Author: ancientegyptblog7

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Amenhotep III

Fun fact: more statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  have survived than any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and this is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ! Amenhotep the III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, who was originally named Amenhotep IV, until he changed his name to reflect the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.

Statue of Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first thing that struck me was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly. This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting!

The statuette is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  sed festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production. The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–.

Statue of Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Mummiform Coffin of Gautseshenu

Mummiform Coffin of Gautseshenu which contains the Weighing of the Heart and other funerary scenes at the Brooklyn Museum.

The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 was the central god π“ŠΉ in the scene, and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it. While I have posted multiple versions of this scene from various Books of the Dead, this is the first time I saw it on a coffin and I was just in awe. It’s amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are.

For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s π“Œ΄π“™π“‚£π“π“¦ feather. If Anubis determines there’s balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. This simplified version of the scene is missing Thoth π“…€π“€­ and Amemet.

If you’re looking at the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 from the front, you can see Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts in a very small amount of space!

This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to man named Gautseshenu and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Heart Scarab

This special amuletΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†Β is known as a Heart Scarab! This particular Heart Scarab belonged to Hatnefer 𓄂𓄀𓁐, who was the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of SenemutΒ π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό! SenemutΒ π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€ΌΒ was Hatshepsut’sΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ most trusted advisor (amongst other things πŸ˜‰)!Β 

Heart Scarab of Hatnefer at the MET

In ancient Egyptian culture, the heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ was not only the center of a person’s life π“‹Ή, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ was not removed during the mummification process, because the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. The person’s heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ would be weighed against Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, and that would determine if the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and then enter the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–, or eternal 𓆖 life π“‹Ή. This was called the β€œWeighing of the Heart,” and it is something I have written extensively about!

So how does the Heart Scarab play into this? In modern terms, the Heart Scarab could be seen as a β€œcheat code” for getting past the β€œWeighing of the Heart” – this special scarab π“π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is inscribed π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– with Chapter 30A from the Book of the Dead (most are inscribed with Chapter 30B). In this spell, the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 asks their own heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ to not betray them during the β€œWeighing of the Heart.” 

Basically, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ feared the outcome of their final judgement so they developed this amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† as a way to ensure a positive outcome to the scales!

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 30A: β€œ Do not stand against me as witness beside the lords of the ritual, Do not say against me, he did do it, about my actions, Do not make a case against me beside the great god, Hail my heart, Hail my heart…”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum Funerary Display

There’s a lot going on in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, but I really like this display at the British Museum! This display contains statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ that all have to do with funerary practices.Β 

On the bottom left, there are multiple figures of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris. Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures connect three gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are connected to rebirth/resurrection into a single statue π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾. These statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ became popular during the Late Period and they seemed to have evolved from the figures of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ that became popular in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during the 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom). These figures are always a mummiform figure on a wooden π“†±π“π“Ί base. 

On the bottom right is a corn mummy in a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. While millions of animal mummies have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies made of grains like wheat and barley have also been found. Corn Mummies are meant to be a representation of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Egyptologists came to this conclusion because the β€œcoffins” that contain the corn mummies almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and his titles/epithets.

The middle-right shows wooden π“†±π“π“Ί funerary figures of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys π“‰ π“π“†‡ which were also popular figures to find in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ from the Late Period and onward. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys π“‰ π“π“†‡ were sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ and both funerary goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“. Similar statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ can be seen in museums around the world!

The top left shows various figures and representations of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, who was the main funerary god π“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Pair Statue

This type of statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is referred to as a Pair Statue.

The front of a Pair Statue at the Brooklyn Museum

Pair Statues first appeared in the Third Dynasty during the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦, however, this example is from the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom – either the reign of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 or Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ).

The purpose of the Pair Statue was to show closeness between two 𓏻 individuals. This pair statue represents a husband and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐! The man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ is named Nebsen and he was a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ in the treasury, while the woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 is named Nebet-ta, and she was a singer in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. Both scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and singers were held in high regard and were of high status, which is probably how they had the means to procure such a beautiful π“„€ pair statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ!

What I love about this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is how beautiful π“„€ the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are!

