Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

Talatat Blocks

These small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 “Talatat” Blocks are made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and were used solely during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! These were used in the construction of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀) and the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖. 

Talatat Blocks
Talatat Blocks from the palace at Akhetaten on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Talatat blocks were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 a single worker could carry them and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, and were never used again. 

These Talatat at the Brooklyn Museum were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. These specific blocks are from the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, which is where Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grew up! These blocks reconstruct a pastoral scene. 

However, the Talatat were not found at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖; instead these blocks were reused by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 to build a pylon at Magna. The Talatat that are now seen in museums all over have been found in other places because the blocks were reused when other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 took the throne. They were also reused by Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖. The famous Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (started by Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 and completed by Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓) is built with Talatat! 

Tens of thousands of Talata have been found across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and I’m sure that there are still many more to be found! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin Fragment of Isis

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

This is a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 fragment (Late Period, Dynasties 26-31 c. 664-332 B.C.E.) that shows the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓆗 in mourning. Since in Egyptian mythology Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 assisted in the resurrection of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, it was believed that she would be instrumental in the rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why she was always seen on coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 or the on the foot panel of sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦. This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 fragment of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is breathtaking in person!

Coffin Fragment of Isis
Me with the Coffin Fragment of Isis at the Brooklyn Museum

It’s usually easy to tell when Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓆗 is being depicted in Egyptian art because she is wearing the same hieroglyphic symbol on her head that appears in her name 𓂋𓈖, which is the throne symbol 𓊨!! Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓆗 is shown wearing a white outfit, a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 and two 𓏻 green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 which seem to blend in to her green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 skin. The green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 skin symbolizes life 𓋹 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. 

Coffin Fragment of Isis
Coffin Fragment of Isis

This is the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 in the right column: “𓆓𓇋𓈖𓊨𓏏𓆇𓆗𓅨𓂋𓊹𓅐”

𓆓𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓊨𓏏𓆇𓆗 Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this “𓊨𓏏𓁥“ or “ 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁥”)

𓅨𓂋 – the Great (greatness)

𓊹 – God

𓅐 – Mother 

Put together 𓈖𓊗, the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads: “Words spoken by Isis, the great God’s Mother…” The rest of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 on this column is cut off. 

On the left column, the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 starts of with “𓁹𓈖” which translates to “born of” and then it says the name 𓂋𓈖of a person which is hard for me to translate because I can’t tell what bird symbol is being used! The last part of the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 seems to say “true of voice 𓐙𓊤,” but again it’s hard to tell because it’s cut off!

When I saw this piece I really liked it because of how colorful it was! No matter how many times I see artifacts in museums, I’m always shocked by how bright the colors still are on some objects! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Flowers in Ancient Egypt

When we envision Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, we usually think of an arid desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊 environment. While Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is certainly a desert, it did have its own beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and flowers that were definitely appreciated by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪! 

Plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and medicine 𓇋𓅱𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏦, so they were vital in that respect. Plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were considered to be so important that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 actually sent out an expedition of people to go and look for new plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 that could be used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 or medicine 𓇋𓅱𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏦! The word for “medicine 𓇋𓅱𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏦” in Middle Egyptian even has one of the plant hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in it! 

Speaking of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, there is an entire section of Gardiner’s Sign List dedicated to all of the plant symbols! There are 44 hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that represent plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! For example, the phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant.

Flowers in Ancient Egypt
Different fragments from Amarna that show different flowers in ancient Egypt (Brooklyn Museum)

Here are some beautifully 𓄤 colored pieces of art that represent different plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! On the bottom left is a lotus flower 𓆸 and some grapes, the top right is a palm tree, and the bottom right is a small plaque or tile of some kind with daisies/rosettes! 

I love how bright the green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 and yellow colors are! I will never stop being amazed that all of these beautiful pieces are still so vibrant after thousands of years!

These pieces are at the Brooklyn Museum and are dated to the Amarna Period (Dynasty 18). The Amarna Period is another phrase that Egyptologists and historians use to mark the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖.

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amphora with an Ibex Head

This amphora 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 with an ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 head is so beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! An amphora 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 is a special type of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 that has a pointed bottom and two 𓏻 handles that was used for the storage and transport of various things in the ancient world! While Greek amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 are the most recognizable, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had their own style too!

Amphora with an Ibex Head
Amphora with an Ibex Head at the MET

Ancient Egyptian amphoras 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪, such as this one found at Malqata, were usually made of red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and then covered with a cream colored coat. They were then painted 𓏞𓏜 with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, or black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. This vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 has some pretty 𓄤𓆑𓂋 lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and other types of flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 painted 𓏞𓏜 on it!!

