Category: Egyptian Artifacts

Wedjat or “Eye of Horus”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 9, 2023

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” was not only one of the most popular amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also one of the most popular religious symbols in general!

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 that Horus 𓅃𓀭 lost when battling Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 restored Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 or healing 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 due to the nature of the myth.

The wedjat 𓂀 was also common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. The Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 was an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 used by both the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The Eye of Horus was also associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹!

Two Wedjat or “Eye of Horus” amulets on display at the MET

These two 𓏻 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 wedjat 𓂀 eye amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 B.C.E.) are so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the left has a wing 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃, lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 (it looks like the hieroglyph symbol “𓃭”), and and two 𓏻 Uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗𓏪 on it! All of the inlays are intact too!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the right is missing some of the white inlay on the eye but it has the details of what looks like the bottom part of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 (the tail and the legs), another eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, and an arm 𓂝𓏺!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).

Me with the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose at the Brooklyn Museum

This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐!

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 as well.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script

Hieratic is the script that this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read Hieratic well at all! While Hieratic is another way to write the Middle Egyptian language, some of the symbols look VERY different and have evolved over time – it is definitely difficult to learn! Much like hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Hieratic can be read from top to bottom, right to left or left to right.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script in black and red ink

Some of the Hieratic is in black 𓆎𓅓 ink while some of it is in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓂝𓏛 of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃” could have been written/drawn in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all! So, some of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems kinda random.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 6, 2023

This quartzite statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Brooklyn Museum is called “Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 or Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠” and while small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it certainly gives us a lot to think about! I think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a representation of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 for a couple of reasons!

Statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first and most obvious reason are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on his chest ornament, which is on top of an elaborately carved broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. While the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, here is the translation:

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s throne name)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓌸 – Beloved

So the full translation would be “Nebmaatra, Beloved of Amun-Ra.” This clearly labels the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as being of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠.

Me with the statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 does have a some similarities to the representation of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 too, especially the remnants of the crown on his head, which is the same two-plume crown 𓋛 that is characteristic of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 seems to have had a fascination with Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺, and probably wanted to be depicted as him. Many Egyptologists wonder if Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 fascination with this solar deity was inspiration for his son 𓅭 Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 religious revolution.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags amenhotep iii, amun ra, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is similar to the one I posted from the MET yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳! I love seeing “sister” pieces across museums!

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular! This piece was likely found at Saqqara, which in ancient Egyptian times was called Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖.

I also love this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 because it is very similar to Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determinative hieroglyph 𓃣 (which is my favorite hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbol) and it’s almost identical to the ‘recumbent jackal 𓃢” sign! The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎.

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, despite being associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, was a very positive figure in Egyptian religion. In Egyptian mythology, he played the vital role in the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and weighed the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 in the Weighing of the Heart! In modern pop culture, Anubis is usually the “villain” when in reality he was a highly regarded and peaceful god 𓊹!

Basically, I love anything to do with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! Seeing a well preserved statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of him, or hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols of his name 𓂋𓈖 in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 makes me really happy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 and excited. It’s like seeing an old friend 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statue of Anubis

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is one of my favorites because the piece is in such good condition! The black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still clearly visible and the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is so well preserved. Wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is an organic material, and even in the dry heat of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊 it can still break down over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years! My Nonno always pointed out every wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece in a museum and told us how significant it was that the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 was preserved.

Wooden Statue of Anubis at the MET

This particular Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 piece is dated to the Ramesside Period, which was during the 19th-20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. This style of statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicting Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 actually became very popular during the Ptolemaic Period, and there is a piece similar to this in the Brooklyn Museum too!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎. One of his titles which is “Lord of the Sacred Land 𓎟𓂦𓈊,” exemplifies and highlights this role. The “sacred land” mentioned in this title is another way to say “necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼!”

Wooden Statue of Anubis at the MET

Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill/mountain 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above!

An inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 would look like this: “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑𓎟𓂦𓈊” which translates to “Anubis, Upon His Hill, Lord of the Sacred Land.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Horus as a Falcon

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 30, 2023

The god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭 was one of the most important gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. One of Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 many roles was as a mythological representation of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. In this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is depicted as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 wearing the combined crown 𓋖 which represents both the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤! Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 was one of the most common ways he is represented in Egyptian art.

