Month: August 2022

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Hieroglyphs and Korean!

So something you might have guessed about me is that I love to learn!! Something else about me is that when I like something – I really REALLY like it and need to learn everything about it. I’m very passionate and enthusiastic about my hobbies and interests. My normally stoic/cold exterior completely changes when I’m talking about stuff I love! My Nonno always got similarly excited when speaking about topics he loved.

One of the things I’m learning right now is Korean! I already speak English, Italian, and can read/write hieroglyphs (I would’ve failed as a scribe because I am awful at drawing the symbols – I’m kinda embarrassed to post my β€œhandwriting” πŸ˜‚) – so why do I want to learn Korean? It’s because of BTS!! I love their music and want to be able to understand it instead of reading translations!

One thing I noticed when I was learning the Korean alphabet (called Hangeul ν•œκΈ€) was that my name (Nicole) is written β€œsimilarly” in both hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and ν•œκΈ€!!!

π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­
λ‹ˆμ½œ

Now, obviously they don’t look similar at all but both are written as β€œNikol” in romanized letters! When I was a kid I was insistent that my name in hieroglyphs be written as π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­π“‡Œ so it would match the English as much as possible – I was stubborn and didn’t care about phonetics.

Learning Korean has been so fun and so interesting (and very difficult) because it is so different from the other languages I know, however, I did like this similarity between hieroglyphs and Korean! It seems like I relate everything back to ancient Egypt in one way or another!

If you read this, κ°μ‚¬ν•©λ‹ˆλ‹€!!!! (gam-sa-hab-ni-da AKA Thank You)!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

This is the large granite statue of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ in comparison to me! This statue is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in it!

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, because I don’t think I have ever discussed it much on this page: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the only child of her father, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž Ahmose.

After the death of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ married her half brother, Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– lesser wives.

Thutmosis II died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child, so Hatsheput π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Temple of Dendur

The room at the MET that houses the Temple of Dendur doesn’t feel like a gallery in a museum – it feels like you are in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. This is one of my absolute favorite places. I could literally just sit in this place for hours just taking in the atmosphere – sometimes just existing and taking in a place without rushing around or having a plan is the best.

The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was actually commissioned by Augustus and building was complete by 10 B.C. Dendur is located in Nubia, and is just south of Aswan. Even though the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was built by Augustus, it definitely follows Egyptian style and not Roman style. The emperor is actually presented as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 worshipping Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on the walls of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was primarily used to worship the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This large granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is not in the β€œHatshepsut Gallery” (as I like to call it) at the MET – in fact, she is right next to the Temple of Dendur! I find it an interesting placement in the museum because the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and the Sphinx are from two very different time periods in Egyptian history. The temple of Dendur was built by Augustus while Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ ruled during the New Kingdom.

The Sphinx was one of six large sphinxes that would line her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. It is made of granite, which was mined at Aswan and then transported ~500 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Granite is a super dense rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ so this was no easy task!

This is a large and absolutely beautiful π“„€ piece in real life. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is depicted wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth and the false beard – typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis I

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (or π“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. His name π“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄ means β€œBorn of Thoth.” Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

This statue is in the British Museum! I dream of going back to the British Museum one day – I was lucky enough to be able to go there twice on my trip to London, and even luckier that I got to explore the museum with my NonnoπŸ’œ.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Column of Rameses II

From Nonno’s point of view!!

He took a picture of me taking a picture while we were in the British Museum πŸ˜‚ – I love it!!

Anyway, this is a red granite column that was originally inscribed for Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“! Both of his cartouches can be seen throughout -(π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) and (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–). Also his titles such as β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ and β€œLord of Appearances π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯” can be seen on top of his cartouches.

This column was definitely usurped by another pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at some point because some of the cartouches on this column don’t belong to Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–!

In the bottom of this picture you can see the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ for β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ very clearly!

