Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The King’s List and Hatshepsut

King's List
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.

Here I am with the King’s List in the British Museum! In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name 𓂋𓈖 should be because she was one of the pharaohs left off the list – she was left off because she was considered to be a non-legitimate pharaoh. 

King's List
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

King's List
A closeup of the cartouches on the King’s List

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to look at the Throne Name cartouches of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs to show where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name is missing! We will start reading from the right since the hieroglyphs point in that direction! 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 – Thutmosis I “Great is the manifestation of the soul of Ra” 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Thutmosis II “Great is the manifestation of Ra” 

 𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Tutmosis III “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra” 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Amenhotep II “Great is the manifestation of Ra”

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Thutmosis IV “Lasting are the Manifestations of Ra”

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Amenhotep III “Possessor of the Truth of Ra”

As you can see, the cartouches jump right from Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and totally skip Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! 

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs Ushabti Friends

Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs
This display combines two of my favorite things: Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs! This ushabti belonged to a woman named Isis and is on display at the MET.

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and was made for a woman named Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 who was ironically a singer for the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 ! 

This ushabti 𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because they undergo much development during this time period. It’s very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabti’s 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue! 

Here’s the full inscription on the ushabti: 𓇓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓅮𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤

Let’s break down the inscription by each individual word:

𓇓𓂝𓏏 – Singer 

𓈖 – of

𓅮 – (indicates past tense)

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten 

𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 – Isis

𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 – True of Voice/justified

While limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is not the most common material for ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to be made out of, it’s not unheard of to have ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 like this during the 18th Dynasty period.

It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, remained. 

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Tomb Chapel of Raemkai

The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏥 in this post are from the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 of Raemkai. The West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is significant in ancient Egypt because the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is the realm of the dead. In a typical tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 built during the Old Kingdom, the West Wall would have a False Door and then scenes that would be typical of offering rituals.  

In the ancient Egyptian religion/culture, it was thought that the carvings on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 could come to life. If people were depicted providing food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, then it was thought that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would have enough sustenance for the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! 

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this first image shows a butchering scene

This first image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which shows a butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴 scene. Meat 𓆑𓄹 was one of the most important offerings 𓂠𓏍 that could be given to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why this type of scene would be included in a tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐. 

While you can probably tell that the people in this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪 cattle 𓃒𓏦, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

In the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see the word “𓂋𓐍𓋴” which means “to slaughter” or “to butcher.” This word can also be written as “𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪” which is the same word but with the determinative at the end! I prefer it when the words have determinatives because it makes everything easier to read! 

If you look closely, the 𓋴 symbol is actually carved backwards which confused me at first because if you read the word the opposite way, it becomes “𓋴𓂋𓐍” which translates as “to know/to learn” which does not make sense in the context of the scene! 

So here are some new vocabulary words for you: 

𓂋𓐍𓋴 to slaughter/to butcher

𓋴𓂋𓐍 to know/to learn

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this image shows a butchering scene

This second image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is also a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which also shows a butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴 scene. Meat 𓆑𓄹 was one of the most important offerings 𓂠𓏍 that could be given to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! 

While you can probably tell that the people in this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪 cattle 𓃒𓏦, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I love these ancient Egyptian “captions” because there aren’t a lot of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 so it’s not too overwhelming to translate if you’re just starting out! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is a breakdown of the inscription 𓊮𓇋𓆑𓏏𓆑𓄹: 

𓊮 – to cook/to bake

𓇋𓆑𓏏 – bone marrow

𓆑𓄹 – meat

This tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 is on display at the MET and is absolutely beautiful to go in and explore! Here’s a tip for your next visit: it is kind of hidden and located directly across from the Blue Faience Tiles from Saqqara and it’s not very crowded so you can really enjoy it! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Small Animal Statues

I love this display at the MET because not only do I love tiny things, but these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 animal statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have a lot of significance!

Small Animal Statues on display at the MET! In the front is the jasper hippo, then the amethyst monkey holding its baby, and behind that is the three jerboas.

Let’s first talk about the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 jasper hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! Instead of the usual standing position, this hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is laying down and might have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 because there is actually a hole going through it! In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅 because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨, which is what this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 would have done for the wearer! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom. 

