Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Oil Lamps

While my Nonno loved ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, he also absolutely loved Ancient Rome and the Roman Emperors. This is why he loved the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– so much. Even though the Ptolemaic Period was technically Hellenistic Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, there was still a heavy Roman influence because Rome was still very powerful at the time! 

When Cleopatra VII π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 committed suicide in 31 B.C.E., that was seen as the end of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and the beginning of Roman Egypt. This makes Cleopatra π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt! Nonno often told me stories about Mark Antony, Cleopatra π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀, Julius Caesar – he loved that whole part of history so much.Β 

These are ancient oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢! These oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 are made of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and can be found throughout countries that were ruled by the Roman Empire! Many are found in present-day Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Turkey, Syria, and many others! My Nonno absolutely adored these – he loved that you could still see where the oil π“‚π“†“π“–π“Šπ“¦ had burned on some of them (that’s the black π“†Žπ“…“ discoloration at the opening). Nonno always made sure to point these out in museums and now of course I always look for them. I love seeing the different designs on them! Each lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 is unique which I love!

Isis and Horus design on the oil lamp, along with the black discoloration on the opening!

Due to Roman influence in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 from Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were sometimes made with the Egyptian Gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on them! The oil lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 all the way on the right depicts Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ nursing Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ grew in popularity, 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 𓇼𓄿𓀒 during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby π“ˆ–π“π“ˆ–π“€• has even appeared on the back of Roman coins. Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ were also made in abundance during this time period. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Kohl Tube of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a Kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€ Tube! Kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€ was a type of eye paint (makeup) that was very popular amongst the ancient Egyptians! This tube would have contained the kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€, and then a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 or faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό stick would have been used to apply it! The kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€ tube itself is also made of faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, hence the gorgeous blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ color! This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.).

For me, the most interesting part of an artifact is always going to be the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– on the object! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s Throne Name)

π“‡“π“ˆžπ“ – King’s Great Wife

π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— – Tiye

π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!

Some of you may notice when looking at this inscription that Queen Tiye’s π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is in a cartouche too! Sometimes, the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the queens who held the title of the β€œKing’s Great Wife π“‡“π“ˆžπ“β€ also appeared in cartouches to demonstrate their importance to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ grandmother! Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— and Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  seem to have been married by the second year of his reign. The reign of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  was an extremely prosperous and successful one, because it was at this time that Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– had reached its peak artistic and international power (even though Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  only participated in one military battle himself). His success had been set up by the works of the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, such as Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and then Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  own father, Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼.Β 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs from the Abydos King List!

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

These beautiful π“„€ hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are from the Abydos King List at the British Museum. There are two 𓏻 surviving King Lists from temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. One temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son π“…­ Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abydos, while Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ was excavated and brought to the British Museum.Β 

While the two 𓏻 lists were very similar, Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ had more rows to accommodate the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ so it appears to be shorter. There are three 𓏼 rows of cartouches on the remaining limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief – the upper two 𓏻 rows contain the cartouches of earlier pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯, while the bottom row shows Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ throne name and birth name alternating – this is the part we will be reading today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to start from the right!

π“…“π“‚žπ“‚ž – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ – Rameses II, Beloved of Amun (birth name)

π“…“π“‚žπ“‚ž – By Permission Of

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– Rameses II (β€œUsermaatre” throne name)

π“…“π“‚žπ“‚ž – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“©π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (birth name variant)

β€œBy Permission Of π“…“π“‚žπ“‚žβ€ is meant to signify that Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– commissioned the creation of this King List! It’s also cool how different variants of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– were used throughout the relief!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ were considered gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Aswan Granite

After limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™, β€œAswan Granite” was the third most used rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ by the ancient Egyptians! β€œAswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– area, even though they aren’t all granitic! Diorite and granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ are other igneous rocks looped into this category, even though granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is a felsic rock (lighter in color and lower in density with more quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™) as opposed to diorite/granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ (intermediate rock, less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, both dark and light in color). 

The most common of the β€œAswan Granite” rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ is known as red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ. Red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦, obelisks 𓉢𓉢𓉢, and for parts of buildings and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ! 

Quarrying of the β€œAswan Granite” started in the Old Kingdom and was even used to build the Pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Giza! During the New Kingdom (particularly 18th Dynasty), red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ became extremely popular again, especially amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ and many of them had their statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ and funerary equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ carved out of this durable stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ! 

