Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche Box of Shosenq II

This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 shaped box is a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 yet interesting piece at the MET! I stumbled upon this piece because it is in a display with lots of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! One of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts is Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 box, and while this is a smaller and less elaborate version of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, I still love it! 

This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 shaped box is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 825-773 B.C.E.) which would be in the 22nd Dynasty! The box is also inscribed for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Shosenq II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺. 

Cartouche Box of Shosenq II
Cartouche Box of Shosenq II

Even though they may be difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances 

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name)

𓊹𓋾𓉺 – God and Ruler of Heliopolis

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏 – Shosenq II (Shoshenk, Son of Bastet, Beloved of Amun)

There are a lot of interesting things going on in this inscription! The first 𓏃 interesting thing is that Shosenq II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺 has the same throne name as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓! The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

The second interesting thing is that all of the titles appear before both names 𓂋𓈖𓏦, instead of being broken up and appearing before either the throne name or the given/birth name! 

Another interesting thing is that the part of Shosenq II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺 birth name, “God and Ruler of Heliopolis𓊹𓋾𓉺,” appears at the beginning of this birth name instead of at the end, hence why I broke it up in my translation! The name 𓂋𓈖 should appear like this in the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥: 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺, but instead  appears as 𓊹𓋾𓉺𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏! 

The fourth interesting part is that neither the birth name nor the throne name appear in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! I guess the whole box is the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 so maybe the artist felt that the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 didn’t need a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥?! 

Who knew such a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 piece could hold so many interesting things! It’s amazing what can be discovered by just reading a couple of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Thutmosis III

Look at all 𓎟 of these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! 

Scarabs of Thutmosis III

I love these displays at the MET because they have all 𓎟 of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 grouped by the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh that is inscribed on them! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the throne name of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴! I also love tiny things, so these displays are some of my favorites! 

The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were said to be the most powerful of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because the the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the dung beetle (which the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 was fashioned after) was capable of eternal regeneration. 

The god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes a “life cycle” – birth 𓄟, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife). 

Scarabs of Thutmosis III
Can you see the throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) and variant of Thutmosis III’s throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓) in the picture?

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

The most common throne name spelling for Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is “Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣.” The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

One of Thutmosis III’s throne name variants appears on one of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪- it is rare to see this variant! This throne name variant is “Menkhepperkara 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓” which translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of the Soul of Ra.” I love seeing the variants! 

Scarabs of Thutmosis III
Can you spot any of the words in the text below in the picture above?

There are some other common phrases that accompany the name 𓂋𓈖 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓 on these little scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! See if you can spot them in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏: 

𓎟 – Lord of/Everything/All

𓊹𓄤 – The Perfect God 

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓆖 – Eternity

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Ushabtis of Nauny

Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room!

These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. 

Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box! 

Ushabtis of Nauny
The Ushabtis of Nauny and the Ushabti boxes

The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. The inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the front (and back) of the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 reads:

The ushabti figures with the kilts are Overseer Ushabtis, while the ones with hieroglyphs on the front are Worker Ushabtis.

𓋴𓌉𓆓𓇶 – The Illuminated One 

𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris 

𓇓𓅭𓏏 – The King’s daughter 

𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 – Nauny 

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice

“The Osiris 𓊩𓁹” part of the inscription means that Nauny, through the process of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎, becomes 𓆣 like the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓊩𓁹 who is the main god 𓊹 of the dead. This means that Nauny will live on in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife) just like Osiris 𓊩𓁹 has! 

There are two 𓏻 different types of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏: worker ushabtis and overseer ushabtis! Nauny originally had a total of 365 worker ushabtis, one for each day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 of the year. The worker ushabtis are identified by having the inscription on the front! The overseer ushabtis had the job of making sure that the worker ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were doing their job! The overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 can be identified by the long kilt that they are wearing, and their inscription is located on the back! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Apis Bull

This artifact is a seemingly bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of an Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 that is dated to either the Late Period or the Ptolemaic Period (c. 664 – 200 B.C.E.). The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 can actually be traced back to as early as the First Dynasty! 

The Apis Bull in statue form

The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 near the Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 Temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. People would travel from various locations to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 just to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒, and the mother 𓅐𓏏 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒. 

While Hathor 𓉡 is probably the most famous of the cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was also very widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 and represented eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛and the harmonious balance of the whole universe. The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (hence why a lot of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were referred to as the “strong bull 𓂡𓃒”) were used to represent the strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and vitality of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Usually a live bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 was used to be worshipped, and the bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 needed to have special markings on it such as a triangle shape on its forehead, or patches that represented wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 on its body. When the bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 that was being worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 died, it was embalmed 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and buried elaborately. A new bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 would then take its place. 

