Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III – The Greatest Pharaoh?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 28, 2023

I have a very complex relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (this is probably the first time you’ve read that sentence)! Many people will probably not agree with me on this (that’s okay), but I think that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 greatest pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! He ruled 𓋾 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for 54 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏽 years, and was a very accomplished general 𓀎𓏦, having led troops into battle himself. Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 has been rumored to have never lost a battle!

Me with a limestone statue of Thutmosis III – was he the greatest pharaoh?

So why my complex feelings about Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? It all has to do with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 was only three 𓏼 years old when his father Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 passed away, and was a co-regent with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 before she completely took over the throne. During her rule 𓋾, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a member of the military and gained valuable experience that allowed him to be such a successful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. I believe that Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 successful rule set Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 up for his extremely successful reign.

About 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name 𓂋𓈖 taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! This is where my complex feelings come in because Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is my absolute favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and I believe that she is also one of the greatest rulers that Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 ever had!

I find this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to be so beautiful 𓄤 because the white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (it honestly looks like marble to me – but marble is metamorphosed limestone) contrasts so well with the black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the eyes 𓁹𓏦. Some red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can even still be seen on the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 that is on Thutmosis III’s 𓅝𓄠𓋴 forehead!

White Limestone statue of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III

The face of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is not the original, it is a cast; the original face is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! The MET then made a cast of the torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and that is now at the Egyptian Museum as well! So each museum has a real part of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and a cast of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The face and torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 were not found at the same time, hence why they ended up in different places!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, the met, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Lintel of Amenhotep II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 23, 2023

My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐, my brother 𓌢𓈖𓀀 and I are with a red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 relief, titled “Lintel of Amenhotep II!” This is a really interesting piece that contains so much history!

My sister (left), brother (middle) and me (right) with the Lintel of Amenhotep II at the British Museum

This piece was originally carved for the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪. Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the son 𓅭 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and he even co-ruled with his father! It was during the co-reign of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 that the destruction of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 monuments 𓏠𓏍 began.

This relief shows mirrored scenes of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 wearing the khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (also known as the blue crown) presenting nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 (containing either wine or water ) to the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Over fifty 𓎊 years after this relief was carved, many of the figures (see the left side) and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 were destroyed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 in an attempt to erase images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the old religion.

Then, many years after Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 during the 19th Dynasty, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 had some of the damage repaired – most of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 were actually recarved! How can Egyptologists tell it was recarved? The sunken relief is deeper in the rock!

In order to show that it was he, pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 who restored this piece, he had his cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 and a record of the restoration carved in between the two 𓏻 images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺! Can you spot Seti I’s throne name (𓇳𓁦𓏠) and birth name (𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖) cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏?

The description of this piece from the British Museum gave a short timeline of the history of this fascinating piece! I remember being confused by seeing the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of both Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 on the same relief because they are pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from different dynasties! What’s even more interesting is that this is not a case of the more common “usurping of monuments 𓏠𓏍” from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amenhotep ii, artifact, british museum, seti i

Egyptian Artifacts

Hieroglyphs, Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 23, 2023

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic?! There are so many ways to write the Egyptian Language!

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, the script everyone is most familiar with, was the first 𓏃 script used by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 to write their language! There are well over 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 unique hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and over 800 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 symbols if you count the variants! Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 were mainly used on temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏥, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥, obelisks 𓉶𓉶𓉶, other funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 and other objects of all kinds!

Then there are Cursive Hieroglyphs which is also known as Hieroglyphic Book Hand! This was usually used on handwritten papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and was a less detailed version of the traditional hieroglyphic symbols. Cursive Hieroglyphs are easy to read because these symbols match their traditional hieroglyphic counterparts!

Hieratic is a script that was used on papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and the symbols do not match their hieroglyphic counterparts! I cannot read Hieratic and I have found it quite difficult to learn! Plus the Hieratic symbols have evolved over time so they have changed a lot which only makes it more difficult!

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Imhotep at the MET and it shows Cursive Hieroglyphs (left) and Hieratic (right). I love how both scripts are used because you can really see the difference between the two!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 19, 2023

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are one of them! The little hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are a nice plus too because they are so cute!

Me with the Hippos and Hedgehogs at the Brooklyn Museum!

