Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Fish Dish

Today I’m going to talk about fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ because fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ were an incredibly important part of life 𓋹𓏀 along the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί! Also, I love fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ and watching fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ swim π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ƒ€π“ˆ— is something I find so relaxing!

So why fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ on New Year’s Eve?! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ were seen as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration! Since the ancient Egyptian religion was primarily based on these ideas, symbols that represented them were considered important and very powerful in Egyptian culture.

One of the most common fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ you would find in the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί was tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†Ÿ, which is the type of fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ that this Fish Dish (18th Dynasty c. 1479-1400 B.C.E.) depicts. Nile tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†Ÿ are easily identified by their very long dorsal fin! The tilapia even has its own hieroglyphic symbol – β€œπ“†›,” and it definitely looks like the dish in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

The first Fish Dishes have been dated to the pre-dynastic period, and they are one of the types of every day objects that have persisted throughout the Egyptian civilization. It always amazes me how such ideas and objects were able to persist for thousands of years!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis Engraving on a Sarcophagus

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has been my favorite god π“ŠΉ since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€•. Why is he my favorite? Here are some fun facts about Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 so you can see why!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the god of mummification, graveyards/cemeteries, funerals, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ and a bunch of other things associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even as a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€•, I was fascinated by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ and the process of mummification, so by default Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ–β€œAnubis” is actually the Hellenistic version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– – the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called him Inpw.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is usually represented by the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ or having the head 𓁢𓏀 of a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ because these canines were often found in cemeteries.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has no temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ dedicated to him because every tomb/cemetery was considered a β€œtemple” to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs: π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒, π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, 𓃣.

Here are some titles that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with. His name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears with these a lot in hieroglyphic inscriptions:
π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹ 𓆑 – β€œUpon his hill”
𓏅 π“ŠΉ 𓉱 – β€œIn front at the God’s booth” (shrine)
π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š– – β€œHe who is in the mummy wrappings”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Ba Bird

In order to exist, a human needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

The Ba 𓅑𓏀 is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 can also be thought of as an individual’s personality. When a person died, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the part of the person that lived on after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

This particular Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 B.C.E.). Ba 𓅑𓏀 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±π“¦ or added as an attachment to a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

The details on this Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are absolutely beautiful π“„€. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 has a sun disk 𓇳𓏀 on its head 𓁢𓏀 and is wearing a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Tutankhamun

As a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• (and even now) I love the story about the discovery of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! The gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ funerary mask and all of the other artifacts found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ completely fascinated me and still fascinate me to this day!

Better known to the public as King Tut, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ wasn’t that significant of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but the discovery is his pretty much intact tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ helped to popularize him in the modern day. He is the son π“…­ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, and is credited with restoring the traditional Egyptian pantheon after Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed the entire Egyptian religion to the monotheistic worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ during his rule.

One of the things I love about Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is his cartouche!! Here is a breakdown of its meaning:
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– Amun
𓏏𓅱𓏏 Tut (image)
π“‹Ή Ankh (life)
𓋾𓉺𓇓 Ruler of Heliopolis/Upper Egypt

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œTutankhamun” in Middle Egyptian translates to β€œLiving Image of Amun.” However, this wasn’t his original name π“‚‹π“ˆ–; Tutankhaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“‡³ or β€œLiving Image of the Aten” was his actual birth name! When Tutankhamun brought back the old religion, he changed his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– to reflect the old religion!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III

The MET has a very large collection of objects from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. These women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ were named Menhet π“π“‚Ÿπ“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“‡Ώπ“π“, Menwi π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“Œπ“―π“‡‹π“, and Merti π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“ƒ­π“˜π“‡‹π“ and were buried in an undecorated tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ located near Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. The country of origin of these women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ is unknown.

This gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ has a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head on each end. While this piece is dated to the New Kingdom (18th Dynasty c. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ have been used to adorn mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ since the Old Kingdom (c. 2649 B.C.E.). Broad Collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ were the necklace of choice amongst the elites and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

The Vulture Pectoral is also most likely from the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ as the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ pictured. Vultures are common funerary symbols and are usually associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ. Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ was usually depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 with the head 𓁢𓏀 of a vulture. She is the patron goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt 𓇑 (hence why her name has the β€œπ“‡‘β€ symbol for upper Egypt) and was also tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ royal women 𓀻𓋴𓏏𓁐.

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Egyptian Artifacts

β€œProcessional Way of the Sphinxes”

This display of sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ at the Louvre is referred to as the β€œProcessional Way of the Sphinxes” and it contains six 𓏿 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ dated to the later period of Egyptian history (no exact date is known but inferences have been made and will be mentioned as you read further).

It is thought that these limestone sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ lined the processional way to the Serapis Temple at Saqqara (also known as the β€œSerapeum of Saqqara”). This temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was originally the burial place for sacred bulls (it was believed that the bulls were representations of the god π“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±). Fun fact: Saqqara is the modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for the area, but the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called it Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–!

