Author: ancientegyptblog7

To Be and To Exist

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 2, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Middle Egyptian word for “To Be” and “To Exist.” This simple yet important phrase appears a lot in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

One of the most important phrases you will learn in any language is the verb “to be.” I remember when I first started learning Italian as a small kid, “essere” was one of the first verbs we learned!

To Be and To Exist written in raised relief on the wall of a chapel from the 19th Dynasty currently on display at the MET.

The word “To Be,” and “To Exist” is written in Middle Egyptian as “𓃹𓈖𓈖,” which is what is shown in the relief pictured. The word can also be commonly written as just “𓃹𓈖” or “𓃹” if spacing becomes an issue! The word would be transliterated as “wnn 𓃹𓈖𓈖” or “wn 𓃹𓈖/𓃹.” It was most likely pronounced the same no matter how many “𓈖” appeared or didn’t appear at the end of the word (remember, pronunciation is just inferred).

Let’s break down each of the symbols individually!

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a biliteral phonogram. The 𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” In this case, the 𓈖 is acting as the phonetic complement, meaning that the sounds are written twice but pronounced once! This is a very common occurrence in Middle Egyptian and is something that you need to just practice and get used to when you’re learning!

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

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Horus as a Falcon

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 30, 2023

The god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭 was one of the most important gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. One of Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 many roles was as a mythological representation of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. In this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is depicted as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 wearing the combined crown 𓋖 which represents both the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤! Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 was one of the most common ways he is represented in Egyptian art.

Horus as a Falcon on display at the MET

The Uraeus on the front 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 of the crown is in amazing condition! A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – all characteristics usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and also the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭!

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was also a sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 god 𓊹. Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 means “The Distant One,” due to him residing in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯!

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the son 𓅭 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and will often be introduced in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 as such! For example, you could see “𓅃𓀭𓅭𓊨𓏏𓆇𓅭𓁹𓊨𓀭” on objects such as sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦!

Here are some variants of Horus’ name 𓂋𓈖:

𓅃𓀭 (the most common way to write his name)

𓅃

𓄑𓂋𓅆

𓅃𓅆

𓈐𓅃

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

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Soul of Pe

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 29, 2023

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 kneeling statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deity 𓊹 is referred to as the “Soul of Pe” and it is actually another way to depict the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Also known as “Horus of Pe,” these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 became popular during the Late Period, after 600 B.C.E.

Bronze Soul of Pe statue on display at the Brooklyn Museum

The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and are referred to as the ancestors of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 symbolized the predynastic rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were thought of as very powerful deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that not only aided the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, but also the current living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 and Pe 𓊪𓊖 were both cities in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were around as early as the predynastic period. Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 was originally the cult center for the god 𓊹 Horus in Upper Egypt 𓇓, however, Pe a town in Lower Egypt 𓆤, was awarded to Horus 𓅃𓀭 by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 after his eye was injured during his battle with Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 for the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭/Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is shown in a characteristic kneeling position with one arm raised, with the other resting on his chest. This is known as a “jubilation position,” which is meant to show the Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 celebrating the rising of the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶. The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is usually represented as Horus 𓅃𓀭 the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, while the Soul of Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 is usually represented as a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥.

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

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, horus, soul of pe

Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Doorjamb of Rameses II – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This large piece is referred to as a “Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 royal jubilees.

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Thrones

𓌺 – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all together the inscription reads “King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones, Given Life.”

Also Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!

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

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met, video

Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part II)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 27, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at two 𓏻 more steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! Just like the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 we looked at yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, these are also on display at the MET!

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

Alright so let’s get to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

These two 𓏻 steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are interesting because while at first glance the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 look similar (and they are) they are also quite different! On them Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is referred to as both “Lord of the Two Lands” and “Lady of the Two Lands.” Her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” appears on both scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪.

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left!

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

𓎟 – Lord

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right!

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

𓎟𓏏 – Lady

𓇾𓇾 – Two Lands

In order to make nouns feminine in Middle Egyptian, a “𓏏” is added to the end of the word so “Lord 𓎟” becomes “Lady 𓎟𓏏.” This is significant in this case because on these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪, there’s a mix of both when it comes to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! From the early to mid part of her reign, Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary contained inscriptions more commonly with the feminine form of the words. Towards the end of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 she started using the masculine form of words.

You can also see the two 𓏻 different variants used for “two lands” (𓇿𓇿 vs. 𓇾𓇾 )on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! These two 𓏻 variants were pretty much used interchangeably so not much to analyze in this case!

Read Part I Here!

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

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part I)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 26, 2023

Here is another example of steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Before we read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s “read” the geology! I always tell my students that rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the language of our planet!

