The dog 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯ is referred to as a β€œMechanical Dog” because it’s mouth 𓂋𓏺 can open and close by using the lever that is located on the chest! When the mouth 𓂋𓏺 is open, tongue and teeth are visible! Much like our society today, the Egyptians had dogs 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯𓏦 as pets and mummified dogs 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯𓏦 have been found in tombs with their owners! This piece is from the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and actually used to be part of Howard Carter’s personal collection!

The gazelle 𓂾𓋴𓃲 is made of ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ and has a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 base. The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are made of inlaid stone, the ears are missing along with the horns. This piece is from the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and was a part of Lord Carnarvon’s personal collection.

The horse 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗 used to be part of a whip handle and is made of ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ. Interestingly, horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏦 didn’t come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– until the Second Intermediate Period during the time of Hyksos rule (c. 1667–1570 B.C.E.). During the New Kingdom however, horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏦 (and chariots) were a common sight! This piece is from the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and was a part of Lord Carnarvon’s personal collection.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Assortment of Glass Inlays

These are an assortment of glass π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό inlays that are dated to the Ptolemaic Period (305-30 B.C.E.). Glass π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό inlays were used to decorate shrines or other objects that were made out of cartonnage (cartonnage is like ancient paper mache). The glass π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό inlays were pressed directly into the cartonnage when it was still wet in order to make the inlays stock, and this complete the object!

There are many glass π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό inlays in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, and the one in the center is representative of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” (which happens to be blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ – probably to make it stand out). There are also to inlays of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­(bottom left and top right), Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 (above the pharaoh), a winged scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„, and a pillar with a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ on it.

While these are very tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© objects, and are probably glanced over quickly by many, I’m the type of person that loves tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things!

Fun fact: the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ for the words β€œglass” and β€œfaience” are the same: π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό.