Month: June 2022

Book Review – “The Tomb of Queen Nefertari”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

Today I am reviewing “The Tomb of Queen Nefertari” by Ruth Shilling! This book is an overview of the tomb in regards to the gods and goddesses that appear in the art. Overall, I would recommend the book, however, I wrote about the stuff I didn’t like too much as well!

Some things I love about the book:
The pictures of Nefertari’s tomb are absolutely gorgeous! This is one of the most beautifully decorated tombs in all of Egypt, and the pictures are wonderful. It was worth the price of the book just for the pictures!

When it comes to starting to learn to read hieroglyphs, my philosophy is to to just jump right in with ancient Egyptian texts. You’ll never learn if you just get a book and study vocabulary. This book fits in with that philosophy because it teaches vocabulary (names of deities, popular phrases) in terms of Nefertari’s tomb. This book is great for kids because the explanations are not complex at all, and it’s also great for adults who might just be starting and grammar books/intro books are intimidating.

I like how it focused on the gods/goddesses in the tomb. It gave the book a good focus and allows the reader to see an overview of the Egyptian pantheon.

Some things I didn’t like:
It was very simple and didn’t go into much detail. For example, when showing the names of gods/goddesses in the hieroglyphs, it usually does not include determinatives and only shows the name that appears in the tomb, as opposed to the more common ways to write the name that would allow for recognition in other pieces/places. Also, there is a mistake on one of the pages (shows that 𓇓 = king, but it’s part of the word for King’s Wife 𓇓𓏏𓈞/𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞).

While it is great for kids and for adults who are just beginning their hieroglyphic reading journey, for someone who is more advanced, this book offers no new information and is almost too surface level sometimes, even for a beginner.

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Tags book recommendations

Egyptian Artifacts

Thoth as a Babboon

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

This is a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭! The god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was usually depicted as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤, but was also commonly depicted as a baboon. The name 𓂋𓈖 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is actually the Greek version of his name 𓂋𓈖; the ancient Egyptians referred to him as Djehuty (𓅝-Djhu 𓏏- t, y-𓏭, 𓀭).

While Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is mainly known as being the patron of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪, the god 𓊹 of writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and the creator of language 𓂋𓏺, he is also considered the god 𓊹 of the sciences 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜𓏦 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹. The moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 could be thought of as a “night sun,” which places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar!

Since the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 is commonly a symbol of wisdom, Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was also associated with being very wise. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 has also provided guidance to the other gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and can also be associated with truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and was thus the god 𓊹 of all record keeping. These characteristics are why he is the bookkeeper in the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony from the Book of the Dead. The scene acted as the “Last Judgment” of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Due to his vast knowledge, Thoth 𓁟 was thought to know magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 and secrets 𓃀𓋴𓆟𓏛𓏦 that were unknown to the rest of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. This made him an extremely powerful figure!

Thoth can be written as: 𓅤𓀭, 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, 𓁟. He also had various titles such as “Lord of the Divine Words,” “Three Times Great,” and “Lord of Ma’at” amongst many others!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, thoth, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

The Marriage Scarab and Senet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

I love this display at the Brooklyn Museum because it’s so blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 – blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 is my favorite color (and it was a favorite of the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 too – for various religious reasons)! Both of these pieces are dated to the reign of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (Dynasty 18).

The first piece is a scarab 𓆣 that is known as a “Marriage Scarab,” even though it doesn’t mention marriage! During his reign 𓋾, Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 commissioned the production of her 200 𓏲𓏲 scarabs 𓆣𓆣𓆣 that recorded important events. Fifty-six 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏿 of the scarabs 𓆣𓆣𓆣, like this one pictured, contained information such as Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 complete list of names/titles, the boundaries of the empire and Queen Tiye’s official names and titles/the names of her parents. The mention of Queen Tiye and her relation to Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is what led Egyptologists to call these the “marriage scarabs.”

Senet 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.). During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka 𓂓 (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word “Senet” 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 actually means passage or gateway! If you look really closely, you can see details of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 and the Tyet 𓎬 (Isis Knot) painted on the sides!

Senet 𓊃𓏏𓈖𓏠 is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things a about humanity have not changed!

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, scarab

Egyptian Artifacts

Paddle Dolls

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

Here are two 𓏻 examples of paddle dolls – contrary to popular belief, these were not toys used by children 𓐍𓇌𓀕𓏦 (as a kid I thought they were dolls that Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 children 𓐍𓇌𓀕𓏦 played with)!

A paddle doll is usually made of a flat piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 that shows a very rough representation of a head 𓁶𓏺, face, neck and torso of usually a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐. The bodies of the paddle dolls are usually pained in various designs, which are thought to represent either textile patterns or tattoos! The “beads” that you see coming off of the head 𓁶𓏺 are made of mud pellets, which is representative of hair 𓍲𓈖𓏭. They would also make noise when shaken, similarly to that of a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣. Sometimes paddle dolls are associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 because of this!

The shape of the body (which is noticeably missing legs) is thought to be similar/representative of the menat necklace 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 that is usually worn by women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏦 during religious ceremonies. These paddle dolls, were thought to be part of religious ceremonies due to this connection. It is also possible that these dolls were used as fertility figures, as some of them have been found with painted images of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 or Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜; both deities are associated with fertility.

The paddle dolls in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏are dated to Dynasties 11-13 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2081-1700 B.C.E.).

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Reading Hieroglyphs

Reading the Cartouche of the Pharaoh Unas

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!

One of the best ways to practice reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (especially phonogram symbols) is to read the cartouches of some of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from the Old Kingdom! The reason why they are great to practice phonogram symbols is because the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 are very phonetic!

Let’s take a look at the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Unas:

(𓃹𓈖𓇋𓋴) – Unas

Here is a breakdown of the symbols:

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The hare 𓃹 is a biliteral sign which means it represents two consonants. The 𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!”

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

The “folded cloth 𓋴” is a uniliteral phonogram for “s.”

So the transliteration of the cartouche would be: “wnnı͗s.” This would be pronounced/written as “Unas.”

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead – The Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This copy of the Book of the Dead (known to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 as the Book of Going Forth By Day) belonged to Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, Priest 𓊹𓍛 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, who lived during the early Ptolemaic Period (between 332-200 B.C.E.). No, it’s not that Imhotep from “The Mummy” (1999), however, this is still a funny coincidence! The Book of the Dead was created for Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 so he could have a successful journey into the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The spells on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 were also meant to ensure his safety and well-being in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (realm of the dead).

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see some of the hieratic script that the Book of the Dead is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read hieratic! I can only read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 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, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table” could have been written/drawn in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all!

On the top right, you can see Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 standing with his arms raised in a worshipping stance; he is worshipping the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡, who is in her cow form 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒! Next to that, you can see the four Sons of Horus surrounding a canopic chest! The Four Sons of Horus guarded the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹 of the deceased! From the right: Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑(jackal head) held/protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, Imseti 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋(human head) held/protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌(baboon head) held/protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 (falcon head) held/protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼.

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

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

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