These two π» wooden π±ππΊ statues πππππΎπͺ were something my Nonno always made sure I appreciated when we went to the MET. My Nonno loved the Egyptian pieces that were made out of wood π±ππΊ because wood is difficult to preserve. Since wood is organic, in heat and humidity it will break down, especially over thousands of years. He always wanted me to appreciate how well preserved these two π» wooden π±ππΊ statues were!
These two π» wooden π±ππΊ statues πππππΎπͺ are from the 5th Dynasty and depicts the Governor Merti and his wife. They are both wearing wigs and nice clothing garments. Eleven ππΊ wooden statues were found in his tomb ππ«ππ at Saqqara and all of them were in incredible condition.
Though it is difficult to see in my picture ππ ±π, Merti is carrying the Sekhem Scepter, depicted similarly by the hieroglyph π, which translates to βpower.β That particular hieroglyphic symbol is also part of the goddess πΉπ Sekhmetβs πππ ππ name, and her name translates to βshe of might.β
Itβs no secret that Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ (Inpu in Egyptian – the name Anubis is actually Greek) is my favorite of the Egyptian gods πΉπΉπΉ! I have always been a fan of mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ, so it makes sense that the god of embalming, tombs, cemeteries, etc ended up being my favorite! Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ also could act as a guide to souls in the Underworld πΌπΏππ(referenced in the Pyramid Texts of Unas).
The inscription (which is read from left to right on this particular text) states: πππ΅ππππͺπ ±π£πΆπΊππ ππΆπ ±πππ.
The translation is: πππ΅π – An offering the king gives πππͺπ ±π£- Anubis πΆπΊππ – Upon his hill/mountain ππΆπ ±πππ – He who is in the mummy wrappings
The title βπΆπΊππβ refers to Anubisβ role as the protector of the tombs while β ππΆπ ±πππβ refers to Anubisβ importance as the god πΉ of embalming/mummification.
I am standing in front of the Name Panels for the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh ππ» Senwosret I ππ΄ππππ at the MET. These panels were originally part of his pyramid ππ ππ΄ complex and were reconstructed from excavated pieces.
Senwosret Iβs ππ΄ππππ throne name Kheperkare π³π£π is seen multiple times along with his Horus name βπΉπβ which means βliving in births.β
These panels were originally part of his pyramid ππ ππ΄ complex and were reconstructed from excavated pieces.
A lot of Egyptian art was designed to be in three layers. The falcon god πΉ Horus π π is seen at the top of all the panels which represent the world πΎπΎ according to Egyptian religious beliefs – at the top is the realm of Horus π π, then beneath that is the realm of the pharaoh ππ».
This is probably going to sound strange to some, but I was so excited to see the back of the Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ statue πππππΎ at the MET!
Usually when the statue πππππΎ is displayed you canβt see the back of it, but since the statue is part of the special exhibition of the 150th anniversary of the MET, itβs in a different room! The different location allowed me to gain new views of my absolute favorite piece!
I had only ever seen the back of the statue in a book π πππ that I have from the special exhibition βHatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaohβ at the MET in 2006. The back is very interesting because you can still see some of the original paint remaining (although in my photo it is difficult to see)!! The paint is a blue-green π ππ color!
These clay model houses ππ₯ were found by Petrie, but they are in the MET!
When Petrie found these, he gave them the name βSoul Housesβ due to them being very close to tombs/burials. These Soul Houses ππ₯ are usually found in or near Middle Kingdom burials. These clay models ensured that the deceased π ππ± had access to shelter and food π¬ππ ±ππ₯ in the afterlife πΌπΏππ. They are thought to take the place of offering tables – since offering tables were usually for the wealthy, the Soul House ππ€ was a more affordable option for people.
I have always been a person who likes tiny things, and the Soul Houses are no exception! I used to call them βEgyptian Dollhousesβ π – (not going to lie, I still refer to them as dollhouses!!)
This beautiful π€ sculpture at the MET is a raised relief of an owl π hieroglyph πΉπ dates to the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt ππ ππ.
This relief shows only the partial hieroglyph πΉπ and this style of an object being βunfinished but actually finishedβ was very popular during this time period. Limestone pieces such as these are often referred to as βsculptors modelsβ by Egyptologists because they are very detailed and only show one specific part of the object.
I have always loved this piece because I love owls!! I love owls because I absolutely love Harry Potter and anytime I see an owl it reminds me of Hedwig!
