Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Egyptian Artifacts

“Soul Houses”

These clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ model houses 𓉐π“₯ are called β€œSoul Houses” and they were given this name by Flinders Petrie due to them being found at the entrance to or very close to tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ or burials. 

These Soul π“‚“ Houses 𓉐π“₯ are usually found in or near Middle Kingdom burials. These clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ models ensured that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 had access to shelter and food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. They are thought to take the place of offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃π“ͺΒ – since offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃π“ͺΒ were usually for the wealthy, the Soul House 𓉐𓏀 was a more affordable option.Β 

I have always been a person who likes tiny π“ˆ–𓆓𓋴𓅩 things, and the Soul Houses are no exception! I used to call them β€œEgyptian Dollhouses” when I was a kid, which is why I liked them so much despite their rough appearance. I am not going to lie, I still refer to them as dollhouses!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Mask of Wah at the MET

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³Β we are going to be looking at the Funerary Mask of Wah! Wah was an estate manager for a wealthy nobleman and he lived during theΒ reign π“‹Ύ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat IΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“(12th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom).Β 

Funerary Masks (also called Burial Masks or Mummy Masks) were an important part of a person’s burial equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ because the mask could either serve as protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱, or take the place of the body if the head was destroyed or lost. In the Egyptian religion, the body of the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 to be transported to the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰/Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–. This was the purpose of mummification – to preserve the body so both the Ka π“‚“ (soul) and the Ba 𓅑𓏺(life force) would be able to recognize the body! 

Wah’s Mummy Mask is made of cartonnage (ancient Egyptian paper mache), gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ foil and wood π“†±π“π“Ί. The gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ face and the blue hair π“‡‹π“Ήπ“π“„Ώπ“Έπ“₯ is significant because the ancient Egyptians believed that the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ had skin/hair of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ or lapis lazuli π“π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“‚§π“§. While the facial features on the mask appear neither masculine or feminine, the beard that is on Wah’s chin indicates that this mask belonged to a male. 

My favorite feature on the mask is the very detailed broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ that is painted π“‡¨π“‚‹π“…±π“­π“Έπ“¦ on! The broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ was the necklace of choice by both the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, and the wealthy! Many Mummy Masks show the deceased wearing a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Graeco-Roman Stela

This is certainly an interesting stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for sure!

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is made of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!Β 

The top section of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ seems to be trying to follow the traditional Egyptian way – the winged π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒ sun disc 𓇳𓏺 and the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— are roughly carved but are definitely there! This design is known as β€œ Horus the Behdetite” and is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that is popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ. Under that, two 𓏻 jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 are depicted! 

In the middle section, from the left, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is depicted holding an ankh π“‹Ή or key which most likely symbolizes his association with/ability to access the underworld (a very Graeco-Roman version of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣)! Then the four 𓏽 people to the right of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are identified by the Greek inscription below: “Pekysis, son of Aruotes, and his brother Pachoumis; Tbaikis the elder and Tbaikis the younger.” Pekysis is thought to be the man holding the torch! Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is depicted all the way on the right! 

Thanks to the MET for the Greek translation because I certainly don’t speak Greek! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Duck” Hieroglyph

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at the β€œduck 𓅭” symbol! The β€œduck 𓅭” is biliteral phonogram and is thought to have the sound of β€œz3” (like β€œzae”). Although it is not technically classified as an ideogram, the β€œduck 𓅭”definitely functions like one as the word for β€œson.”

In most inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, seeing the β€œduck 𓅭” symbol by itself (like in the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏), it will translate to the word β€œson.” However, in β€œproper” grammar, the word for son actually is written as: π“…­π“€€! So the β€œduck 𓅭” functions as the phonogram, while the β€œman π“€€β€œ functions as the determinative! Grammar rules aside, I’m going to be honest, I’ve never seen son written as β€œπ“…­π“€€β€œ in a royal inscription! 

If you add a β€œπ“,” the word β€œson 𓅭” becomes β€œdaughter 𓅭𓏏!” ”Daughter” can be written with the determinative at the end too β€œ 𓅭𓏏𓁐,” but you will rarely see it. 

Here are some ways that the β€œduck 𓅭” can be used: 

𓇓𓅭 – Son of the King (prince) 

𓇓𓅭𓏏 – Daughter of the King (princess)

The most common way you will see this symbol is in the Royal Titles: 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin of Wah at the MET

Let’s take a look at the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± of a man named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Wah, who lived during the early reign π“‹Ύ of the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» Amenemhat I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓅓𓄂𓏏(12th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom). 

In the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see a dedication to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, which is better known as the β€œOffering Formula.” If you want to learn one 𓏺 phrase in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, learn this one!!! It is everywhere!!Β 

Here is the full inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Ήπ“Š¨π“ŽŸπ“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š–. Let’s break down the offering formula because we haven’t done so in a while. Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – An Offering the King Gives

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris (his name is missing the determinative this time – usually it’s written as π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­)

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

π“Š½π“‚§π“Š– – Djedu (usually written as π“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š–)

So all together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads: β€œAn Offering the King gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu.” Djedu π“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š– refers to the birthplace of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. 

The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! Inside the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would usually be laid on his side so his eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 matched up with the eyes on the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±! This was very typical of Middle Kingdom burial practices π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­, and it was something my Nonno would always point out to me when we were in a museum! 

As a kidΒ π“π“‡Œπ“€•Β (and even now as an adult) I found this practice absolutely fascinating! Now every time I am in a museum, I tell the story to someone about the eyes 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like my Nonno told me!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Inscription from the False Door of Mery at the MET

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 π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή. 