I have always loved seeing the columns in museums because you can get a sense of the grand scale of the Egyptian monuments. Since I have never been to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, it’s nice to see just how grand their building was! I love the design of this column; the top looks like a flower 𓆸!

Cartouche for Rameses II (π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“).
Another side of the column!
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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III

Not going to lie, I have had a love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 my whole life πŸ˜‚ – I know that sounds weird to say about a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who I clearly have never met, but it’s the only way I can describe it!! This piece is in the MET, and the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are inscribed so beautifully on it! Definitely very eye-catching!

When I first started learning about Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 as a kid, I was (and still am!) so completely fascinated by her and how she became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Since Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a child when Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– died, Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 became the co-regent, until she named herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and pretty much β€œtook the throne.” Since females were never in line for the throne, even though Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was the daughter of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his main queen π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž, she was never in line to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

So why my love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Well, for the longest time it was thought that after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, when he relcaimed the throne, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 had Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 monuments destroyed and her name erased from as many things as possible. Did he actually do this? Scholars aren’t sure it happened to the extent that it was once thought. But I don’t think we will ever have an answer.

What were some of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 accomplishments? He was a great military leader and conquered all of Syria. This is in great contrast to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, who focused more on trade and economic endeavors than military campaigns.

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Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum King’s 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–.

In this picture, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name should be, but is missing due to the fact that she was purposefully left off the list!

You can see Thutmosis III’s the one name 𓇳𓏠𓆣, and then I’m pointing to the space next to his name. Why next to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Even though Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was technically named as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 first, and since he was too young to rule (he came to the throne at as young as two years old according to some historians), Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was his co-regent until she named herself the sole pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Here is a closer look at the King’s List – how stunning are these hieroglyphs?! I’m always so amazed that even after thousands of years, the colors on the monuments are still there!

On the left hand side, you can see the inscription π“†₯(π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–). This is his prenomen, or Throne Name:

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt
π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre Setepenre, which means Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Chosen by Ra.

Next to that inscription, you can see the following: 𓅭𓇳 (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ).

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ – Rameses, Beloved of Amun.

Here’s an even further breakdown of Rameses II’s Nomen:
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜ – Beloved of Amun
π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ – can be translated multiple ways β€œBorn of Ra,” β€œRa bore him,” etc.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Thoth

This is a limestone relief of the god π“ŠΉ Thoth π“…€π“€­ at the Vatican Museum! While Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ, Thoth π“…€π“€­ was always my second favorite because he was the god π“ŠΉ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! Since I love hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, Thoth π“…€π“€­ was always a figure that I found fascinating!

Here are some fun facts about Thoth!
-β€œThoth” is actually his Greek name – in Egyptian his name is β€œDjehuty”

-While Thoth π“…€π“€­ is mainly known as being the patron of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and the god π“ŠΉ of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯/creator of language, he is also considered the god π“ŠΉ of the sciences and the moon!

-He is credited with inventing the calendar and controlling space and time!

-Thoth π“…€π“€­ has also provided guidance to the other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and can also be associated with truth and justice.

-Since Thoth π“…€π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the moon, he replaced Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 in the sky at night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„›.

-He can be represented as an Ibisπ“…ž, as a human body with an Ibis headπ“Ÿ, or as a baboon𓃻!

-He was the bookkeeper at the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bastet vs. Sekhmet

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows bronze statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the beloved π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“. Here are some fun facts about Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“!!

The goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ were both depicted as cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠π“ͺ, however, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ usually had the body of a woman while Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ usually had the body of a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠.

However, when Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was depicted with the body of a woman, she was usually holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in one hand! Since Hathor 𓉑 was usually seen with sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ, this shows a link between the two 𓏻 goddesses!

Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ and Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ were believed to be the two unpredictable personalities of the same goddess π“ŠΉπ“. While Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ represented the destructive and unpredictable side, Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was the gentler and calmer side.

Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of pregnancy and childbirth and was considered to be the protective form of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“.

Bastet’s π“Ž―π“π“π“ father was Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! Which is why her alter ego Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ can be associated with the sun.