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Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Cones

I love Gallery 117 at the MET so much! The objects in here may not look like much to the average person (they probably just look like a bunch of rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦), but to me they are a beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece in the story of ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! 

Funerary Cones
Me in Gallery 117 at the MET – the Funerary Cones are in a display behind me!

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 collections of museums, these “funerary cones” were always something my Nonno pointed out to me! He thought they were so interesting and now every time I go to museums, I actively seek these out as a way to remember my Nonno! He loved this little gallery at the MET solely because of the funerary cones! 

Funerary cones (a modern name given to these objects) are made of clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and usually found at the openings of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 (almost exclusively). They were used primarily during the 18th Dynasty (though there are examples that date to the 11th Dynasty or as late as the 19th-20th Dynasties).

While the exact usage of the funerary cones is not known, but they are inferred to be architectural decorations, tomb labels, symbolic offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦, or even as passports to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of these cones have been excavated to date! Every museum I have been to has a collection of these funerary cones!

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with the name of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 occupant as well as a god 𓊹.

An example inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that is common on a funerary cone would be something like: “Venerated before Osiris, Son of ____, Name of Deceased.” 

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated 

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓅭 – Son

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 on display at the Brooklyn Museum.  

Stela of Rameses II
Stela of Rameses II on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 talk about how Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 there. The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was a way to commemorate Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 presenting statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳. 

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, and Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! 

Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook 𓋾) from the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳. This is meant to represent that Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 saw Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 as a legitimate and rightful ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 (in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖/Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 kind of replaces Horus 𓅃𓀭 in popularity as king 𓇓 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹) and that they were gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. 

It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 appear on this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! These names appear on the top two rows of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here are Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 five 𓏾 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦: 

𓃒𓂡𓇳𓏺𓀭𓌸𓇌 – Horus 𓅃 Name (The Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra) 

𓅖𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖𓅱𓂝𓆑𓏲𓂡𓈊𓏏𓏦 – Nebty 𓅒 Name (Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands”)

𓌂𓐝𓂡𓄘𓂧𓂋𓂡𓌔𓏏𓐀𓏻 – Golden Horus 𓅉 Name (“Powerful of Arm, He Who Has Subdued the Nine Bows”)

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Throne Name (“The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra”)

𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Birth Name (“Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun”)

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Video

Objects from Malqata – Video

This video shows a gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which displays objects from Malqata!

In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 built a new palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 which was referred to as “The House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏. 

In this display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are many different amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪! Amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 are a special type of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 that have a pointed bottom and two 𓏻 handles that were used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world! 

Ancient Egyptian amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪, such as these one found at Malqata, were usually made of red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and then covered with a cream colored coat. They were then painted 𓏞𓏜 with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, or black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.

You can also see various wall paintings that once adorned the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 walls at Malqata! I can’t even imagine how beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and colorful this palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 once was! I hope you enjoyed seeing these objects from Malqata!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Blog

Hippos at Animal Kingdom

Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are one of my favorite animals and I was so excited to see them so close on the animal trails at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are on of my favorite animals not only because of ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also because of the blue hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 on “It’s a Small World.”

Fun fact: hippos 𓐍𓃀𓃯𓏦 actually don’t swim much in the water 𓈗 – they like to walk along the bottom of bodies of water 𓈗! Why? Swimming expends too much energy! 

Hippos at Animal Kingdom
A Hippo at Animal Kingdom!

The hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 is one of the animals that appears frequently in Egyptian imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 starting from the predynastic period! This is because the people of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 needed to always be on their guard in regards to hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 since they could dominate both the land 𓇾𓇾 and the water 𓈗. 

Hippos 𓂧𓃀𓃯𓏦 are indigenous to the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, unfortunately though, they are now extinct in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Just like animal species today, human expansion into habitats also played a role in population decline during ancient times. 

Even as ancient Egyptian culture evolved over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years, Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 due to their strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and power. While hippos 𓂧𓃀𓃯𓏦 were the most feared animals along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of them could offer protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, such as in the form of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! 

Hippos at Animal Kingdom
A Hippo at Animal Kingdom!

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 who is associated with childbirth. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus 𓂧𓇋𓃀𓃯 and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 dedicated to her specifically! 

