Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

These are Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus and are dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c. 400-30 B.C.E.). The Sons of Horus were deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who were charged with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were usually represented as the lids of canopic jars.

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the MET

What’s really cool about these statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 is that they are decorated so beautifully 𓄤! I love how they look like mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 (the proper term is “mummiform”), and how a large broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is painted 𓏞𓏜 on their chests. Also, each statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 has a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the middle of the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! The details are exquisite!

While each Son of Horus was associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏. Let’s take a look at each deity (starting from the left):

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, was associated with the East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭, and was protected by Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and was protected by Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, was associated with the North 𓎔𓏏, and was protected by Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, was associated with the South 𓇔𓅱𓏏 and was protected by Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer is one of my absolute favorite artifacts, and seeing it in the British Museum was a dream come true for me!

On the top panel, Hunefer (the deceased) stands before the 42 divine judges and pleads their lifetime of truth and moral doings. The Book of the Dead provided the deceased with the words to say so they would pass this trial!

On the bottom panel: This is the Weighing of the Heart ceremony! Let’s start from the left! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is leading Hunefer (the deceased) to the scales (not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous they are holding hands 😂). Here, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather (Maat is sitting on top of the scales). If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two 𓏻, that means that the deceased lived a truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹.

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 (the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is there waiting to see if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 didn’t live a truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 life! If the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 weighs more than the feather, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 would eat the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and the deceased would “die a second time” and not live in eternal paradise. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings of the ceremony.

If the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 passed the Weigning of the Heart, they would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭 and would then enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and live in eternal paradise!

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, british museum, gods and goddesses, horus, maat, osiris, thoth

Egyptian Artifacts

More Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

The MET was an integral part of the excavations of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. During the 1926-1927 dig season, 299 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and stamp seals were discovered near the eastern wall of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were symbols of regeneration and rebirth.

On the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, are various inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with every title/name 𓂋𓈖 Hatshepsut has ever held. These three 𓏼 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 have her birth name 𓂋𓈖 inscribed 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪. Her birth name 𓂋𓈖 cartouche translates to “United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.”

If we were to only write the part that translates only to “Hatshepsut,” her cartouche would look like this: (𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪). Why is Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 mentioned in her name 𓂋𓈖? By adding Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 to her name, she directly linked herself to the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖. She claimed that Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus justifying her right to rule.

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, scarab, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

Much like the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪, I too love jewelry! I mostly wear bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 and two 𓏻 snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 rings 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪𓏦 from my Nonno and Nonna. I also wear a necklace with an ankh 𓋹 that my Nonno and Nonna got for me!

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry at the Brooklyn Museum

This blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 necklace is different from the wesekh collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 that I posted yesterday! For one, necklaces if this style were much easier to make (and cheaper to acquire) and while they did not appear as often in Egyptian art, they were definitely more popular amongst the masses. The gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 is also fashioned in a similar style!

These simpler necklaces or bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 could be have beads or amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 that were made of materials such as lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧, malachite, gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, amethyst, and faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼. Rarely, silver was used.

For the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 necklace, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 can be seen amongst other less specific beads. For the gold bracelet, the fly of valor 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 is the amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 that is used. The fly of valor 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 was given to military leaders who showed courage in battle.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, jewelry

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue for a Man Named Kaiemwaset

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

This is a really interesting statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Statue for a Man Named Kaiemwaset at the Brooklyn Museum

It was made for a man named Kaiemwaset. Although the part that shows Kaiemwaset’s head 𓁶𓏺 is now missing, it used to be part of the statue. This statue was placed in a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐, and it would have allowed Kaiemwaset to participate in temple rituals when deceased since the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the dead could inhabit statues. Kaiemwaset was connected to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖, and this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to the reign of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼(18th Dynasty, New Kingdom).

The best preserved part of this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is what Kaiemwaset is holding. It is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a rattle-like musical instrument that usually portrays the head 𓁶𓏺 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 and all of the fun things in life, and sound of the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was thought to be beloved by Hathor 𓉡. Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏺 is resting on top of the Isis-knot 𓎬 (aka tyet knot). On top of Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏺 is a temple entrance/gateway with a cobra 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 in between. The cobra 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 could invoke the protective aspects of the goddess 𓊹𓏏!

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabtis of Paser

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

While my favorite non-royal has always been Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 due to his prominence and importance during Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 reign, my Nonno’s favorite has always been Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽. These are some of Paser’s 𓅮𓀙𓀽 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾. The ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 served as substitutes for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and would perform labor or jobs for them in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. They are usually inscribed with spells which are specific to a certain task!