This area has quite a history because construction started in c. 1400 B.C.E. (New Kingdom), and continued through to the end of the Ptolemaic Period/end of Cleopatra VII’s π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 rule (c. 31 B.C.E.). The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, during Ptolemaic rule, then was dedicated to the cult of Serapis (the Greco-Egyptian deity of the sun 𓇳𓏀).

So who built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 these magnificent sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦? There are two theories: it’s possible that the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 of the 30th Dynasty had over 600 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ built to line the processional way to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. However, some historians think that the sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ were built by Ptolemy I π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄ as he changed the area to be dedicated to Serapis. The reasoning for this is that the sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ share artistic features of the Ptolemaic Period, and they also don’t have inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on them, which is also typical of Ptolemaic objects. We will probably never know!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Husband and Wife

This is a beautiful π“„€ limestone statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of husband π“‰”π“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“‚Ίπ“€€ and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 that is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). The names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the people depicted are not preserved in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that adorn the back of the statue, π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ but the funerary prayers are preserved.

It is assumed that these types of statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ are of husband π“‰”π“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“‚Ίπ“€€ and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐, even though it’s not explicitly stated in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ because the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was held in such high regard in Egyptian culture. This is why entire families π“‚§π“ˆ–π“Œπ“π“…±π“€€π“Έπ“Έπ“Έ can be found buried in the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was to stay together π“ˆ–π“Š— forever 𓆖!!

Here are some fun facts about marriage in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Marriages were not arranged/forced in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–; it was a personal choice between the couple! Also, there seems to be no official marriage ceremony; the couple decided they wanted to be together π“ˆ–π“Š— and let their friends and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 know! The marriage seems to become β€œofficial” with a contract that allowed for the transfer of property. Divorce was a very common occurrence as was having four 𓏽 to seven 𓐀 children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ!

Though the symbol β€œ 𓏦” is usually used to denote plural words, it is used in the singular term family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 because there are multiple members in a single family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 group! Instead, the Egyptians had a different word to represent multiple family groups (in English, families β€œπ“‚§π“ˆ–π“Œπ“π“…±π“€€π“Έπ“Έπ“Έβ€) and β€œπ“Έπ“Έπ“Έβ€ is used the pluralize it!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Granite Statue of Hatshepsut and its Hieroglyphs

Since I can’t go too long without talking about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, let’s talk about this granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of her!

She is depicted in female attire, but is also wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄, which is usually reserved only for the reigning pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to wear! Once again, this imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ wanted to be seen as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, not be seen as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€.

Her hands 𓂝𓏦 are flat on her lap, which means that this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was probably put inside the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and meant to receive offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was found in multiple pieces during excavations at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and then pieced back together.

Let’s look at the hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ inscription (only the top part of it can be seen – the other half is too destroyed for me to finish translating):

π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – β€œPerfect goddess”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œMaatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)

So the inscription reads β€œPerfect goddess, Maatkare.”

If Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was referring to herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ or trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, the inscription would read like this:

π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – β€œPerfect god, Maatkare.”

The addition of the β€œπ“β€ makes the word the feminine version – β€œπ“ŠΉ -God” becomes β€œ π“ŠΉπ“ – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! There are too many examples of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ being referred to as a female in writing to make the rash conclusion that she was β€œtrying to be a man.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Sekemhathor

This is a beautiful π“„€ example of a False Door from the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Userkaf π“…±π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚“π“†‘ (5th Dynasty). This False Door was from the west 𓋀𓏏𓏭 wall of a mastaba tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– that belonged to Nikauhor and his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“. Nikauhor was a judge and a priest π“ŠΉπ“› in Userkaf’s π“…±π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚“π“†‘ sun temple while Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“›π“ of Hathor 𓉑 and Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­.

This specific false door pictured belonged to Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ and images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the couple are seen on either opening of the false door (Nikauhor had his own false door). These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are expertly carved in raised relief and I wish I could have gotten more detailed photos 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 but the glass and reflection from the lights makes it hard to do that. We know this particular false door belonged to Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ specifically because her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written on the arch above the opening to the door. It is common practice to have the deceased’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– above the door!

False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the soul π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could travel between the two lands 𓇿𓇿 through the False Door. They are also known as β€œka π“‚“ doors” or β€œsoul π“‚“ doors.”

False Doors were usually located on the western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 walls of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ because the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – when Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 makes his daily journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, sunset 𓇋𓐍𓐍𓅱𓇢 is representative of his death.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulet Necklace

This little string of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ is a necklace that was either worn by a living person or a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! No matter who was wearing it, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ had the same function: to invoke magical protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the wearer! Both rich and poor people had amulets, but the rich had higher quality ones.

Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were first used in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the pre-dynastic period and usually took the shape of animals. As the Egyptian civilization and their religious beliefs evolved, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ started to represent gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“, everyday objects, hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰, and many other things!

The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the type of magic that an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† possessed was based off of its shape! For example, an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† could invoke the power of a god π“ŠΉ that it was representative of! You can see the Eye of Horus π“‚€ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, and that was used for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

I do not know the date of the amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, and I actually couldn’t find this piece in Petrie’s online catalogue when I went to look it up! I love amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and I find this necklace to be very charming! I want one like it because of β€œhow beautiful it is 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑.”