Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Rameses III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 25, 2023

This striking red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺. Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 20th Dynasty and he ruled for 32 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏻 tumultuous years. His reign was marked by political, economic, and military issues.

The most interesting part about Rameses III’s 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺 reign for me is what is known as the “Harem Conspiracy” – Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 secondary wife, Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁐, plotted to have Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 killed so her son 𓅭 Pentawer 𓊪𓈖𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏹 could become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 instead of the chosen heir, Rameses IV 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃. While Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁐 and her conspirators (other high officials) succeeded in killing Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺, they did not succeed in establishing Pentawer 𓊪𓈖𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏹 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. All of the conspirators were caught and put to death and Rameses IV 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃 succeeded Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺 as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The red granite sarcophagus of Pharaoh Rameses III, which depicts the goddess Isis

Here, on the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is depicted where the feet of the deceased would be placed. Isis’ 𓊨𓏏𓁥 sister Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is usually located where the deceased’s head would be located. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is easily recognized in Egyptian art because she is normally shown with the headdress of a throne, 𓊨, which is also one of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in her name 𓂋𓈖. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown with wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 and sitting on the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for “gold 𓋞.”

Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is known as a devoted wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 and mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, but was also associated with resurrection 𓄟𓍿𓅱 due to her role in piecing her brother/husband Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 back together after he was dismembered by their brother Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. She is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, who was magically conceived after Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 brought Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 back to life 𓋹.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, isis, louvre, rameses iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Model of a Cattle Stable

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 24, 2023

I love wooden models so much because I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things and the models also remind me of dollhouses! I could spend such a long time just looking at these models – they have been preserved so well and they are so detailed!

Wooden Model of a Cattle Stable from the tomb of Meketre

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model (and many others) were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏. There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo!

Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial. Even though Meketre was well off, the models do provide a look into the life 𓋹 of the non-royals during the Middle Kingdom!

While Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religious beliefs didn’t necessarily change much over time, some of the customs did! The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed nourishment in the forms of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and water 𓈗, even in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. In the Middle Kingdom, wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models depicting different types of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 production were placed in a sealed chamber in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. It was thought that the models would hold magical more 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 power than the carvings used during the Old Kingdom, and also keep the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 nourished!

This particular model depicts a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 were revered due to the worship of many cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, however, they were also used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥. Only the rich could afford to eat beef 𓇋𓍯𓄿𓄹, so I guess Meketre wanted to stock up for the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! I can’t say I blame him!

Tags artifact, the met, wooden models

Blog Egyptian Artifacts

My Favorite Egyptian Artifacts

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 22, 2023

Happy 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 on Instagram!! Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 all 𓎟 for your continued support – it means the world 𓇾𓇾 to me!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 for a special post, I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 artifacts that I have seen in museums! Now, these objects aren’t the “big ticket” items, or objects that most people run and see, however, these are the ones that I love and items that you can probably see at your local museums!

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – it’s no secret that I love reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and I love seeing them no matter what object they appear on!

Me with the King’s List in the British Museum

Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾- my favorite little guys who perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! There are so many different types across various time periods of Egyptian history! I love them all!

The Ushabti display at the Brooklyn Museum

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪- Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was one of the only commoners to be deified, and he was the architect of Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 first 𓏃 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴! My Nonno loved Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, and I do too! This Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 pictured is my favorite one at the Vatican!

My favorite Imhotep statue at the Vatican Museum – Look at those ears!!

Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺- better known to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 as the “Book of Going Forth By Day,” this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 would provide spells needed for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This one pictured is the Papyrus of Hunefer, which contains my favorite “Weighing of the Heart” scene.

The Weighing of the Heart Scene from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

Wooden Sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 (with the Eyes) – The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! My Nonno told me this every time we were in a museum and saw a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 like this!

Middle Kingdom sarcophagus with the eyes! (the MET)

Anything Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 – Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and tombs, has been my favorite god 𓊹, so I get excited every time I see him! Reliefs, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, – you can find Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 all over!

My favorite relief of Anubis (from the Middle Kingdom) at the MET

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪- I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things so of course I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 come in all different designs – every day objects, deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, animals – the list is endless! There are so many different types and functions, however their main function was protection of the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

Various amulets on display at the MET – including the winged scarab which is one of my favorites!

Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 – I am obsessed with the Egyptian Hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues! Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and revered along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺! I always look to see if a museum has one of these!

William, the blue faience Egyptian hippo at the MET

I hope you enjoyed this highlight of some of my favorite Egyptian artifacts!

Tags anubis, artifact, blog, book of the dead, british museum, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, imhotep, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Head of Amenhotep III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 21, 2023

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to speak some more about the very interesting the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 who ruled 𓋾𓈎𓏏 during the 18th Dynasty!

