Month: June 2022

Book Review – “How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

Today I would like to share one of my favorite books on hieroglyphs: “How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs” by Mark Collier and Bill Manley.

Bill Manley wrote “Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners” which is my number one book recommendation for people who want to begin reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, but this book I’m talking about today is like the advanced version of the beginners book! I would recommend diving into this one after you complete “Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners.”

The first chapter of the book is an introduction to the basics of Middle Egyptian, but then the book dives deeply into grammar and nuances of Middle Egyptian as a whole, without seeming overwhelming. I feel that Allen’s “Middle Egyptian” is so overwhelming with grammar that it can really turn off beginners to continuing their studies. Bill Manley is able to teach grammar in a practical way without coming off too strong – which as a teacher, I can tell you that that is a gift!

I also like how the book is interactive and gives guided exercises to the reader that allows them to practice what they learned in the reading. The exercises are based on real Middle Egyptian texts, so you are actually reading the words of the ancient Egyptians! There’s also an answer key in the back to check your work – don’t cheat 😂. In my opinion, jumping right into reading texts is the best way to learn. Learning vocabulary/grammar as you go is so much better than just studying for hours and then trying to recall the information by reading for hours.

The dictionary in the back is also a great addition! Overall, I would 100% recommend this book as a way to enhance your study of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I wish it was around when I was first learning! I have read through this book multiple times and still learn something new each time! The beauty of studying a language is that the learning is never complete – there is always something to learn! This book is a wealth of information and I treasure it!

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Tags book recommendations

Egyptian Artifacts

Linen Textile in Honor of Hathor

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

This is a linen 𓍱 textile that was made in honor of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 and was meant to be placed at her shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐.

In the beautifully 𓄤 colored images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the right side of the linen 𓍱, we can see Hathor 𓉡 in her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form standing on a boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞, encompassed by a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐, and surrounded by lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸. Below Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤, stands a small figure in black 𓆎𓅓 that is representative of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II 𓇳𓊤𓎟. We know that it’s Montuhotep II 𓇳𓊤𓎟 because of the cartouche next to the small figure!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓊹𓄤 – Great/Perfect God
(𓇳𓊤𓎟) – Nebhapetra (Montuhotep II)

Next to Hathor 𓉡, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 read:
𓉡 – Hathor
𓎟𓏏𓇯- Lady/Mistress of Heaven
𓁷𓊓𓋆𓏏𓊖 – Chief One of Thebes

On the left side, the first man standing before 𓐍𓂋 Hathor 𓉡 has his arms raised, which is to represent him worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢 the goddess 𓊹𓏏.

Hathor’s 𓉡 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is quite unique compared to some of the other gods/goddesses. Her name 𓂋𓈖 is composed of a composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 which literally translates to “House of Horus.” Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪, motherhood, joy, music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hathor, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Base of an Offering Table

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

While this piece is outwardly awkward and simple looking, the beauty 𓄤 of it is in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I love these types of pieces – where you really have to examine them and look closer to see the beauty 𓄤 of it! This is the base of an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃, and obviously the piece is incomplete and was most likely broken in antiquity.

The main highlight is the really long cartouche! Now, this cartouche doesn’t just contain the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but his title and epithet as well. The title of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 usually came before 𓐍𓂋 the cartouche (and was seated on the top outside of the oval) while the epithet would appear both after the cartouche or inside of it.

Let’s take a closer look! Some of the text is read from right to left and some is read from left to right because the symbols are pointing towards these two directions! It makes it very confusing to type it out but I will do my best! I’m going to type it out as I see it in the cartouche so some of the symbols may be pointing the wrong way in my translation! Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are like one big puzzle which is why I love them so much!

The text reads: (𓋹𓏙𓆣𓇳𓏠𓄤𓊹𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺𓌺𓇌)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life
𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III)
𓊹𓄤 – Great God
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra
𓌺𓇌 – Beloved

So all put together the text reads “Given Life, Menkheperra, the Great God, Beloved of Amun-Ra.”

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, louvre, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

The Narmer Palette

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

The British Museum has a cast of the Narmer 𓏠𓈖𓇋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱 that very much looks like the real thing! I remember being so confused seeing it in the display at first because I was like “isn’t this supposed to be in Cairo?!”

Narmer (or Menes) 𓏠𓈖𓇋 is considered the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and founder of the First Dynasty because he won a battle in the Western Delta and fully united the two lands 𓇿𓇿 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as a single country. Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was considered to be two 𓏻 distinct places – Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 – before the unification. The denotations of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were still widely used though, and titles such as “King of Upper and Lower Egypt 𓆥” and “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” that were used for thousands of years after Narmer 𓏠𓈖𓇋 show how these ideas persisted. Narmer 𓏠𓈖𓇋 is depicted here wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt 𓄤𓋑.

The original function of this palette is unclear, however, what is interesting is that it shows some early indications of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Though this is up for interpretation, let’s take a look!

There are so many things happening on this palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱 that it is impossible for me to explain it all so I chose some of my favorite things!

Above Narmer 𓏠𓈖𓇋, you can see what seems to be his name (𓆢𓍋). Next to the small figure on the left, you can see the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 of a daisy. The use of the daisy hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 stopped but some scholars think it may mean “Horus 𓅃𓀭.” Narmer is holding a 𓍛 symbol, which is part of the word for “servant 𓍛𓏤𓀀,” so this may indicate that the words mean “Servant of Horus.”

