Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Blog

Eid Mar – Beware the Ides of March!

Beware the Ides of March (aka Eid Mar)!! Today is a non-Egypt post, but it’s about something that is very special and meaningful to my Nonno. I wish you all could have seen his face light up every time he spoke about this coin and the history behind it.

Not only did my Nonno love ancient Egypt and Rome, he had a passion for numismatics (the study of coins/paper money). He particularly loved Roman coins, and knew so much about them. The coin pictured (which is a replica of the original and made into a necklace) was his absolute favorite. He would speak about this coin – The EID MAR Denarius – often; he even kept a picture of the coin in his wallet. That’s how much he loved it. Nonno would often tell me and my sister about how Julius Caesar was murdered. It was a story he loved to share; talk about cool bedtime stories!!!Β 

Eid Mar Coin
Brutus on the obverse (front of the coin)
Eid Mar Coin
Eid Mar with two daggers and the liberty cap on the reverse (back of the coin)

On March 15th, 44 B.C.E, Brutus (on the obverse [front] of the coin) and his co-conspirators (who called themselves The Liberators) stabbed Julius Caesar over 30 times with daggers that they had hidden in their clothes. They believed that they would free the Roman Republic from the threat of tyranny if they could remove Julius Caesar from power. That was not the case – the public was fond of Caesar and even Marc Antony condemned Brutus and the Liberators’ actions.  Brutus was forced to leave Rome with his army. 

The EID MAR coin is so historically significant and is considered the greatest ancient coin of all time because it proves the fact that Brutus was involved with the assassination of Julius Caesar. Brutus issued the coin to remind his soldiers that they fought for the Roman Republic. The reverse side of the coin has two daggers, with the liberty cap (ancient symbol of freedom) in the middle. EID MAR is written underneath. Interestingly, people who were still alive usually didn’t appear on coins – in fact, Brutus hated that Caesar had put his own portrait on coins! 

It was Nonno’s dream to own one of these coins, but there are only about 80 of the silver coins and two of the gold versions that are known, which makes them extremely valuable. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

A “Ushabti Army”

I refer to this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 as the β€œUshabti Army” – it’s no secret how much I absolutely love ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ (all thanks to how much my Nonno loved them)!Β 

Ushabti Army
A “Ushabti Army” at the Vatican Museum!

My Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 when we were at the Vatican Museum together π“ˆ–π“Š—! Sometimes it takes me a while to want to share my Nonno’s pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 because I’m selfish and want to keep them to myself, but I also want to share his pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 with everyone so we can all remember him together π“ˆ–π“Š—. I guess it’s all a balance. Plus, his birthday is this week, so I am very sad about that because I miss my Nonno so much.Β 

So why did a deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person have a β€œUshabti Army?” People who could afford it were buried with over 400 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 ushabtisΒ  π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ! Usually there were 365 π“²π“²π“²π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ύ worker ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ (one for each day of the year) and then overseer ushabtis! The overseers ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were there to make sure all of the others were doing their work!Β 

The ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are made of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡/terracotta. During the 3rd Intermediate Period, these materials replaced the popular stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ or faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ. So many ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ have been found from this time period that many of them were sold or given to museums around the world 𓇾𓇾. Did you know that there were so many that the Egyptian Museum in Cairo even sold authentic ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ to tourists at one point?! 

Fun Fact: the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ had originally calculated the year to be 365 π“²π“²π“²π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ύ days, and then they revised it to 365.25 days – which is the actual length modern scientists calculated based on the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 revolution around the Sun 𓇳𓏺! How incredible is that?!

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Video

Video – Statues of Isis and Horus

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  This video examines the significance of the statues of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­!

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦, stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, and even as small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time. 

While my Nonno loved Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ like this in museums whenever I visit! 

Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and a user of magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ.  As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans.  Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 holding a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Tjetji and Debet

This is an incomplete False Door (right and left panels) and a door jamb (upper panel) from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 and his wife Debet. False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

False Door of Tjetji and Debet
False Door of Tjetji (left) and Debet (right) with their door jamb (top) at the British Museum.

This Large piece is from the 4th Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘. Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ is one of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 that built the Great Pyramids at Giza, and Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 was clearly part of the action! 

The top panel shows Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 and Debet sitting at an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ underneath the offering table show that bread 𓏐,  beer π“Š, linen π“‹² and alabaster 𓍱 were offered to them. On either side of the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 is a palace-facade, which still shows some signs of red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and black π“†Žπ“…“ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. 

Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 (left) has the title of β€œKing’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏.” The title β€œKing’s Acquaintance π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“β€œ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 is also referred to as the β€œOverseer of the Pyramid of Khafre π“…“π“‚‹(π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘)𓅨𓉴,” so clearly Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 had a lot going on! This is probably why Tjetji 𓍿𓍿𓇋 and his wife Debet got such a nice burial! 

On the side with Debet (right) their children’s names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ are all written out! 

Can you spot Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the relief? It shows up quite a few times!! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Senemut and Neferure

This is a beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… and Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 – and I love these types of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ because they were seemingly invented by Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… himself and also give some insight into this time period!

Senemut and Neferure
A statue of Senemut holding Neferure (The Louvre)

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓. Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her. But honestly, no one really knows how Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… climbed the social ranks so dramatically and we probably never will! 

This is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… holding Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and many of these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ exist, however, this one is a tiny bit different than some of the other similar statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ I have seen. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 wrapped in a blanket and being held tight by Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…. Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on her head (like royalty) and also at her feet. Was this Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on her head to show that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ intended for Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 to rule as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 after her? 

There are many differing theories on Senemut’s relationship with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓. Many believe (including myself) that they were having an affair. There’s even graffiti from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ builders in some unfinished tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that show that they too believed that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 and Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… were romantically involved. Gossiping about relationships seems to have always been something that people have done! 

It has even been speculated by some, based off of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ such as the one I have pictured, that Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… was actually Neferure’s 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut and International Women’s Day

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was International Womens Day and I didn’t get a chance to post, so I am going to post today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is ten years π“Ž† old (it’s from 2013) and of course it’s me and Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ at the MET! This gallery looks a little bit different now and the Maned Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is no longer with the White Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! Not going to lie, but I love seeing these two 𓏻 together π“ˆ–π“Š— and I miss the old Gallery 115 setup!Β 

Hatshepsut and International Women's Day
Me and the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut (left) and the White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut (right)

Let’s learn a bit more about my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the legendary Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!Β Not only was she the most successful female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian history, she was just one of the most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ ever!

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to state her divine conception and birth π“„Ÿ through images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and text π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ at her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ story shows that the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ was her father, and this reinforced her right to rule π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ. These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 were not available to the public, but only to a select few such as priests π“ŠΉπ“›π“ͺ and officials π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€π“ͺ so it probably wasn’t propaganda. 

What caused Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ to want to claim herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? We will probably never know the events that caused this to happen, so anything written by Egyptologists is mostly speculative. Whatever the reasoning, I’m glad that she did become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ has been my inspiration ever since I was a little girl and my Nonno taught me about her for the first 𓏃 time! I’ll never forget learning that a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Seeing these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ in the museum give me joy each time! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Thutmosis III from Elephantine

Today I am standing with a relief which contains the cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 from Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ! Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ is an island π“‡Ύπ“ˆ…π“Ί on the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, and it forms part of the city of Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– in Upper Egypt 𓇓! According to ancient Egyptian religion, Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ was where the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ lived and he controlled the waters π“ˆ— of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί from caves beneath the island π“‡Ύπ“ˆ…π“Ί!Β 

The Temple of Satet 𓋴𓍿𓏏𓄝𓉐 (or Satis 𓋴𓄝𓏏𓏏𓀭) is on the island π“‡Ύπ“ˆ…π“Ί of Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ and while it began to be built during the pre-dynastic period, it was rebuilt several times, most notably during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, and then the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. They both mostly expanded the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and made it much larger. The relief I am standing with is from that temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

Cartouches of Thutmosis III
Me with a relief from the Temple at Elephantine, which shows the cartouches of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Thutmosis III.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Two 𓏻 of Thutmosis III’s cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ appear on this relief, so let’s take a closer look at each of them! We are going to look at the throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) first! 

𓇳𓏠𓆣 Menkhepperra β€œLasting is the Manifestation of Re” 

𓇳 – Re 

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

Let’s look at the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·! It’s hard to see which variant is in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 but I think it’s this one: 

π“…π“„Ÿπ“Šƒπ“„€π“†£ – Thutmosis III (Thoth is Born, Beautiful of Form)

𓅝 – Thoth

π“„Ÿπ“Šƒ – Born

π“„€ – Beautiful 

𓆣 – Form

Underneath the cartouches, this famous phrase β€œπ“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“‡³π“Ίπ“‡β€ appears: 

π“‹Ή – Life 

π“Š½ – Stability 

π“Œ€ – Strength 

𓇳 – Ra

𓏇 – Like

This translates to β€œLife, Stability, and Strength Like Ra.” The extra β€œπ“Ίβ€ is there as an aesthetic placeholder!Β All pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be like Ra, so it is a fitting phrase to be put after the name of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!Β Today we are going to look at the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“!

