Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Offering Table Dedicated to the God Seth

This piece is a large offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 that was dedicated to the god π“ŠΉ Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ by the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠.

There is a lot going on with this piece! On the reliefs, Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 can be seen worshipping thegod Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£, whose likeness has been erased. During the Ramesside time period, many pharaohs had β€œSeth” as part of their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– because Seth’s π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ status was elevated at the time due to him being both a powerful aggressor and being associated with foreign lands. Once Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ fell out of favor, his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–/images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 were no longer used. Seth’s image is even removed, except for when he is mentioned in Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! The image of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“Nephthys π“ŽŸπ“π“‰—π“π“‰π“ has not been erased, because even though she is the consort of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£, she was considered a favorable figure in Egyptian mythology.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, we see Seti I’s Horus Name: π“…ƒπ“ƒ’π“‚‘π“…“π“ˆπ“‹†π“‹΄π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆ™π“ˆ™ β€œThe Strong bull who appeared in Thebes and sustains the Two Lands.” 

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, we see Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the goddess π“ŠΉπ“Nephthys π“ŽŸπ“π“‰—π“π“‰π“ (her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written above her), who is the consort of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. We can also see Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 titles and cartouches: 

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – Menmaatra (throne name)

(π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–) – Seti, Beloved of Ptah (birth name)

𓏙 – Given

𓆖 – Eternity

In the next picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 (above) we see the cartouches again, and Seti worshipping Seth. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ translate to:

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

𓆑 – His

π“Š½ – Stability

π“Œ€ – Strength

So all together, the inscription reads: “π“™π“‹Ήπ“†‘π“Š½π“Œ€ Given Life, His Stability and Strength.”

The last picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 (above) is another variant of the Horus name! 

I always find pieces such as these so fascinating, because upon first look, it looks like just a large slab of rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. But in reality, there is so much to analyze and unpack when it comes to the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, and how they relate to the time period, and even the time periods that came long after this piece was made. While it was made during the 19th Dynasty (reign of Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–), it was definitely altered afterwards.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Seti I and Hathor

This is such a beautiful π“„€ relief and it is actually from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠! The tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 is the largest in the Valley of the Kings and it is also my Nonno’s favorite of all the tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ! This relief is now located at the Louvre in France.

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Hathor 𓉑 was known as the Lady of the West π“ŽŸπ“π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ! This is why all of the Egyptian tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ are located on the western π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ side of the Nile!

Here, Hathor 𓉑 is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him a menat necklace π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§, which was a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

𓉑 – Hathor
π“Άπ“·π“π“π“Š–π“‹† – Chief one of Thebes
π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands
(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – Menmaatra (throne name – β€œEternal is the Truth of Ra”)
π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – Lord of Appearances
(π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“΅π“‡Œπ“ˆ˜π“ˆ–) – Seti, Beloved of Ptah (birth name – this is an uncommon variant that uses the Osiris 𓁡 symbol instead of the Seth 𓁣 symbol)
𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – Given Eternal Life, Like Ra

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Lid of an Ointment Jar with a Cartouche

This is the lid of an ointment π“ŒΈπ“Ž›π“π“Ž―π“ƒ‹ jar that has some beautiful π“„€ hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ inscribed on it! One thing that is so interesting about Old and Middle Kingdom cartouches is that sometimes the titles and epithets associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 are also enclosed in the cartouche, not just the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– itself!Β 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to start reading from the right, because the directional symbols are pointing to the right!

Here is the full inscription: π“‹Ήπ“ŠΉπ“„€π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±π“‡” π“Š…π“†‘π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ

Now let’s break it down! 

π“‹Ή – May He Live/Life

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Perfect God

π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– – Senwosret 

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± – Ptah

𓇔 – South

π“Š… – Wall

𓆑 – His 

π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Beloved

So the full inscription reads: β€œMay He Live, the Perfect God, Senwosret, Beloved of Ptah, South of His Wall.” The last part, β€œSouth of His Wall,” refers to Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–, which was the main cult center where Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒. 

It is actually quite hard to have an exact date for this piece because Senwosret π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–, the birth name of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, was used a bunch of times! There’s Senwosret I, II, and III who all use this birth name on their monuments! Unless the throne name is also present, we don’t know which Senwosret π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– this is! Since the piece just has the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Senwosret π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– on it, we know the jar lid is from the 12th Dynasty, but it could have been made between the dates of 1961–1840 B.C.E.Β 

The symbol underneath the cartouche is the Hieratic symbol for the number 20!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Book of the Dead Translation

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to look at some writing in the Book of the Dead (known to the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ as the Book of Coming Forth By Day). This Book of the Dead belonged to a man named Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, who was a priest π“ŠΉπ“› of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. He lived during the early Ptolemaic Period (between 332-200 B.C.E.). This Book of the Dead is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

This inscription is about the god π“ŠΉ/π“€­ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! Let’s just jump right into it – some of these words are vocabulary we have gone over previously (or variants of the words), so see if you can recognize the words or phrases before reading the translation!

Since the symbols point to the right, we are going to start reading from the top of the right column! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are always read from top to bottom no matter what!

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ
β€œWords Spoken By π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, Foremost of π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“ the West π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€¦β€

π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“€­π“™π“Š€π“ŽŸπ“‹‚π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–
β€œIt is π“ƒΉπ“ˆ– the perfect god π“„€π“€­, true of voice π“™π“Š€, Lord π“ŽŸ of Abydos π“‹‚π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–β€¦β€

π“ŽŸπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“π“†“π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­
β€œLord π“ŽŸ of Eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, Ruler π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of His Own π“†“π“π“ˆ–, King π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Recumbent Jackal on Shrine Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to look at my favorite hieroglyphic symbol: Anubis 𓃣! So out of all 700+ symbols, this symbol of Anubis on a shrine 𓃣 has always been (and will always be) my absolute favorite!

