Month: June 2022

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thoth Amulets

The god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭(or Djehuty to the ancient Egyptians) was originally god π“ŠΉ of the moon, but then became associated with writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ and knowledge. He was also the god π“ŠΉ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ. The moon could be thought of as a β€œnight sun,” which kind of places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Re 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Thoth π“…€π“€­ is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar!

Thoth Amulets at the MET

Thoth π“…€π“€­ was thought to have invented writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, and was thus the god π“ŠΉ of all record keeping. Due to his vast knowledge, Thoth π“Ÿ was thought to know magic and secrets that were unknown to the rest of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. In the Book of the Dead, Thoth π“…€π“€­ is at the extremely important Weighing of the Heart – which is the judgement of the deceased’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 against Ma’at’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather. His job was to record the results of the ceremony.

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was usually represented as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ with an ibis head (π“Ÿ), an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀 or a baboon. In this photograph, there are many faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό statues of Thoth π“…€π“€­ as a baboon. These were very popular amongst scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ, and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 were worn by the living to invoke wisdom!

Thoth can be written as: π“…€π“€­, 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, π“Ÿ. He also had various titles such as β€œLord of the Divine Words,” β€œThree Times Great,” and β€œLord of Ma’at” amongst many others!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Stela with the God Sobek

This is a black granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows the god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ in sunken relief. This stela is dated to the reign of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 (18th Dynasty). The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ originally belonged to a soldier named Amunemhat and he dedicated it to one of Sobek’s π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ temples. Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 saw a lot of military victories, and that is probably how Anunemhat was able to pay for this small stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

On the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ is seen in crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ form standing on an altar π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ with an elaborate headdress on his head. There is an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 in front of him that contains bread 𓏏𓏔𓏐 and meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹, which were very common things to be left as offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏 𓏔𓏦 to either a god π“ŠΉ or the dead. Amunemhat is seen kneeling in the lower right corner of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. Due to the faded hieroglyphs it’s very hard for me to translate them though next to Amunemhat’s head 𓁢𓏺 you can see β€œ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–β€ which is β€œAmun” and this the start of Amunemhat’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ had been worshipped since the Old Kingdom and is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts as being the son π“…­ of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­. He was a water god π“ŠΉ , and also of areas such as marshes and rivers/riverbanks. Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ usually appears in art as a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ or as a man with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head. The elaborate headdress on his head is representative of the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 with tall plumes on either side.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Sculpture of the Goddess Hathor

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ sculpture of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 is one of my favorite pieces that I saw in the Louvre. This piece is dated to the Ptolemaic Period, and used to be part of a column.

Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is quite unique compared to some of the other gods/goddesses. Her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is composed of a composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ which literally translates to β€œHouse of Horus.” Hathor 𓉑 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, motherhood, joy, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

One detail that I love about this piece is that Hathor 𓉑 is shown with her cow ears! Hathor 𓉑 was usually depicted in Egyptian art as either a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ or a cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒, so this little detail is just so cool! Another detail that I love is how her wig is decorated with rosettes! The details are in raised relief, which only make them stand out more.

In Middle Egyptian, the words β€œbeautiful woman” and β€œcow” were the same – the only thing that was different was the determinative symbol! This was most likely due to an association with Hathor 𓉑, and to this day remains one of my favorite β€œfun facts” about hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 (beautiful woman)
𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 (cow)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Stela Dedicated to Hathor

I’m making another post with Hathor 𓉑 in it because why not?! Hathor 𓉑 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, motherhood, joy, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was dedicated to Hathor 𓉑 and the 11th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ by a priest π“ŠΉπ“› named An. On this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, Hathor 𓉑 appears in her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form, while the human figure (probably Montuhotep II) on the left is cut off. An is not pictured on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, which means it was probably already made and An just had his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– added to it. It was most likely placed in a shrine at Deir el-Bahri, because both Hathor 𓉑 and Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ were both worshipped there. It was not uncommon for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to be worshipped long after they died.

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

π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – β€œThe Great God, Lord of the Two Lands, Nebhapetra” (Nebhapetra is Montuhotep II’s throne name)

π“‰‘π“π“Š“π“·π“π“Š–π“‹† – β€œHathor, Chief one of Thebes” (Thebes can also be written as β€œπ“Œ€π“π“Š–β€ – I’m just copying the symbol directly from the stela, even though it may look β€œbackwards”).

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Relief of Montuhotep II

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (11th Dynasty) is gorgeous π“„€ because the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are so beautifully π“„€ carved! It’s amazing how pieces that are so old can be in such amazing condition!

This piece is interesting because the direction that you read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from keeps changing! The two 𓏻 lines I’m going to translate are actually from different inscriptions!!