One of my favorite things about the Temple of Dendur at the MET are the incredible details that are carved into the walls! The templeΒ πππΒ was built by the Roman Emperor AugustusΒ ππ»π(who liked to refer to himself as just pharaohΒ ππ»Β in his cartouche) and was meant to be a place of honorΒ for the goddess πΉπ IsisΒ π¨ππ₯. Just like most other Egyptian temples, the common people werenβt allowed to worshipΒ πΌπΏπ’Β inside of it.Β
A lot of Egyptian architecture was built in three πΌ layers! In the case of the Temple of Dendur specifically, the three πΌ layers are the EarthΒ πΎπΎ, the SkyΒ πͺππ―, and then what happens between the EarthΒ πΎπΎΒ and the SkyΒ πͺππ―. The βbetween theΒ πΎπΎ andΒ πͺππ―β sectionΒ is the templeΒ πππ itself! This section would be where the carvings of the deities πΉπΉπΉ are!Β
The picture above details the section of the templeΒ πππΒ that represents the EarthΒ πΎπΎ. I love this because it looks like papyrus π πππ° and lotus πΈπͺ plantsΒ πΎπ°π°π°Β are growing out of the base of the templeΒ πππ! I think it is such a beautiful π€ way to represent the EarthΒ πΎπΎ! The ancient Egyptians really like plantsΒ πΎπ°π°π°Β and flowersΒ πΌπ ±π°π¦Β so it makes sense that they would want to represent them realistically in this way! How do we know that the ancient Egyptians liked plantsΒ πΎπ°π°π°Β and flowersΒ πΌπ ±π°π¦? Art like this allows us to make these inferences!Β
Fun fact! There are so many ways to write βpapyrusβ in Middle Egyptian! Here are a few:
π πππ – papyrus roll/scroll
π πππ° – papyrus plant
π―π – papyrus
π π° – papyrus
ππππ – papyrus marsh
Letβs now take a look at the βin-betweenβ layer!
Augustus making an offering to Osiris and Isis
What I like most about the βbetween the Earth πΎπΎ and Sky πͺππ―β section is the depiction of Emperor Augustus πΏπ²πππππ with many different Egyptian deities πΉπΉπΉ! He doesnβt look like an Emperor though – he looks like a pharaoh ππ»! Augustus can be seen wearing many articles of Egyptian royal πΎ fashion such as the Atef crown π, the double crown π, a false beard, a broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ, armlets ππ΄π‘ππ ±π¦, and bracelets ππ πππππ¦. These are all features that are associated with Egyptian pharaohs ππ»π¦, even though Augustus πΏπ²πππππ was Roman.
In the following reliefs, Augustus πΏπ²πππππ is making offerings π΅ππͺπππ¦ to Egyptian gods πΉπΉπΉ. In the first image ππ ±π, he is making an offering π΅ππͺπππ¦ to OsirisΒ πΉπ¨πΒ and IsisΒ π¨ππ₯. You can even see the papyrusΒ π πππ°Β and lotusΒ πΈπͺΒ flower plantsΒ πΎπ°π°π°Β from yesterdayβs post just below the relief!Β
Hathor (right), Horus (middle) and Augustus (right) with me!A closeup view of Horus and Augustus
In the second/third images ππ ±ππ¦ above, Augustus ππ»π is making an offeringΒ π΅ππͺπππ¦ of wineΒ to HorusΒ π πΒ and HathorΒ π‘!Β
You can also see three πΌ of Augustusβ cartouches in these images! Can you spot them all?
πΏπ²πππππ – Autokrator (Greek for βEmperorβ)
ππππππΉπ – Kaisaros (Greek for βCaesarβ)
ππ»π – PharaohΒ
The next and final layer we are going to talk about is the skyΒ πͺππ―! The wingedΒ π§π³ππΒ sun disc π³πΊ appears above all of the entrances to the templeΒ πππ.
The wingsΒ π§π³πππ¦Β belong to HorusΒ π π, who was often represented as a falconΒ πππ‘π .Β HorusΒ π π, whose Β realm was the SkyΒ πͺππ―,Β was one of the most important gods πΉπΉπΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. HorusΒ π πΒ was not only the mythological representation of the pharaohΒ ππ»/heir to the throne of EgyptΒ ππ ππ, but also a skyΒ πͺππ―Β god πΉ. HorusβΒ π πΒ name ππ means βThe Distant One,β due to him residing in the skyΒ πͺππ―!Β
Due to the symbolβs association with Horus π π, the winged π§π³ππ sun disc π³πΊ also represents royalty πΎ, power, divinity πΉ, and order vs. chaos. There are many different representations of Horus throughout Egyptian mythology. The the winged π§π³ππ sun disc π³πΊ design is also known as βHorus the Behdetiteβ and is a representation of Horus π π.
The sky πͺππ― was not only the realm of Horus π π, but many other deities πΉπΉπΉ as well. Ra π³πΊπ, Shu ππ ±π, Nut πππ―π, Khepri π£πππ and others were deities πΉπΉπΉ associated with the sky πͺππ―. The sky πͺππ― was where the divine πΉ resided, hence why it was so heavily represented in Egyptian mythology and architecture.
The two π» columns represent papyrusΒ π πππ°Β and lotus flowersΒ πΈπͺΒ growing from the ground/EarthΒ πΎπΎΒ to the skyΒ πͺππ―! These columns can be seen as forming a connection between all three πΌ layers of the templeΒ πππ! I will never not be amazed by the symbolism and craftsmanship of Egyptian architecture!Β
TodayΒ ππππ³Β we are going to be looking at the name ππ of the god πΉ SobekΒ π΄ππ‘π in hieroglyphsΒ πΉππͺ!