There are three 𓏼 variants of this symbols: 𓃒, 𓃣, and 𓃀. The variants just mean that all three symbols could be used in the same way to represent the same thing!

The official name of this symbol given by Egyptologists is β€œrecumbent jackal on shrine 𓃣” and it is used as both an ideogram and a determinative. 𓃣 is the determinative in the word β€œAnubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣” and also an ideogram for β€œAnubis 𓃣.”

When 𓃣 functions as an ideogram, the β€œπ“ƒ£β€ would be pronounced the same as β€œπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣.” The proper way to say Anubis in Middle Egyptian is β€œjnpw” (pronounced like β€œInpu”).
𓇋 – j (i)
π“ˆ– – n
π“Šͺ – p
π“…± – w (u)
𓃣 – Determinative – not pronounced!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œAnubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, so that is why the hieroglyphs don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–!

Since this is my absolute favorite symbol, when I was a kid, I was so mad that I could not use this symbol as part of my name π“‚‹π“ˆ– (my name written out is π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­π“€­).

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ointment Jars from Deir el-Bahri

These ointment jars were found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!

These ointment jars that were found are made of travertine and many have hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ on them! Many of the jars found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 contain oil stains, which means that they were probably used primarily to hold oil that was used in ceremonies at the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. You can also see a blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, which were very common to find in foundation deposits too!

I love seeing the artifacts from the foundation deposits because they give a glimpse into cool things such as temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ construction and religious worship! The artifacts found in foundation deposits also contain the cartouches of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 under whom the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was constructed under!

One of the ointment jars has some simple text on it! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“ŠΉπ“π“„€ – The Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut as Female King

I seem to always talk about the white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ because it’s my favorite, but I never seem to discuss the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ or β€œHatshepsut as Female King.” This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is my second π“Œπ“» favorite!

The most striking aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so she would be forgotten from history. Many blame Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 for this, but actually any motivation behind this deliberate destruction of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is unknown and mostly speculation.

It’s very difficult to read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this statue, but you can make out that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is using the female version of titles, and referring to herself as a woman!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!
π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare

Something interesting about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (that cannot be seen in my pictures) is that Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ that protects π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ in childbirth (and women/children in general), is actually carved into the back of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! This is the only deity π“ŠΉ that is overtly carved into Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary so this allows Egyptologists to infer that the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was probably meant to belong in the Hathor 𓉑 shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and was probably used in cult worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒. It’s interesting that a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ specifically aimed towards women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ was chosen to be carved!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Water Jars in a Rack” Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to be looking at another popular hieroglyphΒ π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! This is the β€œwater jars in a rack 𓏅” symbol!

𓏅 is most commonly used as a triliteral phonogram, and is associated with the sound αΈ«nt. Less commonly, 𓏅 (and it’s variants) can be used as an ideogram for the word β€œjar-rack” and would then be associated with the sound αΈ«ntw.Β 

There are many variants of this symbol, all of which have the same sound associated with them. They are also classified as β€œwater jars in a rack: 𓏃, 𓏄, and 𓏆.” All of these can be used interchangeably! 

Let’s take a look at how 𓏅 can be used in a variety of inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! 

Now, 𓏅 is very commonly used as a proposition to mean β€œin front at/of:” 

π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰±/π“…π“π“ŠΉπ“‰± – In Front at the God’s Booth (one of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 epithets)

π“…π“ˆ–π“ – At the Head of/In Front of 

𓏅 Is also commonly used to mean the word β€œForemost,” especially in epithets of the godsπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. β€œForemost” can also be written as β€œπ“„‚π“.”

π“…π“ˆ–π“π“­π“‹€π“„Ώ/ – Foremost of the Westerners (one of Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ epithets)

π“…π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – Foremost of the West (I have seen this epithet of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ written this way too)

𓏢𓏅 – Is Foremost (priest’s title)

𓏅 can also function as an ordinal number and mean β€œFirst.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Sedge” Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to be looking at another popular hieroglyphΒ π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! This is the β€œsedge 𓇓” symbol!

The 𓇓 is a biliteral phonogram and has the sound of β€œsw.” The symbol can also function as an ideogram for both the words β€œking (nswt)” and β€œsedge (swt).” The sedge 𓇓 is also the symbol to represent Upper Egypt!Β 

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

𓇓 – King

π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­ – King

π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€² – King

π“‡“π“π“‡Œπ“›/π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“‡Œπ“› – To Be King

π“‡“π“‡Œ – Kingship

π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž King’s Wife 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance (literally β€œKing’s 𓇓 Knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏(π“œ)”)

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

π“†₯ – He of the Sedge and the Bee or King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – An Offering the King Gives (𓇓 – King, π“π“Š΅- Offering, 𓏙 – Gives)

As you can see, the sedge 𓇓 symbol has many uses, and they mostly have to do with the word β€œking!” So if you see the 𓇓, in most cases you’re going to be dealing with something to do with the king π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€²/pharaoh π“‰π“‰»! 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Closeup of the Hatshepsut Stela

Here’s a closeup of a part of the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ from the Vatican Museum in Rome! My Nonno took this picture on one of his trips to the museum. He knows how much I love this piece (it’s second only to the limestone statue of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 at the MET).

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!Β 

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see the cartouches for the throne names (or prenomen) of both Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III. The prenomen was one of the five royal names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

𓇳𓁦𓂓 = Maatkare (Hatshepsut)
𓇳𓏠𓆣 = Menkhepra (Thutmosis III)

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in between the two cartouches spell out 𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏇 which translates to β€œgiven life like Ra”