Ancient Egypt BlogLetโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! On my Instagram Stories, I have been doing a “Hieroglyphic Word of the Day” feature, where I feature a common Hieroglyphic Vocabulary word every single day! My goal with this feature is to make it easy for people to recognize words that are common in inscriptions so that the words are easy to spot and read!
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This beautiful ๐ค๐๐ sarcophagus ๐๐น๐๐๐ญ at the Brooklyn Museum shows the goddess ๐น๐ Nephthys ๐๐๐๐๐ with the Four Sons of Horus! The Four Sons of Horus were an integral part of ancient Egyptian religion – usually in a funerary aspect so it makes sense that they would appear on a sarcophagus ๐๐น๐๐๐ญ!
The Four Sons of Horus usually appeared as the lids of canopic jars, which were the jars used to store the organs ๐๐ง๐๐น๐ฆ of a deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ person during the mummification ๐ด๐ง๐๐ ฑ๐ process. When they appears as amulets ๐๐ช๐ ๐ช or on sarcophagi ๐๐น๐๐๐ญ๐ฅ, the Four Sons of Horus served as protectors ๐ ๐๐ก๐ of the dead ๐ ๐๐ฑ.ย
The Four Sons of Horus are easy to recognize because they usually appear together in funerary art! Another way to recognize them is by reading their names ๐๐๐ฆ!
Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Something interesting about this sarcophagus ๐๐น๐๐๐ญ is the way the names ๐๐๐ฆ of the Four Sons of Horus are spelled! The spellings of the names ๐๐๐ฆ here are some interesting variants that arenโt seen too often! We will start reading from the left!
Hapi ๐๐ช๐(can also be spelled ๐๐๐ช๐๐ญ) had the head of a baboon and he protected the lungs ๐๐ด๐ฅ๐ ฑ๐บ.
Imseti ๐๐๐ฟ (can also be spelled ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ญ/๐๐๐ด๐๐ ) had the head of a human and he protected the liver ๐ ๐๐๐น๐ธ๐ธ๐ธ.
Duamutef ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐(can also be spelled ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐ญ/๐ผ๐๐๐) had the head of a jackal and he protected the stomach ๐๐ฃ๐ป.
Qebehsenuef ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐(can also be spelled ๐๐ข๐ข๐ข๐๐ญ) had the head of a Falcon and he protected the intestines ๐๐ช๐ ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ผ.
Can you spot all of the names ๐๐๐ฆ in the inscription ๐๐ ฑ๐?
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Did you know that Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ was referred to as the โLord ๐ of the Nine Bows ๐๐บ๐โ in certain religious texts? The most famous example of the use of this title for Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is from the Pyramid Texts! Letโs take a closer look at what this means!
The โnine bows ๐๐บ๐โ was a phrase that was used to refer to the enemies of Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐. Egyptologists and historians actually still donโt know the exact countries or territories were represented by the nine bows ๐๐บ๐, but they are agreed to be foreign lands.ย
In statues ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ๐ช, pharaohs ๐๐ป๐ฅ can be depicted standing on nine bows ๐๐บ๐, however on scarabs ๐๐ช๐๐๐ฃ๐ช or seals such as this one pictured, the nine bows ๐๐บ๐ are represented by the images of nine captives with their hands tied behind their backs. A recumbent jackal (aka Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ) is seen presiding over the nine captives.
Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ is most commonly known as the god ๐น of mummification ๐ด๐ง๐๐ ฑ๐, however, in many early myths he had proven himself in battle hence why he was given the title โLord ๐ of the Nine Bows ๐๐บ๐.โย
Seals such as these were popular in the Theban necropolis during the 18th Dynasty. This is such a small piece, but one that contains so much meaning. I of course love it because I look for any representation of Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ that I can find!ย
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Happy first day of school to all of us in New York!! To celebrate, letโs learn about scribes ๐๐๐ช!ย
Scribes ๐๐๐ช were very highly regarded in ancient Egyptian society. Due to the complexity of hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช/hieratic, those who were able to master it were extremely valued. Scribes ๐๐๐ช recorded magic spells, wills and other legal contracts, medical procedures, and tax records. Scribes ๐๐๐ช also helped to preserve Egyptian culture throughout time. They were considered part of the royal court and did not have to serve in the military because their job as a scribe ๐๐ was so essential.
