Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of a Man Named Ahmose

This is gray schist statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Ahmose π“‡Ήπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄ (but his nickname was Ruru). Schist is a metamorphic rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™, which means it formed under extreme heat and pressure. Schist is formed due to a process called regional metamorphism, which is a fancy way to say mountain building over big areas! Most of NYC is actually built on schist – it is an extremely strong and dense rock, hence why it can support NYC’s tremendous skyscrapers!

Even though this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the 18th Dynasty, it was definitely influenced by Middle Kingdom style art. The wig and the cloak that Ahmose π“‡Ήπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄ is depicted as wearing was a popular style during the Middle Kingdom. However, the facial structure of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is very much a New Kingdom style.

Ahmose π“‡Ήπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄ served as a high ranking government official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€(probably some type of priest π“ŠΉπ“›) during the reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, however her cartouches do not appear anywhere on the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ. Her cartouches were erased and you can now see the cartouche of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on the front inscription. This happened to a lot of objects bearing Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, especially during the reign of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Ahmose π“‡Ήπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄ was an extremely popular name during the 18th Dynasty. Ahmose π“‡Ήπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄ means β€œthe moon is born.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Roman Sarcophagus

For my whole life I have called this piece the β€œRoman Anubis Mummy!!!”

As anyone who has followed me for a while knows, I love absolutely anything that has to do with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! He has been my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ since I started learning about mythology at six 𓏿 years old! Since I was a kid who was obsessed with mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ too, it makes sense that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, god π“ŠΉ of mummification and cemeteries would be a favorite of mine!

What is interesting about this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 though is that he is depicted with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή. Thoth π“…€π“€­ is usually represented with the moon (as he is god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή along with hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, wisdom etc.), while Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 connection to the lunar disc π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή is not well understood. One of the earliest images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή actually comes from Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, in the scene that β€œconfirms” that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus she had the divine right to rule. Other scenes connecting Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 to the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή exist, but the relationship between two 𓏻 are not well understood and it is something I wish we knew more about!

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Artemidora who lived in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The text above Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 reads β€œArtemidora, daughter of Harpokras, died untimely, aged 27. Farewell.” The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 taken of her mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 using radiographic techniques confirm this age of death. Big thanks the @metmuseum for the translation, because while I can read and translate hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ I certainly do not know Greek!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wood Embellishments

These three 𓏼 pieces in the Brooklyn Museum are embellishments made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 that were meant to attach to furniture. They are from the 18th Dynasty and these pieces look so good after so long because Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– environment is ideal for preserving wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 because it’s so dry. There isn’t the risk of mold (in most places) so the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 can be preserved decently well.

The Djed Pillar π“Š½ (both ends) is associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and his regenerative powers. The Djed Pillar π“Š½ is thought to represent Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ spine, hence why it was used to represent the word β€œstability” in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. It was usually used in a funerary context, and Djed pillar π“Š½ amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦 were placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ to help enhance powers of regeneration. It is one of the most easily recognized symbols in Egyptian art. It’s use can be traced back to the Old Kingdom.

The tyet knot π“Ž¬ (the middle), also known as the Isis knot π“Ž¬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection and came to be associated with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. The Egyptians believed that knots π“Ž¬ were able to bind and then release magic. The Isis Knots π“Ž¬ were also mostly used in a funerary context, as amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦 placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ, so it is very interesting to see both symbols made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and used for furniture!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Deities

There’s a lot that I love about this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 – 1) obviously I love the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, 2) it’s in the Petrie Museum, and 3) which I think is the best part – you can see me and Nonno’s reflections in the mirror! We are squished together both trying to take pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of all the artifacts! We spent a big part of that day like that and I wish I could go back and re-live that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 again. So while this is not the best picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 artistically speaking, it really means a lot to me. While I am certainly no artist, I can fluently read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (and have been for 23 years) so it’s all good πŸ˜‚ – can’t be good at everything!

From the left, the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ represent Horus π“…ƒπ“€­(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­), two 𓏻 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (a non-royal man who became deified – responsible for the construction of Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid amongst many other things), the fertility god π“ŠΉ Min π“‹Šπ“ŠΎπ“€, and Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ (one of the oldest deities, god π“ŠΉ of the source of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, fertility and was thought to have made humans out of clay from his potters wheel).

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ was able to come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ and clay statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ. The bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Great Sphinx of Tanis

This sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ in the Louvre is one of the largest outside of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! It is known as the β€œGreat Sphinx of Tanis” because it was found in the ruins of the Temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ in Tanis π“†“π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“Š–! Tanis π“†“π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“Š– was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from the 21st-23rd Dynasties. The sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is made of granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ – an extremely strong 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and durable rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™!

This sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is so interesting because the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 Merneptah π“‡³π“ƒ’π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ (19th Dynasty) and Sheshonq I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Œ»π“†·π“†·π“ˆ–π“ˆŽ (22nd Dynasty) are both seen on the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€. Why are two 𓏻 pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ there? Well, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used to recycle monuments, a process called “usurping.” The practice of usurping was when the current pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take old pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ off of monuments and put their own there! It is basically ancient plagiarism and it occurred quite frequently.

