Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 10, 2023

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written!

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

To Be and To Exist

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 2, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Middle Egyptian word for “To Be” and “To Exist.” This simple yet important phrase appears a lot in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

One of the most important phrases you will learn in any language is the verb “to be.” I remember when I first started learning Italian as a small kid, “essere” was one of the first verbs we learned!

To Be and To Exist written in raised relief on the wall of a chapel from the 19th Dynasty currently on display at the MET.

The word “To Be,” and “To Exist” is written in Middle Egyptian as “𓃹𓈖𓈖,” which is what is shown in the relief pictured. The word can also be commonly written as just “𓃹𓈖” or “𓃹” if spacing becomes an issue! The word would be transliterated as “wnn 𓃹𓈖𓈖” or “wn 𓃹𓈖/𓃹.” It was most likely pronounced the same no matter how many “𓈖” appeared or didn’t appear at the end of the word (remember, pronunciation is just inferred).

Let’s break down each of the symbols individually!

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a biliteral phonogram. The 𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” In this case, the 𓈖 is acting as the phonetic complement, meaning that the sounds are written twice but pronounced once! This is a very common occurrence in Middle Egyptian and is something that you need to just practice and get used to when you’re learning!

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

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Doorjamb of Rameses II – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This large piece is referred to as a “Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 royal jubilees.

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Thrones

𓌺 – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all together the inscription reads “King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones, Given Life.”

Also Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!

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

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met, video

Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part II)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 27, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at two 𓏻 more steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! Just like the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 we looked at yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, these are also on display at the MET!

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

Alright so let’s get to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

These two 𓏻 steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are interesting because while at first glance the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 look similar (and they are) they are also quite different! On them Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is referred to as both “Lord of the Two Lands” and “Lady of the Two Lands.” Her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” appears on both scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪.

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left!

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

𓎟 – Lord

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right!

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

𓎟𓏏 – Lady

𓇾𓇾 – Two Lands

In order to make nouns feminine in Middle Egyptian, a “𓏏” is added to the end of the word so “Lord 𓎟” becomes “Lady 𓎟𓏏.” This is significant in this case because on these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪, there’s a mix of both when it comes to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! From the early to mid part of her reign, Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary contained inscriptions more commonly with the feminine form of the words. Towards the end of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 she started using the masculine form of words.

You can also see the two 𓏻 different variants used for “two lands” (𓇿𓇿 vs. 𓇾𓇾 )on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! These two 𓏻 variants were pretty much used interchangeably so not much to analyze in this case!

Read Part I Here!

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

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part I)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 26, 2023

Here is another example of steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Before we read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s “read” the geology! I always tell my students that rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the language of our planet!

Most scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from this time period are made of a metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 called steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 which is also commonly known as soapstone. Simply put, steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 is made when the mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 talc is exposed to tremendous amounts of heat and pressure at subduction zones (areas where oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust). Steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 has been used by ancient civilizations all over the world for carving because it is both durable and easy to work with!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the shorter variant of Hatshepsut’s birth name cartouche. Hatshepsut’s full name is “𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” but that’s not what appears on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 because it’s too long! Let’s take a look:

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

𓀼𓏏𓏪 – Noble Women (Shepsut)

So Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 variant on the scarab translates to “Foremost of the Noble Women.”

The Egyptians were very clever with spacing too – if you look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 at the bottom of the picture, the “𓏏” is shared between the 𓄂 and 𓀼 glyphs! I will forever be impressed by. the ingenuity of the Egyptian artists!

Read Part II Here!

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

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2023

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree!

Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣!

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣.

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌.

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

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, jewelry, thutmosis iii

Reading Hieroglyphs

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 17, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to take a virtual trip to the Petrie Museum!

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it!

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was one of the longest reigning pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 in Egyptian history! He co-ruled with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 for about 21 𓎆𓎆𓏺 years, and then he ruled on his own for another 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 years!

This alabaster 𓍱 vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 was found in a foundation deposit. Both the Petrie Museum and the MET have very similar alabaster 𓍱 vases 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 on them! I have done previous posts on the vases with Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 – a translation and a post on foundation deposits!

These vases 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 usually contained incense or ointment. Sometimes, traces of the incense or ointment can still be seen within the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 which is so cool!

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbols!

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkhepperra

𓋊𓊾 – Min

𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 – Koptos

𓌸 – Beloved

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, the full translation is: “The Perfect God, Menkhepperra, Beloved of Min of Koptos.”

Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian town of “Gbtyw 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖,” and the modern Arabic name for the town is Qift. Since the Early Dynastic period, Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 was an important place of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 for the god 𓊹 Min 𓋊𓊾, but it was also a key trading/economic location due to its proximity to the Red Sea. Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 remained an important town through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods too!

