Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Alexander the Great in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 11, 2023

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 conquered Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! This was the beginning of the Hellenistic Period of Egyptian history.

So why was Alexander 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 recognized as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 saw him as the person who liberated them from the Persians! Alexander 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 also restored many of the Egyptian temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 and even built new monuments 𓏠𓏍 dedicated to the Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹! Some of these monuments 𓏠𓏍 show him worshipping Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, who basically would’ve been the Egyptian version of Zeus. After Alexander’s 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in Babylon, Ptolemy I 𓊪𓏏𓍯𓃭𓐝𓇌𓋴 became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Since Alexander 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 was Macedonian and not native Egyptian, his cartouche is very phonetic – all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 used are uniliteral signs, which means that they correspond to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. Let’s take a closer look!

𓄿 – The “Egyptian Vulture 𓄿” represents the sound “3” which would be pronounced like “ah.”

𓃭 – the “recumbent lion 𓃭” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for the sound “rw,” however, during the Hellenistic Period it adopted the sound of “L.”

𓎡 – The “Basket with a Handle 𓎡” symbol has the sound of “k.”

𓊃 – The “doorbolt 𓊃” symbol represents the sound “z” or “s.” It’s also the ideogram for the word “doorbolt.”

𓇋 – The “reed 𓇋” represents the sound of “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

𓈖 – The “ripple of water 𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

𓂧 – The “hand 𓂧” represents the sound “d” and is also the ideogram for the word “hand.”

𓂋 – The “mouth 𓂋” symbol is used to represent the sound “r.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word “mouth 𓂋𓏺.”

𓊃 – see above!

The hieroglyphs of “𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃” basically spell out “Alksindrs.” It’s pretty cool to see the versatility of the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols with examples of foreign names 𓂋𓈖𓏦!

Tags alexander the great, artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

Tutankhamun and Amun

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 11, 2023

This diorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 portrays Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 and the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖. Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 is credited with restoring the Cult of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, after it was eradicated by his father Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 in order to solely worship the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳.

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is very interesting because it displays Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 very large, while Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩. Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was considered a god 𓊹 on Earth 𓇾𓇾, they were usually depicted as large, intimidating, and regal figures. However, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏪 were second to the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 themselves – especially Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 who was the king 𓇓 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. So in the presence of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩.

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 has sustained damage, most notable is the fact that Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 head is missing. This is because this era of the 18th Dynasty was supposed to be ‘forgotten’ by history. The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏪 that came after Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 tried to erase all evidence of the Amarna era. Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 fell victim to this as well, even though he restored the traditional Egyptian pantheon. It was due to his familial relation to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 that he was also subjected to having his images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 destroyed.

A lot of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏦 were usurped by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖, who was not only Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 general 𓀎𓏦, but was the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty.

Tags amun, artifact, gods and goddesses, louvre, tutankhamun

Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Trial Piece of Two Hands

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 8, 2023

For some reason, this very simple relief of two 𓏻 hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 was one of my favorite things that I saw at the Petrie Museum in London!

Flinders Petrie was one of the main excavators at present-day Tel el-Amarna, the site of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 new capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Amarna as it is commonly referred to as, is the modern name 𓂋𓈖 for “Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 – Horizon of the Aten,” which replaced Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 as the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

During excavations at Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 the workshops 𓄯𓏏𓉐𓏦 of artists were found, which contained a lot of unfinished reliefs. These “trial pieces” are though to have been made by young artists who were learning their craft. Even though this is such a simple relief of hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 with many cracks, I find it to be so beautiful 𓄤. The art of the Amarna period fascinates me because it is so different stylistically from other Egyptian art! I love seeing all of the unfinished pieces that were found at Amarna – it’s kind of like getting a behind the scenes view of the art!

A lot of reliefs in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were made on limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉. From a geological perspective, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (due to its composition of the mineral calcite 𓍱 – which comes from dead marine organisms), is a very easy rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 to sculpt and work with because calcite 𓍱 is a softer mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙. Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 used to be completely under water 𓈗 hundreds 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of millions 𓁨𓁨𓁨 of years ago, hence why limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (and sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙) are so abundant – both of these rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are classified as sedimentary rocks, which are primarily formed under large bodies of water 𓈗!

Limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is composed of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 marine organisms, which I find correlates with ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as a whole – their entire life 𓋹/religion focused on preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and they basically built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 their civilization out of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 things!