Most scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from this time period are made of a metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 called steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 which is also commonly known as soapstone. Simply put, steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 is made when the mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 talc is exposed to tremendous amounts of heat and pressure at subduction zones (areas where oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust). Steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 has been used by ancient civilizations all over the world for carving because it is both durable and easy to work with!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the shorter variant of Hatshepsut’s birth name cartouche. Hatshepsut’s full name is “𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” but that’s not what appears on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 because it’s too long! Let’s take a look:

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

𓀼𓏏𓏪 – Noble Women (Shepsut)

So Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 variant on the scarab translates to “Foremost of the Noble Women.”

The Egyptians were very clever with spacing too – if you look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 at the bottom of the picture, the “𓏏” is shared between the 𓄂 and 𓀼 glyphs! I will forever be impressed by. the ingenuity of the Egyptian artists!

Read Part II Here!

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

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2023

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree!

Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣!

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣.

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌.

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

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, jewelry, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Animal Mummies

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2023

I have mentioned in many previous posts that I have loved mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 ever since my Nonno introduced me to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 when I was a little girl! Although animal mummies are the most common form of Egyptian artifact (seven million dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummies have been found in Saqqara alone), they are among the least understood of all objects.

A dog (left) and a cat (right) mummy on display at the Brooklyn Museum

At the Brooklyn Museum, they have a couple of animal mummies which are in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 here! On the left is a dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummy, and on the right is a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummy. The level of preservation of these mummies is exquisite!

It is well documented that the ancient Egyptians kept dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 as pets. In tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥, many times dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 have been found buried with their owners! Dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 have also been mentioned on funerary stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 along with other family members! The thought is that the pet and the owner would be able to stay together 𓈖𓊗 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 if they were buried together 𓈖𓊗.

One of the possible explanations of the significance of animal mummies can be tied to the Egyptian cultural aspect surrounding animals. Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for “animal” – there was the word 𓌚𓅓𓄛 but it translates more accurately to “beast” then all animals in general. The Egyptians didn’t think of animals as “less” than humans – Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅡𓏺 (part of the soul 𓂓 that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 through death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 just like humans.

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

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, mummy

Egyptian Artifacts

Akhenaten and Me!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2023

I’ve never shared this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because of the glare, but not every picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 needs to be perfect 𓄤! My Nonno took this photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and me at the Louvre in what I call the “Amarna Gallery!” You can tell by my smile how happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 I was! Seeing a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in real life that I have only seen in books feels like meeting a celebrity!

Akhenaten and Me at the Louvre!

The Louvre has an impressive collection of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and I was so excited to be able to see them – this was probably the gallery I spent the most time in at the Louvre! After Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

This particular limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 surprised me when I saw it in person for the first time! I thought it was going to be a lot smaller, so I was shocked to see just how big it was! The piece is also incredibly well preserved – the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 forehead is still somewhat intact, and the design details on the skirt are clearly defined. Also, Akhenaten is holding both the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 in one hand 𓂝𓏺 instead of one in each hand 𓂝𓏺!

The Louvre has this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 named “Statue of an Amarna King.” To me, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks like it is from the early part of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 because there are both traditional Egyptian elements and Amarna-era elements (elongated face and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) present in the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. If I were to guess, this was probably made before year 5 𓏾 of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, when he still had the name 𓂋𓈖 Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀. However, there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to confirm this, I am basing this inference just on the artistic style alone!

This piece really is just stunning to see in person!

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

Tags akhenaten, artifact, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

Professional Mourners

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2023

While preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was an essential part of life on Earth 𓇾𓇾 for the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪, it doesn’t mean that they weren’t upset by the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of a loved one. Wealthier Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were able to hire professional mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀠𓏪/𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 for their funerals and those mourners could be men (𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀠𓏪) or women (𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪).

A limestone relief from a tomb which shows Professional Mourners outside the entrance to a tomb.

In the case of this sunken limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief, there are three 𓏼 female mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 present – two 𓏻 are sitting and one 𓏺 is standing. Only one of the female figures is fully preserved. At funerals, the professional mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 were hired to sing and cry.

The three 𓏼 mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 are in front of a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 entrance, which looks like the “shrine facade 𓉱” hieroglyphic symbol.

The entrance to the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 has plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in front of it. I also like the column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅 that is added to this relief.

Reliefs such as these served the purpose of ensuring perpetual mourning for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. If there was mourning present on the reliefs within a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐, it meant that the mourning would go on for all 𓎟 eternity 𓆖.

On a personal note, this relief really speaks to me because this account on the most basic level is a manifestation of my grief. I started this account as a way to try and cope with my Nonno’s death, and over three years later it’s still helping me to do that. I see the three people in this relief as me, my sister and my brother. It’s incredible how I can deeply relate to a tomb relief from ancient Egypt.

This piece is from Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (present day Saqqara) and is dated to Dynasty 19 (c. 1295-1190 B.C.E.).

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

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

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