The the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨! William has lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱, which is a concept central to the ancient Egyptian religion. This association occurred because when food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 is scarce, hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 will retreat into their underground burrows for long periods of time. Hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 only re-emerge from their burrows during times of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 abundance. This disappearing/appearing pattern strongly correlated with the concept of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 to the ancient Egyptians.

The hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are made out of blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 just like the hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Amenhotep III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 17, 2023

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 we looked at a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to examine a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to his 𓆑 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠!

An ebony wood Ushabti of Amenhotep III on display at the MET

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. The inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are a striking blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and white which make this piece really stand out not only amongst other artifacts, but amongst other ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures too!

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is a typical mummiform piece – the ushabti has its arms crossed over its chest, and at some point was probably holding a holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 which have been lost in antiquity. The crown on its head has also been lost, which is a shame. I wonder what the crown would have been made of?

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are wonderfully preserved. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are carved into the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, and then we’re filled with paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦! I love how much the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 stand out against the ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 – I think it’s beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋!

Can you spot Amenhotep III’s birth name (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆) and throne name (𓇳𓁧𓎠) on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾? Let me know!!!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 16, 2023

There are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 and some of them are on display at the MET! This particular Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 Figure of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 though broken in half, has a wonderfully preserved face and partial inscription!

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten on display at the MET

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾.

Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray. While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. Let’s take a look at the partial inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

You can see the inscription of “𓆥,” which as we have learned previously can translate to “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” As we know, this is a very popular title to be seen before a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

The “𓇳” in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is part of one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne names, which would most likely be “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖,” since that is the only one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne name 𓂋𓈖 variants that begins with a “𓇳.”

Even though “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖” translates to “The Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra, the Unique one of Ra,” this variant was only seen after the name 𓂋𓈖 change from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags akhenaten, artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 15, 2023

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 gneiss statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is called “King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure” and is on display at the MET!

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

This is the only statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the 5th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 that exists – all other representations are on reliefs. We know that this is 𓇳𓃃𓅱 because his cartouches appear on the right side of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 headcloth and the false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸 which is the usual fashion worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The “divine figure” that is standing next to Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 on the left is a personification of the 5th Nome of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (later called the Coptite Nome). During the Old Kingdom, the nomes (or provinces) of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were usually drawn as people! The “divine figure” is offering the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 an Ankh 𓋹. The “divine figure” also has the “double falcon emblem 𓈺” carved on his head, which was the nome standard!

Something I love about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Here’s a little geology lesson: Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain 𓈋𓅳 building or plate tectonics), that the minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦 have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance – can you spot the banding on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾?

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry 𓎛𓏏𓏏𓉐 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, sahure, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

“The Opener of the Ways”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 12, 2023

Whenever people see an Egyptian artifact that looks like a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, they think it’s Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, however, there are other canine deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon! This small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicts the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who was known as “The Opener of the Ways!”

Small statue of the god Wepwawet at the MET

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was depicted as either a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or a wolf 𓃹𓈖𓈙𓇋𓏲𓄛 and one of the best ways to distinguish between Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is by looking for their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 since they are artistically very similar looking!

Another way to tell Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is usually shown in the recumbent position (𓃢, 𓃣, 𓃤) while Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is usually shown standing up (𓃧, 𓃨).

Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Opener of the Ways,” which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 were also carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions for this reason!

Other variants of Wepwawet’s name 𓂋𓈖 include:

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

𓄋𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐𓀭

𓃧

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met, wepwawet

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 11, 2023

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is my favorite version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 due to the incredibly detailed drawings and beautiful script 𓄤𓆑𓂋. It was a dream come true to see it in person at the British Museum!

The text was clearly written by an expert scribe 𓏟𓀀, and since Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 was a scribe 𓏟𓀀, was it possible that he wrote his own Book of the Dead?

Me with the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The script in Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is known as “Cursive Hieroglyphs” or “Hieroglyphic Book Hand” and I can read it because it’s not in Hieratic like a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 are!

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

The “Weighing of the Heart,” or the “Judgement of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭” is my favorite part! In this scene, Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is being weighed against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣. If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two, then Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the “Book of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 “𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺” translate to!

Let’s take a closer look:

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

𓅓 – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where “book” comes from)

In its simplest form, The Book of the Dead is 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 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄤𓀽 is dated to the 19th Dynasty.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 10, 2023

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written!

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

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