I like SobekβsΒ π΄ππ‘πΒ name ππ a lot because its phonetic and easy to spell/remember if you know the phonogram symbols! This is because SobekΒ π΄ππ‘π has kept his βEgyptian Nameβ and it wasnβt changed by the Greeks like some if the other deities πΉπΉπΉ such as AnubisΒ πππͺπ ±π£, OsirisΒ πΉπ¨π, ThothΒ π πππ, etc.Β
The βFolded Cloth π΄β symbol is a uniliteral phonogram that has the sound of βs.β
The βFoot πβ symbol is also a uniliteral phonogram that has the sound of βb.β
The βBasket with a Handle π‘β symbol is also a uniliteral phonogram that has the sound of βk.β A lot of people get this one confused with just the βbasket πβ symbol which is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound βnb.β So they are very different!!
The βCrocodile on a Shrine πβ symbol is the determinative in Sobek, so in this case it is not pronounced! The symbol can also be used as an ideogram, where it would have the sound βsbkβ or Sobek!
Sobek can be written as:
π΄ππ‘π
π΄ππ‘π
ππΊ
ππΊ
Sobek π΄ππ‘π is usually depicted as a crocodile π π΄ππ sitting on a shrine πππ ππ – just like this hieroglyph βπ,β or as a human body with a crocodile π π΄ππ head πΆπΊ.
My Nonno took this picture ππ ±π of the StelaΒ ππ ±ππΈΒ of HatshepsutΒ ππ ππΉππππΌπͺΒ and Thutmosis IIIΒ π³π π£Β for me! While we did see it at the Vatican Museum together, he always made sure to take a different pictureΒ ππ ±πΒ for me each time he saw it because he knew how much I love it!Β
This stela ππ ±ππΈ depicts Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ and Thutmosis III π³π π£ during their joint reign. Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ is wearing the blue crown π£πππ and making an offering of nemset jars πππ to Amun-Ra ππ ππ³πΊ. The stela ππ ±ππΈ was meant to commemorate restoration works in Thebes πππ!
The most interesting parts about this stela is that it is one of two pieces (that I know of) that contains Hatshepsutβs entire titulary in one place! The only other place I know that has all of Hatshepsutβs ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ names πππ¦ is the Obelisk at Karnak.
Letβs take a closer look at all of Hatshepsutβs ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ names πππ¦! The names πππ¦ can be found on the top two rows of hieroglyphs πΉππͺ on the bottom of the stela ππ ±ππΈ!
Horus Name: ππ΄ππππ – βWosretkauβ translates to βThe Mighty of the Kasβ or βThe Mighty of the Souls.β
Nebty Name: π π ππ³π³π³ – βWadjet renputβ translates to βFlourishing of Years.β
Golden Horus Name: π πΉπππ¦ – βNetjeret khauβ translates to βDivine of Appearances.β
Throne Name: π³π¦π – βMaatkareβ translates to βTruth is the Soul of Re.β
Birth Name: ππ ππΉππΌ – βKhnemet Amun Hatshepsutβ translates to βUnited with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.β This version of the Birth Name that appears on this stela is a variant of ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ. A βvariantβ is just a different way to spell out a personβs name ππ!
I absolutely love snakeΒ πππππ jewelry! My Nonno even got me a replica of the snakeΒ πππππ ringΒ ππππͺ (from the MET) in the last picture for my sixteenth birthday, and while I may be 30 now, I haven’t taken the ringΒ ππππͺ off because I love it so much!Β
While snakes ππππππͺ (such as the Uraeus πππππ) were popular symbols in ancient Egypt ππ ππ, snake πππππ based jewelry such as the bracelets ππ πππππͺ and rings ππππͺπ¦ pictured did not appear in Egypt ππ ππ until the Hellenistic times, and then continued on into the Roman Period. Snakes ππππππͺ were associated with the Greek and Roman figures Asklepios and Salus, but also the Uraeus πππππ in Egypt ππ ππ. Snakes ππππππͺ were also associated with the Wadjet π and could be a symbol of the pharaoh ππ» as the living god πΉ Horus π π.
Jewelry was very culturally important in ancient Egypt ππ ππ, and that continued in Roman Egypt. Traditional Egyptian jewelry usually took the form of necklaces and rings ππππͺπ¦. These pieces would usually also double as amulets ππͺπ πͺ, which would protect the wearer from evil.
Rings ππππͺπ¦ and necklaces were highly important to the Egyptians because they took the shape of a circle. A circle has no end, thus it represents eternal π life πΉ and love. Rings ππππͺπ¦ that took the shape of the Eye of Horus π, signets, and scarabs ππͺπππ£πͺ were extremely popular, and then snakes ππππππͺ became popular much later.
The pharaohs ππ»π¦ and nobility wore more expensive jewelry that was made of gold ππππ and contained precious stones. In ancient Rome and Roman Egypt, gold ππππ was highly treasured and only the richest were able to wear it.
The snake πππππ bracelet ππ ππππ in the first picture is meant to be for a child and is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332-30 B.C.E.). The snake bracelet ππ ππππ and the snake rings ππππͺπ¦ in the second and third pictures are dated to the First Century A.D.
