Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin Fragment with Isis

When I saw this piece I really liked it because of how colorful it was! No matter how many times I see artifacts in museums, I’m always shocked by how bright the colors still are on some objects!

Coffin Fragment with Isis at the Brooklyn Museum

This is a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 fragment (Late Period, Dynasties 26-31 c. 664-332 B.C.E.) that shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— in mourning. Since in Egyptian mythology Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ assisted in the resurrection of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, it was believed that she would be instrumental in the rebirth of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is why she was always seen on coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ or sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The inscription I have translated is on the right column: β€œπ“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†—π“…¨π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“…β€

π“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By
π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – the Great (greatness)
π“ŠΉπ“… – Goddess (can also be written as π“ŠΉπ“)

Put together, the inscription reads:

β€œWords spoken by Isis, the great goddess…” The rest of the inscription is cut off.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Relief of Montuhotep II

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (11th Dynasty) is gorgeous π“„€ because the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are so beautifully π“„€ carved! It’s amazing how pieces that are so old can be in such amazing condition!

This piece is interesting because the direction that you read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from keeps changing! The two 𓏻 lines I’m going to translate are actually from different inscriptions!!

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

π“†₯𓅭𓇳(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ)π“…’π“„₯π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€ – β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt, Son of Ra, Montuhotep II, Uniter of the Two Lands, Given Life, Stability and Strength”

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – β€œWords Spoken By Montu”

The phrase π“…’π“„₯𓇿𓇿 β€œUniter of the Two Lands” is a variant of Mentuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Nebty Name. The Nebty Name is honestly more of a title than a name. It means β€œtwo ladies” and that refers to the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ and Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜, who can both be represented by the hieroglyph β€œ π“…’.” Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt and is represented by the vulture while Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜ is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Lower Egypt and is represented by the cobra. Showing the two 𓏻 goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ together represented a unified Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Seti I and the Goddess Hathor

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Hathor 𓉑 was known as the Lady of the West (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west! Here, she is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him her menat necklace 𓋧, a symbol of protection. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺! This relief was originally from Seti I’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ– tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, which is actually the biggest tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in the Valley of the Kings!

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

π“‰‘π“Άπ“·π“π“π“Š–π“‹† – β€œHathor, Chief one of Thebes”

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – β€œLord of the Two Lands, Maatmenra” (Maatmenra is the throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–) – β€œLord of the Two Lands Seti, Beloved of Ptah” (Seti is the birth name)

𓏙𓋹 𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – β€œGiven Eternal Life, Like Ra”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Hetepsi

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 who was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“› of Hathor 𓉑 during the Old Kingdom (6th-8th Dynasty, c. 2323-2100 B.C.E.). Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 is seen holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in her hand, which is a musical instrument which is associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ– – β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering of…” (Anubis’ name is shortened here, most likely for spacing reasons because Anubis is usually always written as π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒).

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺ𓏏𓏏 – β€œA royal offering” (π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can mean β€œpeace” or β€œoffering”)

π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ – β€œPriestess of Hathor, Mistress of…” (β€œMistress” can also be translated as β€œLady”)

π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 – β€œDendera, who is revered…”

π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 – β€œ…before the great god lord of the sky, Hetepsi”

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺπ“π“π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋

β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering for the royal offering, Priestess of Hathor, Mistress of Dendera, who is revered before the great god, lord of the sky, Hetepsi.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela for Irethoreru

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Irethoreru and it is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period, c. 775-663 B.C.E.). This stela is composed of the igneous rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ syenite, which is very similar to granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ except for the fact that it contains much less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™. This property is what allows such beautiful π“„€ color contrast between the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ itself versus the sunken relief. The contrast between the two 𓏻 makes this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ particularly stunning in my opinion.

On the right side, we can see Irethoreru making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. All three 𓏼 figures are standing underneath Horus the Behdetite (the winged solar disc with uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗), which is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that was popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ and temple decorations throughout many Egyptian time periods.