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

π“†₯𓅭𓇳(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ)π“…’π“„₯π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€ – β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt, Son of Ra, Montuhotep II, Uniter of the Two Lands, Given Life, Stability and Strength”

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – β€œWords Spoken By Montu”

The phrase π“…’π“„₯𓇿𓇿 β€œUniter of the Two Lands” is a variant of Mentuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Nebty Name. The Nebty Name is honestly more of a title than a name. It means β€œtwo ladies” and that refers to the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ and Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜, who can both be represented by the hieroglyph β€œ π“…’.” Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt and is represented by the vulture while Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜ is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Lower Egypt and is represented by the cobra. Showing the two 𓏻 goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ together represented a unified Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Seti I and the Goddess Hathor

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Hathor 𓉑 was known as the Lady of the West (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west! Here, she is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him her menat necklace 𓋧, a symbol of protection. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺! This relief was originally from Seti I’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ– tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, which is actually the biggest tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in the Valley of the Kings!

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

π“‰‘π“Άπ“·π“π“π“Š–π“‹† – β€œHathor, Chief one of Thebes”

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – β€œLord of the Two Lands, Maatmenra” (Maatmenra is the throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–) – β€œLord of the Two Lands Seti, Beloved of Ptah” (Seti is the birth name)

𓏙𓋹 𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – β€œGiven Eternal Life, Like Ra”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Partial Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This is another amazing piece from Gallery 115 at the MET – aka The Hatshepsut Room (as I call it). This granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is from the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 It is titled β€œHead and Shoulders of a Sphinx of Hatshepsut” because it used to be part of a large Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€.

Six 𓏿 large sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ were found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 during the excavations done by the MET. Though it is hard to see in the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏, the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ does actually have some remainders of the original paint on it! I can’t even imagine how beautiful π“„€ it must have looked after it was just carved and painted!

Much like your typical Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is seen wearing the false beard and the nemes headcloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄, which was the normal style for how pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were depicted.

A lot of Hatshepsut’s statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that are from her temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 are made of either granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ or red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ, which is a very hard rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ (aka very resistant to weathering/breakdown). Granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ was mined is Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– and then shipped up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί- definitely an incredible journey!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Hetepsi

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 who was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“› of Hathor 𓉑 during the Old Kingdom (6th-8th Dynasty, c. 2323-2100 B.C.E.). Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 is seen holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in her hand, which is a musical instrument which is associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ– – β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering of…” (Anubis’ name is shortened here, most likely for spacing reasons because Anubis is usually always written as π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒).

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺ𓏏𓏏 – β€œA royal offering” (π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can mean β€œpeace” or β€œoffering”)

π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ – β€œPriestess of Hathor, Mistress of…” (β€œMistress” can also be translated as β€œLady”)

π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 – β€œDendera, who is revered…”

π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 – β€œ…before the great god lord of the sky, Hetepsi”

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺπ“π“π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋

β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering for the royal offering, Priestess of Hathor, Mistress of Dendera, who is revered before the great god, lord of the sky, Hetepsi.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

“Royal and Divine Triad”

Triads (groups of three 𓏼) were popular among ancient Egyptian statuary and mythology. This piece from the Louvre is called the β€œRoyal and Divine Triad” (Dynasty 19, New Kingdom c. 1279-1203 B.C.E.) because it represents three 𓏼 of the most powerful figures in the Egyptian pantheon. Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ or his son π“…­ Merenptah π“‡³π“ƒ’π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ is on the left, Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is in the middle, while Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is on the right. The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was viewed as a god π“ŠΉ on Earth, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was the king of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was lord π“ŽŸ of the afterlife.

I find this piece super interesting because the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 kind of inserted himself amongst the most famous of the Egyptian triads – Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ – who were supposed to represent the divine family (mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, and child π“π“‡Œπ“€•). In some instances (like with this statue), the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would function as the child in the statue.

Not all triads represented families, though that was the most common. Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was a family triad that was extremely popular in Memphis. During the New Kingdom (around the time of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“), the triad of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± became very popular due to the powerful nature of these three 𓏼 deities

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela for Irethoreru

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Irethoreru and it is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period, c. 775-663 B.C.E.). This stela is composed of the igneous rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ syenite, which is very similar to granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ except for the fact that it contains much less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™. This property is what allows such beautiful π“„€ color contrast between the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ itself versus the sunken relief. The contrast between the two 𓏻 makes this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ particularly stunning in my opinion.

On the right side, we can see Irethoreru making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. All three 𓏼 figures are standing underneath Horus the Behdetite (the winged solar disc with uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗), which is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that was popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ and temple decorations throughout many Egyptian time periods.

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

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – Great One
π“ŠΉπ“… – God’s Mother/Goddess

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – β€œOsiris”
π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – β€œGreat God”
π“ŽŸπ“‡― – β€œLord of the Sky” (𓇯 by itself usually means β€œabove,” but for this translation it’s just the word sky/heaven which is usually written as π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. This is usually Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ title so it’s a little strange to see it associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!)
π“‹Ύ – Ruler
𓆖 – Eternity