This piece is known as an “Ovoid Stone” or a “Hammering Stone” and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction. Also, it’s two 𓏻 of my favorite things: rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! It seems like such a random and underwhelming piece, but most of the time those are my favorites!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓊹𓏏𓄤(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓁹𓈖𓊃𓅓𓏠𓏧𓊃𓏛𓆑𓊃𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 –
“The Great Goddess, Maatkare, she made the monument for her father, Amun-Re…”
𓏸𓆑𓏸𓍱𓈙𓁷𓏸𓇋𓏠𓈖𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐𓁹𓈖𓋹𓍘
“…at the stretching of the cord 𓍱 over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!”
The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. It involved nailing four stakes into the ground at the four corners of the building and then linking them with a cord.
Some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 were hard to see in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so I hope this translation accurate!
(from left) The Pharaoh, Anubis and a Goddess (inferred to be Hathor)
This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 from the Roman Period is an interesting piece! Let’s take a closer look!
The stela depicts 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (left) holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 and and offering a cloth 𓍱 to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (middle) and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 (right). The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is wearing the Atef Crown 𓋚. The Atef Crown 𓋚 is usually associated with the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.
Right next to the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 head 𓁶𓏺 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 you can just see a cartouche which simply says (𓉐𓉻) or pharaoh! The emperor Augustus usually wrote his cartouche as (𓉐𓉻), however many other rulers during this time period did too so we can’t necessarily say for sure that it is Augustus that is depicted!
Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is shown wearing the double crown 𓋖 of both Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, which is cool because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 usually isn’t depicted with a crown on his head 𓁶𓏺 in more traditional Egyptian art. During the Greek and Roman Periods, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was regarded as the “conquerer of death” and “companion/escort of the dead” and was very popular! Both Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 are holding Ankhs 𓋹𓋹𓋹 in their hands.
The name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 isn’t in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, however, I think the goddess 𓊹𓏏 depicted is Hathor 𓉡 because the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, and sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 are associated with Hathor 𓉡. Plus, Hathor 𓉡 was also a popular goddess 𓊹𓏏 to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 during this time period. I’m sure others have their interpretations as well, this is just mine!
Ushabti at The MET. The black text going down the center of the figure is the Shabti Spell
I have always loved and will always love ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures!! They are one of my absolute favorite things to see in museums, and that is probably because my Nonno loved ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 so much! He used to tell my sister and I stories about the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 and I became enthralled with them so let’s take a look at this little guy!!
This style of ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is very common in the Third Intermediate Period. The figure is made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 with details in black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. Most ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures contained hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on them that were part of the “Shabti Spell,” which is taken from chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. The spell was very formulaic and appears on many different ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪! Since space is very limited on these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪, this is a very shortened version of the spell!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris 𓎟𓅄 – Nb-Hrw 𓐙𓊤 – Justified (or “True of Voice”)
All together 𓈖𓊗, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 read: “The Osiris, Nb-Hrw, Justified.”
The name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, which in this case is “Nb-Hrw 𓎟𓅄,” will always follow the epithet “The Osiris 𓊩𓁹.” The reason why the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is referred to as “The Osiris 𓊩𓁹” is because the ancient Egyptians wanted to live forever 𓎛𓇳𓎛 in the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, just like Osiris 𓊩𓁹! “Justified/True of Voice 𓐙𓊤,” meant that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 lived an honest and true life 𓋹!
These are bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, most likely dated to the Late-Ptolemaic Periods.
Horus 𓅃𓀭 was one of the earliest Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. He was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 from the beginning of the dynastic period. The Turin Canon (provides information about Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 earliest rulers 𓋾𓋾𓋾) refers to the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 as the “Followers of Horus.”
Horus 𓅃𓀭 had many roles as a god 𓊹, and these roles evolved and changed throughout Egyptian history. He was originally the Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 God 𓊹 and was referred to as the “Lord of the Sky.” Horus 𓅃𓀭 then evolved to become associated with the sun 𓇳𓏺, and was referred to as the “God of the East.” He was also combined with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and this is how the deity 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 came to evolve.