Here are some ways you can write hippopotamus in hieroglyphs: 

𓌉𓏏𓃯

𓐍𓃀𓃯

𓂧𓃀𓃯

𓂧𓇋𓃀𓃯

𓃯𓏺 

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series! Next time you’re in Disney, be sure to check out the Hippos at Animal Kingdom! They can be found on the animal trails and also on the ride Kilimanjaro Safari!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Blog

“It’s A Small World” Hippo

The first time I ever went to Disney World, I went with my Nonno and Nonna when I was four years old! When we went on “It’s a Small World,” I fell in love with the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 that winks at you! The hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 became my favorite part of the ride, and even to this day, I look forward to seeing the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! And yes I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE going on “It’s a Small World!” It’s one of my favorites! I’m not going to lie – I still to this day will wink back at the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! 

"It's A Small World" Hippo
The hippo from “It’s a Small World” (top) and an ancient Egyptian hippo from the Brooklyn Museum

When I started studying ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 with my Nonno around when I was six years old, I always loved the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 because they reminded me of the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 on “It’s a Small World!” It’s amazing how I loved the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 even before I started studying ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! 

A lot of the hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 have lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over them to associate them with rejuvenation! The hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are most likely painted blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth. What’s really cool is that the “It’s a Small World” hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 also has flowers painted on it and is also that blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color! 

"It's A Small World"
A girl sitting on a “solar barge” in “It’s A Small World” at Walt Disney World!

I have also included the other scene that represents Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 in the ride – there’s a girl sitting in a boat that resembles Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 solar barge 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞, pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦 and a sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤! 

"It's A Small World"
The sphinx and pyramids in “It’s A Small World” at Walt Disney World!

 I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Blog

Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge

I am a huge Star Wars fan and have been for a very long time, so finally getting to visit Galaxy’s Edge was an absolute dream come true! I had the most incredible time in the galaxy far, far away! To my surprise, there’s an obelisk 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 in Galaxy’s Edge!

Obelisk in Galaxy's Edge!
Me with the Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge!

An obelisk 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 is defined as a structure with four 𓏽 sides that comes together at the top to form a pyramid shape. Obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 were made out of a single stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 and used to be at the entrance to ancient Egyptian temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪. Usually there were two 𓏻 obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 per temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 entrance. The obelisk 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 was invented by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪! 

Obelisk in Galaxy's Edge!
Me with the Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge!

The word “obelisk” is actually Greek, and the ancient Egyptians actually referred to these structures as “teḫen.” (𓏏=t, 𓐍=ḫ, 𓈖=n, 𓉶= determinative). 

There are a couple of ways to write “obelisk” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶 (the full word) 

𓏏𓈖𓉶 (shortened variant of the word) 

𓉶 (just the determinative could be used, in this case as an ideogram to mean the full word)

When Rome conquered Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, many of the emperors brought obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 to Rome. There are currently 13 obelisks 𓏏𓐍𓈖𓉶𓏪 throughout Rome, eight of which are purely Egyptian, and the other five 𓏾 were procured by the emperors. 

It’s so cool to see a structure invented by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 still inspiring projects today – even Star Wars related ones!

I have added some of my non-Egypt related pictures to the post because I just love Star Wars so much and I wanted to share!

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series! Let me know in the comments!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Blog

Giraffes in Ancient Egypt

Did you know that there were giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖? Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 are another one of my favorite animals and I was so excited to see them so close on the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! I have been on the safari many times but I have never seen so many animals on it before! 

Giraffes in Ancient Egypt
A giraffe at the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 are native to the African continent, so it would make sense that the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 would encounter these beautiful 𓄤 animals! When giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 first evolved, they made most of the African continent (including Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖) their home! There is some Pre-Dynastic period art that depicts giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 because they were living among the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 at that time! By the Early Dynastic Period, the giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 had left the area so they are not as commonly seen in art as the hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦, crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 and lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪. 

Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 did not appear frequently in ancient Egyptian art or mythology because they were considered to be “foreign” animals and were mainly shown as signs of conquest of foreign lands. Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 could also be presented as gifts to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 from foreign rulers! 

One famous depiction of a giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is on the temple reliefs of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐! Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was also the first 𓏃 recorded person to have a menagerie, so she clearly liked animals! 

Giraffes in Ancient Egypt
A giraffe at the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

There are two 𓏻 ways to write “giraffe” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱

𓋴𓂋𓃱

The word “𓋴𓂋𓃱” can also mean “foretell,” (either with the giraffe determinative or written as 𓋴𓂋𓀁) and I wonder why both “giraffe” and “foretell” are the same? Maybe there’s some cultural significance of the giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 that we don’t know about yet! 

I also find the giraffe symbol 𓃱 to be so adorable! It was mainly used as a determinative in the words for giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 / 𓋴𓂋𓃱! The hieroglyphs giraffe 𓃱 also looks like the emoji giraffe 🦒

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series and learned something about giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Spaceship Earth

There is a wonderful ride at EPCOT called Spaceship Earth! You board a “time machine” and take a journey on how human communication has changed from the dawn of time to now! I have always loved this ride because it has an entire room dedicated to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! 