One of the best examples of these red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. She had the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ shipped 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί from Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were such master geologists they even distinguished regular β€œgranite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώβ€ from β€œred granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆβ€ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below is a close up of a sample red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ from my collection so you can get a better look at this gorgeous π“„€ rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™!Β 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Alexander the Great in Hieroglyphs

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ conquered Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! This was the beginning of the Hellenistic Period of Egyptian history. 

So why was Alexander π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ recognized as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ saw him as the person who liberated them from the Persians! Alexander π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ also restored many of the Egyptian temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ and even built new monuments 𓏠𓏍 dedicated to the Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! Some of these monuments 𓏠𓏍 show him worshipping Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, who basically would’ve been the Egyptian version of Zeus. After Alexander’s π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in Babylon, Ptolemy I π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄ became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Since Alexander π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ was Macedonian and not native Egyptian, his cartouche is very phonetic – all of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ used are uniliteral signs, which means that they correspond to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. Let’s take a closer look! 

π“„Ώ – The β€œEgyptian Vulture 𓄿” represents the sound β€œ3” which would be pronounced like β€œah.” 

𓃭 – the β€œrecumbent lion 𓃭” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œrw,” however, during the Hellenistic Period it adopted the sound of β€œL.” 

π“Ž‘ – The β€œBasket with a Handle π“Ž‘β€ symbol has the sound of β€œk.”

π“Šƒ – The β€œdoorbolt π“Šƒβ€ symbol represents the sound β€œz” or β€œs.” It’s also the ideogram for the word β€œdoorbolt.” 

𓇋 – The β€œreed 𓇋” represents the sound of β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

π“ˆ– – The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

𓂧 – The β€œhand 𓂧” represents the sound β€œd” and is also the ideogram for the word β€œhand.” 

π“‚‹ – The β€œmouth 𓂋” symbol is used to represent the sound β€œr.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word β€œmouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

π“Šƒ – see above! 

The hieroglyphs of β€œπ“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒβ€ basically spell out β€œAlksindrs.” It’s pretty cool to see the versatility of the hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ symbols with examples of foreign names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Tutankhamun and Amun

This diorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 portrays Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ and the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is credited with restoring the Cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, after it was eradicated by his father Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– in order to solely worship the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.Β 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is very interesting because it displays Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– very large, while Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is very small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©. Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was considered a god π“ŠΉ on Earth 𓇾𓇾, they were usually depicted as large, intimidating, and regal figures. However, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ were second to the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ themselves – especially Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– who was the king 𓇓 of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. So in the presence of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is very small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©. 

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 has sustained damage, most notable is the fact that Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ head is missing. This is because this era of the 18th Dynasty was supposed to be β€˜forgotten’ by history. The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ that came after Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ tried to erase all evidence of the Amarna era. Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ fell victim to this as well, even though he restored the traditional Egyptian pantheon. It was due to his familial relation to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– that he was also subjected to having his images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 destroyed.Β 

A lot of Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏦 were usurped by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, who was not only Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ general π“€Žπ“¦, but was the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Let’s read some Hieroglyphs!

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

This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή. 

Right Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column:

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŠΉπ“› – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally β€œGod’s Servant”) 

All together, this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ would read β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” 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! 

Left Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column: 

π“ŽŸ – Possessor

π“Œ³π“π“„ͺ – Reverence

π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή – Niankhwadjet

β€œPossessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Let’s put it all together! 

π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“π“‰‘π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“Œ³π“π“„ͺπ“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή

β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Here is my past post (with photographs) on this beautiful piece!

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Book Recommendations Video

Video – Hieroglyphic Dictionaries Recommendations

Dictionaries Books Reel 

Hi π“‰”π“‡Œπ“€ everyone! I’m back with another book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 recommendation! These are four 𓏽 hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ dictionaries that I really like and use all the time! I would definitely recommend these dictionaries if you’re studying hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

The two 𓏻 dictionaries by Bill Petty are easy to get because they are still in print, however, the Budge dictionaries are old and you’ll probably have to get them second hand! My Nonno gave me the Budge dictionaries over 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years ago and what’s wild is they were old books 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years ago! 

Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 to my friend π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“€€π“ @elianubis for sending me this beautiful π“„€ shirt as a gift! I love it!!Β 

Here are affiliate links, where you can purchase the books that I recommended in the video! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps to keep my website and educational content free for all!

