Month: June 2022

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

The inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 spells out the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. β€œOsiris” is actually the Greek version of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–; the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ probably would have pronounced his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– like β€œIsr.”

There are a couple of different ways to write Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­β€ is the most common way! Other variations are:
π“‡¬π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“„€π“€­
π“Š©π“Ή

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is considered one of the most important deities in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. While he is mostly known as the god π“ŠΉ of the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (Duat), but that he also controlled all life π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ from the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This means that Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was associated with the annual flooding of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί but also the growing vegetation and annual harvest. This makes sense since Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is strongly connected with regeneration and rebirth, and the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ also associated the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί with these characteristics. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was even thrown into the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί after he was cut up by his brother π“Œ’π“ˆ– Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£!

It was believed that every person, not just deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs, became associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ when they died! However people were not resurrected in this life π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ (even Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ himself wasn’t technically resurrected), instead, the person was reborn into the next life and lived in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Turtle Bowl

I don’t know why, but I think this piece is so cute! It’s a bowl π“‚§π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“Έ in the shape of a turtle π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰ that was made during the Predynastic Period (c. 3900–3500 B.C.E). The turtle π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰ bowl π“‚§π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“Έ is made of red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ clay!

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ were seen as an ambiguous force because they were creatures of both land 𓇾 and water π“ˆ—. Turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ were also seen as the enemy of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and in chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead, it is stated that β€œMay Ra live, and may the turtle die.” The turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ that lived in the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί were mostly nocturnal, which is probably why they were considered to be Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 enemy. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 was the sun 𓇳 god π“ŠΉ, and was responsible for the rising of the sun 𓇳, while the night represented Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

While not as popular as some iconography, throughout Egyptian history, turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ took the form of vessels, palettes π“π“Šƒπ“π“†±π“¦, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, and images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on objects such as stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ.

Turtle π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰ can also be written in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ like this: 𓆉𓏺.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Djed Pillar Amulets

I absolutely love amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ because I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things! The MET has an incredible collection of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, and I feel like most people just walk by them because they’re so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©! But even small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© objects can tell incredible stories about history!

In ancient Egyptian religion and culture, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were thought to have magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ powers and bestow them upon its wearer. Worn by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, different amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ served various religious and protective functions. Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were usually made of faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, which is a cheap and easy material to work with. Most faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό pieces have a green/blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color. This is because these colors were thought to represent life π“‹Ή and regeneration.

The djed pillar π“Š½ was associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and his regenerative powers and is thus considered an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† of power. The djed pillars π“Š½ are usually blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ or green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 in color to represent the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. These amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ date back to the Old Kingdom, and were used throughout Egyptian history. In the New Kingdom, they were strung around the neck of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. In hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the djed π“Š½ symbol means β€œstability” or β€œenduring.”

The djed pillar π“Š½ has also been thought to represent the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, as referenced in The Book of the Dead: β€œRaise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sketch of a Hippo

This is a sketch of a hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― completed by an artist during the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (c. 1479–1425 B.C.E., 18th Dynasty). Ostraca were pieces of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ that artists would practice drawing and writing on, simply because papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was very expensive!

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, in some cases, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil!

For example, the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was represented as a hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― standing on two 𓏻 feet. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of childbirth and was the protector of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ. However, when the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― was in its animal form, the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― was a representation of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£, the god π“ŠΉ of chaos!

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏however, I don’t believe there’s any hidden meaning or good 𓄀𓆑𓂋 vs. evil π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“π“…¨ debate going on! I think the artist was just simply practicing! Usually ostraca contain guidelines or a grid, but this one does not! I’m assuming this means that this was the work of an experienced artist! Also, the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is beautiful π“„€, and it’s also colored in, so it looks like a completed work and not necessarily a sketch!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Red Crown of Lower Egypt (Amulet)

The Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” of Lower Egypt 𓆀 (left) was the headdress that was associated with the area of Lower Egypt 𓆀 (North) while the White Crown π“„€π“‹‘ (middle) was associated with the area of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (South). Combined, the two 𓏻 crowns represented a United Egypt (right). The combined crown is on a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† that most likely represents the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­! Today I am going to focus on the Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† because it is a favorite of mine!