A question that a lot of scholars who study early Egyptian palettes 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱𓏦 have to ask themselves is “where do the pictures end and the words begin?” – we will probably never know!

Tags artifact, british museum, narmer

Book Recommendations

Book Review – “Pocket Guide to Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

The “Pocket Guide to Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs” was one of my favorite books as a child, and it is one I still love to go through! Believe it or not, my Dad actually brought this one for me in Barnes & Noble at the beginning of my journey of learning hieroglyphs! I remember that trip to the bookstore clearly because I was so excited to get this book! I must have been seven or with years old at the time!

While I definitely think adults can enjoy this book too (especially beginners) this really is geared more towards kids! What I love is that it teaches some grammar without it being too much, breaks down the types of hieroglyphic symbols, and delves into some common phrases that you will find in museums!

I find that this book makes hieroglyphs really accessible for kids and provides accurate age-appropriate information without watering it down. I feel like this book helps build confidence with the overwhelming task of learning hieroglyphs! When a child sees success and gains confidence, they will want to continue to learn! I think that is what makes this book powerful – it encourages learning and makes it fun!

This is a book I would recommend if your child wants to learn, but I think if you are an adult who wants to learn some basic information before delving into more adult-geared books, this provides some valuable insight! I truly love this book!

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Tags book recommendations

Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

I love this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 so much! I think it’s gorgeous 𓄤!! He’s Roman-ified and wearing a toga!! It’s a really nice piece and one of my favorites in the Vatican! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 even joined me for this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the Egyptian god 𓊹 of mummification, burial rites and tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥/cemeteries. However, when Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was conquered by Rome, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was likened to the Roman god 𓊹 Mercury! Mercury had many functions, but one of the traits that related him to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was that Mercury guided souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. It was part of Mercury’s function as the messenger god 𓊹!

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is even holding a caduceus in his hand – a symbol often associated with Mercury. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is also looking quite fashionable with his Roman style sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏦!

As you all know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god 𓊹. I also love this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 because it shows the blending of the Egyptian and Roman religions which happened after Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was defeated by Rome during the Battle of Actium.

The Battle of Actium (September 12th, 31 B.C.E.) was the last battle of the Roman Republic and gave rise to the Roman Empire (and the fall of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖). The battle was fought between Octavian and Marc Antony/Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇. With Octavian’s victory, he secured his place as the first Emperor of Rome.

Tags anubis, gods and goddesses, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

This is a Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 (New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, c. 1292-1190 B.C.E.).

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

Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was plundered in the 20th Dynasty, and only three 𓏼 of his wooden ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain! 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.

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).

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 gives the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, rameses ii, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Sarcophagus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

This is a close-up photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis (or Inpw to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪) 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 from a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET. I chose to highlight this particular detail from the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 because while it is not part of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, this is my favorite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃; Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine! As many of you know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art!

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃: 𓃣 and 𓃤. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢, 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, 𓃣, 𓁢. Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god 𓊹 that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, burial places). While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐, shrines associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was called 𓉱𓊹, or the “God’s Booth.” One of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is: 𓏅𓊹𓉱 or “In front at the God’s Booth.”

Tags anubis, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Two Wooden Statues of Metjetji

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

Whenever we were in a museum, my Nonno would always point out the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 whenever they were in great condition. He always explained to me that wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 decayed quickly and was harder to preserve than stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, so it was always remarkable whenever a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was able to retain its beauty 𓄤 and not decay over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years. Thanks to my Nonno’s teachings and enthusiasm, I have always been so appreciative of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 artifacts.

These are two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 named Metjetji who lived during the 5th or 6th Dynasty (c. 2371-2288 B.C.E.). These 𓏻 two statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 seem to represent Metjeti as a younger man 𓊃𓀀𓏤, while other statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 found in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 show him at an older age. When the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had their likeness preserved for eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛, they wanted themselves to be represented at the best – hence why in most statues/reliefs/paintings that are found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 looks so young.

The paint on these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 is remarkably well preserved, which can happen if the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is under the right conditions for thousands of years (which is rare – usually humidity and time can get the better of organic materials). Metjetji is wearing a kilt and broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 along with other pieces of jewelry. He is also holding a staff in his hand in the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 on the left. In both representations, Metjeti seems to be walking (because one foot is in front of the other – almost like a stride).

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Papyrus Depicting a Building Foundation Ceremony

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

Sorry for the glare, but I quite like this piece! This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is a very cool artifact – it is a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 depicting a building foundation ceremony from the 22nd Dynasty (c. 1069-664 B.C.E.).

On the top right side of the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛, Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 and Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 are pictured. The names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡 and Neith 𓈖𓏭𓏏 appear above their heads 𓁶𓏦, and act almost like captions which I always think is such a cool feature of Egyptian art! The names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 do not include the determinative symbols, just the phonograms! Even without the captions, Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 and Neith are easy deities to recognize because Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋 is usually represented as a man’s 𓊃𓀀𓏤 body with a crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 head, while Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 is a slender woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔.

The other people (drum and tambourine players) are dedicating the foundation of the building that is to be built to Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 and Sobek 𓋴𓃀𓎡𓆋. There are also workers who are breaking ground, using various tools (on the bottom left you can see them using a hoe, which is also a popular hieroglyph 𓌺).

Tags artifact, louvre

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