Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Let’s read some Hieroglyphs!

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

This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή. 

Right Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column:

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŠΉπ“› – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally β€œGod’s Servant”) 

All together, this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ would read β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” The title β€œKing’s Acquaintance π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“β€œ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

Left Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column: 

π“ŽŸ – Possessor

π“Œ³π“π“„ͺ – Reverence

π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή – Niankhwadjet

β€œPossessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Let’s put it all together! 

π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“π“‰‘π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“Œ³π“π“„ͺπ“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή

β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Here is my past post (with photographs) on this beautiful piece!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Rameses II Adoring the Sphinx at Giza”

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief is called β€œRameses II adoring the Sphinx at Giza” and it is such a beautiful π“„€ piece! Let’s take a closer look!

By the time Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ at Giza was already ancient (~1200 years old) – which is almost mind blowing to think about!!! During the 18th Dynasty (the dynasty before Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) the cult of the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ began to reach its peak in terms of religious importance. 

During the first 𓏃 year of their reign π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take a trip to the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ as almost a right of passage. They would then build monuments 𓏠𓏍 to document the occasion. This relief is representative of that trip that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ took! 

The New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓐆 knew the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ as Hor-em-Akhet π“…ƒπ“π“ˆŒ which translates to β€œHorus in the Horizon.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– most likely came from the fact that the Sphinx’s π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ head is seen in between Khufu 𓐍𓆑𓅱 and Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴π“ͺ, and can appear like the sun disc 𓇳 when approached from a certain direction. It’s definitely a creative name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Let’s read some simple hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here’s a breakdown of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Horus in the Horizon π“…ƒπ“π“ˆŒ! Can you spot this on the relief?

π“…ƒ – Horus

𓐝 – em = in the

π“ˆŒ – akhet = horizon

There are actually two 𓏻 different versions of this relief! If you look at the pictures above versus the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 below, the reliefs are facing two 𓏻 different directions!

For a closer hieroglyphic study, we are going to be looking at the relief facing the left because I was able to get better pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this one! Both reliefs are pretty much identical except for the direction that they face!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below. Some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are missing, but I was able to infer what was being written:

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – Lord of Appearances 

π“‡³π“©π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“ŒΈ – Rameses II (Birth Name Variant) (this cartouche is too damaged for me to know which variant, so I made my best guess)

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre (Rameses II throne name)

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽΈπ“…“(𓏲𓅆)(π“€­) – Khnum (these hieroglyphs are cut off, but my best guess is this is the start of the name of the god Khnum)

Here’s the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ translation for the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below:

π“…ƒ – Horus

𓐝 – in the

π“ˆŒ  – Horizon

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

𓆑 – His

π“ŽŸ – All

π“Š½ – Stability

π“Œ€ – Strength

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€π“œ – Health

𓄫𓄣𓏏 – Joy

π“ŽŸ – All

𓇳𓏇 – Like Ra

π“‡³π“ŽŸ – Every day

This beautiful π“„€ and unique relief is located at the Louvre in France!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “King’s Acquaintance”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at a Title that appears π“ˆ on statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ and in funerary inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. The title of β€œπ“‡“π“‚‹π“π“ – King’s Acquaintance” is used to denote people who were close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and can be written in two ways: 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – if the person was female

𓇓𓏏𓂋𓐍 – if the person was male

In the case of this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, which was for a female, King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 is written in the female form of the word! The Title has also been translated as β€œGentlewoman,” and β€œCourt Lady,” while the male version (𓇓𓏏𓂋𓐍) can also be translated as β€œCustodian of the King’s Property.” 

Let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that make up this title! 

The β€œSedge 𓇓” symbol is one of the most common hieroglyphs you will see in inscriptions! It functions as a biliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œsw.” Most commonly, the symbol is used as an ideogram for the word β€œKing,” which is associated with the sound β€œnswt.” In this case of this title, the sedge is functioning as an ideogram!

The β€œplacenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œαΈ«.” This symbol is actually considered β€œunclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

The β€œmouth 𓂋” symbol functions most commonly as a uniliteral phonogram and is used to represent the sound β€œr.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word β€œmouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine when placed at the end of the word! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Aafenmut

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 924–889 B.C.E., 22nd Dynasty) which belonged to a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡. This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows a typical funerary stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 scene, and this style of stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was very popular during this time period. I love this particular style because it is so colorful!Β This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

The Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is shown at the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ and the Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž represents Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey is supposed to be representative of his birth/resurrection (sunrise), growth (day) and then death (sunset). In between Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a table filled with offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of bread 𓏏𓏐, fruit, and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦.Β 

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

π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ – Ra-Horakhty

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“‚ž – Give

𓆑 – He

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓐍𓏛- Offerings

𓐝 – To

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

𓐝 – To

π“ž – Scribe

π“Ίπ“‰π“Œ‰π“Ίπ“‰ – Treasury

π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ – Aafenmut

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œRa-Horakhty, the Great God, Lord of the Sky/Heaven, may he give offerings to Osiris, to the scribe of the treasury, Aafenmut, True of Voice.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part II)

Here is a link to Part I!