Head of pharaoh Amenhotep III at the British Museum

Fun fact: more statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 exist of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 than of any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (sorry Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) – over 250 𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 have been currently identified. He was a prolific builder, undertaking many building projects at once and the largest statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of himself stand over 60 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 feet tall – these are now known as the Colossi of Memnon. His reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 is considered to be peak prosperity – economically and artistically for Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I spoke how the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were made of black 𓆎𓅓 granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 to represent rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. However, all statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 himself were made of either red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 (like the one in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏), or quartzite to represent his close connections to the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, since these stones 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪𓏪 are much lighter in color.

Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 wanted to be associated with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and his other manifestations. He was often referred to as “heir of Ra” or “Ra’s chosen one” and even the “Eye of Ra” just like Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 herself – I guess the usual “Son of Ra 𓅭𓇳” wasn’t enough for Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! Again, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was probably heavily influenced by his father’s obsession with solar 𓇳 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 which paved the way for Atenism.

This particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 in a very youthful appearance. He is wearing both the white crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the red crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤 with the characteristic Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the front of the crowns. This piece was found in the Temple of Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 at Karnak.

𓏏𓅱𓏏 📸 by Nonno!

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amenhotep III and Sekhmet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 20, 2023

I have spoken a lot about Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, because she is my Nonno’s favorite goddess 𓊹𓏏/religious figure in the Egyptian pantheon! Today we are going to look more into the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 that can be found in museums all around the world 𓇾𓇾! These particular Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 I am with are at the British Museum, but there are a lot at The MET, Louvre, and Vatican Museums too!

Me with statues of Sekhmet, which were commissioned during the reign of pharaoh Amenhotep III at the British Museum.

During his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 had over 730 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 made! That is almost two statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 for every 𓎟 day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 of the year! Most of the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 you see that look like the ones in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above are from this time period!

So why Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐? This is where stuff gets really interesting – Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was often referred to as the “Eye of Ra,” because she was created from the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 when he looked upon the Earth 𓇾𓇾. The obsession with solar deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 didn’t just happen when Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 came to the throne – Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was most likely influenced by his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 (and gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 like Sobek-Ra) hit its peak during the reign of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆.

All of the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 are made of black 𓆎𓅓 granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌, which is not just a coincidence! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the color black 𓆎𓅓 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. These statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were most likely connected to the jubilees 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 (The Heb Sed festival), and contain various epithets on them, such as:

“The son of Ra Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes beloved of Sekhmet, the great, mistress of the sky, for eternity.”

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum, gods and goddesses, sekhmet

Egyptian Artifacts

Offering Table and Statue

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2023

This Middle Kingdom era piece is so cool – well actually, it’s two 𓏻 separate pieces! This is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named 𓂋𓈖 Sehetepib, which is sitting on top of a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃!

Statue and Offering Table of Sehetepib

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is made of graywacke 𓁷𓂋𓃀𓐍𓈖 while the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉. I love the contrast of colors between the dark graywacke 𓁷𓂋𓃀𓐍𓈖 and the light limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 – it really makes both the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 stand out against each other!

This piece was found in the shaft of a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖, but it was most likely originally placed in an above ground chapel. What was the point of putting the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 in a chapel outside of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐? Essentially, the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 allows for the ka 𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to continue to receive offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 so the ka 𓂓 can continue to be sustained even after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

If you look at the front of the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃, there are offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 carved into the limestone! These are symbolic offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 that would continue to sustain the soul 𓂓 of Sehetepib even when real offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 stopped being placed in his tomb’s 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 chapel! One of the offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 is definitely bread 𓏐, but I don’t know what the rest are! The circles could be anything!!

Sehetepib’s name 𓂋𓈖 and titles are written down the front of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (on his skirt), but I can’t make out the individual hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! The only phrase I can see clearly is “For the Soul of 𓈖𓂓𓈖“ and then Sehetepib’s name 𓂋𓈖 should follow that! I wish I could see more of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, but sometimes with ancient objects such as this one, it’s not always easy!

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Sistrum with the Face of Hathor

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 17, 2023

Hathor 𓉡 is one of the most prominent goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, she is regarded as the “God’s mother 𓅐𓏏𓊹” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of love 𓈘𓏏, joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏, music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, and dance 𓂋𓅱𓂻- basically the fun things in life!

Two sistrums with Hathor’s face on them at the Louvre

In some variations of Egyptian mythology, Hathor 𓉡 is also the wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉡 is usually associated with cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏪 and can take the form of a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

The piece above is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a musical instrument from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument that is similar to a modern rattle or tambourine. Since Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, she was portrayed on most sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 in her human form! However, even though Hathor 𓉡 is represented as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, she is recognized easily because of her characteristic cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears!

