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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabtis of Akhenaten at The MET

One of Akhenaten’s ushabtis at the MET

There are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾.

While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. This would make sense, since the “shabti spells” would be part of the traditional religion, and not the new one. Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray, so this particular piece pictured 𓏏𓅱𓏏 does not have any visible inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

I love how blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 this ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is! I’ve seen many of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 in museums around the world, and this one is my favorite because of the color! Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 were probably made in different workshops throughout his reign, which is why there are so many different variations instead of a singular and uniform style.

I also love how the Ankhs 𓋹𓋹 in his hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 are white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 and stand out against the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼. The ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 also shows the traditional Amarna-era artistic style that is seen on most of the work from this time period.

Another example of Akhenaten’s ushabtis at the MET

Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray, only one of these pieces has part of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on it! While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. Let’s take a look at the partial inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

You can see the inscription of “𓆥,” which as we have learned previously can translate to “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” As we know, this is a very popular title to be seen before a cartouche!

The “𓇳” in the cartouche is probably part of one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 throne names, which would most likely be “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖,” since that is the only one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 name 𓂋𓈖 variants that begins with a “𓇳.”

Even though 𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖 translates to “The Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra, the Unique one of Ra,” this variant was only seen after the name 𓂋𓈖 change from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖!

As I stated previously, Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 were probably made in different workshops throughout his reign, which is why there are so many different variations instead of a singular and uniform style. This picture shows a couple of the styles of ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 . While all of the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 look different, they all show the traditional Amarna-era artistic style that is seen on most of the work from this time period.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut – A Brief Family History

The large red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 in comparison to me! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous 𓄤 to look at! Hateshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 really does look regal in it!

Nicole (me) with the large red granite statue of Hatshepsut at the MET

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪: Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the only child 𓐍𓇌𓀕 of her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 Ahmose.

After the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 married her half brother, Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 lesser wives.

Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child 𓐍𓇌𓀕, so Hatsheput 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her large military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Anubis

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! One of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is, 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖, “He who is in the mummy wrappings” – which reminds me of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were quite abundant during the Late – Ptolemaic Period (664–31 B.C.E.). These are made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, which was a popular material to make amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 out of because faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 is both easy to work with and very cheap. It was very easy to mass produce these types of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪!

Funerary amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 such as these were often made in the form of deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who had various roles in protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 would be woven into the wrappings of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, and placed in specific locations in the wrappings depending on its function. Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 items whose main role was protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜!

While some amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were worn by the living, an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 would have been worn only by the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. As Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the god 𓊹 of embalming/mummification and tombs/cemeteries, he was tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Since the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to be preserved in order for them to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 had a significant role in the deceased’s journey – which is where amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 in his likeness came into play! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 commonly took the form of the power that they represented!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Ointment Jar Translation

This is an ointment jar that was found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! In Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 time, the temple was referred to as 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 or the “Holiest of Holies” (or djeser-djeseru). There are many different hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 variations of the word as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓏏𓊹𓄤 – The Great Goddess
𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿 – Lady of the Two Lands
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
𓋹𓍘 – May She Live!
𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun
𓅓 – In
𓂦𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies
𓌺𓏏𓇌 – Beloved

So all together, the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 reads: “The Great Goddess, Lady of the Two Lands, Maatkare, May She Live! Beloved of Amun who is in the Holiest of Holies.”

Fun fact about the word “𓅓!” This one symbol, usually associated with the modern letter “m,” can have many meanings such as: in, as, by, with, from, when, through, and what!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Senemut

This is a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 usually had Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤 (complete with her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle. It’s interesting to see a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding something other than Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, because he is usually depicted with her.

Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her.

There are many differing theories on Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 relationship with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Many believe (including myself) that they were having an affair. There’s even graffiti from the tomb builders in some unfinished tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 that show that they too believed that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 were romantically involved.

Gossiping about relationships seems to have always been something that people have done!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Foundation Deposits at Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple

When the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 any type of structure or building 𓉐, they would put objects in the foundation as a ceremonial practice. Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 had at least fourteen 𓎆𓏽 foundation deposits, and eight 𓏿 of them were found by the MET when the team from the museum was excavating the temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐.

Inside the foundation deposits, ointment jars (like from my post earlier this week), pottery containing food, linen 𓍱 cloth, reed mats, model tools, and meat offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 were found. The offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 were placed at significant points around the perimeter of the building. The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you are looking at is a reconstruction of the foundation deposit as it was found when it was being excavated at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐.

