Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

Viscera Figures

While the four 𓏽 figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the front of this display look like ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures, they are not!! There are some blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼  ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures behind the Four Sons of Horus though! 

So what are these Four Sons of Horus figures? These are actually called “viscera figures” and they were meant to protect the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! Usually, the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, liver 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, and intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼 were removed, dried with natron, and placed in Canopic Jars for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. 

In some cases, the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 were mummified and put back in the body. This is where the viscera figures come into play – the viscera figures were then placed inside the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the mummified organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦! 

From the left:  Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸. Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼. Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺. 

These pieces are dated to the Third Intermediate Period/21st Dynasty (c. 1000–945 B.C.E.). The viscera figures and the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures pictured were found in the burial chamber 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓉐 of Djedmutesankh in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Eye of Horus vs. Eye of Ra

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and the molds that were used to make them! These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, but also make the amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 small and detailed! The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are the Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 and the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! 

How do you tell them apart? The left eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 is the Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the right eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 is the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! The right/left sides is based on a human eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, so it would be opposite to the observer. In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, most of these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are actually Eyes of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! The one amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 at the top right is the eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭! If you get them mixed up don’t worry – I sometimes do too!

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 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 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The Eye of Horus was also associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹! 

While most people associate the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 with Horus 𓅃𓀭, there is an Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 too! While the Eye of Ra was also an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, it was also associated with power. The Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 can be thought of as an extension of Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 power and thus an extension of the sun 𓇳𓏺 itself. The Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 can see everything, and even transformed into Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 in one of the myths! 

As you can see, it’s interesting how the two eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 both represent the sun 𓇳𓏺 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹- the two 𓏻 largest objects in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! One is associated with day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳, and the other night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛! The sun 𓇳𓏺 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 are almost like the two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 watching the Earth 𓇾𓇾! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Qebehsenuef” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at one of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of one of the Four Sons of Horus! 

Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, and was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊. 

Qebehsenuef can be written as both 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 and 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑, and sometimes a determinative was added to the end of the name 𓂋𓈖, which reads like 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭. 

The “water jar with water 𓏁 / 𓏂” symbols are both variants of each other and have the same meaning! These symbols mostly act as determinatives, however in the case of Qebehsenuef the symbols act as a triliteral phonogram with the sound “kbb/qbb” or “kbh/qbh.” 

The “arrowhead 𓌢” is a biliteral phonogram that is associated with the sound “sn.” Since the arrowhead 𓌢 is repeated three times in the name, that pluralizes the symbol and causes it to have the sound “snw.” 

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. The 𓆑 can be confusing for people learning hieroglyphs because it can also function as the word “he”! There are so many ways that 𓆑 and it takes practice to master them all!

So Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 may seem like a difficult name 𓂋𓈖 to pronounce but once you break down the symbols it’s not too bad! How the name 𓂋𓈖 is written with Romanized Letters is very similar to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 would would like “Qbh-snu-f.” 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouche of Pharaoh Nebra

I am standing with the Horus cartouche of the Second Dynasty Pharaoh Nebra 𓎟𓇳 (or Raneb).

Not much is known about Nebra 𓎟𓇳 besides his name, which mostly appears on alabaster bowls and cups. The length of his rule is also not known, since that section of the Turin Canon/Papyrus is destroyed but Egyptologists estimate it to be about 10 𓎆 -14 𓎆𓏽 years.

The name Nebra 𓎟𓇳 (or Raneb) has puzzled Egyptologists because Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 was not a big religious figure during the Second Dynasty. At that time, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the main deity and Egyptian religion very much centered on the story of Horus 𓅃𓀭 and Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 and the importance of keeping divine balance. The name Nebra 𓎟𓇳 can also be translated as either “Lord of the sun (Ra)” or “Ra is my lord,” which would show that the sun was already being worshipped separately as its own deity at this time instead of just being part of Horus 𓅃𓀭. The Third Dynasty (around the rule of Djoser 𓂦) is really when evidence of the sun being an independent deity begins to show up in Egyptian society.

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Book Recommendations

Book Review: “Scanning the Pharaohs”

Here I am with a book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 review for “Scanning the Pharaohs.”

I got this book on my last trip to the MET – when I saw it I knew that I needed to have it!!! I have always been obsessed with the Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪- even as a small child, pictures of the mummies didn’t scare me, they fascinated me. One of the first books my Nonno ever gave me was called “Faces of the Pharaohs,” and it had so many pictures of the royal mummies in it. I was completely hooked after Nonno gave me that book.