The amethyst figure behind the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is of a monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 holding its baby! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom but it is very similar in style to some Old Kingdom pieces that are also at the MET! Monkeys 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛𓏪 are not native to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were actually pets for the very wealthy. This figure also has a loophole in it and would have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆. Usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother and child is associated with fertility and rebirth. 

The three little figures behind the amethyst monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 are little desert rodents called “jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛. I thought they were mice 𓊪𓈖𓏌𓄛 at first and had to look up jerboa in both English and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – I love learning new things! The symbolic meaning of these Middle Kingdom statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are unknown, but they were buried with someone! The jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛 is a small desert rodent and these animals first show up as statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 during this time period; none have been found dated to the Old Kingdom! 

Small Animal Statues
Small Animal Statues on display at the MET

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Uncommon Variant of Anubis

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, at an uncommon variant of Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭! As you may know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite word to spot (no matter the variant) in inscriptions!

This particular ‘spelling’ of Anubis’ name 𓂋𓈖 is a not-as- common variant of the common way to write his name which is “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣.” However, even though some of the symbols are different, his name 𓂋𓈖 would still be pronounced the same! The proper way to say Anubis in Middle/New/Late Egyptian is “ı͗npw” (pronounced like “Inpu” or “Anpu”).

Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, so I love spotting the different variants of his name 𓂋𓈖! His name turns up a lot because Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 is one of the main funerary gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and a large part of Egyptian artifacts that are in museums happen to be funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭! 

Uncommon Variant of Anubis
Can you spot the uncommon variant of Anubis “𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭” in the inscription above?

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols! 

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The “red crown 𓋔” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓋔” is associated with the sound of “n,” just like the “ripple of water 𓈖.” This symbol can also act as a determinative for “red crown.” 

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.” 

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”

The “seated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as “punctuation” at the end of the name of a male god! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Anubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name 𓂋𓈖, so that is why the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu/Anpu’s name 𓂋𓈖! 

Here are some common variants of Anubis’ name: 

𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 (the one pictured)

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 

𓇋𓈖𓊪

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱

Which variant do you prefer? My favorite is 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! 

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Owl Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the most common and recognizable uniliteral phonogram hieroglyphic symbols: the owl 𓅓! The owl hieroglyph is very unique because it is viewed head-on instead of in a profile view! 

Owl Hieroglyph
The Owl Hieroglyph from a Middle Kingdom coffin at the MET

I personally love the “owl 𓅓” hieroglyph because it reminds me of Hedwig from Harry Potter! I’ve been a huge Harry Potter fan since 2001 and whenever I see an owl it reminds me of my favorite books – especially when the hieroglyph is painted to look like a snowy owl! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, owls were seen as protective/guardian figures, which is exactly what Hedwig was to Harry! I love it when ancient Egyptian mythological themes persist through time! 

A uniliteral sign is a hieroglyphic symbol that corresponds to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. The “owl 𓅓” symbol represents the sound of “m” and it has many different uses!  

The “owl 𓅓” symbol is one that appears in inscriptions all the time and is most commonly seen as part of other words! Some words that use the “owl 𓅓” symbol are: 

𓅓𓂋 – Overseer

𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – Kemet (Egypt)

𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 – Papyrus Roll

𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Imhotep 

Of course these are not all the words that contain the “owl 𓅓” symbol! 

But what happens if the “owl 𓅓” symbol appears by itself in an inscription and isn’t part of another word? The “owl 𓅓” symbol has its own meaning when it appears alone! I guess you can say it functions as the all-around preposition! For example, the “owl 𓅓” hieroglyph can mean: In, On, At, By, With, and As! This symbol has so many meanings/uses! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 2)

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is my second post on Cleopatra’s Needle and here is a link to the first!

This obelisk 𓉶 was commissioned to be built by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign to highlight his military victories. On the obelisk 𓉶, not only can you see Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 throne name cartouche, but you can also see both the throne name and birth name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! Rameses II usurped this monument, as he did with the monuments of many past pharaohs! He not only put his cartouches, but at the top of the obelisk 𓉶 his Horus Name also appears in the serekh! 

Cleopatra's Needle
A closeup image of the hieroglyphs on Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is Thutmosis III’s throne name and it appears multiple times on the obelisk. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Ramessu Mery Amun 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓” is Rameses II’s birth name. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun,” but could also be translated as “Ra Bore Him, Beloved of Amun.”

