Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Akhenaten

This piece is listed as a β€œFunerary Figure” by the MET, but I think they mean to call it a ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ! This particular ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ belonged to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, and he had many ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ made in various styles from many different materials (you can see another ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ of his in the background of this photo). The ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures that belonged to him are made in the typical Amarna-art style.Β 

Ushabti of Akhenaten
The only fully preserved Ushabti of Akhenaten on display at the MET.

While are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures that belonged to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–, this red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ is the only known one that is complete! Red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ is a very durable rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ because it is composed of over 60% quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, which is a very hard mineral π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™ so it makes sense that this particular ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ would be the one to remain complete! 

It seems strange that Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– would be buried with ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule π“‹Ύ. Personally, I’m glad the ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were able to stick around because they’re my favorite!!

Most ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ contain standard inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ known as the β€œshabti spell” or β€œshabti text” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead, which is the spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“› that allows the ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figure to perform work for the deceased in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Due to the change in religion, none of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ contain the β€œShabti Spell;” they only contain inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and titles. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Seshat

This is an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 on a Roman-era (60-70 A.D.) mummy mask. Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of writing, wisdom and knowledge. This is actually the only object at the MET that contains an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐! Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 does not appear much in ancient Egyptian art, and there are no temples or cult centers dedicated to her worship.Β 

Seshat

Seshat’s 𓋇𓏏𓁐 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– literally translates to β€œfemale scribe,” and she is also the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ! I have always really liked Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 because she was a female figure associated with hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and I related to that aspect of her! I always wished there were more depictions of her in ancient Egyptian art!

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, she is holding writing with a stylus, which is very typical of artistic depictions of her! You can easily pick Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 out in Egyptian art because of the seven pointed emblem 𓋇 that she wears on her head (I call it a star – but no one really knows what it is). This symbol is also part of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, which makes it easy to spot in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is also the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of architecture, accounting, mathematics, and surveying. This is what made her an essential part of a building ceremony called the β€œStretching of the Cord.” The β€œStretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. It involved nailing four 𓏽 stakes into the ground at the four 𓏼 corners of the building and then linking them with a cord. 

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is definitely related to and shares some of the same functions as the god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, who was also considered to be the god π“ŠΉ of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, knowledge π“‚‹π“π“π“œ and wisdom. Usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is credited with inventing writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯/hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (hence his title β€œLord of the Divine Words/Writing π“ŽŸπ“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“‚‚π“‚‚π“‚‚π“Ÿβ€), however, some mythology credits Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 with inventing writing/hieroglyphs, while Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was the one who taught writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ to man! 

Here are some ways to write Seshat’s name in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

Seshat 𓋇

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐

Seshat π“‹΄π“ˆ™π“„Ώπ“π“…†

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Egyptian Artifacts

Shu

Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was the god π“ŠΉ of the air and atmosphere but was also associated with sunlight 𓆄𓅱𓇢! In the Egyptian creation myth, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 raised the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, separating the two 𓏻 from each other!

Shu
A small faience statue of the god Shu in his characteristic pose!

Shu 𓇋𓅱 is usually depicted as a man standing or kneeling with both of his arms raised (like this hieroglyphic symbol – 𓁏). His arms are in this position to show that he is holding up the air/atmosphere above the ground! Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was often worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 by sailors, who were looking for favorable winds π“‡‹π“‡¬π“ˆ–π“…±π“Š‘π“¦!

Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was the consort of Tefnut π“π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“†—, who is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ associated with moisture. In some mythology, Shu 𓇋𓅱 and Tefnut π“π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“†— produced Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 (god π“ŠΉ of the Earth 𓇾𓇾) and Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the sky π“Œπ“π“‡―). In the Pyramid Texts, the clouds are even mentioned as β€œthe bones of Shu.”  

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œShu 𓆄𓅱” can actually mean β€œHe Who Rises Up,” β€œEmptiness 𓆄𓅱𓅨,” or β€œSunlight 𓆄𓅱𓇢/𓆄𓅱𓇳” too! In Middle Egyptian, these words were also pronounced like β€œShu,” except they have different determinatives which changes the meaning of the word!

I’m fascinated by the fact that both β€œempty 𓆄𓅱𓅨” and β€œShu 𓆄𓅱” are the same because we can’t see the atmosphere so what is above/all around us appears to be empty 𓆄𓅱𓅨 but it’s not – and the ancient Egyptians knew that!Β It’s incredible the insight that mythology can give us into the thoughts of the ancient Egyptians!

This faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό piece is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (332–30 B.C.E.).Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Water Clocks

β€œWhat time is it” is such a common question and the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ wondered it too! The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were masters of math and science π“‚‹π“π“π“œ and one of their long lasting contributions to the world was the first clock – which was a sundial π“¬π“π“ŠŒ (also known as a shadow clock)! The sundial π“¬π“π“ŠŒ was the first portable time keeping device!Β 

Water Clocks

These two pieces pictured are also clocks except these are known as water clocks π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ». The water clock π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ» is the first clock that didn’t depend on an astronomical object to tell the time! The oldest water clock π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ» known was found in the tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ(c. 1500 B.C.E.). The Greeks even adopted the use of water clocks π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ»π“ͺ around 325 B.C.E. and named them β€œclepsydras” which translates to β€œwater thieves.” 