This book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is unique because it combines two of my favorite things: Egyptian history and science. Though I am not a biologist/in the medical field, I have quite the interest in mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 and the science behind studying them.

I love how this book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was organized, and how each royal mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was given their time to shine. The descriptions of the CT scans were detailed and descriptive (though they may be too much for someone without a science background). The book contains many pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦, which I thought were fascinating. There was a whole chapter on Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 mummy, which of course was my favorite part of the book! The amount of detective work and teamwork that goes into studying the mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 is incredible, and I have so much respect for those who want to study, preserve, and respect 𓈙𓆑𓄅 the mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪.

This post contains an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Swivel Scarab Rings of Thutmosis III


I am the type of person that loves jewelry, and a lot of the jewelry that I wear is inspired by ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! Rings are my absolute favorite type of jewelry to wear, and I love looking at the jewelry of the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 in museums! I may be biased, but I think that Egyptian jewelry is the most beautiful type of jewelry! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 sure knew how to accessorize!

These scarab 𓆣 rings bear the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. Scarab 𓆣 rings like these were extremely popular during the New Kingdom. I love how the different colors of the scarab 𓆣 pair so beautifully with the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉. Also these are swivel rings, meaning they spin! How cool is that??!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Hathsepsut and Thutmosis III

Here are some of the scarabs that have both the names of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.

The three 𓏼 scarabs at the top are inscribed with the cartouche of Thutmosis III, 𓇳𓏠𓆣 while the scarab at the bottom has both of their cartouches. It’s very interesting to see objects with both of their cartouches on it, and these would most likely date from their joint rule before Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 declared herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Something that has always been crazy to me is how detailed and beautiful 𓄤 the inscriptions on such small objects can be! I know that the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 used molds to make small objects a lot of the time, but the craftsmanship is incredibly impressive! I’m such a bad artist and have zero artistic talent, so I have so much respect 𓈙𓆑𓄅 for the people who created all of these beautiful works of art that I get to study and admire.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Cow Statue of the Goddess Hathor


I am with a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of a cow’s 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 head, which of course is representative of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡.

Hathor 𓉡 is one of the most prominent goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, she is regarded as the “divine mother” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of love, joy, music, and dance – basically the fun things in life! Hathor is also the wife of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the daughter of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉡 is usually associated with cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and can take the form of a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

Fun fact: the words “beautiful woman” and “cow” are super similar in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪- only the determinative at the end is different! They are even pronounced the same (nfrt) Why? Probably because of Hathor 𓉡! I find this hysterical – you probably don’t want to mess these two words up (in English at least 😂). Even my family knows this fact about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, because I bring it up all the time!!

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 (beautiful woman)
𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 (cow)

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sistrum of Hathor

Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess of music, and music has been something that I have loved throughout my entire life. From listening to classic Italian music with my Nonno, to discovering artists myself, music has always been healing to me. I cannot go a day without listening to my favorite artists. Music has not only been essential to my life, but it was also culturally essential in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

The piece in the picture is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 with Hathor’s 𓉡 head depicted. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was almost like an ancient tambourine or rattle – while the part that makes the music is often not found intact, the handle with Hathor’s 𓉡 face usually is. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 can be found dating back to the Old Kingdom, but most that are found are usually from the Late – Graeco/Roman periods. We don’t know much about the songs that were sung in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 because the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 did not have any form of musical notation, however, archaeologists have been able to replicate various types of instruments based on archaeological findings and try to figure out how they would sound! Musicians were often associated with a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 or a particular god 𓊹/goddess 𓊹𓏏, and they usually held a decently high place in the social hierarchy.

My absolute favorite artists are No Doubt, Il Volo, BTS, and One Direction! I also listen to a lot of other Italian artists, Broadway cast recordings, and classic rock music! Do you guys have some favorite musicians that you listen to?

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Horemheb

Before Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 became the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty, he was a general under the pharaohs Tutankamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 and Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏.

This large statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 (and a second similar one) at the MET would have been placed in a temple – either the temple of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 at Memphis or the temple of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 at Karnak.

It was standard for high officials to show themselves in a seated position with a papyrus scroll 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 on their lap. In the Old Kingdom, the statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 usually showed the official reading, but in the New Kingdom, the statues always showed the official writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥. Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 is writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 a hymn to the god Thoth 𓅤𓀭(who is the god of writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥).

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 around the base of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 mention Horemheb’s 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 many titles. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the “papyrus” 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 that is on Horemheb’s 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖 lap can actually be read, but it was so difficult to get a picture𓏏𓅱𓏏/actually read them because I could not get close enough to the statue!