It always felt like my Nonno took pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏π“ͺ of everything in museums – I definitely learned from the best! I’m so happy that the two 𓏻 of us did take pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏π“ͺ of everything because all of the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏π“ͺ you see on this account were either taken by me, Nonno, or sometimes another family member! Even though the glass in front of the artifacts can cause a glare and make it more difficult to take a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m thankful for it now because you can see my Nonno’s reflection!Β 

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ with the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of Rameses II on it.Β 

Cartouches of Rameses II
Cartouches of Rameses II on a calcite vase at the Louvre.

We are going to start with the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right! This is the throne name of Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, which is preceded by the normal royal title! 

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre setep en Ra

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œUsermaatre setep en Ra π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–β€ translates to β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

π“„Š – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

π“‰π“ˆ– – Chosen

Now let’s look at the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right! This is the birth name of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ which is also preceded by the normal royal title! 

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

π“ˆπ“₯ – Appearances 

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Ramessu mery Amun

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œRamessu mery Amun π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“β€ translates to β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– could also be translated as β€œRa Bore Him.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

π“ˆ˜ – Beloved

π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

Rameses II’s birth name cartouche has many variants and can also be written like this: π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Certain symbols can be substituted for each other because π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– and 𓁩 both mean Amun π“œ and 𓇳𓏺 both mean Ra.Β 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Amenhotep III

Here I am at the British Museum with a beautifully 𓄀𓆑𓂋 preserved granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ! This particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† was found at his temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–.Β 

Statue of Amenhotep III
Me with a Statue of Amenhotep III at the British Museum

In this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is depicted in the typical fashion of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! He is wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth on his head, and there is a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the forehead of the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth. A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– – all characteristics usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! While a lot of the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 has been broken off (probably just due to the passage of time), it is clear that it was once there! 

Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  is also wearing the false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ, which is another common accessory that the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wore! Why did the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wear false beards π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έπ“¦ though?! Many of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ had beards π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έπ“¦ so it was considered to be a godly trait.  By imitating the appearance of a god π“ŠΉ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 not only linked themselves to the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, but also made themselves seen as gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth 𓇾𓇾. A false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ was only worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻- no one else could wear it because no on else was a god π“ŠΉ!

Fun fact: more statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ exist of Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† than of any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (sorry Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) and over 250 π“²π“²π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† have been currently identified. I’m sure more will be found during excavations, and I am excited to see what will be unearthed in Egypt!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at an incomplete piece of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief! This piece at the Brooklyn Museum is so beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 because even though it is just a fragment, the colors are so striking and I just love looking at it! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ has always been my favorite color, and the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on this relief is still so bright even after thousands of years!Β 

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs
Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs at the Brooklyn Museum

Since the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are pointing to the left, we are going to start reading the symbols from the left! 

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super common symbol that you will see in a lot of inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram sign, which means it has the sound of a single consonant. The β€œπ“…±β€ is representative of the sound β€œw” or β€œu.” This symbol is also an ideogram for the word β€œchick 𓅱𓏺.”

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a uniliteral phonogram! The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ has many grammatical functions on its own, and it can mean β€œto,” β€œof,” β€œfor,” β€œwe/us/our,” β€œin,” β€œbecause,” β€œthrough,” and some others! How do we know which word it is? Context clues! In the case of this inscription, too much is missing for us to know what the word is! 

The β€œtall loaf of bread 𓏑” symbol is an ideogram for β€œbread 𓏑,” which usually appears in offering formulas. Surprisingly, it can also be used as an ideogram for β€œThoth” as well! 

The β€œhobble for cattle π“Ž‚β€ symbol is a biliteral phonogram which means it is associated with the sound of two consonants. The β€œπ“Ž‚β€ is associated with the sound β€œz3” (pronounced like β€œzah”) and is usually used in words such as β€œprotection π“Ž‚π“¦/π“Ž‚π“›β€ and other related phrases.

The β€œforepart of lion 𓄂” symbol is an ideogram for the word β€œfront” and β€œforemost.” It is associated with the sound β€œh3t” which would be pronounced like β€œhat.” 

The last word all the way on the right I can actually see in full – this is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!