A water clock π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ» is a vessel/vase that has a hole at the bottom that allowed water π“ˆ— to drip through at a slow pace. Water clocks π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ»π“ͺ were usually used to tell time at night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„›, but they might have been used during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 too. The water π“ˆ— was drained from the vessel after twelve π“Ž†π“» hours, and then it could be refilled and be used again! Markings on the side helped to keep more accurate time! 

These two water clocks π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ»π“ͺ were probably used in a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. They both depict baboons because the god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 could take the form of a baboon. Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was not only the inventor of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and the god π“ŠΉ of knowledge π“‚‹π“π“π“œ, but his many other duties included being an overseer of measurement! 

Both of the water clocks π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“ƒ»π“ͺ are made of faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό. The blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 one dated to the 4th Century B.C.E. (Late Period) while the tan colored one is dated to 664–30 B.C.E. (Late-Ptolemaic Periods). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Amarna Letters

The β€œAmarna Letters” is the modern designation for a group of over 300 𓏲𓏲𓏲 clay tablets that were found at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– in the 1880s. Amarna as it is commonly called, is the modern name for β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–.” β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–β€ was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the reign π“‹Ύ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–.Β 

Amarna Letters
Two of the clay tablets, designed as the “Amarna Letters” on display at the MET.

The β€œAmarna Letters” are written on clay tablets in cuneiform script, which was a type of Mesopotamian script! Cuneiform could be used to write many languages, but the language on the β€œAmarna Letters’” tablets is Akkadian. This is significant because it shows the reach that cuneiform/Akkadian had throughout the ancient world! Akkadian was probably the lingua franca (common language/trade language) of the time! 

Most of the letters are written from rulers outside of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, and they document diplomatic relations between these territories and Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

The Amarna Letter on the left is from Ashur-uballit the king of Assyria. In this letter he offers gifts to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– in order to open communications between the two countries! 

The Amarna Letter on the right is from Abi-milku of Tyre to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– . Abi-milku was asking Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– for protection in return for his loyalty to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

One Thousand in Hieroglyphs!

Happy 1,000 𓆼 Posts to my Instagram @ancientegyptblog ! To celebrate this momentous occasion, let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the β€œlotus plant 𓆼” symbol! The β€œlotus plant 𓆼” has many functions in Middle Egyptian and it is a symbol you will see a lot!

One Thousand in Hieroglyphs
The “Lotus Plant” symbol which is used to write the number one thousand in hieroglyphs!

The most common way you will see the β€œlotus plant 𓆼” symbol used is when it is used as an ideogram to represent the number β€œone thousand 𓆼.”

For example:Β 

𓆼 – 1,000

𓆼𓆼 – 2,000

𓆼𓆼𓆼 – 3,000

One Thousand in Hieroglyphs
How many times do you see “one thousand” written in the inscription above? Read to the bottom of the post to see the answer!

Used in a sentence (the Offering Formula), it looks like this:

π“‰“π“†Όπ“π“Šπ“†Όπ“ƒΎπ“…Ώπ“†Όπ“±π“‹²

β€œ A voice offering 𓉓 (of) a thousand 𓆼 bread 𓏐 and beer π“Š, a thousand 𓆼 ox 𓃾 and fowl π“…Ώ, a thousand 𓆼 alabaster 𓍱 and linen π“‹².”

The Offering Formula on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦ and False Doors will be the most common way you will see this symbol in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! 

The β€œlotus plant 𓆼” is a biliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œαΈ«3.” The β€œlotus plant 𓆼” symbol can also be simply used as an ideogram for the word β€œlotus plant 𓆼𓏺.”

Some words that can be written with the β€œlotus plant 𓆼” are:

𓆼𓅑𓋴𓇼𓇼𓇼 – Starry Sky

𓆼𓏏𓉐𓏭 – Office

𓐍𓆼𓄿𓏏𓁣 – Illness/Disease

𓋴𓆼𓄿𓀁 – To Remember

I cannot believe it’s been almost four 𓏽 years since I stated this account, let alone the fact that I have written 1,000 𓆼 posts about ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! That’s a lot of β€œLet’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ,” mythology, art, pharaohs, and talking about my Nonno!

Pharaoh Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 was buried with over 1,000 𓆼 ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ so now I have as many posts as Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ!

The answer to the question above is: four times!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet

This beautiful π“„€ necklace π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ is linked to his pyramid.Β 

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet
The Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet

Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful π“„€ jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍒 behind! 

The necklace π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ is made out of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰, carnelian (stone with a red color), lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧, turquoise π“…“π“†‘π“‚“π“π“ˆ“, green feldspar, and garnet π“„‘π“›π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“Œ³π“„Ώπ“…“π“²π“ˆ’π“¦! 

Let’s take a look at all of the beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 symbolism and imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 that is compressed into this piece!

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet
A closeup of the Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet highlighting the intricate design.