The word β€œwoman” can be written multiple ways, either π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ or 𓂑𓏏𓁐. The latter can also mean β€œwife.”

There is also a dedication to the god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ (right column on the back):

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Temple of Dendur and the Crocodile!

Being at the Temple of Dendur is just so relaxing to me. I just love being in this room – I have so many amazing memories here with my Nonno and my sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ who is in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 with me! I could literally just sit in here for hours and just exist.

One of my favorite things as a kid was the little crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ statue that’s in the β€œriver” that goes around the temple! I always thought it was so cool! The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and worshipped crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦. Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹, the god π“ŠΉ with the head of a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ was worshipped from the time of Narmer all the way through the Roman period. He was a fertility god π“ŠΉ, associated with the annual flooding of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί.

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ also represented the power and might of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦ are incredibly strong – and were a constant threat to those living along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ is the son π“…­ of the war goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ and is sometimes referenced as being the son π“…­ of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Hundreds of crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ mummies have been found in Faiyum and other places in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most likely as way to appease Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹.

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, another crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ goddess π“ŠΉπ“ is associated with female fertility and childbirth.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Solar Barge – The Book of the Dead

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

The Book of the Dead contained instructions/spells for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell, the end of a spell, or the names of certain mythological figures.

I love this particular image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 – it shows the sun 𓇳𓏺 god Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 in his solar barge that he used to bring the sun 𓇳𓏺 across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳, and then through the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 at night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„›. Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is supposed to be representative of his birth/resurrection (sunrise), growth (day) and then death (sunset). Then, Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey would repeat for another day.

I love how the solar barge is sitting on top of the determinative hieroglyph for β€œsky 𓇯” and that the Egyptian stars 𓇼𓇼𓇼 are also there!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II

There are two 𓏻 different types of reliefs; raised and sunken reliefs. In a raised relief, the images project upward from the rock, while in a sunken relief, the images are carved within the rock.

Most of the time, especially for temple and royal inscriptions, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ chose to to raised reliefs because it was less likely to be completely washed out by the sun 𓇳𓏺! Sunken reliefs were mainly used when time was of the essence, because sunken reliefs took less time to carve or when the rock was too hard/dense. Sunken reliefs actually became more popular starting with the 18th Dynasty.

Full Relief of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum.

This relief shows Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. What is interesting is the hieroglyphs are sunken reliefs, while the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 are raised reliefs.

Usually reliefs were either one or the other, however, this relief has both sunken and raised aspects to it! Many of his titles/cartouches are used in this relief.

Close-Up of the Hieroglyphs.

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ β€œlord of the two lands”
π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– Rameses II (Usermaatre – throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ β€œlord of appearances”
π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name)

π“ŒΊπ“©π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name variant)

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Colorful Hieroglyphs

A lot of the time, the pieces that catch my eye in the museums are the limestone fragments that contain colorful hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ.

Colorful Hieroglyphs at the Brooklyn Museum

I don’t know why I like these seemingly unassuming pieces so much, but I do. It’s probably because they’re so colorful! Once upon a time, most Egyptian reliefs were as colorful as this piece, however with the passage of time, most of the colors faded. It’s so cool to almost catch a glimpse of what the colors were like thousands of years ago!

This limestone raised relief came from the wall of a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. It is dated to the 18th-19th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. I love how detailed the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Boat Models

I absolutely love the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ models. I could literally spend hours just looking at them!

Wooden Boat Models at the Louvre (featuring Nonno’s reflection)

Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were very popular in the Middle Kingdom and were usually put in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. The boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ were symbolic, and were meant to help the deceased on their journey in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. When a person died, their body was carried in a boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž across the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί in a symbolic representation of the journey of the soul π“‚“- from the land of the living to the land of the dead 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This directly mirrors Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 daily journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯.

Tombs usually contained two 𓏻 boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦: one sailing in a northward direction, and one sailing in a southward direction.

So many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ have been found because boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ were essential to daily Egyptian life along the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ were not only essential for transporting people, goods and construction materials, but also for the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and their journeys as well.

This particular boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is so beautiful π“„€ because so many of the oarsmen are there! I also love this picture because my Nonno took it – you can even see his reflection in the glass πŸ’™.