Horus as a Falcon on display at the MET

The Uraeus on the front 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 of the crown is in amazing condition! A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – all characteristics usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and also the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭!

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was also a sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 god 𓊹. Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 means “The Distant One,” due to him residing in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯!

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the son 𓅭 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and will often be introduced in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 as such! For example, you could see “𓅃𓀭𓅭𓊨𓏏𓆇𓅭𓁹𓊨𓀭” on objects such as sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦!

Here are some variants of Horus’ name 𓂋𓈖:

𓅃𓀭 (the most common way to write his name)

𓅃

𓄑𓂋𓅆

𓅃𓅆

𓈐𓅃

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Soul of Pe

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 29, 2023

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 kneeling statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deity 𓊹 is referred to as the “Soul of Pe” and it is actually another way to depict the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Also known as “Horus of Pe,” these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 became popular during the Late Period, after 600 B.C.E.

Bronze Soul of Pe statue on display at the Brooklyn Museum

The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and are referred to as the ancestors of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 symbolized the predynastic rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were thought of as very powerful deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that not only aided the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, but also the current living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 and Pe 𓊪𓊖 were both cities in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were around as early as the predynastic period. Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 was originally the cult center for the god 𓊹 Horus in Upper Egypt 𓇓, however, Pe a town in Lower Egypt 𓆤, was awarded to Horus 𓅃𓀭 by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 after his eye was injured during his battle with Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 for the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭/Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is shown in a characteristic kneeling position with one arm raised, with the other resting on his chest. This is known as a “jubilation position,” which is meant to show the Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 celebrating the rising of the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶. The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is usually represented as Horus 𓅃𓀭 the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, while the Soul of Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 is usually represented as a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, horus, soul of pe

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part I)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 26, 2023

Here is another example of steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Before we read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s “read” the geology! I always tell my students that rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the language of our planet!

Most scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from this time period are made of a metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 called steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 which is also commonly known as soapstone. Simply put, steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 is made when the mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 talc is exposed to tremendous amounts of heat and pressure at subduction zones (areas where oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust). Steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 has been used by ancient civilizations all over the world for carving because it is both durable and easy to work with!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the shorter variant of Hatshepsut’s birth name cartouche. Hatshepsut’s full name is “𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” but that’s not what appears on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 because it’s too long! Let’s take a look:

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

𓀼𓏏𓏪 – Noble Women (Shepsut)

So Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 variant on the scarab translates to “Foremost of the Noble Women.”

The Egyptians were very clever with spacing too – if you look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 at the bottom of the picture, the “𓏏” is shared between the 𓄂 and 𓀼 glyphs! I will forever be impressed by. the ingenuity of the Egyptian artists!

Read Part II Here!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2023

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree!

Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣!

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣.

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, jewelry, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Animal Mummies

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2023

I have mentioned in many previous posts that I have loved mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 ever since my Nonno introduced me to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 when I was a little girl! Although animal mummies are the most common form of Egyptian artifact (seven million dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummies have been found in Saqqara alone), they are among the least understood of all objects.

A dog (left) and a cat (right) mummy on display at the Brooklyn Museum

At the Brooklyn Museum, they have a couple of animal mummies which are in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 here! On the left is a dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummy, and on the right is a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummy. The level of preservation of these mummies is exquisite!

It is well documented that the ancient Egyptians kept dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 as pets. In tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥, many times dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 have been found buried with their owners! Dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 have also been mentioned on funerary stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 along with other family members! The thought is that the pet and the owner would be able to stay together 𓈖𓊗 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 if they were buried together 𓈖𓊗.

One of the possible explanations of the significance of animal mummies can be tied to the Egyptian cultural aspect surrounding animals. Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for “animal” – there was the word 𓌚𓅓𓄛 but it translates more accurately to “beast” then all animals in general. The Egyptians didn’t think of animals as “less” than humans – Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅡𓏺 (part of the soul 𓂓 that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 through death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 just like humans.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, mummy

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