The necklace π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ is centered around the throne name cartouche of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II π“‡³π“ˆπ“†£.

Each side is symmetrical, and if we start by looking at the outermost part, the Falcon represents the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and he is is holding a shen 𓍢 symbol. The shen 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes the completeness and eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› of the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

There are two Ankh π“‹Ή symbols that are hanging on two cobras π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ who are representative of Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ and Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜, two traditional goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ who are protectors of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Underneath the cartouche is the god π“ŠΉ Heh 𓁨, who is the personification of infinity and eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›. His hieroglyphic symbol is actually the symbol for the number β€œone million 𓁨,” thus ensuring that the king’s rule is eternal 𓆖. 

Underneath the god π“ŠΉ Heh 𓁨, are stones arranged to look like the β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ hieroglyph, which is representative of the primordial waters that the land came from in the Egyptian creation myth. Much like the water π“ˆ— of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί supported Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, the primordial waters support this piece!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut

A couple of weeks ago I asked on my Instagram if there was an object people wanted to see more of, and someone suggested the Maned Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­ of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, so here it is!Β 

Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut
I took a selfie with the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut!

Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were commonly represented as sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ in ancient Egyptian art for many reasons. A sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­ is a mythical creature that has the body of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› and the head of a human. In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“ͺ have been associated with kingship π“‡“π“‡Œ since prehistoric times due to their strength π“Œ€ and ferocity. The sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­ was the perfect representation of the strength π“Œ€ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself/herself.Β 

A closeup of the hieroglyphs on the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut.

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

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“ŒΊπ“π“‡Œ – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given

𓆖 – Eternity

β€œMaatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.”

I know this is strange, but β€œGiven Life” is actually written backwards! It should be β€œπ“™π“‹Ήβ€ not β€œπ“‹Ήπ“™β€ as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left, because that’s the way the directional symbols are pointing). 

There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know!Β 

Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut
The hieroglyphs on the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut with their English translation next to them!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of Akhenaten

This is a fragment of what used to be a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the pharaoh Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–! This (and many others like it) were found during Flinders Petrie and Howard Carter’s excavation at present-day Amarna in 1891, which in ancient times was called Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–. Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–.Β 

Fragment of Akhenaten
A Fragment of Akhenaten – many of Akhenaten’s statues were intentionally destroyed after his reign

Many of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ not only have the faces destroyed, but are also in hundreds of pieces. This deliberate destruction of his statuary was an attempt to destroy his image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so he would be forgotten from history. Images/statues of a person, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a person held immense power in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– so if a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was destroyed, its power was removed!Β 

A Fragment of Akhenaten – a front view of the statue where the extent of the damage to his face can be clearly seen.

Why did Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– successors want his image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 destroyed? Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is infamous for completely changing the Egyptian pantheon from polytheistic worship of the traditional gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ to the monotheistic worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ and people definitely did not like that! When Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– son, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ became the pharaoh, he reinstated the old religion and moved the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– back to Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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In Memory of Nonno

February 12th is an extremely difficult day for me, as it has been four years since my Nonno passed away. Everything I do is in memory of Nonno. Below is an excerpt of a speech I gave honoring my Nonno at one of his services:Β 

I have always told people that my Nonno is my favorite person and my favorite teacher.Β  I’ll tell everyone I meet how much I love my Nonno and Nonna.Β  Nonno and I shared a love of ancient Egyptian history and this common interest created such a bond between us. My best childhood memories are the two of us looking through one of his hundreds of books in the basement while we sat at his desk or on the couch.Β  Half of the books in my own collection are actually his. Either because he gave them to me, or because I just took them.

In Memory of Nonno
Nonno and I in September 2013

The best day of my life was when we finally got to walk the streets of Pompeii together.Β  I had been waiting my whole life for those couple of hours. My sister said to me β€œhe had been waiting his whole life for someone to care about that stuff as much as him” and she was so right.Β 

In Memory of Nonno
Nonno and I walking the streets of Pompeii together. This is my favorite picture of us.

My cousin said to me β€œeravete – e sempre sarete un team bellissimo.” You have been and always will be the most beautiful team. And we are. We are the book hoarding, history loving, rock collecting, Italian speaking, Pompeii exploring, drive the rest of the family crazy in museums team. And we always will be.

In Memory of Nonno
Nonno and I outside of Circus Maximus in Rome. My Nonno loved Roman chariots and chariot races!

While there are no words to describe my Nonno, I want to share something I wrote over 25 years ago, that he still has proudly displayed: 

My Nonno

My Nonno is so funny

He is very very silly

I love my Nonno very much

In Memory of Nonno
A poem I wrote about my Nonno on his cabinet.

β€”β€”

I’ve been listening to the song β€œIl tuo sguardo manca” by Il Volo a lot leading up to today because the song really describes a lot of my emotions about my Nonno’s death. This line in particular: β€œma non passa un attimo, che il tuo sguardo manca in ogni strada, ogni cittΓ , dovunque vado” hits especially hard because it is so true.

This whole website, my Instagram page, and everything I do is in memory of Nonno.