Horus 𓅃𓀭 was also worshipped as the son 𓅭 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The triad/family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 unit was extremely important to ancient Egyptian religion/culture. Most notably, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is usually associated with being the god 𓊹 of kingship. As the son 𓅭 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the mythological heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.
Horus 𓅃𓀭 is usually seen as a human with a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 head. On his head 𓁶𓏺 is usually the double crown 𓋖 of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. This is how you can differentiate between Horus 𓅃𓀭 and other falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹!
Here is a gorgeous 𓄤 (and ADORABLE) faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆/statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗! More people are now familiar with Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 because of Moon Knight, but let’s dive into some history/information about her because I think she’s an amazing figure in the Egyptian pantheon!
While the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was a protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 and children 𓐍𓇌𓀕𓏪! The name 𓂋𓈖 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means “the great (female) one!” That is certainly a name 𓂋𓈖 that suits her!
While many amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were usually placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 on their journey to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife), amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 were usually found in homes because she was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was essential to family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 life.
The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 would provide protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 in the home, especially during childbirth, which was quite deadly for mothers 𓅐𓏏𓁐𓏪 at the time. For this reason, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was usually worshipped in the home instead of in temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪!
Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was also associated with the inundation of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Since the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 needed to flood in order for the soil to be fertile enough for crops to grow, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of fertility, this association is perfect!
These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET! This particular Book of the Dead is incredible because even though it is only in black 𓆎𓅓 or red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink and not in full color like some other versions, it is still so beautiful 𓄤 to look at and I am always mesmerized by the details! Let’s take a closer look at both the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
The top panel shows the goddesses 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (right) on their knees in a mourning position on either side of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is in the form of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and is laying on a table that is in the form of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛.
I love how a row of stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 separate the two 𓏻 panels! The star 𓇼 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is another one of my favorite symbols and I love how it is used in both writing and drawing/art!
On the bottom panel, two 𓏻 of the Sons of Horus are pictured with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in the center. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is on his shrine 𓉱𓊹, just like my favorite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 is on the left of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 is on the right. The Sons of Horus had and Anubis all had roles in the protection of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.
One thing I love about Egyptian art is how a lot of times there are “captions” next to the people/deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that are pictured so that way you know who they are! Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are obvious to spot because of the crowns on their heads. Their crowns match the hieroglyphs in their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 – Isis has a 𓊨 crown while Nephthys has a 𓉠 crown! However, Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 are not as easy to recognize because they are mummiform and not in their usual form with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 heads! So in this case, the “captions” are quite useful!!!
How cute is this little (4.9 cm) gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾?!?! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is titled “Anubis as Defender of Osiris/Dionysus (?).” It is always so cool to see elements of Egyptian, Greek, or even Roman culture combined into a single statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to the 2nd – 3rd Centiry A.D., which is the Roman Period of Egyptian history!
While the Romans equated Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 to Mercury, the Greeks actually equated Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 to Dionysus! One interpretation of the statue is this: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is dressed in a military outfit, in order to signify his role as a fighter against the enemies of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is holding a Thysrus in one hand 𓂝𓏺, which is a staff symbolic of/carried by the followers of Dionysus. In the other hand 𓂝𓏺, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is holding a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄.
Cool Connection! BTS actually have a song called “Dionysus” and it is incredible with lots of cool mythological references/metaphors! My favorite line from the song is “Art is alcohol too, if you can drink it, you’ll get drunk fool…” The song is about loving art so of course I love the lyrics because you all know how much I love Egyptian art!
In my independent study of Korean I did learn this though: The Korean word for “art” is 예술 (yesul) and the Korean word for “alcohol” is 술 (sul) so these lyrics are actually a word play! I just love languages and connecting the things I love together!
Look at this unfinished stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 – there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!! I love when museums have unfinished pieces of Egyptian art because it’s so cool to see various steps in the artistic process! The empty boxes above the deceased (right) and Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 (left) are where the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 should be!
On the top of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸, there are two Wedjat 𓂀 symbols. The Wedjat 𓂀 is a very common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. In between the Wedjats 𓂀𓂀 is the Shen 𓍶 symbol! The Shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛, and is also a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Both of these symbols could be worn by both the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓅱𓏦 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.
The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) is making an offering to the god 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 (left). This image is a very popular one to appear on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪.
Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 because he is wearing the sun-disc 𓇳𓏤 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front. Also, Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is holding a crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 and which is another common way to depict him. Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is also sometimes shown holding a scepter 𓌀 along with a flail 𓌅.
Based on the styling and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸, I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 22nd-25th Dynasties. There are many stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪 like this in other museums too (except they are mostly finished, not unfinished)!
Details of the Winged Scarab on the Sarcophagus of Artemidora at The MET
This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the details on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 that belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named 𓂋𓈖 Artemidora who lived in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, glass, stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪, and painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 details on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 are stunning 𓄤!
One of my favorite pieces of imagery from Egyptian art is the Winged Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣! The wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 allowed the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 to join the rising and setting of the sun 𓇳𓏺 each day – which to the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religion! As a god 𓊹 who was constantly reborn, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was associated with resurrection! On this sarcophagus, we can see the sun 𓇳𓏺 represented above the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣; this was because Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 used to carry the sun 𓇳𓏺 across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯!
Below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, we can see the shen 𓍶 symbol! The shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛, and is also a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. The shen 𓍶 was first seen during the Old Kingdom, and was a very popular symbol throughout Egyptian history; Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟 and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 are frequently seen holding them!
Cool Fact: the wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 are not those of a beetle, but are actually the wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 of a bird! Also, I just love the painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 details on these wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦; it’s stunning 𓄤!
(from Left) Nephthys, Anubis, Horus, and Isis on the Sarcophagus of Artemidora at The MET
I really like this scene because you can see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 standing with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the deceased who is laying on a bed with a lion design. Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 arms are raised, and Horus 𓅃𓀭 is holding the traditional crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, and Horus 𓅃𓀭 is my sister’s 𓌢𓈖𓏏 favorite! I always like seeing Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 together 𓈖𓊗 for that reason – it reminds me of me and my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏!
To the left of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and to the right of Horus 𓅃𓀭 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are the actual sisters 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓏦 in Egyptian mythology and in funerary scenes are usually depicted together!
You can tell which goddess 𓊹𓏏 is which based off of the crowns on their head 𓁶𓏺! The crown on Nephthys’ head is 𓉠 which is the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that’s part of her name 𓂋𓈖, and the crown on Isis’ head is 𓊨 which also corresponds with her name 𓂋𓈖! If you also look at the text that is next to each of them, their names are also written – it’s almost like a caption!
See if you can spot Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!! These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that we will be looking at are from a Canopic Jar Case, which was put in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐! It’s function was to hold all four 𓏽 of the Canopic Jars together in one place! This case is gorgeous 𓄤 – I mean, look at those stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦!!! The star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design is a favorite of mine; it’s even my phone case!
Since the directional symbols are pointing towards the right, we will start reading from the right! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the top line of the case say:
𓇋𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated/Revered 𓐍𓂋 – Before 𓏌𓏏𓇯 – Nut 𓋂𓊵 – Ukhotep 𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)
Nut can also be written as “𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭” – in the inscription above, the determinative is missing! “𓏌𓏏𓇯” could also be translated as “sky,” but in the case of this inscription, translating “ 𓏌𓏏𓇯” as the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 makes more sense. Also, considering the star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 decorations, mentioning the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky 𓏌𓏏𓇯 also makes perfect sense!
The symbol “𓊵” has many uses and meanings; it can be used alone to represent words/ideas, part of names, but it can also be combined with other symbols to also represent those same words/ideas. For example, the more complete way to write “ Satisfied, Content, At Peace, Offering” is “𓊵𓏏𓊪.“
