Month: June 2022

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Duamutef in Hieroglyphs

Duamutef’s name in Hieroglyphs

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 was one of the four Sons of Horus and his job was to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars or in funerary art. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification. Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction.

Let’s take a look at Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! All of the symbols in Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 are phonogram symbols, which means that they represent sounds!

The “star 𓇼” functions as a triliteral phonogram for the sound “dw3” (almost like “dua”). Triliteral means that the symbol represents three consonants! In other words, it can also function as a determinative or ideogram.

The “vulture 𓅐” is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sounds “mjt/mwt.” It is also used as a determinative in the word “vulture 𓈖𓂋𓅐”

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine!

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative.

So Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is something like “duamwttf” – which is very similar to “Duamutef!” There’s no Greek version of the name here! For example, “Anubis” is a Greek name – “Inpu” is what the ancient Egyptians would have called Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ovoid Stone of Hatshepsut

This piece is known as an “Ovoid Stone” or a “Hammering Stone” and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction. Also, it’s two 𓏻 of my favorite things: rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! It seems like such a random and underwhelming piece, but most of the time those are my favorites!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓏏𓄤(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓁹𓈖𓊃𓅓𓏠𓏧𓊃𓏛𓆑𓊃𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 –

“The Great Goddess, Maatkare, she made the monument for her father, Amun-Re…”

𓏸𓆑𓏸𓍱𓈙𓁷𓏸𓇋𓏠𓈖𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐𓁹𓈖𓋹𓍘

“…at the stretching of the cord 𓍱 over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!”

The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. It involved nailing four stakes into the ground at the four corners of the building and then linking them with a cord.

Some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 were hard to see in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so I hope this translation accurate!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Roman-Egyptian Limestone Stela

(from left) The Pharaoh, Anubis and a Goddess (inferred to be Hathor)

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 from the Roman Period is an interesting piece! Let’s take a closer look!

The stela depicts 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (left) holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 and and offering a cloth 𓍱 to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (middle) and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 (right). The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is wearing the Atef Crown 𓋚. The Atef Crown 𓋚 is usually associated with the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.

Right next to the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 head 𓁶𓏺 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 you can just see a cartouche which simply says (𓉐𓉻) or pharaoh! The emperor Augustus usually wrote his cartouche as (𓉐𓉻), however many other rulers during this time period did too so we can’t necessarily say for sure that it is Augustus that is depicted!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is shown wearing the double crown 𓋖 of both Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, which is cool because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 usually isn’t depicted with a crown on his head 𓁶𓏺 in more traditional Egyptian art. During the Greek and Roman Periods, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was regarded as the “conquerer of death” and “companion/escort of the dead” and was very popular! Both Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 are holding Ankhs 𓋹𓋹𓋹 in their hands.

The name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 isn’t in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, however, I think the goddess 𓊹𓏏 depicted is Hathor 𓉡 because the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, and sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 are associated with Hathor 𓉡. Plus, Hathor 𓉡 was also a popular goddess 𓊹𓏏 to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 during this time period. I’m sure others have their interpretations as well, this is just mine!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabits and the Shabti Spell

Ushabti at The MET. The black text going down the center of the figure is the Shabti Spell

I have always loved and will always love ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures!! They are one of my absolute favorite things to see in museums, and that is probably because my Nonno loved ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 so much! He used to tell my sister and I stories about the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 and I became enthralled with them so let’s take a look at this little guy!!

This style of ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is very common in the Third Intermediate Period. The figure is made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 with details in black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. Most ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures contained hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on them that were part of the “Shabti Spell,” which is taken from chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. The spell was very formulaic and appears on many different ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪! Since space is very limited on these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪, this is a very shortened version of the spell!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris
𓎟𓅄 – Nb-Hrw
𓐙𓊤 – Justified (or “True of Voice”)

All together 𓈖𓊗, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 read: “The Osiris, Nb-Hrw, Justified.”

The name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, which in this case is “Nb-Hrw 𓎟𓅄,” will always follow the epithet “The Osiris 𓊩𓁹.” The reason why the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is referred to as “The Osiris 𓊩𓁹” is because the ancient Egyptians wanted to live forever 𓎛𓇳𓎛 in the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, just like Osiris 𓊩𓁹! “Justified/True of Voice 𓐙𓊤,” meant that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 lived an honest and true life 𓋹!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“May He Live Every Day Like Ra”

“May He Live Every Day Like Ra” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.)

Here is what the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 says:
𓋹𓍘 – May He Live
𓇳𓏺𓎟 – Every Day
𓏇𓇳𓏺 – Like Ra

The little “strokes 𓏺” are not technically part of the words and they are not pronounced! They are there for aesthetic purposes to make sure all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are spaced out correctly and appear even/in lines on the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱!

I have posted a bunch of inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 from this coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 because it is just so beautiful 𓄤! The wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 from the Middle Kingdom are truly something else! The paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 and the colors are just exquisite and have really stood the test of time!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Shu in Hieroglyphs

The name of the god “Shu” in Hieroglyphs from the coffin of Khnumnakht (The MET)

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Once again, these hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).

These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 pictured spell out the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 “Shu 𓆄𓅱.” Shu 𓆄𓅱 is the god 𓊹 of the atmosphere/air and sunlight. The name 𓂋𓈖 Shu can also mean “emptiness.” In this inscription, the determinative symbol is missing; Shu can also be written as “𓆄𓅱𓀭.”

