Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Wilbour Plaque

This is one of my absolute favorite pieces and I was so excited to see it again in person at the Brooklyn Museum after so long!

After Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because of just how different/bizarre his rule was compared to everything/everyone else. The Brooklyn Museum has an amazing collection of artifacts from Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule!

The top piece in the display is known as the Wilbour Plaque, after Charles Wilbour who acquired it in 1881. The plaque is interesting because it is complete as is it was never part of a larger scene and was most like used as a model for sculptors. While there aren’t any inscriptions to confirm this, it is assumed that the people represented here are Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­. However, some argue that the person accompanying Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– in the image could either be Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ or Smenkare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£.

To me this piece is interesting because the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ is no where in sight! Usually Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is always accompanied by an image of the sun 𓇳𓏺/Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ with sun rays shining on him. It’s almost kinda weird to see him like this!

The second piece in the display is another sculptor’s model!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian “Rainbow Fish”

My sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ said that this piece from the Brooklyn Museum reminds her of the children’s book β€œRainbow Fish,” and now I can’t unsee it!!

This beautifully π“„€ colored fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 represents a tilapia! The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ viewed the tilapia as a symbol of regeneration and rebirth. Both of these things were super important in the Egyptian religion, so they held tilapia in very high regard!

What is so cool about this piece is that it is actually a rattle! There are little clay pellets inside of it, which represents the eggs. This was most likely a ritual object; either played during childbirth or placed in a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 with their rebirth!

The blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 coloring on the fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 is purely decorative as tilapia are not this color in real life! This piece is estimated to be from the Amarna period and the rule of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Sekhmet at the Brooklyn Museum

Every time I go to a museum, I need to get a picture with Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“!

Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ was one of my Nonno’s absolute favorite Egyptian goddesses π“ŠΉπ“π“ͺ. Whenever I see Sekhmet, π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ she makes me think of my Nonno. He probably really liked her due to her strength and power!

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most of the feline 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 deities were female! This was most likely intentional – much like a lioness π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“π“„› can be gentle and nurturing with her cubs, she can also be extremely fierce and aggressive when she needs to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ them. This duality is quintessential to not only Sekhmet’s π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ role in the Egyptian pantheon, but to the other feline 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 goddesses π“ŠΉπ“π“ͺ as well!

Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ is always seen with a sun-disk on her head, which shows that she is the daughter of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. She was known as the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of destruction/war, and her name means β€œshe who is powerful.” She could also represent the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺. There were many religious rituals designed to appease her. Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ was feared for being a very powerful and very destructive goddess π“ŠΉπ“.

This particular statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ was made during the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  during the 18th Dynasty.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Pharaoh Pepy II and his Mother

Pharaoh Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 ruled during Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– 6th Dynasty (Old Kingdom). He became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at only six years old, and his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 (Ankhnes-meryre II) served as his co-regent. His throne name, Neferkare 𓇳𓄀𓂓 means β€œThe Soul of Re is beautiful.”

Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 reign actually marked the decline of the Old Kingdom – this was due to the fact that the power and influence of the governors (also called nomarchs) were growing, so the powers of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 declined. Since there was no strong central power, chaos began to erupt amongst the nomarchs.

This alabaster piece at the Brooklyn Museum is one of the more famous representations of Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 and his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, mostly because the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ has two β€œfront” sides!! The statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ shows Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 seated in his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 lap. By placing Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 and his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 in opposite directions, it creates a multi-view statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ! This is very different than other art from the Old Kingdom!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Vessels of Pepy II

Here are some vessels from the MET that are from the rule of Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋. Made of alabaster, the purpose of these vessels was to keep cosmetic oils cool.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, on the middle vessel you can see Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 cartouche. On the vessel to the left, you can see his throne name, Neferkare 𓇳𓄀𓂓, which means β€œthe soul of Re is beautiful.”

In the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the vessel on the right is a little more clear. You can see Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 cartouche, however the title 𓅭𓇳, β€œSon of Ra,” is also embedded in the cartouche instead of on top of it. This was a stylistic thing that occurred during the Old Kingdom. However, the title π“†₯, β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt” is present before the cartouche in this instance. The placement of the hieroglyphs can be super interesting!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“.