It took almost ten ๐ years for a person to complete scribal training and children started school as young as five ๐พ years old. Though most scribes ๐๐๐ช are shown to be men ๐๐๐ค, there is archaeological evidence that some girls also attended school and learned to read. Most boys inherited the job of scribe ๐๐ from their father ๐๐๐ as is the same with other occupations in ancient Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐.
Fun fact: it took me about six ๐ฟ years to really master reading hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Even though Iโve been practicing/reading them for over 25 ๐๐๐พ years now, Iโm still learning every single day – that’s the beauty of learning a language! The learning is never complete!
There were also many different types of scribes ๐๐๐ช in ancient Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐, and their roles were usually designated by titles written on funerary objects ๐๐๐ด๐๐๐ญ such as stelae ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ธ๐ฆ!
๐ – Scribe
๐๐ – Scribe
๐๐ – Kingโs Scribe / Royal Scribe / Kingโs Secretary
๐๐๐ – Scribe of Accounts
๐๐น๐๐๐ – Scribe of the Temple
๐๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ซ – Scribe of the Offering Table
๐๐ – Scribe of the Treasury
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I was inspired by a video that @egyptologylessons posted on TikTok to write about this piece! This beautiful ๐ค๐๐ wooden ๐ฑ๐๐บ statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ is called โThe Sculpted Statue of the Scribe and Architect Kha ๐๐ก๐ผโ and it is currently on display at the @museoegizio in Torino, Italy. My Nonno took this picture ๐๐ ฑ๐ during one of his trips to the Museo Egizio!ย
Kha ๐๐ก๐ผ was a scribe ๐๐ and the royal architect under the pharaoh ๐๐ป Thutmosis IV ๐ณ๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ (18th Dynasty) and he lived in Deir el-Medina. Khaโs titles included โHead of the Great Place ๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐๐ป๐๐,โ โOverseer of the Works ๐ ๐๐๐๐ in the Great House ๐๐ปโ and โRoyal Scribe ๐๐.โ
Fun Fact!!! Did you know that the โGreat Place ๐ฟ๐๐จ๐๐๐ป๐๐โ is how the ancient Egyptians referred to the Valley of the Kings?
Khaโs ๐๐ก๐ผ high rank as an official ๐ด๐๐ allowed for him to have an elaborate burial for himself – most Egyptians would not have been able to afford something like this!
What strikes me most about Khaโs ๐๐ก๐ผ tomb ๐๐ฉ๐๐ is how these wooden ๐ฑ๐๐บ objects (the statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ and the chair ๐๐จ๐๐ฑ) are so well preserved! Wood ๐ฑ๐๐บ is organic and can decay very quickly even Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐! The flower ๐ท๐๐๐๐ฐ collar ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ around the neck of the statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ is even still there – thatโs so remarkable!
I also love how the ushabti ๐ท๐ฟ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฎ๐พ figures are included in this display! The ushabti ๐ท๐ฟ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฎ๐พ figures are made out of steatite ๐ ฎ๐๐๐๐ which is a very durable type of stone ๐๐๐๐ช!
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Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช on this Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name!
While it doesnโt look like much, this piece is actually a bronze ๐๐ค๐๐ฆ blade ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ด that was once attached to a handle. This was one of my favorite objects that I saw at the Petrie Museum because it has Hatshepsutโs ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช throne name on it!
I also think this piece is unpublished, so it was a total surprise for me to see that it even existed! Since her name ๐๐appears on the blade ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ด, it means that it was most certainly made during Hatshepsutโs ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช time as pharaoh ๐๐ป.
Letโs take a closer look at the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
๐ค๐น – Great God
(๐ณ๐ฆ๐) – Maatkare (Hatshepsutโs Throne Name which translates to โTruth ๐ฆ is the Soul ๐ of Re ๐ณ.โ)
๐๐ ๐ – Amun
๐ – Foremost
๐ฆ๐ฆ๐- Holiest of Holies (the name given to Hatshepsutโs temple at Deir el-Bahri. It can also be written as ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐).
