Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Hippos at Animal Kingdom

Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are one of my favorite animals and I was so excited to see them so close on the animal trails at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!Β Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are on of my favorite animals not only because of ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, but also because of the blue hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― on “It’s a Small World.”

Fun fact: hippos 𓐍𓃀𓃯𓏦 actually don’t swim much in the water π“ˆ— – they like to walk along the bottom of bodies of water π“ˆ—! Why? Swimming expends too much energy!Β 

Hippos at Animal Kingdom
A Hippo at Animal Kingdom!

The hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 is one of the animals that appears frequently in Egyptian imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 starting from the predynastic period! This is because the people of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί needed to always be on their guard in regards to hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ since they could dominate both the land 𓇾𓇾 and the water π“ˆ—. 

Hippos 𓂧𓃀𓃯𓏦 are indigenous to the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, unfortunately though, they are now extinct in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. Just like animal species today, human expansion into habitats also played a role in population decline during ancient times. 

Even as ancient Egyptian culture evolved over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years, Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and power. While hippos 𓂧𓃀𓃯𓏦 were the most feared animals along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ of them could offer protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ, such as in the form of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ!Β 

Hippos at Animal Kingdom
A Hippo at Animal Kingdom!

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who is associated with childbirth. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus 𓂧𓇋𓃀𓃯 and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ dedicated to her specifically! 

Here are some ways you can write hippopotamus in hieroglyphs: 

π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―

𓐍𓃀𓃯

𓂧𓃀𓃯

𓂧𓇋𓃀𓃯

𓃯𓏺 

I hope you’re enjoying my β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series! Next time you’re in Disney, be sure to check out the Hippos at Animal Kingdom! They can be found on the animal trails and also on the ride Kilimanjaro Safari!

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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“It’s A Small World” Hippo

The first time I ever went to Disney World, I went with my Nonno and Nonna when I was four years old! When we went on β€œIt’s a Small World,” I fell in love with the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― that winks at you! The hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― became my favorite part of the ride, and even to this day, I look forward to seeing the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―! And yes I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE going on β€œIt’s a Small World!” It’s one of my favorites! I’m not going to lie – I still to this day will wink back at the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―!Β 

"It's A Small World" Hippo
The hippo from “It’s a Small World” (top) and an ancient Egyptian hippo from the Brooklyn Museum

When I started studying ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– with my Nonno around when I was six years old, I always loved the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ because they reminded me of the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― on β€œIt’s a Small World!” It’s amazing how I loved the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― even before I started studying ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! 

A lot of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– have lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over them to associate them with rejuvenation! The hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are most likely painted blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and rebirth. What’s really cool is that the β€œIt’s a Small World” hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― also has flowers painted on it and is also that blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color!Β 

"It's A Small World"
A girl sitting on a “solar barge” in “It’s A Small World” at Walt Disney World!

I have also included the other scene that represents Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– in the ride – there’s a girl sitting in a boat that resembles Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 solar barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž, pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦 and a sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€!Β 

"It's A Small World"
The sphinx and pyramids in “It’s A Small World” at Walt Disney World!

Β I hope you’re enjoying my β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series!

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge

I am a huge Star Wars fan and have been for a very long time, so finally getting to visit Galaxy’s Edge was an absolute dream come true! I had the most incredible time in the galaxy far, far away! To my surprise, there’s an obelisk π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Ά in Galaxy’s Edge!

Obelisk in Galaxy's Edge!
Me with the Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge!

An obelisk π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Ά is defined as a structure with four 𓏽 sides that comes together at the top to form a pyramid shape. Obelisks π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Άπ“ͺ were made out of a single stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ and used to be at the entrance to ancient Egyptian temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ. Usually there were two 𓏻 obelisks π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Άπ“ͺ per temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ entrance. The obelisk π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Ά was invented by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ!Β 

Obelisk in Galaxy's Edge!
Me with the Obelisk in Galaxy’s Edge!

The word β€œobelisk” is actually Greek, and the ancient Egyptians actually referred to these structures as β€œteαΈ«en.” (𓏏=t, 𓐍=αΈ«, π“ˆ–=n, 𓉢= determinative). 