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

𓈘 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” is Rameses II’s throne name and translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Can you spot the three different cartouches in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? I will probably be doing another post on the inscriptions and their meaning so look out for that post too!

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 1)

“Cleopatra’s Needle” aka the Obelisk 𓉶 in Central Park is one of the most beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 sights in Manhattan!

Cleopatra's Needle
Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park

This obelisk 𓉶 (and another, which now resides in London) was not commissioned by Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇; in fact, it was commissioned by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign. The obelisks 𓉶 stood at the city of Heliopolis at one of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 temples. The obelisk 𓉶 is made out of “Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶” which was the third most used rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 by the ancient Egyptians!

Cleopatra's Needle
Me with Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park

When the obelisks were discovered by the Romans, they were moved from Heliopolis to Alexandria and placed at a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 dedicated to Julius Caesar. The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was commissioned by Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, which is probably why the obelisks have the nickname “Cleopatra’s Needle.” 

Cleopatra's Needle
A closeup of me and Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The two obelisks were given by the Egyptian government as gifts; one is in London, and one is in Central Park in NYC! The obelisk is super close to the MET, so it’s great to go and see before or after your museum trip! 

Cleopatra's Needle
William the Hippo with the obelisk!

I’m going to do another post about the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the obelisk 𓉶, so here is the link to that post!

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

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Blog

Trilobites – Fossil Friday!

Trilobites have been my favorite fossils for as long as I can remember and they are probably my favorite because they look like scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! Everything always comes back to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for me! While trilobites and the dung beetle (the real animal that scarabs 𓆣𓆣𓆣 were inspired by) look similar to each other, they do not have many similarities besides that – they were never even on Earth at the same time! 

Trilobites
A plate of trilobites at the AMNH!

Trilobites first evolved during the Cambrian Period around 521 million years ago (mya) . They are classified as an arthropod which means that they have an exoskeleton, and that exoskeleton is what allowed them to fossilize so well. Trilobites lived at the bottom of seas and crawled around scavenging for food! There are over 20,000 different species of trilobites that have been discovered, and they were a very abundant species until they went extinct around 252 mya at the end of the Permian Period – right before the evolution of the dinosaurs. 

William the Hippo with the trilobites at the AMNH.

While trilobites have no religious significance in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the scarab 𓆣 does! The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was considered to be the god 𓊹 of the morning/rising sun 𓇳𓏺, and was usually depicted as a scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, or as a human body with a scarab 𓆣 for a head 𓁶𓏺!

The god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes the “life cycle” – birth 𓄟, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

The trilobite display at the AMNH.

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

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statues of Imhotep

When it comes to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, I’m obsessed with a couple of different things in particular: Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪! I love going to see the statues of Imhotep at the museum and my Nonno always made it into a game – #IFoundImhotep 

Statues of Imhotep
Me (and William) with the Statues of Imhotep on display at the MET

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was a real man that lived during Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 third dynasty (around 2700 B.C.E.) during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦𓂋. While Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is best known for being the architect of Djoser’s Step Pyramid (and Egypt’s first ever pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴), he was also a high priest 𓊹𓍛 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! After his death, Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 became one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified. 

Statues of Imhotep
The Statues of Imhotep showing the quartzite one on the left and the bronze one on the right. The middle statue is a seated scribe and is not Imhotep.

There is not much that is known about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 as a person while he was alive; most of what we know about Imhotep was written at the earliest 1,200 years after his death! Referred to as “Sebayt 𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓇌𓏏𓏛” in Middle Egyptian, these “instructions” or “teachings” refer to Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 as a great physician and a writer! One text from the 20th Dynasty called “Eulogy of Dead Writers” even states “Is there another like Imhotep?” 

Statues of Imhotep
The bronze Imhotep statue. Most statues of Imhotep look like this one!

Most statues of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 are made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 (like you can see on the right side of this display) and are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, because that was when Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was widely worshipped. 

The quartzite statue of Imhotep. It is not common to see Imhotep in stone, so this piece is a treat to see on display at the MET.

The statue of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 on the left is so interesting because it is not made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 – it is made of the metamorphic rock quartzite! 

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

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