The Horus Name is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and it is the oldest way to do so. The purpose of the Horus Name was to identify the king 𓇓 as an earthly representation of the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­.Β 

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade π“Š, Horus the Falcon π“…ƒ standing on top of the palace π“Š, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace π“Š. The palace π“Š hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is pronounced like β€œserekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche! 

On the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­ of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“, you can see the Horus name, however, the throne name is also in the serekh! This is unusual to see both names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ in the serekh! 

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

π“ŠΉπ“†£π“…± – β€œHorus, Divine of Form” (Neter-kheperu) (Horus Name)

π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ – β€œThe Souls of Ra have Appeared” (Kha kau ra) (Throne Name)

Something I love about this sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­, is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain π“ˆ‹π“…³ building or plate tectonics), that the minerals π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™π“¦ have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™π“¦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance! 

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry π“Ž›π“π“π“‰ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

The following pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏 show a close up of one of my samples of gneiss, so you can see this banding! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

How to Read a Three-Symbol Cartouche

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

When I was first starting to learn to read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were some of the first things I learned how to read and recognize! Learning the cartouches allowed me to become familiar with the different uniliteral, biliteral, and triliteral signs! By remembering the signs/meanings of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ associated with the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, I was able to then expand my knowledge using the Book of the Dead transliteration/translation!

A lot of the New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had simple three 𓏼 symbol throne name cartouches, which sometimes takes some practice to read because of the order of the symbols! For the three symbol cartouches, usually (not always) the symbols were read β€œMiddle-Right-Left” or β€œMiddle-Bottom-Top” depending on the orientation of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ.

For example, Hatshepsut’s throne name of (𓇳𓁦𓂓) would be read β€œMaatkare” (Maat 𓁦 ka π“‚“ re 𓇳) and the throne name of Thutmosis III (𓇳𓏠𓆣) would be read β€œMenkhepherre” (Men 𓏠 kheper 𓆣 re 𓇳).Β 

While to most this is just a piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, to me this is significant because this piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is inscribed with the cartouche of the throne name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I!

So in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Seti I’s cartouche reads (𓁦𓏠𓇳) or β€œMenmaatre” (Men 𓏠 maat 𓁦 re 𓇳), however, in most inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ his cartouche is written as (𓇳𓁦𓏠)! A lot of people will translate his name as β€œMaatmenre” (Maat 𓁦 men 𓏠 re 𓇳) because of the way it is written. So as you can see, the orientation of the three 𓏼 symbols definitely changes and can be confusing to a beginner! I have seen both Menmaatre and Maatmenre used in published books, but if we are going to get technical, the translation of Menmaatre (Eternal is the Truth of Re) makes a little more sense than Maatmenre (Truth is the Eternal of Re). 

I chose to use Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 cartouche for this example because Nonno loved Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

While this may just seem like the broken fragment of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (and I guess it is), I love this piece at the MET because it contains the cartouches of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“—!Β 

The Amarna Period, and the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— has always fascinated me, ever since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€”. Professional Egyptologists have tried to piece together the series of events that shaped this tumultuous time period of Egyptian history, mostly by looking at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ themselves.

Fragmented statue containing the cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Let’s start at the right column, since the directional symbols point that way!

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‹Ή – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre which means “Beautiful are the Forms/Manifestations of Re, the Unique one of Re” (Akhenaten’s throne name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

Now on to the left column! This first part is cut off, but it’s probably a variant Nefertiti’s title of β€œKing’s Great Wife, as you can see the ending of the word β€œ great 𓅩𓂋𓏏”

π“ˆ˜π“π“†‘ – His Beloved

π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— – Nefertiti (Neferneferuaten Nefertiti)

𓋹𓏏 – May She Live/The Living

𓆖 – Everlasting/Eternal/Eternity

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

What always gets me is Akhenaten’s throne name of π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre. This particular spelling of the throne name is only seen after he changed his given name from Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. The original spelling, before the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change was β€œπ“œπ“„€π“†£π“¦π“‡³π“Œ‘π“ˆ–.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is still pronounced the same and has the same meaning, but the falcon glyph π“œ was changed to just the sun disc 𓇳 (both pronounced Re/Ra).Β  Also, all of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– other names (Horus name, etc) underwent a change, to remove the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, but this one didn’t.Β 

I wonder why Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– didn’t change the throne name (π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–) to represent the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, just like how all of his other names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ were changed.Β  Nefertiti’s name also underwent a change; her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– went from just Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— to Neferneferuaten Nefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— around year 5 of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– reign. Year 5 in the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– is significant, because that is when we see most of the changes to Atenism begin to take place. Year 5 is when Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ became the supreme and only god π“ŠΉ, and the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ could not be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒.