There are a couple of ways to write β€œobelisk” in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Ά (the full word) 

π“π“ˆ–π“‰Ά (shortened variant of the word) 

𓉢 (just the determinative could be used, in this case as an ideogram to mean the full word)

When Rome conquered Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, many of the emperors brought obelisks π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Άπ“ͺ to Rome. There are currently 13 obelisks π“π“π“ˆ–π“‰Άπ“ͺ throughout Rome, eight of which are purely Egyptian, and the other five 𓏾 were procured by the emperors. 

It’s so cool to see a structure invented by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ still inspiring projects today – even Star Wars related ones!

Galaxy's Edge
Me with Kylo Ren in front of the Millennium Falcon!
Galaxy's Edge
Me with Kylo Ren in front of the Millennium Falcon!

I have added some of my non-Egypt related pictures to the post because I just love Star Wars so much and I wanted to share!

Galaxy's Edge
Me with Poe Dameron’s X-Wing on “Rise of the Resistance.”
Galaxy's Edge
Me with The Mandalorian and Grogu!

I hope you’re enjoying my β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series! Let me know in the comments!

Galaxy's Edge
Me with Stormtroopers on “Rise of the Resistance”
Galaxy's Edge
Getting interrogated by a Stormtrooper at the base of the Millennium Falcon!

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Giraffes in Ancient Egypt

Did you know that there were giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–? Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ are another one of my favorite animals and I was so excited to see them so close on the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! I have been on the safari many times but I have never seen so many animals on it before!Β 

Giraffes in Ancient Egypt
A giraffe at the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ are native to the African continent, so it would make sense that the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ would encounter these beautiful π“„€ animals! When giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ first evolved, they made most of the African continent (including Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–) their home! There is some Pre-Dynastic period art that depicts giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ because they were living among the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ at that time! By the Early Dynastic Period, the giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ had left the area so they are not as commonly seen in art as the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦, crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦ and lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“ͺ. 

Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ did not appear frequently in ancient Egyptian art or mythology because they were considered to be β€œforeign” animals and were mainly shown as signs of conquest of foreign lands. Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ could also be presented as gifts to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 from foreign rulers! 

One famous depiction of a giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– is on the temple reliefs of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐! Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was also the first 𓏃 recorded person to have a menagerie, so she clearly liked animals!Β 

Giraffes in Ancient Egypt
A giraffe at the Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

There are two 𓏻 ways to write β€œgiraffe” in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱

𓋴𓂋𓃱

The word β€œπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“ƒ±β€ can also mean β€œforetell,” (either with the giraffe determinative or written as 𓋴𓂋𓀁) and I wonder why both β€œgiraffe” and β€œforetell” are the same? Maybe there’s some cultural significance of the giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 that we don’t know about yet! 

I also find the giraffe symbol 𓃱 to be so adorable! It was mainly used as a determinative in the words for giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 / 𓋴𓂋𓃱! The hieroglyphs giraffe 𓃱 also looks like the emoji giraffe πŸ¦’! 

I hope you’re enjoying my β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series and learned something about giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Spaceship Earth

There is a wonderful ride at EPCOT called Spaceship Earth! You board a β€œtime machine” and take a journey on how human communication has changed from the dawn of time to now! I have always loved this ride because it has an entire room dedicated to ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! 

The narrator highlights some of ancient Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– important contributions to human communication such as the invention of papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!Β 

Spaceship Earth
A scene from Spaceship Earth showing a the pharaoh, the great wife, and a scribe writing on papyrus

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Yes, some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this ride are actually real! In the picture above, behind the pharaoh sitting on the throne, is the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of Seti I! What’s funny is that this looks like Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ throne, but Seti I is sitting on it!Β 

Spaceship Earth
A closeup of the hieroglyphs on Spaceship Earth, showing the birth name cartouche of pharaoh Seti I

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra (one of the titles that appears before the birth name cartouche)

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›- Ptah 

π“£π“‡Œ – Belongs to Seth (pronounced like β€œSeti”) 

π“Œ» – BelovedΒ 

Spaceship Earth
The replica of an ancient Egyptian temple on Spaceship Earth

The picture above shows what looks like a temple, but you can spot Seti I’s throne name cartouche, 𓇳𓁦𓏠:Β 

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt (title that appears before the throne name cartouche)

𓇳𓁦𓏠  – Menmaatra (β€œEternal 𓏠 is the Truth 𓁦 of Ra 𓇳”)

You can also see some other common phrases/titles on this temple such as β€œMonuments 𓏠𓏍,” β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ,” β€œPerfect God π“ŠΉπ“„€,” β€œIt is/To Be π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“ˆ–,” and β€œSky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯.” 

