Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Beads

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

“The Mummy Room” (as I called it) at the British Museum was such an incredible place to be! It was a bunch of galleries that were filled with beautifully 𓄤 painted sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦 and mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪! When I was a kid I was never afraid of mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪(wrapped or unwrapped); I was just completely fascinated by them and I still am!

What is striking about this mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is that the beautiful 𓄤 beaded shroud that covers the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is still mostly intact! In ancient times, the beaded shroud would have been placed over the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 after it had been placed in its coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The pattern of the beaded shroud was supposed to be representative of the cloak that Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, god 𓊹 of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, wears.

These types of shrouds were mostly made with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads because in ancient Egyptian culture, the color blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 was symbolic of rebirth and regeneration. Faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 was an extremely popular material to work with because it was both cheap and easy to use! Faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 is a quartz based material that can be molded and then heated to a very high temperature to keep its shape. Objects made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 were thought to hold magical powers!

Beaded shrouds on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 were very popular during the Late Period and this one is estimated to be dated at c. 760-656 B.C.E., which is the 25th Dynasty. Beaded shrouds are very delicate and are usually found broken up, so this piece here is a beautiful 𓄤 example of one.

Do you like mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪?! Let me know!!!

Tags artifact, british museum, mummy

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Paser

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

My Nonno’s favorite non-Royal ancient Egyptian has always been Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽. While I have seen Paser’s 𓅮𓀙𓀽 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 in other museums, it was always so difficult to find the one that is at the MET because it is hidden amongst other ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 in one of the smaller galleries! But yesterday I FINALLY saw it! I was so excited because Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 meant so much to my Nonno!!

The blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 belongs to Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽! Objects made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 were thought to hold magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers! 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, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Statue of Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was found near the Sacred Animal Necropolis at Saqqara (Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖). The Sacred Animal Necropolis housed thousands 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of mummified animals such as falcons 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄𓏦, baboons, ibises 𓉔𓃀𓅤𓏦 and bulls/cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦. This piece is dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (664–30 B.C.E.).

Although mummified jackals 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥𓏦 were not found in the area, statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 have been found most likely because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the god 𓊹 of mummification and embalming, so it would make sense that there would be statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of him in the vicinity of this large necropolis. It is thought that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 such as this were used to guard embalming tents.

Interestingly, this piece was originally painted 𓏞𓏜 black 𓆎𓅓, but through time it has lost its coloring! It’s hard to see in my pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 (the MET really needs better lighting – the galleries are so dark) but you can still see remnants of some of the black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

I was very excited to see this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, because there is a similar one in the Petrie Museum in London! I love seeing similar pieces in different museums around thr world! Also (no surprise), I love anything Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!

Fun fact! There are no temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 dedicated to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 because all tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 and large burial areas were considered “temples” to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in! It makes so much sense because he is the god 𓊹 of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 and mummification!

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Small Statue of Ptah

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Although tiny (only about 5cm in height), this is a striking lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 statuette of the creator god 𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱. Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 is easily recognized, and I always called him the “bald god” as a kid even though he isn’t necessarily bald – he is wearing a cap on his head! Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 has always been a favorite of mine because he is so fascinating!

Lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 is a very hard 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 and is very difficult to work with, so that only makes the very tiny details such as the beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏 (the only god 𓊹 to be consistently depicted with one) and the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 even more impressive! Although it’s hard to see, the staff that Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 is holding in his hands is actually a merging of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 and the Was Scepter 𓌀. The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for Djed 𓊽 means “stability” while the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for the Was Scepter 𓌀 means “strength.”

Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was not created; he existed before anyone else and anything. In short, he was the creator of the other creator gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, like Atum 𓇋𓏏𓂟𓀭. Due to Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 creativity, he is also the designated god 𓊹 of all forms of craftsman such as carpenters , shipbuilders, potters, metalworkers, and sculptors. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, the famous architect of the Step Pyramid (the first pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 built in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖) is said to be the direct son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 due to his incredible work! There is so much I can say about Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, but Instagram captions can only be so long!

This piece is estimated to be from the Third Intermediate Period – early Dynasty 26 (c. 945–600 B.C.E.). Since it is such a high quality piece, it is most likely that it was meant for use in Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 large temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖(Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was the chief god 𓊹 of Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖). Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 from the Old Kingdom forward.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, ptah, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Granodiorite Statue of Amun

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This is a beautiful 𓄤 granodiorite statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭. Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was the most popularly worshipped god 𓊹 during the 18th Dynasty amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and the elite.

This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is special because it was made during the reign of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 (18th Dynasty, c. 1336–1327 B.C.E.). After Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule, Tutankamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 was responsible for moving the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 back to Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 and reestablishing the traditional Egyptian pantheon. Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 commissioned a lot of statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 to be made, most likely as a way to show that the old religion was once again free to be worshipped. Egyptologists believe that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was specifically sculpted to be placed in the Temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 at Karnak.

