Category: Egyptian Artifacts

The Cartouche of Seti I

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

These are pieces that contain the cartouche of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠! There is a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 and a bunch of scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 – some of my favorite types of artifacts!

One of my favorite things to see in museums are the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠. While only about 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 of these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain, it is estimated that Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had over 1000 𓆼 of them. What happened to the ones that are missing? They were used for firewood when Belzoni was excavating the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐!

My Nonno frequently told me about this – he was not happy that artifacts were destroyed! Anytime Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 came up in conversation (which was often because he was one of my Nonno’s favorite pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦) my Nonno would say “can you believe some idiots used his ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 as torches??!!”

Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 remaining ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 are in museums throughout the world 𓇾𓇾 and I have always been on the lookout for them whenever I go to a museum! Originally, my Nonno and I would always point them out to each other. Now whenever I see them, they are a reminder of my Nonno.

Tags artifact, scarab, seti i, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Imhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Seeing the small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 are one of my favorite parts of going to the museum! My Nonno loved Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 and always pointed him out to us! We even played a game as to who could find Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 first! I had to get a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, whose name 𓂋𓈖 means “he who comes in peace,” was a high official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 (“overseer of the works” and a priest 𓊹𓍛 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱) during the reign 𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦 during the 3rd Dynasty. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is most famous for constructing the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (modern day Saqqara). In addition to being a priest 𓊹𓍛 and architect, he is also connected with medicine, even though no written evidence of his achievements in medicine has been found.

Even though Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 lived during the Old Kingdom and reached demigod status (he is thought to be the son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱) within a century of his death, it wasn’t until the Late Period/Ptolemaic Period that the worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 reached its peak. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is one of the few commoners to ever reach godly status and cult centers dedicated to his worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 were located at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖, Philae, and Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. His tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 has never been found, though if I had to guess, I would think it would be at Saqqara – near the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴!

Tags artifact, imhotep, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Ra-Horakhty, Amun, and Taweret

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things and amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are no exception! Here are three 𓏼 beautiful 𓄤 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤, Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗!

Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is considered by historians to be Egypt’s most important deity 𓊹. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is an ancient deity 𓊹 who combined with many different solar and cosmic gods throughout Egyptian history. Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is the combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus 𓅃𓀭. Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is the god 𓊹 of the morning sun 𓅃𓈌𓏏𓏭𓀭. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and depictions of Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 became more prominent during the Late Period.

Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is also considered to be one of the most important gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon and was first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts. Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 had many different roles and was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a creator god, solar god, fertility god, warrior god, and king of the gods. Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is also considered the “universal god” meaning that his power permeated the cosmos and all that the cosmos contained!

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!

Tags amulet, amun, artifact, gods and goddesses, ra horakhty, taweret, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Triad Amulet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things!!!

Many gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon appeared in groups of threes 𓏼, which were known as Triads. They were groups of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that usually had some type of familial 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 relationship/significance to each other. One of the Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 triads during the Late Period was Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, and Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 on the left is a representation of this Triad!

The Ossirian Triad (the three 𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 to the right) is a representation of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (“Mistress of the House” and associated with vultures), Horus 𓅃𓀭 (god 𓊹 of the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 and the protector of the ruler 𓋾 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖), and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (goddess 𓊹𓏏 of healing and magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜).

Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, the sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife 𓈟𓏏 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 is representative of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus 𓅃𓀭 and that protective power extends to the wearer.

This type amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

Tags amulet, artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, nephthys, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The God Ptah

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Ptah from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (The MET)

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 s from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET! This particular Book of the Dead is incredible because it is one of the most complete ones I have ever seen! 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!

One thing that is very obvious about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is that the symbols look like pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦! In art from the pre-dynastic and early dynastic periods, sometimes it is difficult to tell where the art ends and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 begin!

I really liked this drawing of the god 𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 because it looked like the determinative that appears after his name 𓂋𓈖 when it is written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here are some of the variations of Ptah’s name 𓂋𓈖:
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓀭
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰
𓊪𓏏𓎛

As you can see, the three phonogram symbols “ 𓊪𓏏𓎛” remain the same, it is just the determinative that changes! Once you know the phonogram symbols, his name 𓂋𓈖 is easy to spot because it doesn’t change! I personally love the determinative of Ptah in the shrine (𓁱) – just like what is shown on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

Tags book of the dead, gods and goddesses, ptah, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Before Ushabtis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Wax Figures were the precursors to the famous Ushabti figures. (The MET)

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 evolved in the 12th Dynasty, wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figurines that looked like humans (and had their own mini coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦) were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

These precursor-ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 were made of beeswax and beeswax was said to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, resurrection, and regeneration. The figures are somewhat detailed and were wrapped in a linen cloth 𓍱 and placed in the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 did not identify any role or jobs that the figure had (like the text on a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 could identify what it’s job was), but it did identify the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Sometimes even the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 an offering the king gives) appeared on the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 as if it were a real one!

If these figures weren’t workers, then what was their purpose? It is thought that this figure would take the place of the body should the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be destroyed.

These particular wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures belonged to Queen Neferu, who lived during the 11th Dynasty (c. 2051–2030 B.C.E) during the reign of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪. Her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 had many of these wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures, however in general, not many similar ones have been found (in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found)

Ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom.

Tags artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Interesting Roman-Egyptian Stela

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Limestone stela from the Roman Period of Egyptian history

This is certainly an interesting stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 for sure! This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!

The first thing I noticed is that there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! So the only way to “decipher” it is by looking at who is depicted! At the top, you can see the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺, a symbol of life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and regeneration. Beneath the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 are two 𓏻 snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and the “ankh 𓋹,” which is the symbol for life 𓋹𓈖𓐍! While crudely carved, this is a very typical design to see on the top of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸.

In the middle panel, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (middle) is presenting the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 (left). This scene is a very typical one that you would see on a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! During the Roman times, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was viewed as the “conquerer of death,” and was depicted a lot with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person in artwork.

On the bottom panel, it is inferred that Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (left) and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (right) are pictured in a mourning stance. I say “inferred” because usually when Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are pictured, they have their crowns on their head which make them very easy to recognize! Here they do not, however, there might be a tiny indication of a crown on Isis’ 𓊨𓏏𓁥 head (though it is hard to see). I think the crowns are missing because the artist ran out of room!!

Tags anubis, artifact, roman, stela, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

In this red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, she is represented in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar 𓏌𓏺 in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢/offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 at the base of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 say that she is offering plants to Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭.

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted in the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 region of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖). Egyptologists/archaeologists have inferred that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 would have been placed on the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 side of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, hence why the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 is on her head 𓁶𓏺.

Hatshepsut wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt

One thing I love about this particular statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is that her Horus Name, “Wosretkau 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓”, is on the back of the statue! The name 𓂋𓈖 “Wosretkau 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”

Usually her given name “Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪“ or her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓“ are the names that are written in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and fragments of these names are also on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, but they are badly damaged and difficult to photograph!

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ovoid Stone of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

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!

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Roman-Egyptian Limestone Stela

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

(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!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, roman, stelae, the met

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