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was one of the most prominent men of his time and he served under two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 – Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and then Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖.

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 served many different roles over twenty-five 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years! He was vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 and one of his most famous works is the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 in the Valley of the Kings! A vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was the highest ranking official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 and was the most powerful position in the government, besides the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Not only was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 the most trusted advisor to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but he also saw to the day-to-day operations of the government. The vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was in charge of architecture, taxation, agriculture, military, judicial, financial, and many other things. Honestly that sounds exhausting 😂!

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 had many different titles, including “High Preist of Amun,” “superintendent of every work of the king,” and “chief of secrets of the hieroglyphs.”

Tags artifact, louvre, paser, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

I’m going to post another British Museum picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because I’m nostalgic and I like remembering how amazing that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 was!

This red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is definitely an interesting one because it actually has the cartouches of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 carved into the chest! This is what Egyptologists call usurping – meaning that Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 took statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 and monuments from his predecessors, erased their name 𓂋𓈖, and put his own!

Egyptologists don’t think this was done out of disrespect for the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, instead it was just Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 promoting his own rule.

Fun fact! Much like modern geologists, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 differentiated between granite and red granite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! How do we know?! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are different:

Granite – 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿
Red Granite – 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶

I love rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and geology so much! I actually got interested in geology as a kid because I wanted to know what all of the statues were made out of!

Tags artifact, british museum, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela (Cippus)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

This is known as a Magical Stela, or a cippus. It depicts Horus 𓅃𓀭(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus 𓅃𓀭) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏥 and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and scorpions 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫𓏪 in each hand. The god Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 also appears above Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 head 𓁶𓏺. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 was known to ward off evil and bad luck.

Magical Stela (Cippus) at the MET

Normally, stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 were used to commemorate the dead so this is almost like a protective amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the form of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. This cippus was used by the living for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. Cippus stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺.

However, cippus pieces have also been found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the living, but the dead too.

Fun fact! The Middle Egyptian word for scorpion is 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 which can be pronounced like “Serket.” Serket 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was represented by a scorpion and she was associated with healing, protection, and magic. Serket 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 could also be written like this: 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Tags artifact, stela, the met

Blog Egyptian Artifacts

Look at all the Hippos!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

Look at all the hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦!!! So I have a story: The first time I ever went to Disney World, I went with my Nonno and Nonna and I think I was four years old at the time! When we went on “It’s a Small World,” I fell in love with the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 that winks at you! The hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 became my favorite part of the ride, and even to this day, I look forward to seeing the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! And yes I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE going on “It’s a Small World!” It’s one of my favorites!!!

The winking hippo in “It’s a Small World”

So when I started studying ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 with my Nonno, I always loved the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 statues because they reminded me of the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 on “It’s a Small World!” I have included a picture of the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 in Disney World so you guys can also see the similarities!

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!

Hippo artifacts at the MET

A lot of the hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 have lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over them to associate them with rejuvenation! The hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are most likely painted blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth. What’s really cool is that the “It’s a Small World” hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 also has flowers painted on it!

Tags artifact, blog, taweret

Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

This mask is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom c. 1492-1473 B.C.E). It is also made of catonnage, which is the ancient Egyptian version of paper-mache – cartonnage is usually made of up linen. Just like the Roman mask I posted yesterday, this mask is also overlaid with gold foil 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉. Gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 is a metallic element, and one of the properties of metallic elements is that they are malleable. This means that they can be hammered into very thin sheets. This made gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 very easy to work with!

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer at the MET

I love the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏥 of this mask! The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏥 are made of two different types of stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙. The white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 part is alabaster 𓍱𓈙𓊃, which is usually a form of the minerals calcite or gypsum. The black 𓆎𓅓 part is made of obsidian. Obsidian is an extrusive igneous rock which form when lava from a volcano cools instantaneously. This rapid cooling gives obsidian a glass-like appearance which is why obsidian is often referred to as volcanic glass.

This mask belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Hatnefer who died in her 70s. Hatnefer was able to get such a mask because her son 𓅭 was Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, aka Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 most trusted advisor! Due to Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 rise in status, he was able to provide a nice burial and tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 for his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐. Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 also used his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 death as an opportunity move his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 from his original burial place into this tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐.

Hatnefer’s tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was discovered in 1936, during the MET’s Egyptian Expedition.

Tags artifact, mummy, the met

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