It’s so fascinating how geology and Egyptian history are so closely interrelated! Did you know that Petrie was a geologist and that he was the first to apply stratigraphy (studying rock layers) to the field of archaeology?!

Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, petrie museum

Egyptian Artifacts

The Board Game “Senet”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 3, 2023

If an object has Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 on it, I am going to get excited about it – no matter what the artifact is!

This piece is a type of ancient Egyptian board game called Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠! Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.).

During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka 𓂓 (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word “Senet” 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 actually means passage or gateway (though there are other ways to write these words as well)! If you look really closely, you can see details of the “Ankh 𓋹,” which is the symbol that means “Life” along with the “Djed Pillar 𓊽” which means “Stability” painted on the side of the game! On both the left and right sides, you can also see the word 𓋴𓈖𓃀 which means “Health!” Such lovely messages on the side of a board game!

Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things an about humanity have not changed!

The version of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 that appears on the side of the Senet 𓊃𓈖𓏏𓏠 board is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.”

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

First Dynasty Lion Cub

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 2, 2023

How cute is this lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 cub?! Whenever I am at the MET, I always make sure to stop by and see him!

When I was a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀔, I absolutely loved this quartzite statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 cub because it reminded me of Simba from The Lion King! Only the main features of the lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 cub are seen, and none of the features are “sharply defined 𓋴𓊪𓂧𓏚𓏺𓏛,” however, it is clear that this is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 and it is one of my favorite examples of early Egyptian art!

This cute little lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 is from the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 B.C.E.)! During the Pre-Dynastic through Early Dynastic periods, statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of animals were usually smaller in size (amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 size or just a little larger – look above the lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 to see examples) This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 thought is almost like a transition piece towards the larger and grander statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of the later dynasties. This little lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 was originally found in southern 𓇔𓏏 Upper Egypt 𓇓. I love being able to see the changes in Egyptian art through time!

Geology Time!!! Since quartzite is a very hard stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪, the Egyptians had to learn how to work with and sculpt these types of rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, the mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 quartzite is mostly composed of has a hardness of 7 out of 10 on Moh’s Hardness Scale, which means it is very resistant to being scratched! Quartzite is a metamorphic rock, which means it was originally sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 before it was subjected to intense heat and pressure, which recrystallized it into quartzite. Quartzite is a much stronger and durable rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 than the original sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙.

Tags artifact, geology, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part II)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 30, 2022
1 Comment on Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part II)

Here is a link to Part I!

The Horus Name is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and it is the oldest way to do so. The purpose of the Horus Name was to identify the king 𓇓 as an earthly representation of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭.

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade 𓊁, Horus the Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the palace 𓊁, and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace 𓊁. The palace 𓊁 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is pronounced like “serekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche!

On the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓, you can see the Horus name, however, the throne name is also in the serekh! This is unusual to see both names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in the serekh!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓆣𓅱 – “Horus, Divine of Form” (Neter-kheperu) (Horus Name)

𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 – “The Souls of Ra have Appeared” (Kha kau ra) (Throne Name)

Something I love about this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭, is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain 𓈋𓅳 building or plate tectonics), that the minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦 have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance!

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry 𓎛𓏏𓏏𓉐 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

The following pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏 show a close up of one of my samples of gneiss, so you can see this banding!

Tags artifact, geology, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, senwosret iii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part I)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 29, 2022
1 Comment on Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part I)

Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were commonly represented as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 in ancient Egyptian art for many reasons. A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a mythical creature that has the body of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 and the head of a human. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 have been associated with kingship 𓇓𓇌 since prehistoric times due to their strength 𓌀 and ferocity. The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 was the perfect representation of the strength 𓌀 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself.

This magnificent sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a representation of the 12th Dynasty Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓. Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 has very distinctive facial features, so he is very easy to spot in Middle Kingdom art. Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 is wearing the characteristic nemes head cloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴 and false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸, which are both signs of kingship 𓇓𓇌.

While this is not a professional term, to me, Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 looks like a “sad and tired old man,” which is how I distinguish him from statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. This depiction of a pharaoh demonstrates how in the Middle Kingdom, some of the art took a more realistic approach, instead of the typical idealistic approach. Usually, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and people were shown at their best, not how they actually looked. However, this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 shows a detachment from idealistic depictions.

This sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is in a crouching position, which to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 meant that it was a guardian of a sacred place, such as a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 or an important building. This is why rows or lines of sphinxes have been found at various temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 around Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭, and therefore the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, was using his strength 𓌀 and might to protect these sacred places!

Here is a link to Part II!

Tags artifact, senwosret iii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti and Miniature Coffin

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 28, 2022

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to take a look at this unique ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that was discovered in the mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of the pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret I 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖 (Dynasty 12). This was probably left as some type of offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 are made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and are covered in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf.

The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 contain the name 𓂋𓈖 of Wahneferhotep, who was probably the son 𓅭 of Senwosret I 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖 due to the title “King’s Son 𓇓𓅭” appearing in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. These two 𓏻 objects seen here are the only place where Wahneferhotep’s name 𓂋𓈖appears, so we know nothing about him!

What is so cool about the miniature coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 is that it is so detailed and similar to an actual coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱! The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the miniature coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 is inscribed with the same funerary spells as regular sized coffins would be! The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 (or in this case, the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾) to see outside of it! The ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 was even found covered with linen 𓍱 and laying on its side! This was very typical of Middle Kingdom burial practices 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, and it was something my Nonno would always point out to me when we were in a museum!

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the standard “Shabti Spell. This spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 gives the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 so the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 doesn’t have to do any work in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Tags artifact, Senwosret I, shabti, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 27, 2022
1 Comment on Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

I love this picture for two 𓏻 reasons: the first 𓏃 is because my Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Musei Vaticani! I almost feel that this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 represents how Nonno saw me, and I’ve never shared it until today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 because I wanted to keep it as “mine.” I wish I could go back to this moment because look at the happiness 𓄫𓄣 and joy 𓄫𓄣 on my face! The second 𓏌𓏻 reason is because this Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is one of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts – it was a dream of mine to see this in person, and I’m so lucky I was able to!

I know I have posted about this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸a lot, however, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳we are going to examine a different aspect of it! If you search “Hatshepsut” or “Vatican Museum,” you will be able to see my previous posts on this beautiful stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

This sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 depicts Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing the blue (khepresh) crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and is making an offering of nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 to the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺. Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is wearing the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓!

The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was meant to commemorate restoration works in West Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖! Many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 would restore the work of previous rulers 𓈎𓏏𓋾𓏪 to demonstrate their own power and to honor the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, not to honor the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

Another reason why restoring previous works and building lots of new buildings (which Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 did early in her reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾), was so significant was because it meant the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (in this case, Hatshepsut) would live on since the names were part of the buildings’ inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. All of these new projects also impressed upon the common people the economic prosperity of the Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 regime. This was important for her to demonstrate immediately because she was not only a female 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 ruler 𓈎𓏏𓋾, but she kind of pushed Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 to the side and named herself the legitimate pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, thutmosis iii, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

The Five-Pointed Egyptian Star

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 24, 2022

The star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design is one of my absolute favorites to see. As someone who has always been fascinated by space and astronomy, I love how the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 incorporated astronomical concepts not just into their language and religion, but into their art as well. I even have this star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design as my phone case!

This design appears on the ceilings of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 (Seti I’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 comes to mind), temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 (Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐) and even on funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 like canopic jar cases! The star hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol 𓇼 was used very frequently in words as well and there are different variations of star symbols (𓇻, 𓇽).

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 I chose to highlight the star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design because a five 𓏾 pointed star 𓇼, just like the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol, appeared over the manger in Bethlehem when Jesus was born and guided the Wise Men to his birthplace. Known as the “Christmas Star” or the “Star of Bethlehem,” this star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 was seen as a sign that the Messiah had been born. I have always loved Nativity scenes, and the symbolism behind the star 𓇼 shining above the Nativity. The star is even mentioned in The Bible:

Matthew 2:9-10 : …and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

I love this verse because I too feel overjoyed when I see stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 – whether it’s the stars in the sky 𓆼𓅡𓋴𓇼𓇼𓇼, stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 on top of Christmas Trees, stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 on Egyptian art or in hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. Stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 are the light in the darkness – and I hope your holidays are filled with light and love.

Merry Christmas Everyone / Buon Natale a Tutti!

🎄⭐️🎄

Tags artifact, bible, merry christmas, the met

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