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Giraffes in Ancient Egypt

Did you know that there were giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖? Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 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! 

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

Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 are native to the African continent, so it would make sense that the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 would encounter these beautiful 𓄤 animals! When giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 first evolved, they made most of the African continent (including Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖) their home! There is some Pre-Dynastic period art that depicts giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 because they were living among the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 at that time! By the Early Dynastic Period, the giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 had left the area so they are not as commonly seen in art as the hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦, crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 and lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪. 

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

One famous depiction of a giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is on the temple reliefs of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐! Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was also the first 𓏃 recorded person to have a menagerie, so she clearly liked animals! 

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

There are two 𓏻 ways to write “giraffe” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱

𓋴𓂋𓃱

The word “𓋴𓂋𓃱” can also mean “foretell,” (either with the giraffe determinative or written as 𓋴𓂋𓀁) and I wonder why both “giraffe” and “foretell” 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 🦒! 

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient Egypt in Disney” series and learned something about giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Spaceship Earth

There is a wonderful ride at EPCOT called Spaceship Earth! You board a “time 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 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! 

The narrator highlights some of ancient Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 important contributions to human communication such as the invention of papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 paper and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

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 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Yes, some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in this ride are actually real! In the picture above, behind the pharaoh sitting on the throne, is the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of Seti I! What’s funny is that this looks like Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 throne, but Seti I is sitting on it! 

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)

𓊪𓏏𓎛- Ptah 

𓁣𓇌 – Belongs to Seth (pronounced like “Seti”) 

𓌻 – Beloved 

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: 

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt (title that appears before the throne name cartouche)

𓇳𓁦𓏠  – Menmaatra (“Eternal 𓏠 is the Truth 𓁦 of Ra 𓇳”)

You can also see some other common phrases/titles on this temple such as “Monuments 𓏠𓏍,” “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿,” “Perfect God 𓊹𓄤,” “It is/To Be 𓃹𓈖𓈖,” and “Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯.” 

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 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in the bottom left!

I hope you’re enjoying my “Ancient 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 “Tree of Life 𓇋𓎔𓂧𓆭” is actually from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖?! The “Tree of Life 𓇋𓎔𓂧𓆭” appears in some versions of the creation myth and grew out of the primordial mound! 

I am going to be doing an “Ancient 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! 

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

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an incredibly beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 park and I love it there – the atmosphere and theming is incredible! The symbol for the park is the Tree of Life 𓇋𓎔𓂧𓆭 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 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, due to the climate, trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 were a rare commodity! Certain trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 were also associated with different deities! There are many tomb paintings where the goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 or Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 are shown emerging from trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 to give the deceased food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and water 𓈗. 

The Sycamore Tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 and the Acacia Tree 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭 are the two trees 𓆭𓅓𓆭𓏪 that pop up the most in Egyptian mythology. The Sycamore Tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 is usually associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 and she even has the title “Lady of the Sycamore,” however, Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 will sometimes have that title too! 

Ra’s solar barge 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 was said to be made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from the Acacia Tree 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭, and two Acacia Trees 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭𓏪 could also serve as a gateway to the Netherworld which is why they are a symbol of life 𓋹 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱! The ancient Egyptians also considered the Acacia Tree 𓈙𓈖𓆓𓆭 to be very old because there’s a line from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 that refers to a “time 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. 

@ancientegyptblog 

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British Museum Trip

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!

British Museum
Nonno and I in front of the British Museum
British Museum
Nonno and I with the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽

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. 

British Museum
My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 and I with the Rosetta Stone
British Museum
Nonno and I with Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓

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. 

British Museum
Nonno and I with more stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪
British Museum
Me with the King’s List!

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

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Let’s Play #IFoundImhotep

Imhotep Statue
The bronze statue of Imhotep at the Brooklyn Museum

My Nonno always made going to museums so much fun and I’m sure this is why I have always loved going to museums! 

One of our favorite things to see in a museum were the bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪! My Nonno would always point out Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 and tell me about all of the incredible things he did (like being the architect behind Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴)! I have always been fascinated by Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪! 

My Nonno turned finding the Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 into a game, and I want to play the game with everyone!! Tag me in your photos or use the hashtag #IFoundImhotep on Instagram to show me your pictures of the bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 that are in your local museums! 

