Category: Egyptian Artifacts

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ahmose I

Despite the 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 years separating their reigns, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (Dynasty 11) and Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ (Dynasty 18) are considered to be two 𓏻 of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– greatest pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ for a very similar reason. They were both responsible for reunifying Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

Ahmose I
Me with the head of the pharaoh Ahmose I at the MET

Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ defeated the Hyksos and founded the 18th Dynasty, which is the start of the New Kingdom (this is my favorite part of Egyptian history)! This is the time period when Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– not only reached its peak power politically, but also a golden age in arts and building projects. Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ is responsible for jump-starting all of this by opening quarries π“Ž›π“π“π“‰π“₯, mines, and trade routes in order to undertake these large construction programs.

This beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ shows him wearing the White Crown π“„€π“‹‘ of Upper Egypt 𓇓. It is estimated that Ahmose I ruled for around 25 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ύ years.

Ahmose I
A closer view of the head of a statue of pharaoh Ahmose I at the MET.

What does Ahmose I’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– mean? Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This is what the individual symbols mean:
𓇺 – Iah (The Moon)
π“„Ÿ – Born/Birth
All together, the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œThe Moon is Born” which is such a wonderful name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! I love it!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Egyptian Star

Egyptian Star
The Egyptian Star hieroglyph might have been inspired by the starfish that live in the Red Sea

The five pointed Egyptian Star 𓇼 is one of my absolute favorite hieroglyphic symbols! The star hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ symbol 𓇼 was used very frequently in words as well and there are different variations of star symbols (𓇻, 𓇽). You’ll mostly see it in words like β€œDuat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.” Sometimes β€œDuat” is represented with just the β€œπ“‡½β€ symbol too!Β 

Egyptian Star
A painted and a carved hieroglyphic Egyptian star!

What I also love about the Star 𓇼 is that not only does it function as a hieroglyph, but it is also used as artistic decoration.Β 

Egyptian Star
Egyptian Stars on the Middle Kingdom Canopic Jar Case of Ukhotep (MET)

The night sky/star design appears on the ceilings of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ (Seti I’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ– tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ comes to mind), temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ (Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐) and even on funerary objects π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ like canopic jar cases and in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺!Β 

Egyptian Star
Stars in the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose (Brooklyn Museum)

The five pointed star hieroglyph (𓇼), while used to represent stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦 in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, actually resembles the starfish π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό that inhabit the Red Sea! Egyptologists and archaeologists think that the star hieroglyph (𓇼) originally represented the starfish π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό but then evolved to represent stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦 in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 as well.Β 

Egyptian Star
Stars in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (MET)Β 

What I find fascinating is that the ancient Egyptian language (π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό), English (starfish), and Italian (stella marina) all equate these beautiful π“„€ sea animals to the stars in the sky! The ancient Egyptians had a deep understanding of astronomy and the stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦 and it’s so cool that they saw starfish π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό in the Red Sea and thought that they looked like the bright objects in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯!Β 

Egyptian Star
A Starfish at EPCOT in Disney World – it definitely looks like a five pointed Egyptian Star!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela or Cippus

This magnificent piece is known as a β€œMagical Stela,” or a β€œCippus of Horus.” Normally, stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ were used to commemorate the dead but Cippus pieces are like a protective amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† in the shape of a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.Β 

Me with the Cippus at the MET

This cippus was used by the living for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. 

Smaller versions of Cippus stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺, but this one here at the MET is a lot more elaborate and was actually commissioned by a priest π“ŠΉπ“› to be displayed in public! It’s difficult to see in pictures, but the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are carved so exquisitely and I love just looking at them!Β 

A closeup of the top of the Cippus at the MET

The top panel on the front of the Cippus depicts Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“₯ and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ, a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, an antelope 𓃲𓏺 and scorpions π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†«π“ͺ in each hand. Surrounding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ are other deities. On Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ left there is Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€, and then on Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ right is Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. The god π“ŠΉ Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also appears above Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ head 𓁢𓏺. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was known to ward off evil π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“π“…¨ and bad luck. 

This piece is dated to the Late Period (30th Dynasty). Considering everything, I figured this would be a fitting post for today! 

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Egyptian Artifacts Video

Talatat – Video

These small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ blocks are called β€œTalatat” and were used solely during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–! These were used in the construction of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€) and the palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 at Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–. Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–.Β 

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These small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ blocks are called β€œTalatat” and were used solely during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–! These were used in the construction of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€) and the palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 at Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–. Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–. These limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ blocks were unique because they were so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© 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 π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–, and were never used again. Even though originally from Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–, these Talatat were actually found at Hermopolis because after Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! These Talatat at the MET were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. A lot of the colors you see on these blocks are restored and not necessarily the original colors. Tens of thousands of Talatat have been found across Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. @ancientegyptblog #ancientegypt #egyptianhistory #egyptologist #historytok #egyptology #ancient_egypt #pharaoh #akhenaten #metropolitanmuseum #egypt

♬ Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89

These limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ blocks were unique because they were so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© 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 π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–, and were never used again. 

Even though originally from Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–, these Talatat were actually found at Hermopolis because after Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! 

These Talatat at the MET were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. A lot of the colors you see on these blocks are restored and not necessarily the original colors. 

Tens of thousands of Talatat have been found across Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.Β 

Follow me @ancientegyptblogΒ onΒ InstagramΒ andΒ TikTokΒ to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Monkey Statue from Amarna

How cute is this blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a monkey π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“ƒΈ?

Monkey Statue
A blue faience monkey statue from Amarna on display at the Brooklyn Museum

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is from Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– and is dated to Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ in the 18th Dynasty. This piece strikes me as interesting for an Amarna-era piece because it doesn’t look like the β€œtypical” Amarna-era art style! It’s more realistic looking instead of having exaggerated features!Β 

One really cool feature about this monkey π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“ƒΈ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that his ears are pierced! It’s possible that in antiquity the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 had earrings – how cool is that? The Brooklyn Museum has speculated that the presence of an earring would be an indication that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represented a household pet. If a person had a monkey π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“„› as a household pet in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, that meant that the person was extremely wealthy because monkeys had to be imported into Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from far away and were extremely expensive! 

The monkey π“Ž‘π“‡Œπ“ƒΈ also seems to be holding something round in his hands – my guess is that it’s some type of fruit! 

There are a lot of different ways to write the word for β€œmonkey” in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, however, a lot of these variants are similar except for the determinative used at the end! Here’s a list of some of the variants here (there are actually too many to list): 

π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“ƒ»

π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“ƒΈ

π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“„›

π“ŽΌπ“„Ώπ“†‘π“„œ

π“Ž‘π“‡Œπ“ƒΈ

π“†“π“Ž›π“†“π“Ž›π“ƒ»

Thank you to my sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“ for taking this wonderful picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Animals in Ancient Egypt

Happy World Animal Day!Β Let’s learn about the significance of Animals in Ancient Egypt!

Animals in Ancient Egypt
Me with a blue faience hippo at the Brooklyn Museum! The blue faience hippos are one of my absolute favorite types of artifacts!

Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for β€œanimal” – there was the word β€œπ“Œšπ“…“π“„›β€ but it translates more accurately to β€œbeast” than to all animals in general. What I love about language 𓂋𓏺 is that even a small detail such as this can show us so much about the culture of the people who spoke it!Β 

Animals in Ancient Egypt
An ibis on display at the MET

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Animals were usually referred to by their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– instead of as a singular category. What I love about Middle Egyptian is that the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– the animal was given was sometimes very similar to the sound the animal made! For example, the Middle Egyptian word for cat is 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 (miu) which can be pronounced similarly to β€œmeow.” The word for dog is 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯ (iwiw) which can almost sound like β€œwoof woof.”

Animals in Ancient Egypt
A cat mummy on display at the MET

Why is this significant? It shows that the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ didn’t regard animals as different from humans or less than humans (unlike the Greeks and Romans, and eventually Western cultures). Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅑𓏺 (part of the soul that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ through death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž just like humans.Β 

Animals in Ancient Egypt
Hathor in her cow form from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep at the MET

Animals like cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠π“ͺ, ibises 𓉔𓃀𓅀π“ͺ, cows 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦, snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦, and many others were held in high regard due to the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ who could take the form of those animals!Β 

Animals in Ancient Egypt
A fish bowl on display at the Brooklyn Museum

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Rainbow Fish

My sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ has always said that this piece reminds her of the children’s book β€œThe Rainbow Fish,” and thanks to her that’s how I always refer to this piece!Β 

The Rainbow Fish
Do you think this little fish rattle at the Brooklyn Museum looks like The Rainbow Fish?

This beautifully π“„€ colored fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 represents a tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†›! The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ viewed the tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†› as a symbol of regeneration and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…±. Both of these concepts were super important in the Egyptian religion, so they held tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†› in very high regard! 

What is so cool about this piece is that it is actually a rattle! There are little clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ pellets inside of it, which represents the eggs. This was most likely a ritual object; either played during childbirth or placed in a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 with their rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…±! 

The blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 coloring on the fish 𓂋𓅓𓆛 is purely decorative as tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†› are not this color in real life! However, these particular colors used (blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛, red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and black π“†Žπ“…“) are very typical of the color palette used at Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  palace at Malqata and at Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– during Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign. This piece is estimated to be from the late 18th Dynasty and is thought to be from Saqqara π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. 

From a hieroglyphic standpoint, the tilapia symbol 𓆛 is the main determinative for β€œfish 𓂋𓅓𓆛!” This demonstrates just how important the Egyptians viewed the tilapia – a lot of their fish related words contained the tilapia 𓆛! Tilapia also has its own word which is β€œπ“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†›.” 

The Rainbow Fish
The Rainbow Fish with the word for “tilapia” in hieroglyphs!

Thanks 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 to my sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ for taking this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hippopotamus Statues

My sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“ sent me this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 that she took at the Brooklyn Museum and I immediately knew that I had to share it with all π“ŽŸ of you!Β 

Hippopotamus Statues
Hippopotamus Statues from the Middle Kingdom on display at the Brooklyn Museum

It’s no mystery that I love the ancient Egyptian hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ! My favorites are the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό ones that are typically dated to the Middle Kingdom time period! 

What I love about this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is it shows the diversity of the art that was created during the Middle Kingdom! The blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a lot more detailed and refined, while the clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are a little rougher! 

The hippo 𓐍𓃀𓃯 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ in the forefront of the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are made out of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and were most likely used as a kind of offering during the β€œFeast of the White Hippopotamus.” During this festival, a hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― was dragged on a sled before the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The base that these two 𓏻 hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ have are representative of that sled! 

The blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippopotamus 𓐍𓃀𓃯 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is always a treat to see and I love seeing them across various museums! There are lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 painted on the sides of the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― to represent the different plants that grew along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί! The legs on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 are actually restored! 

FUN FACT: did you know that most blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ have broken feet because they were broken on purpose so the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― would not be a threat to the deceased person it was buried with? 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Rosetta Stone

Happy (late) Anniversary to the deciphering of Egyptian Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Seeing the Rosetta Stone in person was a dream come true for me! When I saw the Rosetta Stone all I could thing was β€œthis rock is the reason I can read hieroglyphs” and I was just in awe.Β 

The Rosetta Stone
My sister and I with the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum!

Jean-FranΓ§ois Champollion was just a teenager in September 1822 when he began to decipher hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ based off of the Rosetta Stone!

The Rosetta Stone is actually a decree issued by priests π“ŠΉπ“›π“ͺ in 196 B.C.E. that affirmed the cult of Ptolemy V π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄. Identical decrees were supposed to be placed in every temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

During the Christian period in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, the use of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ began to wane and finally disappeared at the beginning of the 4th Century. The Rosetta Stone contains three 𓏼 languages 𓂋𓏦: Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, Greek and Demotic. Since Greek was a known language 𓂋𓏺, scholars began to try to use the Greek section of the Rosetta Stone to translate the portion in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. 

Thomas Young was the first person to show that the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in the cartouche (π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄) actually spelled out β€œPtolemy,” however, Champollion gets the credit for deciphering hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ because he showed that the phonetic symbols were also used for Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ and not just foreign names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦. With his extensive knowledge of Coptic, Champollion was able to begin reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ more fully!Β 

The Rosetta Stone
My sister and I with the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum

I am thankful for the early works of scholars like Champollion because I would not be reading hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ without it! The work that these people did to further the understanding of the Egyptian language, and thus the civilization as a whole is nothing short of incredible! 

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Ptah

This bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the god π“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± from the Third Intermediate Period is striking to see in person not just because of its wonderful state of preservation, but its size as well!

Bronze Statue of Ptah
Bronze Statue of Ptah on display at the MET

For a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, it is quite large! In antiquity, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 would have been covered in gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf, and it’s amazing that you can still see some of the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ on the statue! Imagine how magnificent it would have looked in all gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰! I also love how the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are still perfectly preserved; they really stand out among the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ and the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰!Β 

The staff that Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± is holding in his hands is actually a merging of the Djed Pillar π“Š½ and the Was Scepter π“Œ€. The hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ for Djed π“Š½ means β€œstability” while the hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ for the Was Scepter π“Œ€ means β€œstrength,” and this staff exemplifies Ptah’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± representation of both! 

One of the epithets that follows Ptah’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in inscriptions is β€œThe One of Fair Face 𓄀𓁷𓏀𓀭” and I think that description totally fits with how beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represents him! That epithet could also be translated as β€œKindly of Face 𓄀𓁷𓏀𓀭” and can also be written as β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“·π“€π“€­.”

Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± was not created; he existed before anyone else and anything. In short, he was the creator of the other creator gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, like Atum π“‡‹π“π“‚Ÿπ“€­. Due to Ptah’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± creativity, he is also the designated god π“ŠΉ of all forms of craftsman such as carpenters , shipbuilders, potters, metalworkers, and sculptors.

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 would have been housed in a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ and would have received offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 from priests π“ŠΉπ“›π“ͺ. 

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