One of the easiest ways to recognize the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 in statuary is by looking for the sun disc 𓇳 on its head, and the elaborate cloth that is decorating the back of its body. You can easily see the details of this decorated cloth on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the MET! See if you can spot the triangle on his forehead!

The Apis Bull
The Apis Bull in statue form
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ushabti Box of Yuya

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the ushabti box (and one of the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures) of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼. The purpose of the ushabit box was to store the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person. Since people who could afford it were buried with over 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures, the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 needed a place to store them in the tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 so the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 wouldn’t be all over the place!

Although Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were not of royal lineage, their daughter 𓅭𓏏 Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 became the “King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏,” (queen) of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠. 

This part of the 18th Dynasty when when all of the “fun” began! Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 grandparents and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 great-parents! Due to their daughter’s 𓅭𓏏 status, Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were given an elaborate burial in the area that is now known as the Valley of the Kings (KV46). 

This ushabti box is made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 that has been beautifully 𓄤𓆑𓂋 painted 𓏞𓏜 and inscribed 𓎘𓅱𓎖 with hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

The ushabti box (back) and ushabti figure (front) of Yuya at the MET
The ushabti box (back) and ushabti figure (front) of Yuya at the MET

Let’s take a closer look at the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti box! 

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated

𓐍𓂋 – Before 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎿𓇌 – Favored One/Praised One

𓈖 – of

𓊹𓄤 – The Perfect God 

𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 – Yuya 

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this ushabti box are very typical of funerary inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that appear on many different kinds of funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 throughout Egyptian history.

This ushabti box is from the 18th Dynasty and is dated to c. 1390–1352 B.C.E. The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 also belongs to Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼! The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is inscribed with the “Shabti Spell,” which is the magic spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 which makes the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure come alive to perform a specific task for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Deities Maat and Osiris-Iah

These two 𓏻 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces at the Petrie Museum are both such nice representations of Egyptian deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹! Bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were popular during the later period of Egyptian history, and there are so many of them for two 𓏻 reasons! The first 𓏃 is that bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 preserves really well so the pieces aren’t as subject to breakdown and the second is because bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces were mass produced! Both of these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are dated to the 26th Dynasty. 

Osiris-Iah (left) and Maat (right)

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the forefront of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦. Not only was Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄, fact, law, order and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜, “maat” was also a concept and a way of life in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 was also the balance and order in the whole universe. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is usually shown as a woman with a feather 𓆄 on her head.  Her most important role was in the judgement of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 fun! The words for “Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦,” “truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄,” and “justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜” are super similar! 

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in the back of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the combination god 𓊹 Osiris-Iah. I know the description says “Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭,” but the crown on the head of the deity 𓊹, which shows the moon and a crescent underneath, leads me to believe this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is Osiris-Iah. 

While Iah 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 is the god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹, he seems to be the adult version of the god 𓊹 Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯(another lunar god 𓊹), and over time seemed to take over the lunar aspect of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. So why was Iah 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 assimilated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭? This is most likely due to the monthly lunar cycle, which seems to follow a birth 𓄟 – death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 – rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 cycle. This cycle was the backbone to the Egyptian religion, and was always linked back to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

Some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 fun! The words for the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 “Iah” and “moon” are the same – 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Hathor as a Cow

This little limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief of Hathor 𓉡 as a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 at the Louvre is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 and simple but I love it! One of the reasons I love Hathor 𓉡 so much is because I love cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 – not only they adorable, even today they are a life source for humans! 

Hathor as a cow, with her characteristic crown on her head!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 were venerated 𓄪𓐍𓇌 and thought of as divine 𓊹 long before 7000 B.C.E. – which is when archaeologists believe the domestication of cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 took place. Some historians think that the reverence for cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in ancient Egypt started during the Neolithic times, and since cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 were so vital to culture and life 𓋹, their importance persisted in the forms of early goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 such as Hathor 𓉡, Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 and Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭. Cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 gave milk, and thus life, just like women 𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪, hence why they were so revered 𓄪𓐍𓇌! 

Hathor 𓉡 can be easily recognized in Egyptian art because she will either be represented as a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒, or as a beautiful woman with a solar disc 𓇳 and cow horns 𓄋 as her crown. Even when she is in cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form, Hathor 𓉡 will have her characteristic crown on her head, as seen in this relief! As Egyptian religion evolved, the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 adopted this same crown, so it is difficult to tell them apart in later period art – that is where hieroglyphs come in handy 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Even in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, the words for cow and beautiful are linked – look below at how similar “cow” and “beautiful” are – even “cow” and “beautiful woman” are the same word – only the determinative different so it would have been pronounced the same! I think this connection to language just demonstrates how important cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 were to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪. 