Some Egyptologists say this sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ actually dates back to the Old Kingdom, as the face 𓁢𓏺 doesn’t represent any known pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! A book that I have says the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ dates to the Middle Kingdom. We will probably never know!

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Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Bateti

This is the False Door of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Bateti 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋 who was an official during the 5th Dynasty (2494-2345 B.C.E.). This particular False Door is interesting because it shows Bateti 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋 emerging from it – the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ served as a vessel for his soul π“‚“ to pass through the door. This False Door stood in the chapel of his mastaba tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. The False Door remains unfinished and his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– should be carved above the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, but only two 𓏻 hieroglyphic symbols were carved.

Bateti’s full name: 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋

What appears on the False Door: 𓏍𓏏𓏏 (the β€œπ“π“β€ has been fully carved but the β€œπ“β€ has only been sketched on to the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰).

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 offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 usually consisted of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯- bread 𓏐 and beer π“Š were two common ones! 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.

π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€

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Egyptian Artifacts

Name Panels of Senwosret I

I am standing in front of the Name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Panels for the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–. These panels were originally part of his pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 complex and were reconstructed from many pieces that were found during excavations.

Senwosret I’s π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– throne name, Kheperkare 𓇳𓆣𓂓, is seen multiple times along with his Horus name β€œπ“‹Ήπ“„Ÿβ€ which means β€œliving in births.”

These large panels represent the world 𓇾𓇾 according to Egyptian religious beliefs. The falcon god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen at the top of all the panels because the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is the realm of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. Beneath the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is the realm of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, or the β€œtwo lands 𓇿𓇿.” Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was always referred to as the two lands 𓇿𓇿 due to the distinction between Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt.

π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€

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Egyptian Artifacts

White Sarcophagus of Madja

This beautifully π“„€ painted sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ belonged to a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Madja who lived during the 18th Dynasty (c. 1550 – c. 1069 BCE). The sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ was found in a cemetery in West Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–, which overlooked Deir el-Medina.

The thing that is most striking about the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is how the painted images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 stand out in contrast to the white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³ background. On the bottom there are four 𓏽 panels, each with different images. From the lest you can see the Eye of Horus π“‚€ on a shrine, two 𓏻 female π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ mourners, and two 𓏻 priestesses π“ŠΉπ“›π“π“¦ with the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. On the middle panels are two 𓏻timages 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the god π“ŠΉ Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine.

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ going down the middle of the lid consist of the standard funerary offering formula:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š©π“Ήπ“€­π“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“ˆ‹π“…±π“Š–π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–π“‚žπ“†‘π“‰“ – β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos, Given a voice offering of…”

β€œπ“Š©π“Ήπ“€­β€ is not a common variation of Osiris’ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– but it can be seen on a lot of 18th Dynasty sarcophagi.

π“Š½π“Š½π“ˆ‹π“…±π“Š– is also a variation of Djedu which is more commonly written as β€œπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“Š–.”

π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

β€œStela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef”

This beautiful π“„€ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is titled by the MET as β€œStela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.”

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is dated to Dynasty 11 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1988 B.C.E.) and we know this because the cartouches of Mentuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (credited with reunifying Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–) appear as a dedication from Intef π“Žπ“ˆ–π“π“†‘, the owner of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. Intef π“Žπ“ˆ–π“π“†‘ was an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ and β€œoverseer of the fortress” – a title that could’ve only been given to him after the reunification of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! While I would love to translate the whole thing for all of you, there is too much text to fit in an Instagram description, and it’s hard to see some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! so I will do as much as I can! Below are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from the first half of top panel of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! I want to translate the other readable parts for you all too so I will do that soon!

π“…ƒπ“„₯𓇿𓇿 – Horus, Uniter of the Two Lands

π“…’π“„₯𓇿𓇿- Two Ladies, Uniter of the Two Lands

π“…‰ – Horus of Gold

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) Nebhapetra (throne name)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) Mentuhotep II (given name)

π“‹Ή – Life

𓇳𓏇 -Like Ra

𓆖 – Forever

Here it is all together: π“…ƒπ“„₯𓇿𓇿𓅒π“„₯𓇿𓇿𓅉π“†₯(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€)𓅭𓇳(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ)𓋹𓇳𓏇𓆖

β€œHorus, “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Two Ladies “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Falcon of Gold, King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebhepetre, Son of Ra, Mentuhotep, alive like Ra forever.”

Nicole (me) with the Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.
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Egyptian Artifacts

Horus as a Sphinx

This is a really interesting piece from the British Museum!

It is a sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ headed sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€! Usually sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are depicted as being the body of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› with the head 𓁢𓏺 of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, but obviously this one is quite different!

This particular statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to c. 1250 B.C.E.; the reign of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. This sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ and many other similar ones used to stand guard at Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abu Simbel.

Sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 head 𓁢𓏺 isn’t represented on this sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, a falcon is. Falcons π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„π“¦ are associated with the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, who is the personification of the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 power. Since one of Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ roles is as the god π“ŠΉ of pharaonic power, it makes sense that sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ can also represent pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 while using a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head 𓁢𓏺.