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

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, petrie museum, thutmosis iii

Reading Hieroglyphs

Cleopatra VII’s Cartouche

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 13, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today we are going to take a closer look at Cleopatra VII’s 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 is arguably one of the most famous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to ever rule Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and one of the most famous women in history. Even though Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 was Greek, she is considered to be the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Cleopatra VII’s Cartouche on a statue on display at the MET

This picture shows the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇! Since Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 was Greek and not native Egyptian, this cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of hers is very phonetic – most of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 used are uniliteral signs, which means that they correspond to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet.

Let’s take a closer look!

𓈎 – The “sandy slope 𓈎” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram associated with the sound “q.”

𓃭 – the “recumbent lion 𓃭” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for the sound “rw,” however, during the Hellenistic Period it adopted the sound of “L.”

𓇋 – The “reed 𓇋” represents the sound of “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

𓍯 – The “lasso 𓍯” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for “w3” (wah) but became evolved to adopt the sound of “o.”

𓊪 – The “stool 𓊪” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.”

𓄿 – The “Egyptian Vulture 𓄿” represents the sound “3” which would be pronounced like “ah.”

𓂧 – The “hand 𓂧” represents the sound “d” and is also the ideogram for the word “hand.”

𓂋 – The “mouth 𓂋” symbol is used to represent the sound “r.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.”

𓏏 – 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.”

𓄿 – see above!

𓆇 – The “egg 𓆇” symbol is kind of used as a determinative here?? The “egg 𓆇” is usually used this way in the name of the goddess “Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇,” who was a very popular deity at the time so there is probably a relation. The “egg 𓆇” symbol can adopt different sounds depending on how it’s used.

It’s pretty cool to see the versatility of the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols with examples of foreign names 𓂋𓈖𓏦!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags cleopatra iv, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Given Life”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 9, 2023

“Given Life 𓏙𓋹”

“Given Life” in raised relief on display at the MET

Happy 800 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog (on Instagram)! I honestly can’t believe how much I’ve written, but what’s even more unbelievable is how many people have read what I’ve written! I’m not going to lie; I’m so proud!

“Given Life 𓏙𓋹” is such a simple and easy phrase to learn when you’re starting on your hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 journey. While “Given Life 𓏙𓋹” is a super common phrase to see in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, it is also super meaningful in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – that’s why it appeared everywhere! A lot of inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 either started or ended with “Given Life 𓏙𓋹.” Usually, these inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 were meant to preserve the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased, so their soul 𓂓𓏺 could continue to live on.

You all have “Given Life 𓏙𓋹” to not only my posts, but more importantly, to my memories about my Nonno and also his knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 that he shared with me. This account started as a memorial for my Nonno, and it always will be. Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 guys!!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Let’s break down these two 𓏻 symbols and take a closer look at what they mean:

The “bread mold 𓏙” symbol is functions as a phonogram for “d” or “ḏj” and also as “rdj” in the word for “give.” The most common use for this symbol is as the word “give.”

The “sandal strap 𓋹” more commonly known as the “Ankh,” is a triliteral phonogram that has the sound “ˁnḫ” which would sound like “ankh.” While it can also be an ideogram for “sandal strap” and “mirror,” the “sandal strap 𓋹” is much more commonly seen as the word for “Life.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Thoth on a Coffin

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 4, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – with the god 𓊹 of writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 himself, Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭! I love Thoth 𓅝because I love hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and he’s my second favorite Egyptian deity! Let’s take a look at a depiction of Thoth on a coffin!

Thoth on a Coffin depicted as an Ibis with a human body.

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows some details on the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a man named Kharrushere who lived during the Third Intermediate Period/22nd Dynasty (c. 825–712 B.C.E.). Elaborately decorated coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 are very typical of this time period and I love just looking at them and enjoying the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 art!

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 was represented in multiple ways, and was always associated with either the baboon or the ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤. When in humanoid form (like on this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾), he was represented as a human body with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤.

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃 that are to the left of Thoth!

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓅤 – Thoth (“Djeuty” in Middle Egyptian)

𓎟 – Lord

𓊹𓌃 – Hieroglyphs (“Divine Words/Writing”)

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and was thus the god 𓊹 of all record keeping, hence the epithet “Lord of the Divine Words/Writing 𓎟𓊹𓌃.” Due to his vast knowledge, 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 Thoth 𓁟 was thought to know magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 and secrets 𓃀𓋴𓆟𓏛𓏦 that were unknown to the rest of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. He was also the god 𓊹 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪.

Thoth 𓅤 has many ways to write his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs! Here are a few of them:

𓅤𓀭

𓅤

𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭

𓅝𓏏𓏭

𓁟

Most of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon have many variations of ways to write their names in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met, thoth

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