The narrator highlights some of ancient Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 important contributions to human communication such as the invention of papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Spaceship Earth
A scene from Spaceship Earth showing a the pharaoh, the great wife, and a scribe writing on papyrus

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Yes, some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in this ride are actually real! In the picture above, behind the pharaoh sitting on the throne, is the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of Seti I! What’s funny is that this looks like Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 throne, but Seti I is sitting on it! 

Spaceship Earth
A closeup of the hieroglyphs on Spaceship Earth, showing the birth name cartouche of pharaoh Seti I

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra (one of the titles that appears before the birth name cartouche)

𓊪𓏏𓎛- Ptah 

𓁣𓇌 – Belongs to Seth (pronounced like “Seti”) 

𓌻 – Beloved 

Spaceship Earth
The replica of an ancient Egyptian temple on Spaceship Earth

The picture above shows what looks like a temple, but you can spot Seti I’s throne name cartouche, 𓇳𓁦𓏠: 

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt (title that appears before the throne name cartouche)

𓇳𓁦𓏠  – Menmaatra (“Eternal 𓏠 is the Truth 𓁦 of Ra 𓇳”)

You can also see some other common phrases/titles on this temple such as “Monuments 𓏠𓏍,” “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿,” “Perfect God 𓊹𓄤,” “It is/To Be 𓃹𓈖𓈖,” and “Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯.” 

The pictures above show a man making papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and the temple – and you can see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in the bottom left!

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series! Let me know in the comments!

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

@ancientegyptblog

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Blog

The Tree of Life

Did you know that the first mention of any “Tree of Life 𓇋𓎔𓂧𓆭” is actually from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖?! The “Tree of Life 𓇋𓎔𓂧𓆭” appears in some versions of the creation myth and grew out of the primordial mound! 

I am going to be doing an “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series where I show you all the cool ancient Egyptian themed things you can see in Disney World! I hope you all will follow along with me! 

The Tree of Life
Me with the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an incredibly beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 park and I love it there – the atmosphere and theming is incredible! The symbol for the park is the Tree of Life 𓇋𓎔𓂧𓆭 and I think all of the different animals carved into the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 on the trunk of the tree 𓆭𓅓𓆭 is so cool!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, due to the climate, trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 were a rare commodity! Certain trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 were also associated with different deities! There are many tomb paintings where the goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 or Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 are shown emerging from trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 to give the deceased food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and water 𓈗. 

The Sycamore Tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 and the Acacia Tree 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭 are the two trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 that pop up the most in Egyptian mythology. The Sycamore Tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 is usually associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 and she even has the title “Lady of the Sycamore,” however, Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 will sometimes have that title too! 

Ra’s solar barge 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 was said to be made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from the Acacia Tree 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭, and two Acacia Trees 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭𓏪 could also serve as a gateway to the Netherworld which is why they are a symbol of life 𓋹 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱! The ancient Egyptians also considered the Acacia Tree 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭 to be very old because there’s a line from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 that refers to a “time before the Acacia Tree.” 

The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Bastet

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the beloved 𓌻𓂋𓇌 Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐! This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

Bronze Statue of Bastet
Bronze Statue of Bastet on display at the MET

The goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 were both depicted as cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪, however, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 usually had the body of a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 while Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 usually had the body of a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠. Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 is also usually distinguished from Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 by the sun disc 𓇳𓏺 that usually appears on her head!

However, when Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was depicted with the body of a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 (like in this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾), she was usually holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 in one hand! Since Hathor 𓉡 was usually seen with sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪, this shows a link between the two 𓏻 goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 also shows Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 holding a basket 𓂝𓂋𓂝𓂋𓎅 in her elbow/arm (opposite the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣) and a lion-headed aegis in the same arm. An aegis is an object that has the head of a deity 𓊹 (in this case a lion) with a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 underneath it! The aegis itself was a protective 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 symbol associated with Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 and was used in rituals and festivals! The basket 𓂝𓂋𓂝𓂋𓎅 is thought to possibly hold kittens, but that is just an inference by historians and Egyptologists!

Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of pregnancy and childbirth and was considered to be the protective 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 form of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 so it is very fitting for her to be holding the aegis!

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 were believed to be the two 𓏻 unpredictable personalities of the same goddess 𓊹𓏏. While Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 represented the destructive and unpredictable side, Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was the gentler and calmer side. 

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

@ancientegyptblog