Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Mislabeled Canopic Jars

These canopic jars are very famous pieces from the British Museum! Any time you read a book on mummification or Egyptian funerary practices, these canopic jars will make an appearance! The first book on Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 my Nonno ever gave me was Carol Andrews’ book on the mummies at the British Museum, and of course these canopic jars were in the book! It was so exciting to see them in person! However, these are “dummy” canopic jars; they aren’t even totally hollow inside so they definitely weren’t used during the mummification process. 

But that’s not what is the most interesting here; what’s most interesting is in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Each canopic jar has a lid that represents one of the Four Sons of Horus. Each one has the task of protecting a specific organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹 of the deceased! 

From the left: 

-Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 (falcon head) held the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼

-Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 (human head) held the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸

-Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 (baboon head) held the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺

-Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 (jackal head) held the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻

Now, if you take a closer look at the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the jars – Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 is labeled with Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 and vice versa! 

I’m not sure if it is an ancient mistake or a mistake by the museum! I’m always so amused when I come across stuff like this!

The inscription above the names is a common one that we have gone over before:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓁹𓊨𓊹 – Osiris (the symbol for “god 𓊹” is used as the determinative here instead of the usual “𓀭” – I love seeing variation)!!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Royal Inscription of Amenemhat I

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 has all words on it that I have taught already!! See if you can read it before looking at the translation!! Since the directional hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Also, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are always read starting at the top line of symbols! 

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 – Amenemhat I (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓇳𓏇- Like Ra 

𓆖 – (For) Eternity

Now, this relief is only partial because some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are cut off, but based on the symbols that remain, and the formulaic way that royal titulary was always written, I have a pretty good idea what the line above the cartouche says! Let’s take a look: 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓊹𓄤 – The Great God 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Now, before people come at me (it happens every time) for the translation of “ 𓊹𓄤 – The Great God,” yes, “𓄤” can be translated to “great,” “beautiful” and “perfect.” Much like in English (and I’m sure all other languages) in Middle Egyptian, words can have multiple meanings/translations!!! Also, there can be two different words that mean the same thing – “𓉻 / 𓉼” can also be translated to “great” – just like in the word for “pharaoh 𓉐𓉻,” which literally translates to “Great House.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Amenemhat I at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to look at an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 that is on a relief at the MET! I chose this one because this relief shows the cartouches of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 I haven’t spoken about much – Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏! 

Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1939-1910 B.C.E.). He was of non-royal birth, and it is unknown how he acquired the throne. It is possible that he was the same Amenemhat 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 that was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep IV 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and then took the throne after Mentuhotep IV’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

Since the directional hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Once again, some of these words (especially the titles) I have taught before and you may recognize! 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 – Amenemhat (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

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

𓇳𓋴𓊵𓏏𓊪𓄣 – Sehotepibra (Throne Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

The name 𓂋𓈖 Amenemhat 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 translates to “Amun is in the Front” -let’s break this down too:

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓅓 – in 

𓄂𓏏 – Front/Foremost

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken by Osiris”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to combine two words/phrases we have already learned! Here we see an inscription with the symbols “𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭.” This translates to “Words spoken by 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.” 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖” is usually followed by the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏 in inscriptions! 

The “cobra 𓆓” is a uniliteral phonogram, so it is a symbol that represents just one consonant. It represents the sound “ḏ” which would almost sound like a “j” when pronounced. 

The “staff or walking stick 𓌃” functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word “ staff 𓌃𓏺”). 𓌃 is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound “mdw.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The “eye 𓁹” is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “jr.” The “eye 𓁹” can also function as an ideogram for “eye 𓁹𓏺” and also as a determinative. 

The “𓊨 seat” is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound “st.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the words seat/place. 

The “seated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as “punctuation” at the end of the name of a male god! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Thutmosis III – Menkheperra

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to look at one of the many cartouches of Thutmosis III! 

Like many pharaohs, Thutmosis III had many different cartouches, and then different variants of those cartouches! Today we are going to be looking more closely at the cartouche of his Throne Name: 𓇳𓏠𓆣. This is a great cartouche to be able to recognize, because I see it more than his birth name cartouche! 

Let’s break down each of the symbols! 

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.”

The “𓏠 game board and pieces” is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The “ 𓏠” is associated with the sound “mn” which could be pronounced like “men,” “mun,” “mon,” etc. 

The “scarab beetle 𓆣” is a phonogram sign. It is a triliteral sign, which means it represents three consonants. The “𓆣” is associated with the sound “ḫpr” which could have been pronounced like “kheper.” The “ scarab beetle 𓆣” is also both an ideogram and determinative for the word “scarab beetle 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣.” 