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 – Cow

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 – Beautiful Woman

𓄤𓆑𓂋 – Beautiful

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this particular relief are cut off, but “𓎟𓏏” is the word for all, or Lady/Mistress! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Pharaoh Narmer or Khufu?

Which pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is this – Narmer 𓆢𓍋 or Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱?  We will probably never know!!  This is both the best and most frustrating part about Egyptology sometimes – it’s the mystery and the “not knowing.” 

Is this Pharaoh Narmer or Khufu? We will probably never know!

The awkward photography aside (I have never claimed to be good at photography, just hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪), this is a very fascinating statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Petrie Museum in London! Petrie thought this head of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represented Narmer 𓆢𓍋, while Egyptologists today believe that it depicts Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱. 

Narmer 𓆢𓍋, also referred to as his throne name Menes 𓏠𓈖𓇋, was the first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of a united Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and the founder of the First Dynasty. His rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏 began around 2900 B.C.E., which was when Upper 𓇓 and Lower Egypt 𓆤 were united into one kingdom. The “Narmer Palette” is the most famous depiction of this pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 as not much art has survived from so long ago. The name “Menes 𓏠𓈖𓇋” means “He Who Endures,” which is very fitting for Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the Fourth Dynasty, and is most well known for commissioning the construction of what is now known as the “Great Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 of Giza.” This is the only aspect of Khufu’s 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 that has been documented – we actually don’t know much about him! Only one small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 has been found to date, so it would be pretty cool if this was actually Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! The name 𓂋𓈖 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 means “He Protects Me.” 

I actually have no idea who this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is meant to depict – it could honestly be either pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Who do you think is shown here – Narmer 𓆢𓍋 or Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱?  

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouche of Akhenaten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the birth name variants for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖! Now, this is most definitely a variant, because this cartouche 𓍷 definitely does not show the name 𓂋𓈖 that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was given when he was born! The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was actually born with the name 𓂋𓈖 Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 (Amun is Satisfied, God and Ruler of Thebes), and changed his name 𓂋𓈖 during year five 𓏾 of his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏. 

“Lord of Appearances, Akhenaten.”

Let’s take a closer look at Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 cartouche 𓍷! Above the cartouche is his title “Lord of Appearances 𓎟𓈍𓏥.” 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten (pronounced “Aten”)

𓅜𓐍- Spirit (pronounced like “ahk”)

𓈖 – Of (pronounced like “n”)

This is where the name 𓂋𓈖 “Akhenaten” come from and the name 𓂋𓈖 means “Spirit of the Aten.” 

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

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.” 

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

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun 𓆄𓅱𓇳, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, and Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. 

The “crested ibis 𓅜” symbol is a biliteral phonogram sign and is associated with the sound “ah.” It can also be an ideogram for “spirit.”

The “placenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “ḫ” (similar to a “k”). This symbol is actually considered “unclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

Something that’s very special about this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is that my Nonno took it when we were at the Vatican Museum together 𓈖𓊗! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Horus Name of Pharaoh Hatshepsut

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

While the throne name and birth name are the two 𓏻 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 that appear most often in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Horus Name of my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! The Horus Name is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name 𓂋𓈖 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 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. This helped to legitimize their rule 𓈎𓏏𓋾, especially if the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 wasn’t necessarily “in line” for the throne. 

Usually the Horus Name will appear in a Serekh, however that’s not the case here! The Falcon Horus 𓅃 is usually standing on top of a palace facade 𓊁 which enclosed the name 𓂋𓈖 but that is missing here probably due to spacing issues! The ancient Egyptians will always put aesthetics before grammar! Instead, 𓋹𓅃 or “Living Horus” is written to indicate the Horus Name! Again, “𓋹𓅃 Living Horus” really tells everyone that Hatshepsut herself is the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭, just here on Earth 𓇾𓇾. 

Hatshepsut’s Horus Name, Wosretkau, in hieroglyphs.

Let’s take a look at Hatshepsut’s Horus Name! 

𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓 – Wosretkau or Useretkau 

Let’s break down the meaning of the name:

𓄊𓋴𓏏 – Powerful, Mighty, Strong (this is the female version; male version is 𓄊𓋴). 

𓂓𓂓𓂓 – Kas (Souls) 

“Wosretkau” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

The “head and neck of a jackal 𓄊” symbol is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sound “wsr” or “usr.” 

The “folded cloth 𓋴” is a uniliteral phonogram for “s.”

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 “𓂓 two arms” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound “ka,” and also functions as an ideogram for the same. The word “ka” has been translated into our modern languages as “soul.” 

I think that is such a cool name 𓂋𓈖 to have! This name 𓂋𓈖 has only been recorded in a couple of places, including the Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Vatican (pictured), the Obelisk 𓉶 at Karnak, and on a couple of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 from Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 (one of these is at the MET). 

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Birth Name

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Throne Name