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at a different type of title! A title is a phrase that usually appears before someone’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. A title is basically a summary of the person! I’ve only really talked about royal titles before, but today let’s look at a non-royal title! 

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

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance (literally β€œKing’s 𓇓 Knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏(π“œ)”)

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 π“‰π“‰»! 

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.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Lotus Plant” Hieroglyph

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at the β€œlotus plant 𓆼” symbol! The β€œlotus plant 𓆼” has many functions in Middle Egyptian and it is a symbol you will see a lot! It is a biliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œαΈ«3.”

Some words that can be written with the β€œlotus plant 𓆼” are:

𓆼𓅑𓋴𓇼𓇼𓇼 – Starry Sky

𓆼𓏏𓉐𓏭 – Office

𓐍𓆼𓄿𓏏𓁣 – Illness/Disease

𓋴𓆼𓄿𓀁 – To Remember

The most common way you will see the β€œlotus plant 𓆼” symbol used is when it is used as an ideogram to represent the number β€œone thousand 𓆼.” For example: 

𓆼 – 1,000

𓆼𓆼 – 2,000

𓆼𓆼𓆼 – 3,000

Used in a sentence (the Offering Formula), it looks like this:

π“‰“π“†Όπ“π“Šπ“†Όπ“ƒΎπ“…Ώπ“†Όπ“±π“‹²

β€œ A voice offering 𓉓 (of) a thousand 𓆼 bread π“ and beer π“Š, a thousand 𓆼 ox π“ƒΎ and fowl π“…Ώ, a thousand 𓆼 alabaster π“± and linen π“‹².”

The Offering Formula on stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦 and False Doors will be the most common way you will see this symbol in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! 

The β€œlotus plant 𓆼” symbol can also be simply used as an ideogram for the word β€œlotus plant 𓆼𓏺.”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Canopic Chest and Mummy of Ukhotep

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and canopic chest of a manΒ π“Šƒπ“€€π“€Β named Ukhotep π“‹‚π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ who lived during Dynasty 12 of the Middle Kingdom. Ukhotep π“‹‚π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was the chief treasurer, which is why he probably received such gorgeous π“„€ funerary equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­, such as this canopic chest that contains dedications to the Four Sons of Horus. The purpose of the canopic chest was to hold the four 𓏽 canopic jars which contained the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.Β 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Since the directional symbols are pointing towards the right, we will start reading from the right!

𓇋π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œ – Venerated/Revered/Honored

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef

π“‹‚π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Ukhotep

π“ŽŸπ“„ͺ – Possessor of Honor

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

β€œHonor 𓇋π“„ͺ𓐍” is the full word while the phrase β€œπ“ŽŸπ“„ͺ Possessor of Honor” only uses the β€œspine and spinal chord π“„ͺ” symbol to write β€œHonor.” Also, β€œπ“ŽŸπ“„ͺ Possessor of Honor” can be written as β€œπ“ŽŸπ“„ͺ𓏺,” it just depends on the spacing on the object it is being inscribed on. 

As a beginner, the shortening of words can get confusing, but this is where practice comes in!Β 

These pieces are at the MET in NYC!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

A Beautiful Broad Collar

β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“…±π“­π“‡‘π“‡‘ – How Beautiful This Is!” – I feel like this is the only appropriate phrase to describe this broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ at the MET! I have used this Middle Egyptian phrase to describe broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ in past posts too! I just think they are gorgeous π“„€ pieces of jewelry especially this one, because it is so colorful! 

In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ (pronounced β€œwesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝𓏺 could be used for the whole word.

The broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ was the necklace of choice by both the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. The broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ reached peak popularity during the 18th Dynasty and this particular one was made during the reign of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– (c. 1353–1336 B.C.E.).

Broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ could be made of many different types of materials, including gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰, but the one shown in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is made of colorful faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό beads. The beads are each representative of a different plant π“‡π“…“𓆰! The center row has blue π“‡‹π“Ήπ“π“„Ώπ“Έπ“₯, yellow, green π“‡…𓄿𓆓𓏛, and red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ cornflowers. Then there are three rows of dates (in yellow, green π“‡…𓄿𓆓𓏛, and red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ), and the outer beads are white π“Œ‰π“†“𓇳 lotus petals. 

This broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ looks like it is in almost perfect condition, however, the beads were re-strung during modern times! 

Fun Fact: This broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ is actually from the private collection of Howard Carter! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Treasury” in Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at the word for β€œtreasury 𓉒.” I see this word pop up on False Doors a lot because people who worked in the treasury 𓉒 were wealthy enough to have a nice burial! 

The word β€œtreasury 𓉒” is written with a Composite Hieroglyph (which in this case also functions as an ideogram). A Composite Hieroglyphic symbol is a combination of multiple symbols into a single glyph. I like to think of Composite Hieroglyphs as a math equation! 

𓉐 + π“Œ‰ = π“‰’

pr + αΈ₯ḏ = prαΈ₯ḏ 

The β€œschematic house plan π“‰β€œ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œpr,” but it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œhouse 𓉐𓏺.” This symbol is commonly used as a determinative for words that have to do with buildings (tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰) or places (Duat π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰). 

The β€œmace with a round head π“Œ‰β€œ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œαΈ₯ḏ.” While I have seen it mostly used as a phonogram, this symbol can also be an ideogram for the word β€œmace π“Œ‰π“Ί.” 

What’s great about the Composite Hieroglyphs is that the two singular symbols retain their original meaning even when combined! This was a great space saving option on various objects, reliefs, etc.