English to Middle Egyptian Dictionary

Hieroglyphic Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Middle Egyptian LanguageΒ 

Budge Dictionary Volume 1

Budge Dictionary Volume 2

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Trial Piece of Two Hands

For some reason, this very simple relief of two 𓏻 hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 was one of my favorite things that I saw at the Petrie Museum in London! 

Flinders Petrie was one of the main excavators at present-day Tel el-Amarna, the site of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– new capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β  Amarna as it is commonly referred to as, is the modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– – Horizon of the Aten,” which replaced Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– as the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β 

During excavations at Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– the workshops 𓄯𓏏𓉐𓏦 of artists were found, which contained a lot of unfinished reliefs. These “trial pieces” are though to have been made by young artists who were learning their craft. Even though this is such a simple relief of hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 with many cracks, I find it to be so beautiful π“„€. The art of the Amarna period fascinates me because it is so different stylistically from other Egyptian art! I love seeing all of the unfinished pieces that were found at Amarna – it’s kind of like getting a behind the scenes view of the art! 

A lot of reliefs in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were made on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰. From a geological perspective, limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (due to its composition of the mineral calcite 𓍱 – which comes from dead marine organisms), is a very easy rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ to sculpt and work with because calcite 𓍱 is a softer mineral π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™. Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– used to be completely under water π“ˆ— hundreds 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of millions 𓁨𓁨𓁨 of years ago, hence why limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™) are so abundant – both of these rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ are classified as sedimentary rocks, which are primarily formed under large bodies of water π“ˆ—!

Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is composed of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 marine organisms, which I find correlates with ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as a whole – their entire life π“‹Ή/religion focused on preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and they basically built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 their civilization out of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 things! 

It’s so fascinating how geology and Egyptian history are so closely interrelated! Did you know that Petrie was a geologist and that he was the first to apply stratigraphy (studying rock layers) to the field of archaeology?! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Rameses II Adoring the Sphinx at Giza”

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief is called β€œRameses II adoring the Sphinx at Giza” and it is such a beautiful π“„€ piece! Let’s take a closer look!

By the time Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ at Giza was already ancient (~1200 years old) – which is almost mind blowing to think about!!! During the 18th Dynasty (the dynasty before Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) the cult of the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ began to reach its peak in terms of religious importance. 

During the first 𓏃 year of their reign π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take a trip to the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ as almost a right of passage. They would then build monuments 𓏠𓏍 to document the occasion. This relief is representative of that trip that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ took! 

The New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓐆 knew the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ as Hor-em-Akhet π“…ƒπ“π“ˆŒ which translates to β€œHorus in the Horizon.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– most likely came from the fact that the Sphinx’s π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ head is seen in between Khufu 𓐍𓆑𓅱 and Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴π“ͺ, and can appear like the sun disc 𓇳 when approached from a certain direction. It’s definitely a creative name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Let’s read some simple hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here’s a breakdown of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Horus in the Horizon π“…ƒπ“π“ˆŒ! Can you spot this on the relief?

π“…ƒ – Horus

𓐝 – em = in the

π“ˆŒ – akhet = horizon

There are actually two 𓏻 different versions of this relief! If you look at the pictures above versus the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 below, the reliefs are facing two 𓏻 different directions!

For a closer hieroglyphic study, we are going to be looking at the relief facing the left because I was able to get better pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this one! Both reliefs are pretty much identical except for the direction that they face!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below. Some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are missing, but I was able to infer what was being written:

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – Lord of Appearances 

π“‡³π“©π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“ŒΈ – Rameses II (Birth Name Variant) (this cartouche is too damaged for me to know which variant, so I made my best guess)

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre (Rameses II throne name)

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽΈπ“…“(𓏲𓅆)(π“€­) – Khnum (these hieroglyphs are cut off, but my best guess is this is the start of the name of the god Khnum)

Here’s the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ translation for the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below:

π“…ƒ – Horus

𓐝 – in the

π“ˆŒ  – Horizon

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

𓆑 – His

π“ŽŸ – All

π“Š½ – Stability

π“Œ€ – Strength

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€π“œ – Health

𓄫𓄣𓏏 – Joy

π“ŽŸ – All

𓇳𓏇 – Like Ra

π“‡³π“ŽŸ – Every day

This beautiful π“„€ and unique relief is located at the Louvre in France!