Let’s keep my Nonno’s game alive!

𓏙𓋹𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛

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Eid Mar – Beware the Ides of March!

Beware the Ides of March (aka Eid Mar)!! Today is a non-Egypt post, but it’s about something that is very special and meaningful to my Nonno. I wish you all could have seen his face light up every time he spoke about this coin and the history behind it.

Not only did my Nonno love ancient Egypt and Rome, he had a passion for numismatics (the study of coins/paper money). He particularly loved Roman coins, and knew so much about them. The coin pictured (which is a replica of the original and made into a necklace) was his absolute favorite. He would speak about this coin – The EID MAR Denarius – often; he even kept a picture of the coin in his wallet. That’s how much he loved it. Nonno would often tell me and my sister about how Julius Caesar was murdered. It was a story he loved to share; talk about cool bedtime stories!!! 

Eid Mar Coin
Brutus on the obverse (front of the coin)
Eid Mar Coin
Eid Mar with two daggers and the liberty cap on the reverse (back of the coin)

On March 15th, 44 B.C.E, Brutus (on the obverse [front] of the coin) and his co-conspirators (who called themselves The Liberators) stabbed Julius Caesar over 30 times with daggers that they had hidden in their clothes. They believed that they would free the Roman Republic from the threat of tyranny if they could remove Julius Caesar from power. That was not the case – the public was fond of Caesar and even Marc Antony condemned Brutus and the Liberators’ actions.  Brutus was forced to leave Rome with his army. 

The EID MAR coin is so historically significant and is considered the greatest ancient coin of all time because it proves the fact that Brutus was involved with the assassination of Julius Caesar. Brutus issued the coin to remind his soldiers that they fought for the Roman Republic. The reverse side of the coin has two daggers, with the liberty cap (ancient symbol of freedom) in the middle. EID MAR is written underneath. Interestingly, people who were still alive usually didn’t appear on coins – in fact, Brutus hated that Caesar had put his own portrait on coins! 

It was Nonno’s dream to own one of these coins, but there are only about 80 of the silver coins and two of the gold versions that are known, which makes them extremely valuable. 

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Blog Egyptian Artifacts

My Favorite Egyptian Artifacts

Happy 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 on Instagram!! Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 all 𓎟 for your continued support – it means the world 𓇾𓇾 to me!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 for a special post, I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 artifacts that I have seen in museums! Now, these objects aren’t the “big ticket” items, or objects that most people run and see, however, these are the ones that I love and items that you can probably see at your local museums! 

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – it’s no secret that I love reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and I love seeing them no matter what object they appear on! 

Hieroglyphs King's List
Me with the King’s List in the British Museum

Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾- my favorite little guys who perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! There are so many different types across various time periods of Egyptian history! I love them all! 

Ushabtis
The Ushabti display at the Brooklyn Museum

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪- Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was one of the only commoners to be deified, and he was the architect of Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 first 𓏃 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴! My Nonno loved Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, and I do too! This Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 pictured is my favorite one at the Vatican!

My favorite Imhotep statue at the Vatican Museum – Look at those ears!!

Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺- better known to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 as the “Book of Going Forth By Day,” this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 would provide spells needed for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This one pictured is the Papyrus of Hunefer, which contains my favorite “Weighing of the Heart” scene. 

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

Wooden Sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪  (with the Eyes) – The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! My Nonno told me this every time we were in a museum and saw a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 like this! 

Middle Kingdom Sarcophagus
Middle Kingdom sarcophagus with the eyes! (the MET)

Anything Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 – Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and tombs, has been my favorite god 𓊹, so I get excited every time I see him! Reliefs, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, – you can find Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 all over! 

Anubis relief
My favorite relief of Anubis (from the Middle Kingdom) at the MET

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪- I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things so of course I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 come in all different designs – every day objects, deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, animals – the list is endless! There are so many different types and functions, however their main function was protection of the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! 

Amulets
Various amulets on display at the MET – including the winged scarab which is one of my favorites!

Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 – I am obsessed with the Egyptian Hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues! Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and revered along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺! I always look to see if a museum has one of these! 

William the Hippo
William, the blue faience Egyptian hippo at the MET

I hope you enjoyed this highlight of some of my favorite Egyptian artifacts!