So all together, the Throne Name cartouche of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 would be pronounced like “Menkheperra.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Gods” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to look at the word for “Gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹.” Just for some review, this is the word for “God 𓊹.” 

The “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ symbol is an ideogram for the word god. 𓊹 is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters “ntr” which may have been pronounced like “neter.” 𓊹 Is also a determinative for “god.” So the “cloth on a pole 𓊹“ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹!

Gods can be written as 𓊹𓊹𓊹 or 𓊹𓏪, and the word that was used depended on the amount of space that was available! 

Fun fact: in ancient Egyptian culture, a couple (husband and wife) was still considered to be singular even though they are two 𓏻 people – that is why the Egyptians use 𓏦, 𓏪, or repeating the symbol three 𓏼 times to pluralize words! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, two 𓏻 was singular, and three 𓏼 was plural! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Eternity” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to look at the word for “Eternity – 𓎛𓇳𓎛.” Eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 was a concept central to ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religion and culture. 

There are two common ways to write “Eternity” – 𓎛𓇳𓎛 and 𓆖. The words for eternity (𓆖 & 𓎛𓇳𓎛) appear frequently in so many inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 – if you can recognize the words, you will be able to pick them out in any museum you visit! 

In a previous post I spoke about “𓆖,” so today we are going to focus on “𓎛𓇳𓎛.”

The symbol “𓎛 – wick” is a uniliteral phonogram which means that it only represents one sound. The sound that it represents is “ḥ.” 

The symbol “𓇳 – sun” is usually seen as an ideogram for “Ra.” The symbol “𓇳 – sun” can also be a determinative for sun, day, and time.

Since “eternity” is technically a measure of time, the proper way to write the word for eternity would be “𓎛𓎛𓇳,” with the sun disc acting as the determinative. However, 𓎛𓇳𓎛 is more aesthetically pleasing, so that is how the word is written. Technically, 𓎛𓇳𓎛 would be pronounced like “ḥḥ.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

Here is a “Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut” that is dated to the early 18th Dynasty (c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.), and most likely the joint reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. 

Even though Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is “portraying herself as a male” (as described by some historians), she is actually portraying herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Paint can still be seen on the Broad Collar

She is wearing the nemes headdress 𓈖𓅓𓋴 and a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 (necklace worn by royalty/the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹). Some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is actually still visible on the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! The face on this statue is completely destroyed, and this was definitely done on purpose. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

𓈖𓏏𓄡𓏏𓆑 – Bodily/Of Her Body

(𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)

𓌻𓇌 – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓆖 – She Live Forever

Put together, the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads: “Bodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved, May She Live Forever.” Some of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is missing, so this is what I could see! 

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is very much referring to herself as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 – it’s in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! If she called herself the “Son of Ra” the inscription would look like “𓅭𓇳” instead of “𓅭𓏏𓇳. ” The word for “bodily 𓈖𓏏𓄡𓏏𓆑” is also feminized, and would be written as “𓈖𓏏𓄡𓆑” if it was referencing a male.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Isis” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.). 

This is a variant of the name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! More commonly, her name 𓂋𓈖 is written as “ 𓊨𓏏𓁥,” and the difference between the two is the determinative at the end. Why was the determinative not used in this inscription? Most likely due to spacing issues! 

The “seat 𓊨” symbol has many different functions in Middle Egyptian! In the case of the name “Isis 𓊨𓏏𓏺,” the seat functions as a biliteral phonogram for the sound “js.” In other words, it can be a phonogram for the sounds “st,” and “hst.”  𓊨 is even an ideogram for the word “seat!” 

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The “stroke 𓏺” hieroglyph is used at the end of words when there is a bit of space left over – it’s all for the aesthetic! This symbol is not pronounced, it is solely used for punctuation/aesthetic purposes! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Isis” is actually the Greek version of the name 𓂋𓈖 of this goddess 𓊹𓏏! If we were to pronounce her name 𓂋𓈖 the way the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 did (or inferred how they did), her name 𓂋𓈖 would be pronounced like “Ist 𓊨𓏏𓏺.” 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Throne Name of Amenhotep III in Hieroglyphs

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule 𓋾 was a time of prosperity for Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!

This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces are original, but the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and plaster are not. 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in the cartouche: 

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra) 

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.”

The “𓁧 goddess with a feather” symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like “Maat.”

The “𓎠 basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of “nb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like “neb.” The 𓎟 alone can also mean the word “Lord,” especially in the titles that come before a pharaoh’s cartouche. 

Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!

Fun Fact: Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖!