Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ivory Amulet of Thoth

Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of my favorite ancient Egyptian artifacts because I really love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things! It’s incredible how much artistry and detail can be seen even in the smallest π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© of objects! To the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were significant because they were seen as being powerful magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ in miniature form!Β 

Ivory Amulet of Thoth
Ivory Amulet of Thoth at the Brooklyn Museum.

During the 18th Dynasty, the use of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ both by the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀π“ͺ and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was becoming more and more popular. The amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ used by the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 were wrapped within the linen 𓍱 bandages that wrapped mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ, and these amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ helped the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ like this ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† of the god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 that is pictured 𓏏𓅱𓏏, was worn by a living person 𓆣𓂋𓀀π“ͺ. Sometimes people wore amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ like this one to proclaim their devotion to a specific god π“ŠΉ. Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is represented here as a man with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀, which was a very popular way to see him depicted in Egyptian art. 

Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 were also popular to be wrapped within mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 bandages, most likely due to Thoth’s 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 role in the Weighing of the Heart. 

My Nonno loved amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ too, and he would always tell me to look out for the intact cord loop. I love how the loop is still intact on this amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† – it makes me think of my Nonno!Β Whenever I see amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, I always make sure to look for it!

Ivory Amulet of Thoth
The Ivory Amulet of Thoth at the Brooklyn Museum. If you look closely behind his head, you can see the intact cord loop!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sedimentary Rocks in Ancient Egypt

Let’s have a combination geology and history lesson today! While I always refer to ancient Egyptian history and hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ as my β€œFirst Love,” my second love is petrology! Most people think geology is solely the study of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦, however, geology is actually an umbrella term that covers any field that studies the surface and interior of the Earth 𓇾𓇾! Petrology is solely the study of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦, and within that field, sedimentary rocks are my absolute favorite type of rock to study!

Sedimentary Rocks
A stone vessel from the pre-dynastic period made from the sedimentary rock breccia (Brooklyn Museum)

Even in the pre-dynastic period, ancient Egyptian artisans mastered the art of taking very hard rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ and turning them into something beautiful π“„€ – as is the case with this Breccia jar dated to c. 3500-3100 B.C.E. Breccia was mainly used to make these stone jars, and rarely is it seen in other statuary. 

Breccia is classified as a clastic sedimentary rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. Sedimentary rocks are rocks that formed from tiny pieces (sediments) of pre-existing rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ and are classified based off the size of the fragments in the rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦. Breccia is defined by the fact that is has fragments over two 𓏻 millimeters in diameter, those fragments are angular, and they are suspended in a matrix (natural cement formed by the precipitation of minerals). 

Breccia’s β€œsister rock” (as I like to call it) is called conglomerate, which is also found in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! While the rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ are similar (fragments over two 𓏻 millimeters in diameter, fragments in a matrix), their main difference is that conglomerate has rounded fragments! Why do we care about that difference? If the fragments are round, it means they traveled a far distance in water π“ˆ— before they formed into the conglomerate! The angular fragments signify that the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ formed quickly after the sediments were deposited!Β 

Sedimentary Rocks
A piece of the rock conglomerate, which was found by me on the North Shore of Long Island. This is from my personal rock collection.

I included a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a conglomerate from my personal collection (I also found this rock myself) so you can see the difference in the shape of the fragments (scientifically referred to as β€œclasts”).  This conglomerate is one of my favorites because it has a β€œHidden Mickey” in it!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Relief of a Nobleman

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ β€œRelief of a Nobleman” on display at the Brooklyn Museum is a beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 and detailed example of a sunken relief! Sunken relief is defined as art that is carved directly into the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™, and it is below the rock face.

Relief of a Nobleman
The “Relief of a Nobleman” piece is on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

This piece is dated to the 19-20th Dynasties (c. 1295-1070 B.C.E.). According to the information from the Brooklyn Museum, the original location of the relief (and the rest of it) is unknown, however, based off the intricacy of the artistry, Egyptologists believe it was possibly originally from a Ramesside-era tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– (modern-day Saqqara).Β 

While this was carved way after the reign of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– (and his artistic revolution), some remnants of Amarna-era inspiration remain. For example, the fact that the face is more rounded than flat is Amarna-inspired, as well as the deep carving into the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ near the back of the head as compared to the face. This creates a really cool dimension, and was really first seen in the Amarna-era! 

The wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 that this man is wearing is intricately carved, and I feel like every little detail is seen! The wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 almost looks real! My favorite aspect is the headband with the lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 on it!Β 

On the left side of the relief, a hand 𓂝𓏺 is holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ and a flower 𓆼𓅱𓆰. A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Hathor’s 𓉑 face usually appears on the stem of the sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, right below the “rattles.” The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ had a big connection with music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ, and sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ appeared in art (and as actual artifacts) often.Β 

Music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ is something I love and cannot live without. I think it’s fascinating that a love of music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ is something that has not changed in thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years or across civilizations/cultures.Β I love that I share that connection with ancient Egyptian culture!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Horemheb Before He Was Pharaoh

Before Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– became the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty, he was a general π“€Žπ“¦ under the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ Tutankamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ and Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏. This large statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ (and a second similar one) would have been placed in a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ – either the temple of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± at Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– or the temple of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ at Karnak.Β 

Statue of Horemheb
Me with a Statue of Horemheb seated with a papyrus from before he was pharaoh.

It was standard for high officials to show themselves in a seated position with a papyrus scroll 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 on their lap. In the Old Kingdom, the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ usually showed the official reading, but in the New Kingdom, the statues usually showed the official writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. Horemheb π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŒΊπ“„Ώπ“‹”π“π“Ž± is writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ a hymn to the god π“ŠΉ Thoth π“…€π“€­(who is the god π“ŠΉ of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯).Β 

Statue of Horemheb
Statue of Horemheb seated with a papyrus from before he was pharaoh.

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ around the base of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ mention Horemheb’s π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– many titles. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the β€œpapyrus” 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 that is on Horemheb’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŒΊπ“„Ώπ“‹”π“π“Ž± lap can actually be read, but it was so difficult to get a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏/actually read them because I could not get close enough to the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ!

It is really interesting to see a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 depicted in statuary before he became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ were born into their role, but Horemheb π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŒΊπ“„Ώπ“‹”π“π“Ž± ascended to the throne through his status as general π“€Žπ“¦. What a way to end the 18th Dynasty!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Earth Day!

Yesterday was Earth Day and I forgot about it but I have a good excuse I promise – I’m an Earth Science teacher and for me, everyday is Earth Day!!Β 

It’s incredible to me how much the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ knew about our beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 planet, and how that knowledge was reflected in their intricate mythology. The Earth 𓇾𓇾 itself is differentiated (interior is divided into layers), has an atmosphere, and that atmosphere fades and thins away until space is reached. We can see all of these different β€œlayers” in this art from a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ which is showing part of the creation myth! Let’s take a closer look!Β 

Earth Day
A close-up image of a sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicts (from top): Nut, Shu, Khnum and Geb!

The goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the cosmos, Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­, is depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 arched over the rest of the figures, because as the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the cosmos, she surrounds the Earth 𓇾𓇾 – just like space actually does! Directly underneath Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ is Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭, the god π“ŠΉ of the atmosphere. Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is seen holding up the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 (which is depicted as the sky 𓇯 hieroglyph). Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is responsible for raising the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface! 

Underneath Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭, the god π“ŠΉ of the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, which the ancient Egyptians called the Upper Earth. Tantanen (not pictured) is the god π“ŠΉ of the Lower Earth (aka Earth’s interior). I still think it’s amazing that the ancient Egyptians knew there was an interior to the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and the mythology is how they conceptualized that. 

Khnum π“ŽΈπ“€­/π“ŽΈπ“π“€­, the ram headed creator god, is also pictured. Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is one of the oldest deities; he is the 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! 

Take a closer look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 and see if you can see the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of all of these gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

So in this beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, we have a representation of Space (Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­), the atmosphere (Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭), the Earth’s surface (Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭) and the source of the Nile (Khnum π“ŽΈπ“€­). This is how the Egyptians saw Earth 𓇾𓇾 and I think it’s incredible!! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Chariot in Ancient Egypt

This rectangle fragment of a relief depicting a horse drawn chariot π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œ was found at the Great Aten Temple in Amarna (Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–). This piece is estimated to have been carved between c. 1352–1336 B.C.E., which is during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. This particular relief pictured was originally part of a much larger image 𓏏𓅱𓏏. Here, chariot π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œ attendants are keeping watch of the chariots π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œπ“¦ for the royal family.Β 

Chariot
Image of a horse drawn chariot and a chariot attendant from Akhetaten on display at the MET.

Chariots π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œπ“¦ (and horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗π“ͺ) were not always a part of Egyptian history. It is estimated by historians that the chariot π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œ first arrived in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– around 1600 B.C.E. and that they were introduced by the Hyksos. The first horse 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗 remains in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– are estimated to be from the Thirteenth Dynasty, so horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗π“ͺ must have been introduced to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– before the Hyksos rule. 

After Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ defeated the Hyksos and reunified Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– to start the 18th Dynasty/New Kingdom, the chariot π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œ became a common sight in both art and in the life of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Chariots π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œπ“¦ were the number one choice of transportation for royalty! Chariots π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œπ“¦ were also used by pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to take part in hunting, and were used by the army for battle. Many reliefs and other forms of art from this time period shows various pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 hunting or going into battle on their chariot. The chariot π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œ became a sign of bravery and strength π“Œ€. 

Fun Fact: the hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ for β€œchariot π“Œβ€ only appeared in Middle Egyptian around the same time that the chariots π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œπ“¦ were introduced to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! That totally makes sense and it’s so cool to β€œwatch” the language evolve as technology evolved! The same thing happens today! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

I Love Mummies!

Here at the MET, I am sitting with a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 that is still wrapped in its linen 𓍱. Mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž was an extremely important part of Egyptian religious practices because the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.Β 

Mummy
Me sitting with a linen wrapped mummy at the MET

Mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž was practiced throughout most of Egyptian history, and the earliest mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ were most likely accidental just due to the dry climate of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! The mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž of people persisted for over 2,000 years and continued well into the Roman Period. The best preserved mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ are from the 18th-20th Dynasties.  

Mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž was a long process that took about seventy days to complete. First 𓏃, the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 such as the liver π“…“π“Šƒπ“π“„Ήπ“Έπ“Έπ“Έ, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, intestines, lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί, and the brain 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓄹 were removed. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 remained in the body because it would be needed for the β€œWeighing of the Heart” before the deceased entered the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–. After that, the body was then dried in natron 𓃀𓂧𓇨, which is a type of salt. Once the drying was complete, the body was wrapped in hundreds of yards of linen 𓍱. Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ could placed in the linen 𓍱 to help the deceased enter the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

Here is some mummy-related vocabulary:

𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 – Mummy

π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – Tomb

𓉐𓆖 – Mastaba (House of Eternity)

π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“‰ – Burial Chamber 

π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž – Mummification/Embalm

I have had a fascination with mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ since I was a little girl! Mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ never scared me – I just remember being so interested and intrigued by the idea of them! One of the first books my Nonno ever gave me was called “Faces of the Pharaohs,” and it contained pictures of the 18th Dynasty royal mummies! It is still one of my favorite books!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs or the X-Men?

Over on my Instagram, a lot of people commented how much they loved my X-Men shirt! I’m going to be honest, there’s a reason I wore it to the MET – it looks like the β€œarea with an intersection π“Š–β€ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! I love it when my interests collide (I’m a huge Marvel comics fan)!

The β€œπ“Š–β€ is used as both an ideogram and a determinative! More commonly, β€œπ“Š–β€ functions as the determinative, or the last symbol in the word that almost acts as punctuation to let the reader know the general meaning of the word. β€œπ“Š–β€ is the determinative for town (π“Š–π“Ί – njwt), city, settlement, and even the country of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! β€œπ“Š–β€ seems to be used for towns/cities in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, while most foreign lands used the determinative of β€œπ“ˆŠ.”

Personified Estates
Me (in my X-Men shirt) at the MET standing with the Personified Estates relief from the tomb of Akhithotep

This relief I am standing with shows β€œPersonified Estates” from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of a man named Akhithotep. The β€œpeople” in this relief aren’t actually meant to show people – they are personifications of the farms and estates that belonged to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Each of the figures is also carrying food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ – those are offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 that the estates will continue to provide to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱!Β Personified Estates do appear frequently in Old Kingdom tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ art, and it’s a really interesting concept!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Above the first 𓏃 figure on the left, you can see: 

π“Š–π“Š–π“Š–π“‡Ώπ“Ž”π“‡‰ – Domains of Lower Egypt

π“ƒ€π“‚§π“†“π“π“Š– – Bedjet (the estate) 

𓏑𓋴𓂋𓆑 – Warm Bread

This inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– means that the Bedjet π“ƒ€π“‚§π“†“π“π“Š– estate of Lower Egypt will provide warm bread 𓏑𓋴𓂋𓆑 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! 

This raised relief is dated to the 4th Dynasty (c. 2575–2551 B.C.E) and is carved in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰.Β The relief is also quite high off of the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, which is typical of Old Kingdom (especially 4th Dynasty) art.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Late Period Mummy Mask

I love mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ! Funerary Masks (also called Burial Masks or Mummy Masks) were an important part of a person’s burial equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ because the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 could either serve as protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, or take the place of the body if the head was destroyed or lost. In the Egyptian religion, the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be transported to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This was the purpose of mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž – the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 just served as extra protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ!Β 

Late Period Mummy Mask
Me at the Brooklyn Museum with a Late Period Mummy Mask

This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ is dated to the Late Period (1st Century B.C.E). This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is made of cartonnage, which was a very popular type of material to use because it was easy to work with and the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 could be made relatively quickly. The colors on this mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 are so bright and well preserved – especially on the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. I love how the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and the blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color together π“ˆ–π“Š— a lot.

Late Period Mummy Mask
A beautiful example of a Late Period Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum. The goddess Isis is on the left and her sister Nephthys is on the right.

The art on the wig shows the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇(right). Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 were sisters and were both prominent funerary goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ who appeared a lot together π“ˆ–π“Š— on funerary objects such as masks and sarcophagi. 

You can easily tell Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 apart from each other in Egyptian art based off of the crowns that they are wearing. The crowns correspond to the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that make up their names: Isis (π“Š¨π“π“₯) wears β€œπ“Š¨β€ as a crown while Nephthys (𓉠𓏏𓆇) wears β€œπ“‰ β€ as a crown! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a really cool display at the MET, which shows the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“!

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Me with some of the artifacts from the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž was an extremely important aspect of their religion because the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process was long (about 70 days) and it took the work of special priests and many different supplies in order to embalm the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.Β 

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Beautifully decorated vases from Tutankhamun’s Embalming Cahce

An embalming cache is a collection of the supplies and materials that were used during the mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process. The embalming cache was usually kept separate from the actual tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ itself, though sometimes these supplies were found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the person.Β 

The embalming cache that I am with is actually the supplies used to mummify the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ embalming ache was found in 1907, which was 15 years before the discovery of his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰! The embalming cache was actually only about 360 feet away from the entrance to his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰! 

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Broad Collars and Linens from Tutankhamun’s Embalming Cache
Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Vases and Pottery from Tutankhamun’s Embalming Cache

Some of the items that were found in Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ embalming cache are linens 𓍱𓍱𓍱, natron 𓃀𓂧𓇨, animal bones, vases π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“¦, and most impressively, three 𓏼 floral broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦! The floral broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ are thought to have been used during the funeral of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“.Β 

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
An exquisitely preserved broad collar made of flowers, which was used during Tutankhamun’s funeral. This was found in his embalming cache.

I’m just so amazed that the broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ stayed preserved for thousands of years – it’s absolutely incredible!