The “feather 𓆄” is a biliteral symbol and is representative of the sound šw. “𓆄” can also function as an ideogram for “feather 𓆄𓏺,” and as a determinative for “Maat/Truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄.”

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral symbol that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”

Here are some other words that are similar to Shu 𓆄𓅱! What is so cool about all of the words is that they all have to do with the atmosphere!
𓆄𓅱𓅨 – Empty
𓆄𓅱𓇳, 𓆄𓅱𓇶 – sun, sunlight
𓆄𓅱𓇳 – be dry

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Nephthys in Hieroglyphs

The name of the goddess “Nephthys” from the coffin of Khnumnakht

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).

Today, our inscription very simply reads “𓉠,” which is the shortened version of the name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓉠!

This type of symbol that is used in Nephthys’ 𓉠 name 𓂋𓈖 is called a Composite Hieroglyph. A Composite Hieroglyphic symbol is a symbol that is the combination of multiple symbols into a single glyph.

The three 𓏼 symbols “𓎟𓏏𓉗” can be combined to make the “𓉠” symbol, which is not only the crown that Nephthys wears 𓉠, but a space saver when writing out hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Nephthys’ 𓉠 title was “Mistress of the House 𓎟𓏏𓉐𓏺.” If you look, even the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 for “Mistress of the House 𓎟𓏏𓉐𓏺,” are very similar to her name (𓉠)! Both 𓉐and 𓉗 are part of the symbols that relate to “Structures and their Parts;” I love when it is all connected!

Her name 𓂋𓈖 could also be written as 𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓏒𓏯𓆗 or more commonly as 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

In statuary and funerary art, the crown on her head 𓁶𓏺 is one of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that is used in her name (𓉠), which makes Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify in tomb art/funerary art.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of the God Horus

Bronze Statues of Horus at The MET

These are bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, most likely dated to the Late-Ptolemaic Periods.

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was one of the earliest Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. He was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 from the beginning of the dynastic period. The Turin Canon (provides information about Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 earliest rulers 𓋾𓋾𓋾) refers to the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 as the “Followers of Horus.”

Horus 𓅃𓀭 had many roles as a god 𓊹, and these roles evolved and changed throughout Egyptian history. He was originally the Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 God 𓊹 and was referred to as the “Lord of the Sky.” Horus 𓅃𓀭 then evolved to become associated with the sun 𓇳𓏺, and was referred to as the “God of the East.” He was also combined with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and this is how the deity 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 came to evolve.

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was also worshipped as the son 𓅭 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The triad/family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 unit was extremely important to ancient Egyptian religion/culture. Most notably, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is usually associated with being the god 𓊹 of kingship. As the son 𓅭 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the mythological heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Horus 𓅃𓀭 is usually seen as a human with a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 head. On his head 𓁶𓏺 is usually the double crown 𓋖 of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. This is how you can differentiate between Horus 𓅃𓀭 and other falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Goddess Taweret

Taweret at The MET (photo by Amanda)

Here is a gorgeous 𓄤 (and ADORABLE) faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆/statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗! More people are now familiar with Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 because of Moon Knight, but let’s dive into some history/information about her because I think she’s an amazing figure in the Egyptian pantheon!

While the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was a protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 and children 𓐍𓇌𓀕𓏪! The name 𓂋𓈖 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means “the great (female) one!” That is certainly a name 𓂋𓈖 that suits her!

While many amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were usually placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 on their journey to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife), amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 were usually found in homes because she was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was essential to family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 life.

The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 would provide protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 in the home, especially during childbirth, which was quite deadly for mothers 𓅐𓏏𓁐𓏪 at the time. For this reason, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was usually worshipped in the home instead of in temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪!

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was also associated with the inundation of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Since the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 needed to flood in order for the soil to be fertile enough for crops to grow, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of fertility, this association is perfect!

Taweret at The MET (photo by Amanda)
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead: Images of Deities

The Book of the Dead of Imhotep at The MET

These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET! This particular Book of the Dead is incredible because even though it is only in black 𓆎𓅓 or red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink and not in full color like some other versions, it is still so beautiful 𓄤 to look at and I am always mesmerized by the details! Let’s take a closer look at both the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The top panel shows the goddesses 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (right) on their knees in a mourning position on either side of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is in the form of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and is laying on a table that is in the form of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛.

I love how a row of stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 separate the two 𓏻 panels! The star 𓇼 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is another one of my favorite symbols and I love how it is used in both writing and drawing/art!

On the bottom panel, two 𓏻 of the Sons of Horus are pictured with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in the center. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is on his shrine 𓉱𓊹, just like my favorite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 is on the left of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 is on the right. The Sons of Horus had and Anubis all had roles in the protection of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

One thing I love about Egyptian art is how a lot of times there are “captions” next to the people/deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that are pictured so that way you know who they are! Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are obvious to spot because of the crowns on their heads. Their crowns match the hieroglyphs in their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 – Isis has a 𓊨 crown while Nephthys has a 𓉠 crown! However, Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 are not as easy to recognize because they are mummiform and not in their usual form with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 heads! So in this case, the “captions” are quite useful!!!