It’s so cool to have a glance as to how some of these objects were found by archaeologists!

Foundation deposits are so interesting because they contain every-day type objects (usually with royal cartouches inscribed on them) that give Egyptologists a glance into the life of the “regular” ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis – Name in Hieroglyphs

Can you tell that I love Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣?!?! 🖤 And yes, I did take a selfie with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 that was on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 when I was the MET!

Nicole (me) with Anubis!

There are so many misconceptions about Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 especially in pop culture (Anubis was the villain for like seven seasons of Stargate SG-1)! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is always depicted as the “bad guy,” when in reality, he most certainly was not! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was an extremely respected Egyptian god 𓊹 due to his role in protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, preserving the body (mummification) and aiding the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in reaching the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife) through the Weighing of the Heart.

In the Old Kingdom, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was the most prominent god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, however, he was replaced by Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 during the Middle Kingdom when Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 became the more prominent god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in hieroglyphs

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 played a big role in the myth of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 as well – after Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 recovered Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 body parts, she brought them to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 who wrapped them in cloth and performed the Opening of the Mouth on Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The Opening of the Mouth was a ritual that would restore the senses to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and allow them to work in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Red Bowl with Feet

This red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 bowl with feet 𓂋𓂧𓂾𓏪 amuses me so much! I think it’s adorable!!

During the Predynastic Period (c. 3700–3450 B.C.E.) , ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 potters made many different types of stone and clay vessels that had various purposes, however, this bowl with feet is definitely one of the more unique ones! One interesting thing about the bowl is that it is tipped forward almost like it’s ready to pour water 𓈗 out of it! I wonder if this specific design has anything to do with its purpose?!

Egyptologists do not know the context of this bowl as there is no specific writings 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that mention its purpose. However, Egyptologists speculate that it could have been used as an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪 placed above a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, or placed at a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 of a deity 𓊹.

What I like about this bowl is that it looks like this hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃: 𓏎. This specific hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 of a bowl with feet 𓏎 means “to bring” and is a phonogram for the sound “jnj.”

It also reminds me of 𓃂, which is the ideogram for “clean” or “pure.” Based on the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and the fact that the bowl is tipped forward as if it’s pouring water 𓈗, could this little bowl have been part of some religious purification ritual?! The word for purification is is even “ 𓋴𓃂𓈗.”

There are other hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are everyday objects with feet 𓂋𓂧𓂾𓏪 attached, such as this knife with feet 𓌬, the door bolt with feet 𓊄 (ideogram for “go away”), beaded collar with feet 𓋟, and the depression with feet 𓈝 (frequently used as “go”). The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 seemed to have liked this design/symbolism!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II – Birth Name Cartouche

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Montuhotep II

Same relief from yesterday, but different hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name/given name 𓂋𓈖, and that is the cartouche we will be looking at today!

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Montuhotep II

Let’s look even closer at the individual words!

𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (𓈖 – n) (𓍿- t) (𓅱 – u/w)
𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Hotep (𓊵 – htp) (𓏏 – t) (𓊪 – p)

Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 refers to one of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 was a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 of war who was mainly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. He is mentioned as early as the Pyramid texts, but he didn’t rise to importance until the 11th Dynasty. However, Montu’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 importance waned beginning in the 12th Dynasty as Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 rose to power in the Theban region. However, Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 wasn’t forgotten because Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴(who was quite the general/military leader) frequently compared himself to Montu 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱!

The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” translates to the word “satisfied” or “content.” The word “hotep/htp 𓊵𓏏𓊪” can also mean “offering” or “peace!”

So the name 𓂋𓈖 Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 means “Montu is satisfied” or “Montu is content.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II – Throne Name Cartouche

𓇳𓎟𓊤 – Nebhapetra

This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 reign 𓋾. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

While Montuhotep 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 is his birth name 𓂋𓈖, the cartouche we are looking at is his throne name 𓂋𓈖!

𓇳𓎟𓊤 – Nebhapetra

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!
𓇳 – Ra
𓎟 – “Neb” (nb)
𓊤 – “Hapet” (ḫrw or ḥjpt)

Most of the time when you have a three 𓏼 symbol throne name, the glyphs are read middle, right/bottom, and then top/left. The symbol for Ra 𓇳 is written first but said last, due to honorific transposition! Basically, out of respect for the god 𓊹, their name 𓂋𓈖 is written first!

In English (and other languages like Italian) we have something similar to this – we say “ten dollars” but write it as “dollars ten” – $10!