๐บ๐ – Beloved
Put together, the inscription reads: ๐ค๐น(๐ณ๐ฆ๐)๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ โThe Great God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Foremost of the Holiest of Holies.โ
Interestingly, Hatshepsut ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช is referred to as โThe Great God ๐ค๐นโ instead of the โGreat Goddess ๐ค๐น๐โ as she usually is in inscriptions ๐๐๐ฅ. Certain inscriptions ๐๐๐ฅ towards the later part of her reign ๐พ๐๐ did sometimes omit the feminine ending of the word, so this might mean the blade ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ด is from the late part of her rule ๐พ๐๐. Or this could just be a spacing issue – the blade ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ด is small ๐๐๐ด๐ ฉ so maybe not all of the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช could fit!
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Did you know you can find Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ all over Hollywood Studios in Disney World? Well, now you do!
There used to be a ride called โThe Great Movie Rideโ and there was an entire room dedicated to Indiana Jones! Since it was modeled after โRaiders of the Lost Arc,โ there was a lot of ancient Egyptian stuff going on! โThe Great Movie Rideโ no longer exists, however, the Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ statues have been repurposed and you can find pieces of them in the park!
The picture ๐๐ ฑ๐ above is in Galaxyโs Edge and Iโm am with Anubisโ ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ foot! Anubisโ ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ foot is hidden amongst the Jedi statues outside one of the stores! Itโs so cool to have some ancient Egypt in a Galaxy Far, Far Away!
The ๐๐ ฑ๐ above is in a little shop and itโs Anubisโ ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ head from the Great Movie Ride! I was very excited by this find!
Itโs so much fun to find little pieces of ancient Egypt everywhere I go! Next time you’re in Disney World make sure you look for Anubis in Hollywood Studios!
I hope youโre enjoying my โAncient Egypt in Disneyโ posts!
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There are so many beautiful ๐ค images ๐ ฑ๐๐ ฑ๐ช of the gods ๐น๐น๐น on this mummiform coffin ๐ ฑ๐๐พ! Who are some of the gods ๐น๐น๐น and goddesses ๐น๐น๐น๐ you can see?! Let me know in the comments!
This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen ๐ฑ or papyrus ๐ฏ๐ mixed with plaster! This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties.
This mummy case ๐ ฑ๐๐พ belonged to a priest ๐น๐ named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images ๐ ฑ๐๐ ฑ๐ช may seem like random pictures of the gods ๐น๐น๐น, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ and and ensure rebirth ๐๐ฟ๐ ฑ.
Watch my previous video for a better look at the front!
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This large red granite ๐ ๐ณ๐๐ถ statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ of Hatshepsut ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช is large and majestic and one of the most beautiful ๐ค๐๐!ย
The most striking aspect of this statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ besides the size is the fact that Hatshepsutโs ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsutโs ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ statues ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ๐ช have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image ๐๐ ฑ๐ so she would be forgotten from history.
Hatshepsut ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช is in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar ๐๐บ in each hand ๐ง๐๐บ. In ancient Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐, kneeling is considered a worshipping ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ข/offering ๐ต๐๐ช๐๐๐ฆ position. A pharaoh ๐๐ป only kneels to another god ๐น, who in this case is probably Amun-Ra ๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐บ.
Hatshepsut ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช is depicted wearing the nemes ๐๐ ๐ด head cloth and the false beard which was typical fashion for a pharaoh ๐๐ป!
The hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช on the back of the statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ show her throne name, Maatkare ๐ณ๐ฆ๐.
This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.ย
Itโs been a while since I shared a picture ๐๐ ฑ๐ of an Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ! I love this statue ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ of Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช so much – look at those ears! Itโs so cute!! This Imhotep statue is on display at the Vatican Museum!
The Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช statues ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ๐ช are always fashioned the same so they are very easy to pick out in museums! Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช is always depicted as a scribe ๐๐ sitting with a papyrus roll ๐ ๐๐๐ across his lap.
Even though Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช lived during the 3rd Dynasty, most of his statues ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ๐ช are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, which is when Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช was widely worshipped ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ข as a god ๐น, especially by the Greeks. Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช was one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified.
The name ๐๐ Imhotep ๐๐ ๐ต๐๐ช actually translates to โHe Who Comes in Peace.โ Letโs break down the name ๐๐ to see what each of the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช mean!
๐ – Come, Arrive, Return
๐ – Who Is/Who Is In
๐ต๐๐ช – Peace
I love translating the names of ancient Egyptian people! Much like names today, their names meant something too!
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