Amphora with an Ibex Head
A closeup of the Ibex head on the amphora at the MET

The best part about this vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 in my opinion is the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 head that is on it! The ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 head was not actually found attached to the amphora 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋, but it was found nearby and reattached. You can actually see where it was reattached by the line going across its neck! Also, take a look at how the head of the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 is in relation to the body of the animal – the head has a 3D effect which is just too cool! The body of the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 is painted on the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋, while the head/neck of the ibex 𓈖𓄫𓃵 kind of “jump off” the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋! So creative!

While historians will refer to this type of pottery as an “amphora,” in Middle Egyptian, the standard word “mni 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋” was used which basically just means pot or pottery! 

This piece is dated to the reign of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (18th Dynasty) and was found at his palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 in Malqata. 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hounds and Jackals Game

The ancient Egyptians loved playing games 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦, and many of examples of ancient games 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦  such as senet 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 and Mehen 𓎔𓈖𓆓/𓎔𓈖𓆗 exist both as actual artifacts and as depictions in art!

Hounds and Jackals Game
The Hounds and Jackals Game was named after the Hounds and Jackals that appear on the top of the pegs! This is the most complete version of the game that’s ever been found!

The game 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is one that was named “Hounds and Jackals” by Howard Carter! Carter named the game after the hounds 𓍿𓊃𓅓𓄛𓏪 and the jackals 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥𓏦 that are at the tops of the pegs. This particular piece is the only game of “Hounds and Jackals” that has been found with the pegs! The game has also been referred to as “59 Holes” due to the holes that are on each side of the palm tree! 

No one knows the rules to this game, but it is thought to be symbolic of the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and that the hounds 𓍿𓊃𓅓𓄛𓏪 and the jackals 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥𓏦 were used as pieces because they could be related to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, the god 𓊹 of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Other less-complete versions of this game have been found in other tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦. 

Unlike senet 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 and Mehen 𓎔𓈖𓆓/𓎔𓈖𓆗, games 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 which seem to have persisted throughout Egyptian history, “Hounds and Jackals” seems to be a Middle Kingdom exclusive! This piece is made of the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from a sycamore tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 and ivory 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓌟. 

This piece was discovered in 1910 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon – I find this to be so cool because this was about twelve years before they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom, reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Amenemhat IV 𓇳𓌶𓂝𓊤𓅱 (12th Dynasty). 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mother’s Day – Isis and Mut

Happy Mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 Day to all of the moms – and especially to my Mom, Nonna, and Oma! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 I’m going to do a post about some of the Moms 𓅐𓏏𓁐𓏪 of Ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 who happen to be goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏! 

Mother's Day Isis
A calcite statue accented with bronze of Isis feeding the baby Horus (Brooklyn Museum)

The first 𓏃 picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows a calcite 𓍱 and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭. This is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 has even appeared on the back of Roman Coins! 

Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, and she was also a user of magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜.

Mother's Day Mut
A sunken relief of the goddess Mut, from a Ramesside-era stela (Brooklyn Museum)

The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 whose name 𓂋𓈖 happens to mean “Mother!” Symbolically, Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 was also thought to be the divine mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and this idea became popularized as Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 (her husband) became one of the most worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 during the 18th Dynasty.  Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 didn’t appear in religious texts until the Middle Kingdom, and some think she was “invented” to be Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 wife and a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 figure. 

The word for “mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐/𓅐𓏏” in Middle Egyptian seems to predate the appearance of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐, so it’s possible that her name 𓂋𓈖 was intended to mean “mother.”

There are multiple variants for “mother” in Middle Egyptian/hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, so let’s take a look at them:

𓅐𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏

𓅐𓅆𓆇

𓅐𓏏𓐎

𓅐𓏏𓁐𓅆

Happy Mother’s Day!

These are my personal photographs and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 also shows a shabti coffin! The shabti coffin allowed for the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to take the place of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in case the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was destroyed! I like to think of this as a call back to the original “wax ushabtis” of the Middle Kingdom, which served the same purpose. 

Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 was the eighth pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty and he was actually not supposed to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! His brother 𓌢𓈖 was chosen successor by their father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪, but Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 usurped the throne and made himself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV
A Ushabti of Thutmosis IV (left) and a shabti coffin that also belonged to Thutmosis IV (right) on display at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!! Let’s take a closer look at the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾: 

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Menkheperura “Established Manifestations of Ra” (Throne name of Thutmosis IV)

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

𓁹𓊨 – Osiris (Osiris’ name is written without the determinative symbol here (𓁹𓊨𓀭))

𓌸𓇌 – Beloved

So all 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗 the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 says: “The Perfect God, Lord of the Two Lands, Menkheperura, True of Voice, Beloved of Osiris.” 

The tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 in the Valley of the Kings was excavated by Theodore Davis and Howard Carter in 1903, which is where these objects were found! Many blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces were found during this excavation! I love how bright the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 color still is; it’s really striking in person! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Rameses II

Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 was arguably one of Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 greatest builders, and his face/name 𓂋𓈖 can be found pretty much everywhere you look in a museum (this is why his cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are good to learn – you will see them a lot). 

Ushabti of Rameses II
Me with the wooden Ushabti of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum!

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece is a Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 (New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, c. 1292-1190 B.C.E.). While the provenance of this ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is unknown, it is assumed that it was originally from Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 original tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 (KV 7). 

Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was plundered in the 20th Dynasty, and only three 𓏼 of his wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain! Tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 robbing during ancient Egyptian times was a huge problem even though the tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥 were “hidden” in the Valley of the Kings! 

In 1049 B.C.E., the High Priest of Amun ordered Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 be moved from his original tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and to the Royal Cache, a place where many royal 𓋾 mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 were re-buried in order to protect the mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 from tomb robbers. 

Ushabti of Rameses II
The wooden Ushabti of Rameses II with the Shabti Text carved into the wood

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the “Shabti Spell” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. 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. I love how detailed the hieroglyphs are! 

This ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 has a lot of mummiform details; it is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and there is an intact Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on his forehead. Like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, it is wearing a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, and is holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅. 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Menat Necklace

This is a picture of a special type of necklace called a menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧. The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace is unique because it consists of a keyhole shaped piece and a lot of beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦. The beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 on this menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and there are some glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 near the keyhole piece! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 is my favorite color, so I really love how blue was such a popular color in ancient Egyptian art!

Menat Necklace
A beautiful example of a menat necklace on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace not only appears a lot in Egyptian art, but it was clearly used by real people too! The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was often carried or worn by women during religious ceremonies. Similar to a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was shaken like a rattle. The person would hold the keyhole piece and then shake the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 to create the rattle-like sound!

The sound produced was meant to appease gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 or goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏. Similar to the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was often associated with Hathor 𓉡, who was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 (amongst other fun things). Hathor 𓉡 is often seen in art giving the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 to a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian art.

This particular menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was found at Malqata and is dated to the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (c. 1390 – 1352 BCE). In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 built a new palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 which was referred to as “The House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. It would be interesting to know if this menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 was specifically used during his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪!

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Birthdays in Ancient Egypt

My birthday is soon, so let’s talk about birthdays in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

Birthdays in Ancient Egypt
Me hanging out at the Temple of Dendur at the MET!

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from my last trip to the MET, when I just got to sit and hang out in one of my absolute favorite places – The Temple of Dendur! The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was actually commissioned by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 (first emperor of Rome) and the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was primarily used to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

The ancient Egyptians didn’t celebrate the birthdays of regular people – they celebrated the birthdays of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏! The 365-day calendar which is one of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to the world! Egyptian astronomers even adjusted the year to be exactly 365.25 days when their calculations got more accurate! 

The Egyptian calendar consisted of 12 𓎆𓏻 months that were each 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 days long. The extra five 𓏾 days left over at the end of the year were festival days – each day dedicated to celebrating the birthday of a different deity 𓊹! 

Day 1 was the Birthday of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭

Day 2 was the Birthday of Horus 𓅃𓀭

Day 3 was the Birthday of Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣

Day 4 was the Birthday of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥

Day 5 was the Birthday of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇

So how do we write “birthday” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪? Let’s use Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 as an example: 𓄟𓋴𓅱𓏏𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎱 or 𓄟𓏏𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎱. 

Let’s break it down: 𓄟𓋴𓅱𓏏/𓄟𓏏 is the word for “birth” and both are pronounced “mswt.” In the case of  “𓄟𓋴𓅱𓏏,” this is what we call a “phonetic complement” – the sounds are written twice but pronounced once!

The “alabaster basin 𓎱” symbol is a determinative for “feast” or “festival” but can also be an ideogram for “heb” (feast). 

So if I wanted to write out my own birthday, it would look like this: 𓄟𓋴𓅱𓏏𓈖𓇋𓎡𓍯𓃭𓁐𓎱. You can do the same with your own – just replace my name 𓂋𓈖 with your name 𓂋𓈖! 

A big thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀢 to the UCL website for the list of the festival days!! Check out their website for incredible information about ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

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