Since this piece contains the β€œupdated” version of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– throne name and the longer version of Nefertiti’s π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“— name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, we can assume that this piece was made during or after year 5 of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Overseer of the King’s Scribe”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a word that appears a lot in funerary inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! This word is simple, so it is easy to remember and to recognize! So let’s get started – the word for today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ is β€œOverseer π“…“π“‚‹.”

People with the title of β€œOverseer 𓅓𓂋” worked for the nomarchs (kind of like governors and were appointed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻). The overseers 𓅓𓂋𓏦 helped the nomarchs run the local government, and the overseers 𓅓𓂋𓏦 had lots of people who worked for them, many of which were scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ.Β 

We start reading from the right, because the directional hieroglyphs (like the owl) are pointing to the right! π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“ž is “Overseer of the King’s Scribe”

The word/title of β€œOverseer 𓅓𓂋” was always followed by what specifically the person was an overseer π“…“π“‚‹ of. This brings me to the full inscription: π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“ž. 

π“…“π“‚‹ – Overseer

𓇓 – King/Royal

π“ž – Scribe

So the person who this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is for is the β€œOverseer of the King’s Scribe π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“žβ€ or β€œOverseer of the Royal Scribe π“…“π“‚‹π“‡“π“ž.” The word π“‡“π“ž by itself can also mean β€œKing’s Secretary!”

The word Overseer π“…“π“‚‹ can also be translated as β€œCommander.” Let’s take a look at some other Overseer π“…“π“‚‹ titles you might see:

𓅓𓂋𓀆 – Overseer of the Wab Priests

π“…“π“‚‹π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆŠπ“‰π“‰π“‰ – Overseer of the Forts

𓅓𓂋𓅱𓏏𓆇 – Overseer of the Embalmers

𓅓𓂋𓆓𓃀𓂝𓅱 – Overseer of the Seals

𓅓𓂋𓆼𓆼𓆼 – Overseer of the Herds

𓅓𓂋𓇏 – Overseer of the Fields

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Shrine or Pylon Stela

While this piece doesn’t look like a regular stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ (stone, rounded top), it is still considered to be one! This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ has taken the shape of a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ or pylon π“ƒ€π“π“ˆ–π“π“‰ and that’s what makes this wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece very unique! I also love this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ because it shows the two 𓏻 sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯!

On the left, we see an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and on the right we see an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡. Part of a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“› recited by the two 𓏻 sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ are located in the middle of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. I love how symmetrical ancient Egyptian art is!

The crowns on their heads is one of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that is used in their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ (𓉠and π“Š¨), which makes both Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify in Egyptian art.

You can also identity Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 by reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

Starting on the left:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

𓉠𓏏𓆇 – Nephthys

Now on the right:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis

𓅨𓂋𓏏 – Great One

The Middle:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“π“₯π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“…’ – The Two Ladies (Nekhbet and Wadjet)

𓇅𓏏𓏭𓇅𓁐𓁐 – The Two Crowns (𓇅𓇅𓏏𓏭𓁐𓁐 and π“‡…π“‡…π“π“­π“†˜π“†˜ is another way to write this)

π“ŽŸπ“²π“¦ – Lords/Master

𓉐𓏺 – House

𓆖 – Eternity

This piece is dated to the Ramesside Period (19th-20th Dynasties, c. 1295–1070 B.C.E.).

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

“Wide Heart” or “Happiness”

π“„«π“„£ – β€œBe Happy, β€œHappiness,” β€œBe Cheerful,” β€œJoy,” – or in Middle Egyptian, β€œWide Heart.” 

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful is this piece!? While this piece of jewelry may be unassuming to most who walk past it in the galleries as it is very small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©, it carries such a universal message that has permeated for thousands of years – Happiness π“„«π“„£! I LOVE how the actual Middle Egyptian version of the word is β€œWide Heart” – I think it carries so much meaning in such a little phrase. β€œAncient Egypt makes my heart wide” sounds cooler than β€œAncient Egypt brings me joy/happiness” 

I always love seeing Happiness/Joy π“„«π“„£ written on objects because that is exactly how I felt when I was in a museum and looking at Egyptian artifacts with my Nonno. The only emotion I could feel at the time was joy π“„«π“„£ and I was so lucky. I would do anything to go to a museum with my Nonno and experience those emotions again. While I do feel immense joy π“„«π“„£ in museums now, there’s always a sadness to it as well because I truly miss my Nonno more than anything. I would love a piece like this as a necklace – sometimes we all need a reminder to find joy π“„«π“„£! 

𓄫𓄣𓏏, 𓄫𓏏𓄣𓏺, and 𓄫𓄣𓏺 are all common variants of the word, that I have seen many times in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ too! 

This beautiful π“„€ clasp belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ is linked to his. Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful π“„€ jewelry behind! The clasp is made out of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and carnelian, which is a stone with a red color. I will speak more about the jewelry in future posts, it is is so beautiful π“„€ and I love jewelry!

Since I shared what makes me happy π“„«π“„£, I’d love to hear from all π“ŽŸ of you! Share something that makes you happy/your heart wide π“„«π“„£!