Category: Egyptian Artifacts

My Favorite Egyptian Artifacts

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 22, 2023

Happy 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 on Instagram!! Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 all 𓎟 for your continued support – it means the world 𓇾𓇾 to me!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 for a special post, I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 artifacts that I have seen in museums! Now, these objects aren’t the “big ticket” items, or objects that most people run and see, however, these are the ones that I love and items that you can probably see at your local museums!

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – it’s no secret that I love reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and I love seeing them no matter what object they appear on!

Me with the King’s List in the British Museum

Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾- my favorite little guys who perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! There are so many different types across various time periods of Egyptian history! I love them all!

The Ushabti display at the Brooklyn Museum

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪- Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was one of the only commoners to be deified, and he was the architect of Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 first 𓏃 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴! My Nonno loved Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, and I do too! This Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 pictured is my favorite one at the Vatican!

My favorite Imhotep statue at the Vatican Museum – Look at those ears!!

Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺- better known to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 as the “Book of Going Forth By Day,” this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 would provide spells needed for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This one pictured is the Papyrus of Hunefer, which contains my favorite “Weighing of the Heart” scene.

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

Wooden Sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 (with the Eyes) – The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! My Nonno told me this every time we were in a museum and saw a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 like this!

Middle Kingdom sarcophagus with the eyes! (the MET)

Anything Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 – Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and tombs, has been my favorite god 𓊹, so I get excited every time I see him! Reliefs, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, – you can find Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 all over!

My favorite relief of Anubis (from the Middle Kingdom) at the MET

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪- I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things so of course I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 come in all different designs – every day objects, deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, animals – the list is endless! There are so many different types and functions, however their main function was protection of the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

Various amulets on display at the MET – including the winged scarab which is one of my favorites!

Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 – I am obsessed with the Egyptian Hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues! Hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and revered along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺! I always look to see if a museum has one of these!

William, the blue faience Egyptian hippo at the MET

I hope you enjoyed this highlight of some of my favorite Egyptian artifacts!

Tags anubis, artifact, blog, book of the dead, british museum, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, imhotep, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Head of Amenhotep III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 21, 2023

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to speak some more about the very interesting the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 who ruled 𓋾𓈎𓏏 during the 18th Dynasty!

Head of pharaoh Amenhotep III at the British Museum

Fun fact: more statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 exist of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 than of any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (sorry Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) – over 250 𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 have been currently identified. He was a prolific builder, undertaking many building projects at once and the largest statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of himself stand over 60 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 feet tall – these are now known as the Colossi of Memnon. His reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 is considered to be peak prosperity – economically and artistically for Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I spoke how the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were made of black 𓆎𓅓 granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 to represent rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. However, all statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 himself were made of either red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 (like the one in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏), or quartzite to represent his close connections to the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, since these stones 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪𓏪 are much lighter in color.

Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 wanted to be associated with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and his other manifestations. He was often referred to as “heir of Ra” or “Ra’s chosen one” and even the “Eye of Ra” just like Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 herself – I guess the usual “Son of Ra 𓅭𓇳” wasn’t enough for Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! Again, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was probably heavily influenced by his father’s obsession with solar 𓇳 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 which paved the way for Atenism.

This particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 in a very youthful appearance. He is wearing both the white crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the red crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤 with the characteristic Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the front of the crowns. This piece was found in the Temple of Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 at Karnak.

𓏏𓅱𓏏 📸 by Nonno!

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amenhotep III and Sekhmet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 20, 2023

I have spoken a lot about Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, because she is my Nonno’s favorite goddess 𓊹𓏏/religious figure in the Egyptian pantheon! Today we are going to look more into the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 that can be found in museums all around the world 𓇾𓇾! These particular Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 I am with are at the British Museum, but there are a lot at The MET, Louvre, and Vatican Museums too!

Me with statues of Sekhmet, which were commissioned during the reign of pharaoh Amenhotep III at the British Museum.

During his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 had over 730 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 made! That is almost two statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 for every 𓎟 day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 of the year! Most of the Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 you see that look like the ones in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above are from this time period!

So why Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐? This is where stuff gets really interesting – Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was often referred to as the “Eye of Ra,” because she was created from the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 when he looked upon the Earth 𓇾𓇾. The obsession with solar deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 didn’t just happen when Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 came to the throne – Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was most likely influenced by his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆! The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 (and gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 like Sobek-Ra) hit its peak during the reign of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆.

All of the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 are made of black 𓆎𓅓 granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌, which is not just a coincidence! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the color black 𓆎𓅓 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. These statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were most likely connected to the jubilees 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 (The Heb Sed festival), and contain various epithets on them, such as:

“The son of Ra Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes beloved of Sekhmet, the great, mistress of the sky, for eternity.”

