Author: ancientegyptblog7

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Sedge Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to be looking at another popular hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! This is the “sedge 𓇓” Hieroglyph, which has multiple uses and one you have definitely seen in inscriptions before!

Sedge Hieroglyph

The 𓇓 can function as a biliteral phonogram and represents the sound of “sw.” The sedge 𓇓 is also the symbol to represent Upper Egypt! 

The 𓇓 symbol can also function as an ideogram for both the words “king (nswt)” and “sedge (swt).” This is the most popular way that the symbol is used in Middle Egyptian! 

Let’s take a look at some examples of how 𓇓 can be used in words!

𓇓 – King

𓇓𓏏𓈖𓀭 – King

𓇓𓏏𓈖𓀲 – King

𓇓𓏏𓇌𓏛/𓇓𓏏𓈖𓇌𓏛 – To Be King

𓇓𓇌 – Kingship

𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 King’s Wife 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance (literally “King’s 𓇓 Knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏(𓏜)”)

𓇓𓊹𓏪 – King of the Gods (epithet of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖)

Now, let’s take a look at some examples of how 𓇓 can be used in popular phrases:

𓆥 – He of the Sedge and the Bee / King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives (𓇓 – King, 𓏏𓊵- Offering, 𓏙 – Gives)

As you can see, the sedge 𓇓 hieroglyph has many uses, and they mostly have to do with the word “king!” So if you see the 𓇓, in most cases you’re going to be dealing with something to do with the king 𓇓𓏏𓈖𓀲/pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

I have provided different examples of what the “sedge 𓇓” symbol can look like in different forms of hieroglyphic writing! Across all different mediums, the “sedge 𓇓” hieroglyph definitely maintains its form which allows it to be a very easily recognized symbol!

Sedge Hieroglyph

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

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Video

Hieroglyphic Vocabulary – Week 8

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here is Week 8 𓏿𓏻 of my Hieroglyphic Word of the Day stories all compiled into a video! Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult! 

  1. May He/She Live 𓋹𓍘
  2. Every day 𓇳𓏺𓎟
  3. Like Ra 𓏇𓇳𓏺
  4. In, On, At, By, With, As 𓅓
  5. To, Of, For, We/Us/Our, In, Because, Through 𓈖
  6. Treasury 𓉒, 𓏺𓉐𓌉𓏺𓉐
  7. Overseer 𓅓𓂋, 𓄓𓉐𓏤
  8. God’s Booth 𓊹𓉱

These are all words/phrases that you will come across in inscriptions! Next time you’re at a museum, see if you can spot these ancient Egyptian words! 

You can also watch the video on TikTok!

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is Week 8 𓏿𓏻 of my Hieroglyphic Word of the Day stories all compiled into a video! Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult! 1. May He/She Live 𓋹𓍘 2. Every day 𓇳𓏺𓎟 3. Like Ra 𓏇𓇳𓏺 4. In, On, At, By, With, As 𓅓 5. To, Of, For, We/Us/Our, In, Because, Through 𓈖 6. Treasury 𓉒, 𓏺𓉐𓌉𓏺𓉐 7. Overseer 𓅓𓂋, 𓄓𓉐𓏤 8. God’s Booth 𓊹𓉱 These are all words/phrases that you will come across in inscriptions! Next time you’re at a museum, see if you can spot these ancient Egyptian words! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! This is my personal photograph/video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphics #egitto #이집트 #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #egyptologist #egyptianmythology #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #brooklynmuseum

♬ Boy With Luv – BTS

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

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Video

Ushabtis of Nauny – Video

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room! These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the video 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box! Normally a person was buried with 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year, however, there were also overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 who would make sure the “regular ushabtis” (which are actually known as “worker ushabtis”) we’re doing their jobs! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. @ancientegyptblog #ancientEgypt #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphics #egitto #이집트 #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #egyptologist #egyptianmythology #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ushabti #shabti

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room! These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. 

The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.

Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the video 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box! 

Normally a person was buried with 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year, however, there were also overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 who would make sure the “regular ushabtis” (which are actually known as “worker ushabtis”) we’re doing their jobs! 

You can also watch the video on TikTok!

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room! These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the video 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box! Normally a person was buried with 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year, however, there were also overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 who would make sure the “regular ushabtis” (which are actually known as “worker ushabtis”) we’re doing their jobs! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. @ancientegyptblog #ancientEgypt #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphics #egitto #이집트 #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #egyptologist #egyptianmythology #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ushabti #shabti

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Blog

Ripple of Water

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

I decided to make another post about the “Ripple of Water 𓈖” symbol since it has always been one of my favorites and my last post about it was over a year ago! 

