Month: August 2022

Late Period Faience Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

These are some Late Period faience amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were protective symbols that could be used by either the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍 or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and each amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 had its own power based on the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 it represented.

The first amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 on the left is Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the air and atmosphere. In the Egyptian creation myth, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 raised the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, separating the two 𓏻. Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was often worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 by sailors, who were looking for favorable winds 𓇋𓇬𓈖𓅱𓊡𓏦!

The next two 𓏻 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are different representations of the god 𓊹 Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭. Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is usually represented as a ram and is one of the oldest Egyptian deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 – evidence of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 dates back to the First Dynasty!! Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is the god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and fertility. In the creation myth, Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is said to have created all of the world’s people on his potter’s wheel. He is associated with Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, who created the heavens 𓊪𓏏𓇯 and Earth 𓇾𓇾 on a potter’s wheel.

The next two 𓏻 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are a hare 𓃹𓏺 and an Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒. The hare 𓃹𓏺 amulet was thought to have regenerative powers, and in a funerary context, would help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be reborn 𓄟𓍿𓅱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖.

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 who is associated with childbirth. Women who were pregnant would wear amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 for protection. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 dedicated to her specifically.

Tags amulet, apis bull, artifact, gods and goddesses, Khnum, shu, taweret, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Museum Display at the Louvre

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

I love the randomness of some museum displays – there’s always so much to look at! By “randomness,” I’m referring to the varying objects that can be grouped together, however they are from the same time period so the conglomeration of different objects can give you a sense of the varying objects common during that period! It also gives you a look into the art styles that were popular!

Starting from the left, you can see a figure of the god Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 didn’t become commonly worshipped until the beginning of the New Kingdom. He was the god of childbirth, protector of the household 𓉐𓏺, and defender of all that is good! He was considered to be a “demonic fighter,” and was also a war god.

There are two 𓏻 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures with beautiful hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 inscriptions. These little guys were buried with the deceased and were meant to be their servants in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are inscribed with a spell that tells you what their function was. When Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 called upon the deceased for labor, the deceased would say the spell on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 and it would come to life and perform the labor in place of the deceased!

Next are the sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪! A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was almost like an ancient tambourine or rattle – while the part that makes the music is often not found intact, the handle with Hathor’s 𓉡 face usually is. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 can be found dating back to the Old Kingdom, but most that are found are usually from the Late – Graeco/Roman periods.

And lastly, a statue of the goddess Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐! Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was one of my Nonno’s favorite mythological figures. Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was a war goddess and was associated with the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺 (like the unrelenting heat of the desert).

Tags bes, gods and goddesses, hathor, louvre, sekhmet, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Non-Royal Art from the Amarna Period

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

Both of these pieces may seem small, but they are quite interesting!

Both the head of a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 (left) and the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of two men and a boy (right) are non-royal art pieces from the Amarna Period. The Amarna Period refers to the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is referred to as the heretic pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, because he changed the entire Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳.

Besides the dramatic religious shift, and the move of the Egyptian capital from Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 to his new capital (aptly named “Akhenaten”), one thing that made the Amarna period quite different was the shift in the art style. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and the royal family were always depicted strangely compared to past Egyptian art styles. Many think this could be due to a genetic connective tissue disease than ran through the family. However, these two 𓏻 pieces show that even the non-royals were also depicted in what is now considered to be typical Amarna style art. Amarna art usually shows people with long limbs, strangely shaped heads, and prominent bellies.

Tags amarna, artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Merykhufu

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

This is a False Door for the inspector and priest 𓊹𓍛 named Merykhufu (𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱)𓌸𓂋.

False Doors were an important aspect of Egyptian funerary practices and served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. While this piece most likely dates to the 4th Dynasty, False Doors have been found throughout various periods of Egyptian history.

This piece strikes me as super interesting because at first glance, it looks like it belongs to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱, because his cartouche is present. However, this person’s name is Merykhufu (𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱)𓌸𓂋 – he incorporated the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu’s 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 name into his own. His name actually means “Beloved of Khufu.”

Merykhufu’s (𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱)𓌸𓂋 wife, son 𓅭, and daughter 𓅭𓏏 are also present on the False Door. This is hard to date because Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 was admired by a cult long after his death. However, the wig that Merykhufu’s (𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱)𓌸𓂋 wife is wearing is an early dynastic style, which is why this piece most likely dates to the Old Kingdom (Dynasty 4).