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum, gods and goddesses, sekhmet

Egyptian Artifacts

Offering Table and Statue

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2023

This Middle Kingdom era piece is so cool – well actually, it’s two 𓏻 separate pieces! This is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named 𓂋𓈖 Sehetepib, which is sitting on top of a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃!

Statue and Offering Table of Sehetepib

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is made of graywacke 𓁷𓂋𓃀𓐍𓈖 while the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉. I love the contrast of colors between the dark graywacke 𓁷𓂋𓃀𓐍𓈖 and the light limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 – it really makes both the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 stand out against each other!

This piece was found in the shaft of a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖, but it was most likely originally placed in an above ground chapel. What was the point of putting the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 in a chapel outside of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐? Essentially, the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 allows for the ka 𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to continue to receive offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 so the ka 𓂓 can continue to be sustained even after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

If you look at the front of the offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃, there are offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 carved into the limestone! These are symbolic offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 that would continue to sustain the soul 𓂓 of Sehetepib even when real offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 stopped being placed in his tomb’s 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 chapel! One of the offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 is definitely bread 𓏐, but I don’t know what the rest are! The circles could be anything!!

Sehetepib’s name 𓂋𓈖 and titles are written down the front of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (on his skirt), but I can’t make out the individual hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! The only phrase I can see clearly is “For the Soul of 𓈖𓂓𓈖“ and then Sehetepib’s name 𓂋𓈖 should follow that! I wish I could see more of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, but sometimes with ancient objects such as this one, it’s not always easy!

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Sistrum with the Face of Hathor

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 17, 2023

Hathor 𓉡 is one of the most prominent goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, she is regarded as the “God’s mother 𓅐𓏏𓊹” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of love 𓈘𓏏, joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏, music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, and dance 𓂋𓅱𓂻- basically the fun things in life!

Two sistrums with Hathor’s face on them at the Louvre

In some variations of Egyptian mythology, Hathor 𓉡 is also the wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉡 is usually associated with cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏪 and can take the form of a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

The piece above is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a musical instrument from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument that is similar to a modern rattle or tambourine. Since Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, she was portrayed on most sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 in her human form! However, even though Hathor 𓉡 is represented as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, she is recognized easily because of her characteristic cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears!

Music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 was essential to many religious rituals, so it was considered to be extremely important! There is even a word in Middle Egyptian just for “Sistrum Player/Music Priest: 𓇋𓎛𓇋𓌂”!!!

I love music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 and it is something that brings me so much joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏! I love how Hathor 𓉡 is associated with both of these things, because I do truly think that music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 and joy 𓄫𓄣𓏏 are linked together 𓈖𓊗 – and I’m sure that the ancient Egyptian people did too!

BTS 𓃀𓏏𓋴 and Il Volo 𓇋𓃭 𓆑𓍯𓃭𓍯 are my absolute favorite artists and I love 𓈘𓏏 listening to their music 𓇋𓎛𓇌! What I love 𓈘𓏏 about BTS 𓃀𓏏𓋴 most are their lyrics – they have written some truly beautiful 𓄤 songs!

Tags artifact, bts, gods and goddesses, hathor, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

The Heart and Heart Scarab

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 15, 2023

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about the Heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Heart Scarab! This particular Heart Scarab at the Brooklyn Museum is so cool because it is actually in the shape of a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 instead of a Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣. The term “Heart Scarab” is a modern one used by archaeologists!

In ancient Egyptian culture, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not only the center of a person’s life 𓋹, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process, because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

The person’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 would be weighed against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, and that would determine if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and then enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖, or eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹. This was called the “Weighing of the Heart,” or the “Judgement of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.”

Two Heart Scarabs in the shape of a heart, with Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead inscribed on it.

So how does the Heart Scarab play into this? In modern terms, the Heart Scarab could be seen as a “cheat code” for getting past the “Weighing of the Heart” – most are inscribed with the spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 from Chapter 30B from the Book of the Dead. In this spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 asks their own heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 to not betray them during the “Weighing of the Heart.”

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 30B from the Papyrus of Ani: “O my heart of different ages! Do not stand up as a witness against me, do not be opposed to me in the tribunal, do not be hostile to me in the presence of the keeper of the balance, for you are my ka which was in my body, the protector who made my members hale.”

Basically, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 feared the outcome of their final judgement so they developed this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 as a way to ensure a positive outcome to the scales!

Tags artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum, scarab

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris’ Name in a Cartouche

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 13, 2023

Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷? Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

This is a fragment of a beautifully 𓄤 painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. I would estimate its from around the later New Kingdom period or later because that’s when painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 such as these became popular!

Osiris’ name in a cartouche on a sarcophagus fragment

I love this piece because of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but also because there is so much other stuff going on even though it’s small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛 which translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.” Let’s break down the symbols!