Music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 was essential to many religious rituals, so it was considered to be extremely important! There is even a word in Middle Egyptian just for “Sistrum Player/Music Priest: 𓇋𓎛𓇋𓌂”!!!

I love music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 and it is something that brings me so much joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏! I love how Hathor 𓉡 is associated with both of these things, because I do truly think that music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 and joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏 are linked together 𓈖𓊗 – and I’m sure that the ancient Egyptian people did too!

BTS 𓃀𓏏𓋴 and Il Volo 𓇋𓃭 𓆑𓍯𓃭𓍯 are my absolute favorite artists and I love 𓈘𓏏 listening to their music 𓇋𓎛𓇌! What I love 𓈘𓏏 about BTS 𓃀𓏏𓋴 most are their lyrics – they have written some truly beautiful 𓄤 songs!

Tags artifact, bts, gods and goddesses, hathor, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

The Heart and Heart Scarab

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 15, 2023

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about the Heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Heart Scarab! This particular Heart Scarab at the Brooklyn Museum is so cool because it is actually in the shape of a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 instead of a Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣. The term “Heart Scarab” is a modern one used by archaeologists!

In ancient Egyptian culture, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not only the center of a person’s life 𓋹, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process, because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

The person’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 would be weighed against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, and that would determine if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and then enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖, or eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹. This was called the “Weighing of the Heart,” or the “Judgement of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.”

Two Heart Scarabs in the shape of a heart, with Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead inscribed on it.

So how does the Heart Scarab play into this? In modern terms, the Heart Scarab could be seen as a “cheat code” for getting past the “Weighing of the Heart” – most are inscribed with the spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 from Chapter 30B from the Book of the Dead. In this spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 asks their own heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 to not betray them during the “Weighing of the Heart.”

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 30B from the Papyrus of Ani: “O my heart of different ages! Do not stand up as a witness against me, do not be opposed to me in the tribunal, do not be hostile to me in the presence of the keeper of the balance, for you are my ka which was in my body, the protector who made my members hale.”

Basically, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 feared the outcome of their final judgement so they developed this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 as a way to ensure a positive outcome to the scales!

Tags artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum, scarab

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris’ Name in a Cartouche

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 13, 2023

Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷? Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

This is a fragment of a beautifully 𓄤 painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. I would estimate its from around the later New Kingdom period or later because that’s when painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 such as these became popular!

Osiris’ name in a cartouche on a sarcophagus fragment

I love this piece because of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but also because there is so much other stuff going on even though it’s small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛 which translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.” Let’s break down the symbols!

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

I haven’t seen that many pieces like this, so I just found this one so cool! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is what appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but in this case it’s Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and his title! The top of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 also has the Atef Crown 𓋚 on it, which is the crown that is associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.

The ancient Egyptians talked about “eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛” a lot and were actually the civilization to derive the concept of “eternity 𓆖.” There were two 𓏻 very common ways they expressed the word for “eternity” in hieroglyphic symbols:

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity/Everlasting

There are some other popular hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this piece!! See if you can spot them!

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

Both of the phrases appear symmetrically on either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 which is something that is common on these types of pieces!

Let’s take a look at some of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that appear! If you look in the lower left, you can see part of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 with a large table of offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 in front of him. On the top left, below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺 is a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. On the top right, there is an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭.

On either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, the god 𓊹 Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 (god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺/flooding of the Nile) is shown. There are two 𓏻 of him because if you look closely, you can see both symbolically tying up papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸 plants together. This was meant to represent the union of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt! You can easily recognize Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 because of the papyrus flowers 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 on his head!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hapi, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, horus, louvre, osiris

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Nauny

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 11, 2023

The Weighing of the Heart (sometimes called the Judgement of Osiris 𓊩𓁹) is my absolute favorite part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. I love how each version is unique and not a single one is the same! I find this particular papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 to be absolutely stunning.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually called “Coming Forth By Day 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺,” and it was a collection of magic spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 that are written!

This particular Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are also at the MET!

Isis (left) and Nauny (right)

Starting from the left: the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown next to Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, who is shown holding her eyes 𓁹𓁹 and mouth 𓂋 in her hands. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is weighed by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 against Maat 𓁦. Usually, Maat’s 𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 is used, but this time Maat 𓁦 herself is shown on the scale, and is represented by the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that is used in her name 𓂋𓈖! Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is shown on top of the scale, and his job is to record the findings. Osiris 𓊩𓁹 presides over the scene.

Anubis

Luckily for Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, the scales are in balance which means that she lead a true 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹 and is worthy enough to enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and enjoy eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹 with Osiris 𓊩𓁹! Above the Weighing of the Heart scene, Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 is seen standing by her own tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Horus 𓅃𓀭.

Osiris

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, osiris, the met

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