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ talk about how Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– there. The stela was a way to commemorate Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ presenting statues to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook π“‹Ύ) from the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. This is meant to represent that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– saw Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ as a legitimate ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–(in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– kind of replaces Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ in popularity as king of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and that they were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is quite large (I’m 5’5”)! It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ names appear on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! This was probably meant to show that while he was a divine figure, he also had very human qualities!

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum (and me)!
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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Statue of Senwosret III

This is a black granite statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“. Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ is thought to be the most powerful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty because his successful military campaigns gave rise to an era of peace π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. Peace π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ led to economic prosperity, and this led to a newfound revival in artistry and craft works.

Statue of Senwosret III at the Brooklyn Museum

This newfound artistry during this time period then led to some new styles in how the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was portrayed in statuary. The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ are so distinctive that they can be immediately recognized as his, even without reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Some parts of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are realistic, like the protruding eye sockets and the lines on his face, while some features, like the young and strong torso, are most likely idealized. Egyptologists can only speculate on why he was portrayed this way – some argue that it’s because Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ wanted to be seen as human before divine.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ in particular shows Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ wearing the royal nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ headcloth. Beneath his feet are nine bows – each meant to represent one of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– enemies. Since the enemies are beneath his feet, it shows successful defeat by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see his Horus nameπ“…ƒπ“Š[π“ŠΉ 𓆣𓅱] which I think means β€œHorus in divine form.” Also, you can see his prenomen or β€œthrone name” which is marked by the π“†₯ (he of the sedge and the bee aka King of Upper and Lower Egypt) hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ before the cartouche. π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ means β€œthe Souls of Ra have returned.”

Statue of Senwosret III at the Brooklyn Museum
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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian “Tom and Jerry”

I refer to this piece as the β€œAncient Egyptian version of Tom and Jerry”!”

“Cat and Mouse” Ostraca at the Brooklyn Museum.

This is an ostracon (or ostraca), which is pretty much a sketch on a limestone fragment. Instead of using papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛(which was expensive) to practice drawing, the ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ artists or scribes π“Ÿπ“€€ would use pieces of limestone. It is dated to the 19th-20th Dynasties, aka the Ramesside Period.

What’s funny about this is it shows the mouse being served or attended to by the cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠. The cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 is presenting the mouse with a goose as an offering π“π“Š΅ while also fanning him. It’s almost like an opposite because the cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 is usually the predator while the mouse is the prey. This could have been some type of satire on the elite during the Ramesside period, or a visual representation of a fable that is now lost. Many ostraca from this time period show animals doing human activities!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Painting of Tjepu

This well preserved painting of a beautiful woman 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 named Tjepu is from the 18th Dynasty (rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ) and was originally found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of her son π“…­. Tjepu is seen in lavish 18th Dynasty style clothing – including a wig, lots of jewelry and a linen 𓍱 dress.

Painting of Tjepu at the Brooklyn Museum

When creating tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ art, Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ artists did not β€œrealistically” depict how people actually looked. Instead, they showed people as being eternally youthful. Basically, the artists made people look their best so they could be at their best in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! While Tjepu would have been around 40 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† years old at the time that this painting was completed, she was definitely not shown as being 40 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief for Montuhotep II

This is a raised relief carved in limestone for the 11th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep III π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. His father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 reunited Upper and Lower Egypt, so Mentuhotep III π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“Š΅π“π“Šͺ inherited a mostly united Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. He had a relatively short reign of 12 π“Ž†π“» years.

Limestone Relief for Montuhotep II at the Brooklyn Museum

What was most interesting when I was reading about Mentuhotep III π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was some of the superficial similarities to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!! During the 12 π“Ž†π“» years of his reign, he actually sent an expedition to Punt! He also started building a mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri, but it was never completed.

This raised relief is beautifully carved, and Mentuhotep III 𓇳𓋴𓋹𓂓 appears twice. On the left he is seen wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”, and on the right he is wearing the nemes headdress π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄. In the middle is the goddess Iunyt, who was a consort of Montu π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±, a war goddessπ“ŠΉπ“. Montu π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty.

Many think that this depicts Mentuhotep III’s 𓇳𓋴𓋹𓂓 desire for a sed festival in the 30th π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† year of his reign, however he only ruled for 12 π“Ž†π“» years.

In the image below, I have highlighted one of my favorite ancient Egyptian phrases, π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“†– β€œGiven eternal life, stability and strength.”