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I Miss You Nonno

“All of this is all for you, Oh, I swear to God, you’re living, Through everything I’ll ever do.” – “Two of Us” by Louis Tomlinson – this song really hits if you’re dealing with the death of a loved one. It’s raw and poignant and hard to listen to, but I feel like these particular lyrics really describe a lot. 

Nicole (as an infant) and Nonno!
Nicole (as an infant) and Nonno!

Today is a very difficult day for me (and my family), because it’s been three years since my Nonno passed away. It’s been three years since I’ve seen him, since we talked, since we laughed. There are times when I’m overwhelmed with sadness because I still cannot believe it happened. We spent so much time together and life still feels empty without my Nonno here. I’m not going to lie – I spent a lot of yesterday crying, and I will probably spend today that way too. 

Nicole and Nonno with a statue of Tutankhamun at the British Museum
Nicole and Nonno with a statue of Tutankhamun at the British Museum

This website (and my original Instagram account) is basically a manifestation of my grief and I started it in April 2020 as a way to try and manage my grief because it was overwhelming me. This account is also a way for my Nonno’s name and image to continue on. All I want is for people to see what an incredible person my Nonno was and how much he meant to me. 

Nicole and Nonno at Circus Maximus in Rome
Nicole and Nonno at Circus Maximus in Rome

I’m so lucky that my Nonno shared his passion for history with me at such a young age, and started my lifetime passion. Every time I post, you’re seeing an extension of what my Nonno knew, because he either taught it to me, or graciously gave me his books to read. All of this is Nonno – I’m just the messenger. 

Nicole and Nonno outside of the British Museum

Nonno and I have been best buds since day one and while I’m so lucky I had my Nonno with me for 27 years, I still feel like we needed more time. But if I’m being honest, no amount of time would’ve been enough. 

Nonno, I love you and miss you so much.

𓏙𓋹𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛

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Scribal Palette

School supplies in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 definitely look a little bit different than what my students and I use every day 𓎟𓇳! This piece is a scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 which we’re used by scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪! Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 held an important place in ancient Egyptian society because they were the few that were literate! While scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 are famous for their work in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 and temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 they had other exciting responsibilities as well – such as recording taxes. Scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 were also the only profession that we’re not drafted into the army because they were that important to the functioning of Egyptian society! 

A scribal palette

A typical scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 was usually in a long rectangular shape made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺. In some cases, the palettes 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓂧𓏞𓏪 were made of ivory 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓌟. At one end, there were indented circles to hold the black 𓆎𓅓 and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink that the scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 used to write, and the other end had a place for them to hold the reeds 𓇋𓇋𓇋/sticks that they used to write with! The jars that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are water jars 𓎛𓎿𓋴𓏏𓏌𓏦 that the scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 used to use to clean off their reeds 𓇋𓇋𓇋 while switching between inks while writing! 

While this particular scribal palette is 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 dated to the Second Intermediate Period – New Kingdom (c. 1635–1458 B.C.E), there are also examples at the MET from the Middle Kingdom that look extremely similar to this one! Through time, the style of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 hasn’t changed at all! 

There are two 𓏻 ways to write “scribal palette” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 and 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓂧𓏞! Both would have sounds like “mnhD” since both “𓆓” and “𓂧” are phonograms with a hard “d” sound like in the name “Djoser.” 

There were also many different types of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, and their roles were usually designated by titles written on funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦! 

𓏞 – Scribe

𓏟𓀀 – Scribe

𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary

𓏞𓐎𓏛 – Scribe of Accounts 

𓏞𓊹𓉗𓏏𓉐 – Scribe of the Temple

𓏞𓎘𓎛𓏲𓏋𓏫 – Scribe of the Offering Table

𓏞𓉒 – Scribe of the Treasury

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Stela of Hatshepsut Replica

This is a replica of the Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Musei Vaticani that my Nonno gave to me over fifteen years ago. I love this piece so much because the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on it are so accurate compared to the original stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

This is one of my most prized possessions because my Nonno have it to me. He brought this for me before we got to see the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 together, because he knew I would absolutely love it, and I do! 

Let me know if you guys enjoy seeing my little collection of Egyptian replica pieces that my Nonno has given me!

Here is one of my posts about this beautiful 𓄤 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!