Spaceship Earth
A man making papyrus paper on Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth
Another view of the temple on Spaceship Earth, this time showing Anubis

The pictures above show a man making papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and the temple – and you can see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in the bottom left!

I hope you’re enjoying my β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series! Let me know in the comments!

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

@ancientegyptblog

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The Tree of Life

Did you know that the first mention of any β€œTree of Life π“‡‹π“Ž”π“‚§π“†­β€ is actually from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–?! The β€œTree of Life π“‡‹π“Ž”π“‚§π“†­β€ appears in some versions of the creation myth and grew out of the primordial mound!Β 

I am going to be doing an β€œAncient Egypt in Disney” series where I show you all the cool ancient Egyptian themed things you can see in Disney World! I hope you all will follow along with me!Β 

The Tree of Life
Me with the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an incredibly beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 park and I love it there – the atmosphere and theming is incredible! The symbol for the park is the Tree of Life π“‡‹π“Ž”π“‚§π“†­ and I think all of the different animals carved into the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 on the trunk of the tree 𓆭𓅓𓆭 is so cool!

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, due to the climate, trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭π“ͺ were a rare commodity! Certain trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭π“ͺ were also associated with different deities! There are many tomb paintings where the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 or Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ are shown emerging from trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭π“ͺ to give the deceased food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ and water π“ˆ—. 

The Sycamore Tree π“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“†­ and the Acacia Tree π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“†“π“†­ are the two trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭π“ͺ that pop up the most in Egyptian mythology. The Sycamore Tree π“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“†­ is usually associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 and she even has the title β€œLady of the Sycamore,” however, Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ will sometimes have that title too! 

Ra’s solar barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž was said to be made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from the Acacia Tree π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“†“π“†­, and two Acacia Trees π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“†“π“†­π“ͺ could also serve as a gateway to the Netherworld which is why they are a symbol of life π“‹Ή and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…±! The ancient Egyptians also considered the Acacia Tree π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“†“π“†­ to be very old because there’s a line from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 that refers to a β€œtime before the Acacia Tree.” 

The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park!

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Bastet

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the beloved π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“! This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

Bronze Statue of Bastet
Bronze Statue of Bastet on display at the MET

The goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ were both depicted as cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠π“ͺ, however, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ usually had the body of a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 while Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ usually had the body of a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠. Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ is also usually distinguished from Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ by the sun disc 𓇳𓏺 that usually appears on her head!

However, when Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was depicted with the body of a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 (like in this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾), she was usually holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in one hand! Since Hathor 𓉑 was usually seen with sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ, this shows a link between the two 𓏻 goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 also shows Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ holding a basket π“‚π“‚‹π“‚π“‚‹π“Ž… in her elbow/arm (opposite the sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£) and a lion-headed aegis in the same arm. An aegis is an object that has the head of a deity π“ŠΉ (in this case a lion) with a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ underneath it! The aegis itself was a protective π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ symbol associated with Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ and was used in rituals and festivals! The basket π“‚π“‚‹π“‚π“‚‹π“Ž… is thought to possibly hold kittens, but that is just an inference by historians and Egyptologists!

Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of pregnancy and childbirth and was considered to be the protective π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ form of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ so it is very fitting for her to be holding the aegis!

Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ and Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ were believed to be the two 𓏻 unpredictable personalities of the same goddess π“ŠΉπ“. While Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ represented the destructive and unpredictable side, Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was the gentler and calmer side. 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

A Predynastic Safari

Let’s go on a Predynastic Safari!

I love art from the Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods because the objects usually contain a lot of animals! This is a β€œHair Comb Decorated with Rows of Wild Animals” and it is dated to the Predynastic Period (c. 3200 – 3100 B.C.E.). This piece is made of ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ.Β 

A Predynastic Safari
While this piece is called “Hair Comb Decorated with Rows of Wild Animals” I like to refer to it as “A Predynastic Safari” since it shows so many different animals!

Archaeologists believe that it is a comb because the remnants of the teeth of the comb can still be seen along the bottom! It is thought that this was some type of ceremonial object and not just a regular comb due to the incredible details on it! I wonder if it was part of a burial?