The “Ripple of Water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram that has a sound like “N”! This is the main usage of this symbol and it does not function like an ideogram or determinative which makes it super easy because you know you are looking at a phonogram symbol that is either part of a larger word or is just a word on its own!

The Ripple of Water
The Ripple of Water written three different ways.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I highlighted three 𓏼 different types of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – painted, carved, and then Cursive Hieroglyphs which is kind of like a short hand hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that is used on papyrus! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are most familiar to people are the ones that are either painted or carved! I love seeing the variations in the symbols across various ancient Egyptian art forms! 

While a simple symbol, the “Ripple of Water 𓈖” has many uses in Middle Egyptian! On its own, 𓈖 can mean: 

  • To
  • For
  • Of
  • Through
  • In
  • Because
  • Not/Cannot/No
  • Unless
  • They/We/Us/Our

That’s a lot of words! When reading inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, you can figure out the meaning based off of the context clues! The Ripple of Water 𓈖” is so versatile it sometimes feels like the word/symbol means what you need it to mean to make the sentence flow! 

“We, us, and our” can also be written as: 𓈖𓏥. “They” can be written as: 𓈖𓏮 or 𓈖𓏭. 

When the “Ripple of Water 𓈖” is three stacked on top of each other “𓈗,” it’s actually a different symbol with a different meaning! The symbol is aptly named “three ripples of water 𓈗.” It can function as a biliteral phonogram for the sound “mw,” and is both the ideogram and determinative for the word “water 𓈗.”

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Owl Hieroglyph

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the most common and recognizable uniliteral phonogram hieroglyphic symbols: the owl 𓅓! 

The Owl Hieroglyph
The Owl Hieroglyph

A uniliteral sign is a hieroglyphic symbol that corresponds to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. The “owl 𓅓” symbol represents the sound of “m” and it has many different uses!  

The “owl 𓅓” symbol is one that appears in inscriptions all the time and is most commonly seen as part of other words! Some words that use the “owl 𓅓” symbol are: 

𓅓𓂋 – Overseer

𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – Kemet (Egypt)

𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 – Papyrus Roll

Of course these are not all the words that contain the “owl 𓅓” symbol! 

But what happens if the “owl 𓅓” symbol appears by itself in an inscription and isn’t part of another word? The “owl 𓅓” symbol has its own meaning when it appears alone! It’s one of those words in a sentence that can kind of “mean what we need it to” in English! I guess it functions as the all-around preposition! 

For example, the “owl 𓅓” hieroglyph can mean: In, On, At, By, With, and As! This symbol has so many meanings/uses! 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Video

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose – Video

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.). 

@ancientegyptblog

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.). 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 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 contained instructions/spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, the end of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or the names 𓂋𓈖𓏥 of certain mythological figures. My friend @EgyptologyLessons posted a video of a Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 yesterday so I was inspired to post one too! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientegypt #egyptianhistory #egyptologist #ancient_egypt #historytok #egyptology #brooklynmuseum #bookofthedead #booktok #egyptianmythology

♬ Ahsoka – Main Theme – Epic Version – L’Orchestra Cinematique

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

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

May He Live Every Day Like Ra

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of my absolute favorite  wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 from the Middle Kingdom! The art of ancient Egypt really started to develop during the Middle Kingdom times, and the beautifully 𓄤𓆑𓂋 painted wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 and their hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 are just captivating! The paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 and the colors are just exquisite and have really stood the test of time! 

When I go to the MET, sometimes I just sit on the floor in front of this coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 to 1) just stare at its beauty 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and 2) to take a break!

This coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 belonged to Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750B.C.E.). Khnumnakht is known only by the name 𓂋𓈖 on his coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱; Egyptologists don’t know anything else about him or his life 𓋹𓈖𓐍! 

May He Live Every Day Like Ra
May He Live Every Day Like Ra

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is what the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 says: 

𓋹𓍘 – May He Live 

𓇳𓏺𓎟 – Every Day

𓏇𓇳𓏺 – Like Ra

The little “strokes 𓏺” within the symbols are not technically part of the words and they are not pronounced! They are there for aesthetic purposes to make sure all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are spaced out correctly and appear in even lines on the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱! 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela or Cippus

This magnificent piece is known as a “Magical Stela,” or a “Cippus of Horus.” Normally, stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 were used to commemorate the dead but Cippus pieces are like a protective amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the shape of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. 

Me with the Cippus at the MET

This cippus was used by the living for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. 

Smaller versions of Cippus stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺, but this one here at the MET is a lot more elaborate and was actually commissioned by a priest 𓊹𓍛 to be displayed in public! It’s difficult to see in pictures, but the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are carved so exquisitely and I love just looking at them! 

