Author: ancientegyptblog7

“The Opener of the Ways”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 12, 2023

Whenever people see an Egyptian artifact that looks like a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, they think it’s Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, however, there are other canine deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon! This small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicts the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who was known as “The Opener of the Ways!”

Small statue of the god Wepwawet at the MET

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was depicted as either a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or a wolf 𓃹𓈖𓈙𓇋𓏲𓄛 and one of the best ways to distinguish between Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is by looking for their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 since they are artistically very similar looking!

Another way to tell Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is usually shown in the recumbent position (𓃢, 𓃣, 𓃤) while Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is usually shown standing up (𓃧, 𓃨).

Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Opener of the Ways,” which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 were also carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions for this reason!

Other variants of Wepwawet’s name 𓂋𓈖 include:

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

𓄋𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐𓀭

𓃧

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met, wepwawet

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 11, 2023

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is my favorite version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 due to the incredibly detailed drawings and beautiful script 𓄤𓆑𓂋. It was a dream come true to see it in person at the British Museum!

The text was clearly written by an expert scribe 𓏟𓀀, and since Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 was a scribe 𓏟𓀀, was it possible that he wrote his own Book of the Dead?

Me with the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The script in Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is known as “Cursive Hieroglyphs” or “Hieroglyphic Book Hand” and I can read it because it’s not in Hieratic like a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 are!

The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The “Weighing of the Heart,” or the “Judgement of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭” is my favorite part! In this scene, Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is being weighed against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣. If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two, then Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the “Book of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 “𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺” translate to!

Let’s take a closer look:

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

𓅓 – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where “book” comes from)

In its simplest form, The Book of the Dead is a collection of magic spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is dated to the 19th Dynasty.

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 10, 2023

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written!

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wedjat or “Eye of Horus”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 9, 2023

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” was not only one of the most popular amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also one of the most popular religious symbols in general!

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

Two Wedjat or “Eye of Horus” amulets on display at the MET

These two 𓏻 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 wedjat 𓂀 eye amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 B.C.E.) are so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the left has a wing 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃, lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 (it looks like the hieroglyph symbol “𓃭”), and and two 𓏻 Uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗𓏪 on it! All of the inlays are intact too!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the right is missing some of the white inlay on the eye but it has the details of what looks like the bottom part of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 (the tail and the legs), another eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, and an arm 𓂝𓏺!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Video

Wooden Statue of Anubis (Video)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is one of my favorites!

Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill/mountain 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above!

This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, video

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).

Me with the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose at the Brooklyn Museum

This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐!

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 as well.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script

Hieratic is the script that this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read Hieratic well at all! While Hieratic is another way to write the Middle Egyptian language, some of the symbols look VERY different and have evolved over time – it is definitely difficult to learn! Much like hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Hieratic can be read from top to bottom, right to left or left to right.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script in black and red ink

Some of the Hieratic is in black 𓆎𓅓 ink while some of it is in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓂝𓏛 of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃” could have been written/drawn in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all! So, some of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems kinda random.

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 6, 2023

This quartzite statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Brooklyn Museum is called “Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 or Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠” and while small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it certainly gives us a lot to think about! I think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a representation of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 for a couple of reasons!

Statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first and most obvious reason are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on his chest ornament, which is on top of an elaborately carved broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. While the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, here is the translation:

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s throne name)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓌸 – Beloved

So the full translation would be “Nebmaatra, Beloved of Amun-Ra.” This clearly labels the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as being of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠.

Me with the statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 does have a some similarities to the representation of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 too, especially the remnants of the crown on his head, which is the same two-plume crown 𓋛 that is characteristic of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 seems to have had a fascination with Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺, and probably wanted to be depicted as him. Many Egyptologists wonder if Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 fascination with this solar deity was inspiration for his son 𓅭 Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 religious revolution.

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

Tags amenhotep iii, amun ra, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Blog

British Museum Trip

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 5, 2023

In July 2015, I was so lucky to go on a vacation to London with my whole family, including Nonno and Nonna! This trip was so special because it included an afternoon at the British Museum!

When our plane landed in London July 5th, we checked into the hotel and then rushed over to the British Museum because I literally couldn’t wait any longer to go. I had been waiting my whole life to go to the British Museum with my Nonno. It makes me both sad and happy to look back on these pictures because while I’m so incredibly grateful we all got to do this together, I’m so sad that it’ll never happen again.

The first book my Nonno ever gave me on Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was Carol Andrews’ book on the British Museum. It was incredible to see these artifacts that I had been reading about for years in person. I cannot believe that this was eight years ago already. I wish I could go back in time and re-live this day because even though we were all exhausted, it was an incredible day.

These are my personal photographs and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags blog, british museum, nonno

Egyptian Artifacts

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is similar to the one I posted from the MET yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳! I love seeing “sister” pieces across museums!

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular! This piece was likely found at Saqqara, which in ancient Egyptian times was called Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖.

I also love this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 because it is very similar to Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determinative hieroglyph 𓃣 (which is my favorite hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbol) and it’s almost identical to the ‘recumbent jackal 𓃢” sign! The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎.

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, despite being associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, was a very positive figure in Egyptian religion. In Egyptian mythology, he played the vital role in the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and weighed the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 in the Weighing of the Heart! In modern pop culture, Anubis is usually the “villain” when in reality he was a highly regarded and peaceful god 𓊹!

Basically, I love anything to do with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! Seeing a well preserved statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of him, or hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols of his name 𓂋𓈖 in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 makes me really happy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 and excited. It’s like seeing an old friend 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐!

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

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statue of Anubis

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is one of my favorites because the piece is in such good condition! The black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still clearly visible and the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is so well preserved. Wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is an organic material, and even in the dry heat of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊 it can still break down over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years! My Nonno always pointed out every wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece in a museum and told us how significant it was that the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 was preserved.

Wooden Statue of Anubis at the MET

This particular Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 piece is dated to the Ramesside Period, which was during the 19th-20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. This style of statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicting Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 actually became very popular during the Ptolemaic Period, and there is a piece similar to this in the Brooklyn Museum too!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎. One of his titles which is “Lord of the Sacred Land 𓎟𓂦𓈊,” exemplifies and highlights this role. The “sacred land” mentioned in this title is another way to say “necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼!”

Wooden Statue of Anubis at the MET

An inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 would look like this: “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑𓎟𓂦𓈊” which translates to “Anubis, Upon His Hill, Lord of the Sacred Land.”

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

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

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