The animals on this comb are arranged into five 𓏾 rows in raised relief and the incredible details show just how talented the Egyptian artists were even at the beginning of the civilization! It’s also interesting to see each row of animals facing in opposite directions! 

The top row shows elephants 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓃰π“ͺ standing on top of snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ, which suggests some type of religious/cultural symbolism that we don’t know much about! The fact that this is the top row may also have some significance! While seeing snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ is super common in Egyptian art and mythology, elephants 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓃰π“ͺ are not so it’s very cool to see a depiction of them!

The second row shows birds (they look like pelicans π“Šͺπ“‹΄π“†“π“π“…žπ“ͺ to me) and a giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱! Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ are one of my absolute favorite animals and they do not appear often in Egyptian art even though they are native to the African Continent! During the Predynastic times, giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ and the Egyptians did occupy the same areas, however, as the climate became drier, the giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱π“ͺ migrated out of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– which is probably why they do not appear in the art/mythology as often!  

The third row shows hyenas 𓅓𓅓𓃑𓏦, the fourth row shows cattle 𓃒𓏦 and the fifth row shows boars π“‚‹π“‚‹π“‡‹π“ƒŸπ“¦! 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III – The Greatest Pharaoh?

I have a very complex relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (this is probably the first time you’ve read that sentence)! Many people will probably not agree with me on this (that’s okay), but I think that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– greatest pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! He ruled π“‹Ύ Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– for 54 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“½ years, and was a very accomplished general π“€Žπ“¦, having led troops into battle himself. Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 has been rumored to have never lost a battle!Β 

Thutmosis III - The Greatest Pharaoh?
Me with a limestone statue of Thutmosis III – was he the greatest pharaoh?

So why my complex feelings about Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? It all has to do with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 was only three 𓏼 years old when his father Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– passed away, and was a co-regent with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ before she completely took over the throne. During her rule π“‹Ύ, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a member of the military and gained valuable experience that allowed him to be such a successful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. I believe that Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ successful rule set Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 up for his extremely successful reign. 

About 25 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ύ years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! This is where my complex feelings come in because Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my absolute favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and I believe that she is also one of the greatest rulers that Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– ever had! 

I find this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to be so beautiful π“„€ because the white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (it honestly looks like marble to me – but marble is metamorphosed limestone) contrasts so well with the black π“†Žπ“…“ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth and the eyes 𓁹𓏦. Some red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can even still be seen on the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 that is on Thutmosis III’s 𓅝𓄠𓋴 forehead!

Thutmosis III - The Greatest Pharaoh?
White Limestone statue of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III

The face of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is not the original, it is a cast; the original face is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! The MET then made a cast of the torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and that is now at the Egyptian Museum as well! So each museum has a real part of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and a cast of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The face and torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 were not found at the same time, hence why they ended up in different places! 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Horus Name of Rameses II

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the Horus Name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! The Throne Name (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) and the Birth Name (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) usually appear more in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ so let’s take a closer look at the Horus Name! 

The Horus Name is the oldest way that a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was written/identified and is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade π“Š, Horus the Falcon π“…ƒ standing on top of the palace π“Š, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace π“Š. The palace π“Š hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is pronounced like β€œserekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·! 

Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ had a lot of different variations of his Horus Name, so let’s take a look at the two 𓏻 that are pictured!Β 

Horus Name of Rameses II
Two variants of the Horus Name of Rameses II

π“‚‘π“ƒ’π“›π“ŒΊ – β€œStrong Bull, Beloved of Ra”

π“‚‘π“ƒ’π“§π“ŒΊ – β€œStrong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

β€œStrong Bull π“‚‘π“ƒ’β€œ was a very popular way to start off the Horus Name for male pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 because bulls 𓃒𓃒𓃒 were a symbol of strength π“Œ€ and fertility, both of which are qualities that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to have!

Let’s break down the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– even further: 

π“‚‘ – Strong

𓃒 – Bull

𓁧/𓁛 – Maat/Ra

π“ŒΊ – Beloved

Both variants of Rameses II’s Horus Name contain the shortened variants of certain words! 

𓁧 – Maat (π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“§)

𓁛 – Ra (𓇳𓏺𓁛)

π“ŒΊ – Beloved (π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ)

Variants can be tricky for those starting to learn hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, but with practice they become much easier – especially the shortened version of the words!

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

@ancientegyptblog