Known as the deshret to the ancient Egyptians, the Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” in amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† form was considered to be an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† of power. The word β€œdeshret” in Middle Egyptian could both refer to the color red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ, or the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ/π“ˆŠπ“π“Ί. Sometimes, Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was even referred to as the β€œRed Land” in ancient Egyptian texts.

While the Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” was first worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Narmer 𓆒𓍋, it was only first seen in amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† form during the First Intermediate Period. The Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” of Lower Egypt is a cylindrical headpiece with a tall spike in the back and a long spiral in the front. This crown has been named the β€œred crown” by Egyptologists because it is usually depicted in a red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ color in Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ art. While usually depicted in red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ, most amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are in the blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color that is typical of faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό.

In ancient Egypt, red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ was considered a powerful color because it is associated with blood, in particular the blood of Isis. While the Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” (and all other crowns) would have only been worn by a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ in the shape of crowns would imbue the wearer (even if they were a commoner or non-royal) with the same power or authority as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 or god π“ŠΉ.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Weighing of the Heart

The Weighing of the Heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is my absolute favorite scene from the Book of the Dead, and just one of my favorite scenes from literature in general! I have been so fortunate to see many different version of the Book of the Dead in various museums! While this is a simplified version of the scene, I still love it! This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is kinda hidden amongst many other papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 at the MET, and I’ve definitely missed it during other visits!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the center of the scene so of course it is my favorite! Here, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s π“Œ΄π“™π“‚£π“π“¦ feather. If Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two 𓏻, then the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would then enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, or the afterlife.

Thoth π“…€π“€­ records the findings. While Thoth π“…€π“€­ is usually represented in his human body/ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀 head form during this scene, that is not the case here! Thoth π“…€π“€­ is in his baboon form and is sitting on top of the scale! Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏(the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is also absent from this version! It’s always so interesting to see different versions of the same scene!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, it’s interesting to see Osiris spelled like β€œπ“Š©π“Ήβ€ instead of the common form β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.” For some reason I’m always fascinated when I see alternate spellings; I don’t know why!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the phrase β€œπ“Š©π“Ήπ“ŽŸπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›β€ or β€œOsiris, Lord of Eternity” is written! We have learned all of those words through other posts!! Can you find it?!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Foundation Deposit Brick of Rameses II

Foundation Deposit Brick of Rameses II at The MET

This beautiful π“„€ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό piece is a foundation deposit brick with the cartouche of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– written on it (19th Dynasty, c. 1279–1213 B.C.E.). I chose this piece for today, because Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– is thought to possibly be the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the Exodus – there are many theories as to who the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was that is mentioned in The Bible by Moses. The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the Exodus is only referred to as β€œthe pharaoh” in The Bible and not by name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, so historians and religious scholars can only make inferences based on The Bible and archaeological evidence.

It is all so fascinating and based on my research, I believe that the evidence lines up to Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– being the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the Exodus. Some of the specific references made in the text of Exodus seems to line up really well with the 19th Dynasty time period. Some scholars disagree and think the Exodus happened at a later time period, some believe it happened earlier.

Why would there be no historical record of the Exodus in writings π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ from Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–? Egyptian writing was full of propaganda and only the good stuff was mentioned. Something like the Exodus would have been kept on the down-low.

Foundation deposit bricks were ceremonial offerings that were placed at the corners of buildings, courts, temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ , tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦, and pretty much the foundation of any building. They can almost be thought of as the ancient version of a ground-breaking ceremony. The foundation deposit bricks usually contained the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that the building was constructed under on it! I’m the early dynastic times, foundation deposits took the form of pottery, but later evolved into different versions of what you see pictured 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Was Anubis Mentioned in the Bible?