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

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – Great One
π“ŠΉπ“… – God’s Mother/Goddess

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – β€œOsiris”
π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – β€œGreat God”
π“ŽŸπ“‡― – β€œLord of the Sky” (𓇯 by itself usually means β€œabove,” but for this translation it’s just the word sky/heaven which is usually written as π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. This is usually Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ title so it’s a little strange to see it associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!)
π“‹Ύ – Ruler
𓆖 – Eternity

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief from the Tomb of Dagi

This beautiful π“„€ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief is from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Dagi, who served as vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 and treasurer 𓋨𓅱 during the reign of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (Dynasty 11, c. 2010–2000 B.C.E.). It is unclear if the two 𓏻 men π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ shown in this relief are Dagi’s sons, or if they are other officials 𓋴𓂋𓀀𓏦. The two 𓏻 men π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ are wearing blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ armlets π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Ž‘π“π“…±π“ͺ and broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. This type of jewelry, while expensive to obtain in real life, was very common to see in reliefs.

While very simple, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this relief show the name β€œπ“Š¨π“π“…­β€, which is pronounced as β€œSaiset” and translates to β€œSon of Isis.” This is actually one of the earliest examples of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ actually being used as part of a name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

I am always a big fan of the simple reliefs that have a ton of color. It’s amazing how artifacts that are so old are still able to retain their color and beauty after thousands of years. No matter how many times I see stuff like this, it always amazes me!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Middle Kingdom Coffin and Hieroglyph Translation

This is a stunning π“„€ example of a Middle Kingdom coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±(Late 12 to mid-13 Dynasty c. 1850–1750 B.C.E.). Many coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± from the Middle Kingdom were made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and elaborately painted. This coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± belonged to a person named Khnumnakht, who is an unknown individual except for this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±.

The panel of this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± that I chose to highlight is significant for many reasons. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”
π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Montuhotep II

This beautiful π“„€ raised relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is originally from Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign. This dates the piece to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Hathor’s 𓉑 face was actually chiseled away during the Amarna Period, when Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed Egypt’s religion to the sole worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. After Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign, in Dynasty 19, some repairs were made to this piece.

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ birth name, throne name (both with titles), and Nebty name.

π“†₯(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

π“„₯𓇿𓇿 – The Uniter of the Two Lands (Nebty π“…’ Name)

In front of Hathor 𓉑 the inscription reads: π“„₯π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“Ž‘π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“‡π“‡‹π“Ž—π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“…Ίπ“„«π“π“„£π“ŽŸ which translates to β€œFor you I united the two lands as the powers commanded, all joy.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Raised Relief of Horus

This raised relief in limestone is dated to the 12th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom c. 1981–1952 B.C.E.) and the reign of the pharaoh Amenemhat Iπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚. Amenemhat I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ is famous for moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to just south of Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. He also began a co-regency with his son π“…­, Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– ten π“Ž† years before his death in order to maintain stability. This block was found at the foundation of Amenemhat I’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ mortuary temple.

From the right, the upper part of a was scepter π“Œ€ can be seen supporting the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. On the was scepter, a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is seen with the shen 𓍢 symbol of the universe around its neck. The falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ that is seen is actually the top part of the Horus name cartouche (which is usually rectangular shaped and is meant to represent a palace). The god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen presenting an ankh π“‹Ή to the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„. Due to the ram π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ƒ horn 𓄋𓏏𓏺 that can be partially seen on the left, it can be inferred that it is the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ that is being depicted.

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

On top of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ reads: π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–π“‚π“†‘π“‹Ή which translates to:

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–- Edfu

𓂝𓆑𓋹 – May He Give Life (One of Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ titles is β€œHorus of Edfu.”)

In between Horus and Khnum the inscription is broken but reads: π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“‰π“³ π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” which translates to: β€œHe who is before the house of protection, Words Spoken By…”

π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“ -Before/In front of

𓉐𓍳 – House of Protection

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” – ?

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin of Nephtys

This rectangular outer coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± and mummiform inner coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Nephtys who was a mayor’s daughter (the canopic jars from yesterday’s post belonged to her too). These are dated to the Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 12 – c. 1981–1802 B.C.E.).

The rectangular outer coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± is very standard for this time period. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The design is sometimes referred to as the β€œpalace facade.”

The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of Nephtys is still preserved in in the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾. The mask she is wearing has a gilded π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ face and is wearing a faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The standard offering formula is seen in the long line of text at the top of the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±!

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”

π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”

π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

π“‚žπ“†‘π“‰“ – β€œGiven a voice offering of…”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–π“‚žπ“†‘π“‰“

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos, Given a voice offering of…”