A closeup of the top of the Cippus at the MET

The top panel on the front of the Cippus depicts Horus 𓅃𓀭 standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏥 and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪, a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛, an antelope 𓃲𓏺 and scorpions 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫𓏪 in each hand. Surrounding Horus 𓅃𓀭 are other deities. On Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 left there is Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤, and then on Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 right is Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. The god 𓊹 Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 also appears above Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 head 𓁶𓏺. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 was known to ward off evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨 and bad luck. 

This piece is dated to the Late Period (30th Dynasty). Considering everything, I figured this would be a fitting post for today! 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Blog

MALS Awareness

Story behind this picture: I was having such bad abdominal pain at the museum that I had to sit on the floor in front of the Temple of Dendur and was trying to distract myself by taking selfies. 

I’m Nicole and you know me as @ancientegyptblog and the girl that can read hieroglyphs! What most people do not know is that I’ve been suffering with horrible abdominal pain for over 15 years caused by MALS, an anatomical abnormality I was born with and is caused by a genetic condition that I have. 

MALS (also known as Celiac Artery Compression Syndrome) is a rare vascular compression disorder that affects about 1 in 100,000 people. It is so rare that most doctors do not know about it, and as a result, do not investigate it as a cause for abdominal pain. 

The pain I experience daily is horrific. I can only describe my pain as “feeling like someone’s fingernails are scratching the insides of my digestive system,” “hot lava in my intestines,” and “rocks in my abdomen.” I feel this pain all day every day and no medication/diet/treatment has offered any kind of relief from the pain. The pain that MALS causes is the EQUIVALENT of the pain experienced by end stage pancreatic cancer patients. The pain with MALS is caused by the diaphragm rubbing against the celiac nerves and the compression of the celiac artery. 

This may be TMI for some, but I’m not going to sugar coat my experience; my suffering needs to be known so maybe others experiencing similar issues can be helped faster than I was. 

My main symptoms with MALS are horrible abdominal pain triggered by eating, but it can also be triggered by drinking too much, standing or walking for too long, exercise, deep breathing, and long car rides. I also suffer with other bowel issues such as extreme bloating, malabsorption, nausea, and constipation so bad I have to drink a colonoscopy prep every single night and take prescription laxative pills each morning. I am also malnourished due to the pain I experience when eating. I basically have to choose: do I eat or stay hydrated because both eating and drinking enough is impossible. 

The only treatment for MALS is major abdominal surgery that involved the resection of the diaphragm/median arcuate ligament and a neurectomy of the celiac ganglion nerves. I will be undergoing this surgery on 10/18 (at the time this post is posted, I will have undergone the surgery already), which has a 90% chance of completely relieving me of my abdominal pain and hopefully restoring me of my ability to eat. 

The suffering I have faced is unimaginable. And most people don’t take me seriously because I “don’t look sick” and I hide my immense pain really well…until I can’t. MALS is also incredibly isolating because NO ONE believes the pain is real and it can take an incredibly long time to get an accurate diagnosis. 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Video

Hieroglyphic Vocabulary – Week 7

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here is Week 7 𓐀 of my Hieroglyphic Word of the Day stories all compiled into a video! Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult! 

  1. God 𓊹, 𓀭
  2. Goddess 𓊹𓏏
  3. To Be/To Exist 𓃹𓈖𓈖, 𓃹𓈖
  4. God’s Mother 𓊹𓏏𓅐, 𓊹𓅐
  5. Given Life Like Ra 𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏺𓏇
  6. Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿
  7. True of Voice 𓐙𓊤, 𓐙𓅱𓏏𓊤
@ancientegyptblog

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is Week 7 𓐀 of my Hieroglyphic Word of the Day stories all compiled into a video! Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult! 1. God 𓊹, 𓀭 2. Goddess 𓊹𓏏 3. To Be/To Exist 𓃹𓈖𓈖, 𓃹𓈖 4. God’s Mother 𓊹𓏏𓅐, 𓊹𓅐 5. Given Life Like Ra 𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏺𓏇 6. Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿 7. True of Voice 𓐙𓊤, 𓐙𓅱𓏏𓊤 These are all words/phrases that you will come across in inscriptions! Next time you’re at a museum, see if you can spot these ancient Egyptian words! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! This is my personal photograph/video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientegypt #egyptianhistory #egyptologist #ancient_egypt #historytok #egyptology #hieroglyphs #hieroglyphics #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #languagelearning

♬ Le Monde – From Talk to Me – Richard Carter

These are all words/phrases that you will come across in inscriptions! Next time you’re at a museum, see if you can spot these ancient Egyptian words! 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!