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

I haven’t seen that many pieces like this, so I just found this one so cool! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is what appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but in this case it’s Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and his title! The top of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 also has the Atef Crown 𓋚 on it, which is the crown that is associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.

The ancient Egyptians talked about “eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛” a lot and were actually the civilization to derive the concept of “eternity 𓆖.” There were two 𓏻 very common ways they expressed the word for “eternity” in hieroglyphic symbols:

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity/Everlasting

There are some other popular hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this piece!! See if you can spot them!

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

Both of the phrases appear symmetrically on either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 which is something that is common on these types of pieces!

Let’s take a look at some of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that appear! If you look in the lower left, you can see part of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 with a large table of offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 in front of him. On the top left, below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺 is a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. On the top right, there is an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭.

On either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, the god 𓊹 Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 (god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺/flooding of the Nile) is shown. There are two 𓏻 of him because if you look closely, you can see both symbolically tying up papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸 plants together. This was meant to represent the union of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt! You can easily recognize Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 because of the papyrus flowers 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 on his head!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hapi, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, horus, louvre, osiris

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Nauny

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 11, 2023

The Weighing of the Heart (sometimes called the Judgement of Osiris 𓊩𓁹) is my absolute favorite part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. I love how each version is unique and not a single one is the same! I find this particular papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 to be absolutely stunning.

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually called “Coming Forth By Day 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺,” and it was 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 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 that are written!

This particular Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are also at the MET!

Isis (left) and Nauny (right)

Starting from the left: the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown next to Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, who is shown holding her eyes 𓁹𓁹 and mouth 𓂋 in her hands. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is weighed by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 against Maat 𓁦. Usually, Maat’s 𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 is used, but this time Maat 𓁦 herself is shown on the scale, and is represented by the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that is used in her name 𓂋𓈖! Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is shown on top of the scale, and his job is to record the findings. Osiris 𓊩𓁹 presides over the scene.

Anubis

Luckily for Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, the scales are in balance which means that she lead a true 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹 and is worthy enough to enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and enjoy eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹 with Osiris 𓊩𓁹! Above the Weighing of the Heart scene, Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 is seen standing by her own tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Horus 𓅃𓀭.

Osiris

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, osiris, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche Box of Shosenq II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 10, 2023

This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 shaped box is a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 yet interesting piece at the MET! I stumbled upon this piece because it is in a display with lots of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! One of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts is Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 box, and while this is a smaller and less elaborate version of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, I still love it!

This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 shaped box is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 825-773 B.C.E.) which would be in the 22nd Dynasty! The box is also inscribed for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Shosenq II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺.

Cartouche Box of Shosenq II

Even though they may be difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name)

𓊹𓋾𓉺 – God and Ruler of Heliopolis

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏 – Shosenq II (Shoshenk, Son of Bastet, Beloved of Amun)

There are a lot of interesting things going on in this inscription! The first 𓏃 interesting thing is that Shosenq II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺 has the same throne name as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓! The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

The second interesting thing is that all of the titles appear before both names 𓂋𓈖𓏦, instead of being broken up and appearing before either the throne name or the given/birth name!

Another interesting thing is that the part of Shosenq II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺 birth name, “God and Ruler of Heliopolis𓊹𓋾𓉺,” appears at the beginning of this birth name instead of at the end, hence why I broke it up in my translation! The name 𓂋𓈖 should appear like this in the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥: 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏𓊹𓋾𓉺, but instead appears as 𓊹𓋾𓉺𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓎯𓏏𓏏!

The fourth interesting part is that neither the birth name nor the throne name appear in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! I guess the whole box is the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 so maybe the artist felt that the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 didn’t need a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥?!

Who knew such a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 piece could hold so many interesting things! It’s amazing what can be discovered by just reading a couple of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, shosenq ii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 8, 2023

Look at all 𓎟 of these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

I love these displays at the MET because they have all 𓎟 of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 grouped by the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh that is inscribed on them! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the throne name of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴! I also love tiny things, so these displays are some of my favorites!

The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were said to be the most powerful of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because the the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the dung beetle (which the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 was fashioned after) was capable of eternal regeneration.

The god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes a “life cycle” – birth 𓄟, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife).

Can you see the throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) and variant of Thutmosis III’s throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓) in the picture?

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The most common throne name spelling for Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is “Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣.” The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

One of Thutmosis III’s throne name variants appears on one of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪- it is rare to see this variant! This throne name variant is “Menkhepperkara 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓” which translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of the Soul of Ra.” I love seeing the variants!

Can you spot any of the words in the text below in the picture above?

There are some other common phrases that accompany the name 𓂋𓈖 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓 on these little scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! See if you can spot them in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏:

𓎟 – Lord of/Everything/All

𓊹𓄤 – The Perfect God

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓆖 – Eternity

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, scarab, the met, thutmosis iii

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories