Category: Reading Hieroglyphs

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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…”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Mummiform Coffin of Harmose

This (left) mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a singer named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Harmose who lived during the joint rule of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣(New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.). While Harmose was not royal, this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is still quite striking. The face is overlaid with gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ foil while the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are made out of inlaid alabaster (white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³) and obsidian (black π“†Žπ“…“). The coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 was found in the vicinity of Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ during excavations funded by the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the 1935-1936 dig season.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! By now, I’m sure those of you who have been following me for a bit can now recognize parts of the standard offering formula!

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

π“Š©π“Ή – β€œ…Osiris…” (this is a not as common variation of his name)

π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“› – β€œ…Ruler of…”

𓆖 – β€œ…Eternity…”

π“‰Όπ“ŠΉ – β€œ…The Great God”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Œπ“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos…” (this is another variation – Abydos is more commonly written as π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–)

𓉓 – β€œ…A Voice Offering of…”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab of Hatshepsut

Here is a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ from the MET! The MET has so many of these beautiful π“„€ scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and I honestly love looking at them! I really like tiny things, so scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and other amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of my favorite pieces to see in museums!

This scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 has a very simple message:

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – β€œPerfect God”

𓇳𓁧𓂓 – β€œMaatkare”

Interestingly, Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ throne name Maatkare (which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re”) is usually written as 𓇳𓁦𓂓, however on the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, the symbol for Maat is slightly different! On this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, the symbol shows Maat holding an ankh 𓁧! It’s a very subtle but cool variation. It doesn’t change the meaning or the pronunciation of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but I love seeing little changes like this! Clearly, this was an artistic choice!

When learning hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, throne names are a great place to start learning because the names aren’t too complex! Let’s use Maatkare 𓇳𓁧𓂓 as an example!

𓇳 – Re

𓁧 – Truth (Maat)

π“‚“ – Soul (Ka)

With the three 𓏼 symbol cartouche, especially when Re 𓇳𓏺 is involved, it’s read middle-right-left. So why is Re 𓇳𓏺 written first but said last!? Honorific transposition! As a sign of respect, Re (or another god π“ŠΉ) is always written first!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Statue of a Pharaoh and Ancient Plagiarism

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is very interesting because it was originally made for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ during the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty. However if you look at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the cartouches of Rameses II can be read! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ used to recycle statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ all the time – this is a process known as usurping (taking one pharaoh’s monuments, erasing their nameπ“‚‹π“ˆ–, and putting yours!). It’s kind of like ancient plagiarism!

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is made of granodiorite, a type of volcanic (igneous) rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. It was quarried at Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– and then transported up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί to Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–, where it was sculpted.

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

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

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

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“ˆ˜π“†‘ – His Beloved

(π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) – Rameses II

𓇳𓏇𓏺 – Like Ra

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below shows some of the ancient erasing that took place!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blades of Hatshepsut

Believe it or not, these two 𓏻 pieces were probably my favorite objects that I saw in the Petrie Museum.

I was so excited when I saw them, because Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 throne name appears on it! Since I absolutely love anything to do with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, I was incredibly excited to see something with her name on it. These two 𓏻 pieces are actually bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ blades that were once attached to a handle.

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

π“„€π“ŠΉ – Perfect God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name – translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.”)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (Deir el-Bahri temple)

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

Put together, the inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ƒπ“‚¦π“‚¦π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ β€œThe Perfect God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Holiest of Holies.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Small Relief from the Reign of Nectanbo

This is a small relief with beautifully π“„€ carved hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that dates to the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanbo 𓇳𓆣𓂓 in Dynasty 30.

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

π“†₯ – β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt”

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – β€œLord of the Two Lands”

(𓇳𓆣𓂓) – Kheperkare (β€œThe manifestation of the soul is Re”)

𓅭𓇳 – β€œSon of Ra”

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – β€œLord of Appearances”

(π“ˆ–π“π“π“‚‘π“ƒ­π“†‘) – (Nakt Nebef β€œThe Strong One of His Lord”)

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š– – β€œEdfu” or β€œBehdet” (Egyptian city in Upper Egypt. Horus of the Winged Disc or β€œBehdetite” was the chief god of the city)

π“ŽŸπ“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 – β€œLord of the Sky”

Here it is all out together:

π“†₯π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(𓇳𓆣𓂓)π“…­π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“ˆ–π“π“π“‚‘π“ƒ­π“†‘) π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–π“ŽŸπ“Šͺ𓏏𓇯

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

β€œStela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef”

This beautiful π“„€ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is titled by the MET as β€œStela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.”

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is dated to Dynasty 11 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1988 B.C.E.) and we know this because the cartouches of Mentuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (credited with reunifying Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–) appear as a dedication from Intef π“Žπ“ˆ–π“π“†‘, the owner of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. Intef π“Žπ“ˆ–π“π“†‘ was an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ and β€œoverseer of the fortress” – a title that could’ve only been given to him after the reunification of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! While I would love to translate the whole thing for all of you, there is too much text to fit in an Instagram description, and it’s hard to see some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! so I will do as much as I can! Below are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from the first half of top panel of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! I want to translate the other readable parts for you all too so I will do that soon!

π“…ƒπ“„₯𓇿𓇿 – Horus, Uniter of the Two Lands

π“…’π“„₯𓇿𓇿- Two Ladies, Uniter of the Two Lands

π“…‰ – Horus of Gold

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) Nebhapetra (throne name)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) Mentuhotep II (given name)

π“‹Ή – Life

𓇳𓏇 -Like Ra

𓆖 – Forever

Here it is all together: π“…ƒπ“„₯𓇿𓇿𓅒π“„₯𓇿𓇿𓅉π“†₯(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€)𓅭𓇳(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ)𓋹𓇳𓏇𓆖

β€œHorus, “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Two Ladies “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Falcon of Gold, King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebhepetre, Son of Ra, Mentuhotep, alive like Ra forever.”

Nicole (me) with the Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.
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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Seti I

Here’s another piece from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology! This is a really simple piece but I really like it! It probably caught my eye because it has the cartouche of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 on it, and Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 was one of my Nonno’s favorite pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! The afternoon that Nonno and I spent exploring the Petrie Museum was one of the best days of my life!

This piece is a fragment from a larger statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ. On the top part of the piece you can even see the bottom part of a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. It is made of black π“†Žπ“…“ basalt, which is an igneous rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. Basalt forms when lava solidifies on the Earth’s surface or under the ocean. The entire ocean floor is made of basalt which means that it is is the most abundant rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ on Earth (and Mars too)!

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this piece are very simple and easy to read!

𓇓𓏏 King of Upper…

𓋔𓏏…and Lower Egypt

(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – Maatmenra (Seti I – Maatmenra was his throne name)

Usually the title of β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt” is written as β€œπ“†₯” so it is interesting to see it written as β€œπ“‡“π“π“‹”π“.” In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ for this piece, the crown of Lower Egypt π“‹” was used instead of the bee 𓆀.

King of Upper and Lower Egypt π“†₯ can literally be translated to β€œHe of the Sedge and the Bee,” which is the title that usually preceded the prenomen, which was also known as the throne name or the royal name. The sedge 𓇓 was the symbol for Upper Egypt while the bee 𓆀 was the symbol of Lower Egypt. This title was symbolic that the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was ruling over a united Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. The first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to have this title was the Pharaoh Den π“‚§π“ˆ– during the First Dynasty!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Thutmosis I

This fragment of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief shows part of the cartouche for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓! Let’s take a look at his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–!

While Thutmosis I’s birth name is usually written as (π“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄) this particular cartouche shows a variant of this name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. The full variant would most likely read (π“ˆπ“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“„€π“₯π“Šƒ) which means β€œThoth is born, who has appeared perfectly.”

Another variant of his birth name is (π“ˆπ“…π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‡π“Šƒ) which means β€œThoth is born, who has appeared like Ra.” The more popular variant of this birth name, (π“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄) simply means β€œThoth is born.”

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (this is his throne name -β€œGreat is the manifestation of the Soul of Ra”) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Reliefs of Thutmosis III

Here is a very nice raised relief in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ which depicts pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ (left). He can be identified based off of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that appear to his right.

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Brooklyn Museum

Here are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ broken down:

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III’s throne name)
π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great God
π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

Also on the right is the remnant of another person – most likely the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ (a portion of a shoulder and a crown are seen, so the presence of the crown allows us to infer that it is in fact another royal figure).

What is super interesting about this piece is that the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 that are carved are not the actual pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 themselves, but statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of them! This relief is depicting a religious precession that took place at Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This piece was excavated from the temple and is dated to c. 1478-1458 B.C.E.

Here is another example of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™. Menkheperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (Thutmosis III’s throne name) is above his head 𓁢𓏺 on the relief so we know that it is him! This one is in the Vatican Museum!

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Vatican Museum

While many know that the Ankh π“‹Ή is the symbol that corresponds with the word β€œLife,” the Ankh π“‹Ή had other symbolic meanings as well – one of which is shown on this relief fragment!

The Ankh π“‹Ή can also symbolize the purifying π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— power of water π“ˆ—. In many temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (like Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 here) is flanked by two 𓏻 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. One of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ who did was was usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, but it is impossible to tell which god π“ŠΉ is performing the action in this relief. The gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ would pour a stream of Ankhs π“‹Ήπ“‹Ήπ“‹Ή over his head 𓁢𓏺 to cleanse π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— and purify π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— him (Fun Fact: cleanse and purify can be the same word in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ but there are other variations of each word too).

Totally unrelated thought but I have always loved the word for water (π“ˆ—) because it is the β€œn” symbol! Since my name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Nicole and my name would start with π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, as a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€• I would refer to π“ˆ– and π“ˆ— as β€œmy symbol” πŸ˜‚.