The word “beloved” can also be written like this “𓌻𓂋𓇌“ and is actually the more phonetic way to write it. However, sometimes words were shortened to fit the piece/person – almost like an abbreviation!

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Quail Chick Hieroglyph Relief

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

This beautiful 𓄤 sculpture is a raised relief of a quail chick 𓅱 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 dates to the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. This relief shows the full hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 in beautiful 𓄤 detail. This style of an object being “unfinished but actually finished” was very popular during this time period. Limestone pieces such as these are often referred to as “sculptors models” by Egyptologists because they are very detailed and only show one part of the object.

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

4th Dynasty Lion Statue

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

This lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 statue is from the 4th Dynasty, which means it even pre-dates the Pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏪 at Giza!

This lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 most likely guarded the entrance to some type of sanctuary or temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. Even early on in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 were seen as representative of royalty due to the fact that they were the most powerful predator in the vicinity of the Nile Valley 𓇗! This statue is actually the oldest preserved example of a full lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 that archaeologists have found!

When you enter the Egyptian Galleries at the MET, this statue is actually one of the first things that you see!!

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Gilded Sarcophagi

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

Here are some gilded sarcophagi 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 at the British Museum!

The British Museum has so many different sarcophagi 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 in their collection that it was almost overwhelming trying to see everything!!! Sarcophagi 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 such as these are usually made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 with a gold leaf overlay – it makes it look like the sarcophagus 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is made of pure gold when it is not! These are decorated beautifully 𓄤 with many of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon! The sarcophagus 𓅱𓇋𓀾 on the left contains a dedication to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, which runs down the center of the lid!

Tags artifact, british museum, mummy

Egyptian Artifacts

Chair from the Tomb of Senemut’s Parents

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

This is a chair that belonged to Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 parents! Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 most trusted advisor, architect, and the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤. Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 parents were buried in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 that was very close to his, and they were given burials that were fit for people of high status, due to Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 position.

The chair is adorned with the Djed 𓊽 and Tyet 𓎬 symbols, and the god Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 is located in the center. I love how the legs of the chair look like lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 paws too!

Tags artifact, senemut, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Beads!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

Let’s talk about “mummy beads!!!”

In ancient times, a beaded shroud like the one in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, would have been placed over the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 after it had been placed in its coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. In modern times, the small faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads that make up these shrouds have been nicknamed “mummy beads” simply because they are beads found with mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪!

The pattern of the beaded shroud was supposed to be representative of the cloak that Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, god 𓊹 of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, wears. What’s so incredible about this beaded shroud is that it is mostly intact!

These types of shrouds were mostly made with blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads because in ancient Egyptian culture, the color blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 was symbolic of rebirth and regeneration. Faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 was an extremely popular material to work with because it was both cheap and easy to use! Faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 is a quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙 based material that can be molded and then heated to a very high temperature to keep its shape. Objects made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 were thought to hold magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers!

Sewn into the beaded shroud is a winged scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, and amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of the four Sons of Horus. The wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 allowed the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 to join the rising and setting of the sun 𓇳𓏺 each day – which to the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religion! While the four Sons of Horus were typically seen as the heads of the canopic jars, which held the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 after they were mummified, they were also used as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪!

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Blue Faience Ushabti of Seti I

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 11, 2022

This beautiful 𓄤 blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 belongs to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓇌𓁣𓈖! I have seen ones like this in other museums too! I love seeing the “same” pieces in museums around the world!

Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had many faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures. His faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures are such a beautiful 𓄤 blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 color and are inscribed with hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead.

Chapter 6 is also known as the “Shabti Text,” and it is a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that allows for the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 to take the place of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is asked to do any type of work in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This is why the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is holding a pick (𓌸) in each hand – he needs to be ready to work when called upon!

Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓇌𓁣𓈖 had over 700 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures! The typical number was around four hundred – 365 worker ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and the rest were overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪. Most of Seti I’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓇌𓁣𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 – when Giovanni Belzoni discovered Seti I’s tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in the Valley of the Kings in 1917, he used a lot of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 as torches, so many of them were destroyed.

Not going to lie; fact still haunts me!! This was also one of my Nonno’s favorite stories to tell. I can still hear him in my head saying “Can you believe that idiot used ushabtis as firewood?!?!”

Tags artifact, seti i, the met, ushabti

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