As we all know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the Egyptian god π“ŠΉ of embalming and tombs/cemeteries. This means that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was the main protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the recently deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! During the New Kingdom, more specifically the 18th Dynasty, it became common for statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 to be placed in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ as a sort of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the dead! The most famous example is the β€œAnubis Shrine 𓃣” that was found in Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰! The statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Late Period.

Since I am in the process of reading the Bible, here’s something very interesting about Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 I just learned recently! Did you know that some Bible/religious scholars believe that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is actually mentioned in Exodus!? When I was reading Exodus, and I caught what I thought was a reference to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, I was shocked and immediately had to start researching!

β€œBut not a dog shall growl against any of the people of Israel, either man or beast, that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.” (Exodus 11:7, English Standard Version) Another translation is “But against all the Israelites, whether man or beast, not even a dog will snarl.”

The plagues of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– can be interpreted as the Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ being powerless against God himself – such as when God blocked the Sun 𓇳𓏺 for three 𓏼 days during the ninth plague, Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 was powerless to stop it. So, the mention of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be interpreted as Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 having no power over life and death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, or that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 will have no power over the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of the people of Israel (Canaan π“‘π“„Ώπ“‰”π“ˆŠπ“­ in The Bible). It can also be taken as God (not Anubis) would bring death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, but not Israel π“‘π“„Ώπ“‰”π“ˆŠπ“­.

Again, these are interpretations of the Bible (including some of my own), and I’m sure many scholars and other readers have their own interpretations that are different and just as valid!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Frogs and the Exodus

I’m going to talk about the Second Plague of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– today: Frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦! Many Biblical/religious scholars believe that the 10 Plagues of Egypt were not only directed by God against the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/people of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, but the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ as well.

These frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† figures are dated to the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3000-2675 B.C.E.) so these are quite old! Frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ were not really written about at all during these predynastic times, and these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ predate a lot of religious writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ and iconography , however, they are mentioned in Exodus (starting at 8:1).

The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† to be a symbol of fertility because they would appear after the flooding of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, so they were associated with life π“‹Ή/the regenerative qualities of water π“ˆ—. The frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† is also associated with the fertility goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† who is represented as a woman with a frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† head.

Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† also had the task of controlling the population of frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– by protecting the frog-eating crocodiles. Without Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“†, the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† population would grow out of control! During the Second Plague, God overwhelmed Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† hence the large amount of frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ that appeared in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! It is God who controls fertility, not Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† because The Lord is all powerful!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

White Limestone Sphinx of Hatshepsut

I was SO EXCITED to see the white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ again! It has been so long since I’ve seen this piece; it was honestly like greeting an old friend! This Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ used to be in the main Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ gallery at the MET, but for some reason it’s no longer there! Now it is hidden in one of the smaller galleries which is a shame because it is such a beautiful piece!

Most of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ that was excavated from her temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 were carved from red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ, however this one is carved from limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ – the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ and this Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are very different too. The white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ have much more feminine features as compared to the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ ones most likely because they were used in different parts of the temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 for different purposes.

This Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ has been heavily reconstructed by using pieces that were modeled after the second Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ just like this one, which is in the Cairo Museum. These two 𓏻 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ most likely guarded the upper terrace of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 while the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ would have guarded the lower terrace.

Thanks to Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ drive/intelligence and her architect Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, Hatshepsut will be remembered as one of the most prolific builders in Egyptian history! It’s such a shame that she doesn’t get the same recognition that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ gets!

Instead of wearing the typical nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth that most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who were fashioned into sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ wear, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is actually wearing a lion’s π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› mane! This is very typical of Middle Kingdom art! This piece is dated to 1479–1458 B.C.E., and I love seeing New Kingdom art imitate styles from the past!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun
π“ŒΊπ“π“‡Œ – Beloved
𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given
𓆖 – Eternity

β€œMaatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.”

I know this is strange, but β€œGiven Life” is written backwards! It should be β€œπ“™π“‹Ήβ€ not β€œπ“‹Ήπ“™β€ as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left).

There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know!