Author: ancientegyptblog7

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 16, 2023

There are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 and some of them are on display at the MET! This particular Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 Figure of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 though broken in half, has a wonderfully preserved face and partial inscription!

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten on display at the MET

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾.

Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray. While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. Let’s take a look at the partial inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

You can see the inscription of “𓆥,” which as we have learned previously can translate to “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” As we know, this is a very popular title to be seen before a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

The “𓇳” in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is part of one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne names, which would most likely be “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖,” since that is the only one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne name 𓂋𓈖 variants that begins with a “𓇳.”

Even though “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖” translates to “The Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra, the Unique one of Ra,” this variant was only seen after the name 𓂋𓈖 change from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags akhenaten, artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 15, 2023

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 gneiss statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is called “King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure” and is on display at the MET!

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

This is the only statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the 5th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 that exists – all other representations are on reliefs. We know that this is 𓇳𓃃𓅱 because his cartouches appear on the right side of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 headcloth and the false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸 which is the usual fashion worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The “divine figure” that is standing next to Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 on the left is a personification of the 5th Nome of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (later called the Coptite Nome). During the Old Kingdom, the nomes (or provinces) of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were usually drawn as people! The “divine figure” is offering the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 an Ankh 𓋹. The “divine figure” also has the “double falcon emblem 𓈺” carved on his head, which was the nome standard!

Something I love about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Here’s a little geology lesson: Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain 𓈋𓅳 building or plate tectonics), that the minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦 have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance – can you spot the banding on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾?

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry 𓎛𓏏𓏏𓉐 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, sahure, the met

Video

Wooden Models of Meketre – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 13, 2023

This video shows the Wooden Models of Meketre!

These wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 which was during the Middle Kingdom. Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial.

The first wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Porch and Garden 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈” that has a pool 𓈙𓈇 in the center that could have been potentially filled with water 𓈗!

Porch and Garden Model from the tomb of Meketre

The second wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a bakery 𓂝𓅓𓂋𓉐 and brewery 𓂝𓏏𓉐𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏪.

Model of a bakery and brewery from the tomb of Meketre

The third wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐.

Model of a granary from the tomb of Meketre

The fourth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a slaughterhouse. Cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and geese 𓊃𓂋𓅬𓏦 are being slaughtered by butchers, and dried out meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹 can be seen hanging above them.

Model of a slaughterhouse from the tomb of Meketre

The fifth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter.

Model of a cattle stable from the tomb of Meketre

There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Meketre. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

“The Opener of the Ways”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 12, 2023

Whenever people see an Egyptian artifact that looks like a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, they think it’s Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, however, there are other canine deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon! This small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicts the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who was known as “The Opener of the Ways!”

Small statue of the god Wepwawet at the MET

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was depicted as either a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or a wolf 𓃹𓈖𓈙𓇋𓏲𓄛 and one of the best ways to distinguish between Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is by looking for their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 since they are artistically very similar looking!

Another way to tell Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is usually shown in the recumbent position (𓃢, 𓃣, 𓃤) while Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is usually shown standing up (𓃧, 𓃨).

Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Opener of the Ways,” which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 were also carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions for this reason!

Other variants of Wepwawet’s name 𓂋𓈖 include:

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

𓄋𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐𓀭

𓃧

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met, wepwawet

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 11, 2023

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is my favorite version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 due to the incredibly detailed drawings and beautiful script 𓄤𓆑𓂋. It was a dream come true to see it in person at the British Museum!

The text was clearly written by an expert scribe 𓏟𓀀, and since Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 was a scribe 𓏟𓀀, was it possible that he wrote his own Book of the Dead?

Me with the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The script in Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is known as “Cursive Hieroglyphs” or “Hieroglyphic Book Hand” and I can read it because it’s not in Hieratic like a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 are!

The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The “Weighing of the Heart,” or the “Judgement of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭” is my favorite part! In this scene, Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is being weighed against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣. If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two, then Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the “Book of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 “𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺” translate to!

Let’s take a closer look:

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

𓅓 – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where “book” comes from)

In its simplest form, The Book of the Dead is a collection of magic spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is dated to the 19th Dynasty.

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 10, 2023

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written!

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wedjat or “Eye of Horus”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 9, 2023

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” was not only one of the most popular amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also one of the most popular religious symbols in general!

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 that Horus 𓅃𓀭 lost when battling Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 restored Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 or healing 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 due to the nature of the myth.

The wedjat 𓂀 was also common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. The Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 was an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 used by both the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The Eye of Horus was also associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹!

Two Wedjat or “Eye of Horus” amulets on display at the MET

These two 𓏻 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 wedjat 𓂀 eye amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 B.C.E.) are so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the left has a wing 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃, lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 (it looks like the hieroglyph symbol “𓃭”), and and two 𓏻 Uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗𓏪 on it! All of the inlays are intact too!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the right is missing some of the white inlay on the eye but it has the details of what looks like the bottom part of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 (the tail and the legs), another eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, and an arm 𓂝𓏺!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Video

Wooden Statue of Anubis (Video)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is one of my favorites!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎.

Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill/mountain 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above!

This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, video

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).

Me with the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose at the Brooklyn Museum

This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐!

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 as well.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script

Hieratic is the script that this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read Hieratic well at all! While Hieratic is another way to write the Middle Egyptian language, some of the symbols look VERY different and have evolved over time – it is definitely difficult to learn! Much like hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Hieratic can be read from top to bottom, right to left or left to right.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script in black and red ink

Some of the Hieratic is in black 𓆎𓅓 ink while some of it is in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓂝𓏛 of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃” could have been written/drawn in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all! So, some of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems kinda random.

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 6, 2023

This quartzite statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Brooklyn Museum is called “Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 or Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠” and while small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it certainly gives us a lot to think about! I think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a representation of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 for a couple of reasons!

Statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first and most obvious reason are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on his chest ornament, which is on top of an elaborately carved broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. While the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, here is the translation:

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s throne name)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓌸 – Beloved

So the full translation would be “Nebmaatra, Beloved of Amun-Ra.” This clearly labels the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as being of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠.

Me with the statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 does have a some similarities to the representation of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 too, especially the remnants of the crown on his head, which is the same two-plume crown 𓋛 that is characteristic of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 seems to have had a fascination with Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺, and probably wanted to be depicted as him. Many Egyptologists wonder if Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 fascination with this solar deity was inspiration for his son 𓅭 Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 religious revolution.

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

Tags amenhotep iii, amun ra, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

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