Something else that is interesting about the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is that it does still have some Amarna-style features, which suggests that some of the sculptors that worked in the Amarna workshops went to Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 with Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 after Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign. Some of the facial features of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 are also similar to other representations of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 (for example, the full lips, the drooping chin). The braided beard and the crown, however, make it unquestionable that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is meant to represent Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭.

Geology Lesson!!!! Granodiorite is an igneous rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 that is a “in between” granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 and diorite in terms of mineral composition. Granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 contains mostly quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, while diorite contains a lot of plagioclase/potassium feldspars. Granodiorite contains both, hence it is an “in-between” rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙!

Tags amun, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of the Goddess Neith

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

My Nonno loved bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and would always point them out to us in museums! Bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 became very popular in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period. However, the demand for bronze statues during this period resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality over time.

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 was able to come to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 and clay statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪.

The bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. On this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭, the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 around her neck is still perfectly painted on, along with the design on the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔! Beautiful 𓄤 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces can be seen in museums around the world 𓇾𓇾!

Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 was one of the goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of war and rose to popularity during the 16th Dynasty because her central city of worship, Sais, was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 at the time. She is also the protector of Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, the son 𓅭 of Horus 𓅃𓀭 whose canopic jar contains the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. Due to this, she was seen as a protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, Nephytys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐. She is usually seen wearing the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤 or with a shield and crossed arrows on her head.

Along with Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 was one of my Nonno’s favorite deities! He always made sure to point her out in museums, and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 are abundant because she was a very popular goddess 𓊹𓏏 during the Bronze Age!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, neith, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Sekhmet and Imhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This setup at the MET reminded me so much of my Nonno because Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 were two of his favorite ancient Egyptian figures! Even better, is they these are both bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪; he loved all of the bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 so much! Seeing the two 𓏻 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 next to each other made me miss my Nonno so much.

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, meaning “He who comes in peace,” was a non-royal man who became deified. This is a very rare occurrence, as it was thought by the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 that the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was the only god 𓊹 on the Earth 𓇾𓇾. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was not deified in his lifetime – it was 2,000 years after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 that he began to be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a god 𓊹. Not much is known about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 from his lifetime – much information about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is from Demotic texts or stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪 that were written thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was regarded as the Son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, who was the creator god 𓊹 of craftsmen and architects. He was also part of the “Memphis Triad,” which consisted of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓀭, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪.

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓏏𓁐 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of war, but she is usually pictured with the sun disc 𓇳𓏤 on her head 𓁶𓏤 because she was also associated with the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏤 – such as the extreme heat of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊! Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓏏𓁐 was one powerful lady, and the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had many festivals dedicated to her in order to keep her happy!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, imhotep, sekhmet, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Canopic Jars

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Here are some very plain, but very cool canopic jars! While the Sons of Horus were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, after the 18th Dynasty, the Four Sons of Horus were associated with being the heads 𓁶𓏦 on canopic jars which would guard the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. During the mummification process, certain organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were removed, dried out with natron salt, and then placed in these canopic jars. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed their heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 to be weighed by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

While each Son of Horus was associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏.

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

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

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

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

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

Egyptian Artifacts

Stick Ushabtis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Whenever I am in a museum, I take so many pictures of the different ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that are on display! There are so many different types, and each type is beautiful 𓄤 in its own way!

These particular ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that are are called “stick ushabtis” by archaeologists. Stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, have a roughly mummiform shape, no artistic details, and have an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the front. Most stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are dated to the end of the 17th Dynasty to the beginning of the 18th Dynasty.

The function of these stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 also seem to be different than that of the regular ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that are found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 whose function was to perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 have only been found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖, in the above ground chapels that were found near tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦.

Instead of being a worker for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 represented the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 members of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were placed in the above ground chapel as a way to symbolize family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 members being close to their dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 loved one.

The stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 were usually placed in their own model coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦, just like in the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! I always liked the model coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦, because I love tiny things! As a kid, the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 reminded me of dolls, and how cool is it to have a doll-sized ancient Egyptian coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱!!!

Tags artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Miniature Broad Collar

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

“𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How Beautiful This Is!” – I feel like this is the only appropriate phrase to describe this piece!

At the MET, this is named the “Miniature Broad Collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝.” It’s hard to tell from the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, but this piece is actually small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! It was probably not meant to be worn by a person – instead, this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was most likely ceremonial and was probably placed on a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 (pronounced “wesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝 could be used for the whole word. This particular broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was made during the early Ptolemaic Period (332–246 B.C.E.), though broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 became very popular during the 18th Dynasty!

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. Broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 could be made of many different types of materials, including gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and inlaid stones 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦. In this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 and turquoise were the stones of choice! I love how the colors of the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and the different blues 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 counteract each other – it truly makes this a stunning 𓄤 piece! Though small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, this piece truly stands out!

Tags artifact, jewelry, the met

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories