Month: June 2022

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Columns of Rameses II at the Louvre

Here I am in the Louvre!

The Louvre had such a large Egyptian collection (even compared to the MET) that I was honestly a little overwhelmed trying to see everything!! My Nonno and I spent the whole time practically running around because we didn’t want to miss anything!

One of the first cartouches I learned to read were for Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. I always felt so proud as a little girl when I could recognize the names of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 on the artifacts! Rameses II’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is always a good one to know because he put his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– everywhere! He usurped a lot of monuments from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and replaced their names with his own. Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– also had a lot of variations of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and depending when in his reign the monument was made and the amount of space available could determine which cartouche was used.

Here are some examples:

(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“), (π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“), and (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ) are all different variations of Rameses II’s birth name! While β€œspelled” with different hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, they actually all mean the same thing! For example, 𓇳𓏺, 𓁛, and π“œ are all used to designate β€œRa” while π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– and 𓁩 are used for Amun! (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) which is seen on the column in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is his throne name!
What’s really cool is that a very similar column also belonging to Rameses II can be found in the British Museum too!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Column of Bes

This is part of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ column that is representative of the god π“ŠΉ Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ and it is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (332-31 B.C.E.).

Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was worshipped as the protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of households 𓉐𓏺, mothers 𓅐𓏏𓁐π“ͺ, children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ, and even childbirth. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also represented everything good, and was the enemy of anything evil. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ is also thought to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ people against sickness. Cups were fashioned in Bes’ π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ likeness and people thought if they drank from the cup, Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ would heal them! Small statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ were also placed in bedrooms as a form of protection.

Fun fact: the Spanish island of Ibiza is thought to be named after Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ! Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was worshipped by the Phoenicians (whose pantheon mixed with the Egyptians) and Phoenician settlers brought their worship of Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ with them to Ibiza when it was settled. Ibiza actually means β€œIsland of Bes.”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Faience Tiles from the Step Pyramid

Djoser 𓂦 was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 3rd Dynasty, and his Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 was the first large stone structure in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. Designed by the architect Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, who was later deified, the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 was meant to provide the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 with a large funerary complex and a home for eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›.

These blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό tiles decorated the lower levels of Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 Complex. There were over 30,000 tiles used!!! The tiles were meant to represent various types of reeds that covered the walls of Djoser’s 𓂦 palace.

I have always been obsessed with anything having to do with the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 solely because of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. My Nonno always spoke more about Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ than Djoser 𓂦! My Nonno always pointed these tiles out to me in the museum. While to most people, the tiles look somewhat insignificant compared to beautifully π“„€ carved reliefs and statues, my Nonno always said that these types of tiles were important because they were really only found in the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 and one of Djoser’s 𓂦 other buildings at Saqqara. The tiles were pretty much a β€œuniquely Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” thing according to Nonno!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title β€œGoldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.). It is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

The Book of the Dead is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ as well.

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 π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! I would love to learn Hieratic though! The text is read from top to bottom, right to left.

Some of the Hieratic is in black π“†Žπ“…“ ink while some of it is in red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ. The red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“‚π“› of a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃” could have been written/drawn in red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all! So, some of the red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ ink seems kinda random.

Categories
Blog

BTS and Ancient Egypt!

μ•ˆλ…•ν•˜μ„Έμš” – Hello!!

So this is going to be a different type of post but that’s okay! Namjoon 남쀀 from BTS λ°©νƒ„μ†Œλ…„λ‹¨ posted a picture at the Temple of Dendur at the MET! As many of you know, this is one of my absolute favorite places and I was very excited to see that I actually have a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 in the same exact spot as him! Namjoon 남쀀 loves museums and is a big supporter of the arts – just like me!

I discovered BTS λ°©νƒ„μ†Œλ…„λ‹¨ during quarantine in 2020 after my Nonno passed away and their music (plus their TV shows etc.) have been a huge comfort for me. I love their music and I love their message – so much so that I am trying my hardest to learn some Korean ν•œκ΅­μ–΄ so I can listen to their music without needing as many translations. Writing about ancient Egypt and BTS λ°©νƒ„μ†Œλ…„λ‹¨ have been my ways to try to healthily cope with my Nonno’s death, which is still something I am having difficulty processing.

Some history on the Temple of Dendur: The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was actually commissioned by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 and building was completed by 10 B.C. Dendur is located in Nubia, and is just south 𓇔𓅱𓏏 of Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š–. Even though the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was built by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀, it definitely follows Egyptian style and not Roman style. The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was primarily used to worship the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯.

κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€ – Thank You!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Scribes in Ancient Egypt

Scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ were very highly regarded in ancient Egyptian society. Due to the complexity of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ/hieratic, those who were able to master it were extremely valued. Scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ recorded magic spells, wills and other legal contracts, medical procedures, and tax records. Scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ also helped to preserve Egyptian culture throughout time. They were considered part of the royal court and did not have to serve in the military because their job as a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ was so essential.

Nicole (me) and her sister Amanda with the scribe statue at the Louvre.

It took almost ten π“Ž† years for a person to complete scribal training and children started school as young as five 𓏾 years old. Though most scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ are shown to be men π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, there is archaeological evidence that some girls also attended school and learned to read. Most boys inherited the job of scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ from their father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 as is the same with other occupations in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

Fun fact: it took me about six 𓏿 years to really master reading hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Even though I’ve been practicing/reading them for over 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years now, I’m still learning every single day!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blades of Hatshepsut

Believe it or not, these two 𓏻 pieces were probably my favorite objects that I saw in the Petrie Museum.

I was so excited when I saw them, because Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 throne name appears on it! Since I absolutely love anything to do with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, I was incredibly excited to see something with her name on it. These two 𓏻 pieces are actually bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ blades that were once attached to a handle.

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

π“„€π“ŠΉ – Perfect God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name – translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.”)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (Deir el-Bahri temple)

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

Put together, the inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ƒπ“‚¦π“‚¦π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ β€œThe Perfect God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Holiest of Holies.”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela – Cippus

This is known as a Magical Stela, or a cippus.

It depicts Horus π“…ƒπ“€­(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“₯ and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ and scorpions π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†«π“ͺ in each hand. The god Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also appears above Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ head 𓁢𓏺. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was known to ward off evil and bad luck.

Normally, stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ were used to commemorate the dead so this is almost like a protective amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† in the form of a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. This cippus was used by the living for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. Cippus stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺.

However, cippus pieces have also been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the living, but the dead too.

Fun fact! The Middle Egyptian word for scorpion is π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« which can be pronounced like β€œSerket.” Serket π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was represented by a scorpion and she was associated with healing, protection, and magic. Serket π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« could also be written like this: π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Abydos King List

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List. There are two surviving King Lists from temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. One temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abydos, while Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–, Smenkhare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ were considered gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery

The room is known as Gallery 115, but I have always called it β€œThe Hatshepsut Room” simply because it is the gallery in the MET where all of her statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ are. The MET was instrumental in excavating Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and all of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ in this gallery are from that excavation.

While Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was not the only female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian history, she was without a doubt the most successful (if not one of the most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to ever live). During her rule, any Hyksos influence was now erased, and this time was kind of the β€œgolden age” for New Kingdom art. Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– also had good relationships with neighboring peoples and trade flowed freely. This allowed Egypt to prosper in ways that it hadn’t before π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.