I am with a statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ of a cowโs ๐ค๐๐๐๐ head, which of course is representative of the goddess ๐น๐ Hathor ๐ก.
Hathor ๐ก is one of the most prominent goddesses ๐น๐น๐น๐ of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis ๐จ๐๐ฅ, she is regarded as the โdivine motherโ of the pharaoh ๐๐ป, but is also the goddess ๐น๐ of love, joy, music, and dance – basically the fun things in life! Hathor is also the wife of Horus ๐ ๐ญ, and the daughter of Ra ๐ณ๐บ๐. Hathor ๐ก is usually associated with cows ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ฆ and can take the form of a cow ๐ค๐๐๐๐ in many forms of Egyptian art.
Fun fact: the words โbeautiful womanโ and โcowโ are super similar in hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช- only the determinative at the end is different! They are even pronounced the same (nfrt) Why? Probably because of Hathor ๐ก! I find this hysterical – you probably donโt want to mess these two words up (in English at least ๐). Even my family knows this fact about hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช, because I bring it up all the time!!
Hathor ๐ก was the goddess of music, and music has been something that I have loved throughout my entire life. From listening to classic Italian music with my Nonno, to discovering artists myself, music has always been healing to me. I cannot go a day without listening to my favorite artists. Music has not only been essential to my life, but it was also culturally essential in ancient Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐!
The piece in the picture is a sistrum ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ with Hathorโs ๐ก head depicted. A sistrum ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ was almost like an ancient tambourine or rattle – while the part that makes the music is often not found intact, the handle with Hathorโs ๐ก face usually is. Sistrums ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ช can be found dating back to the Old Kingdom, but most that are found are usually from the Late – Graeco/Roman periods. We donโt know much about the songs that were sung in Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐ because the Egyptians ๐๐๐๐๐ช did not have any form of musical notation, however, archaeologists have been able to replicate various types of instruments based on archaeological findings and try to figure out how they would sound! Musicians were often associated with a temple ๐๐๐ or a particular god ๐น/goddess ๐น๐, and they usually held a decently high place in the social hierarchy.
My absolute favorite artists are No Doubt, Il Volo, BTS, and One Direction! I also listen to a lot of other Italian artists, Broadway cast recordings, and classic rock music! Do you guys have some favorite musicians that you listen to?
Before Horemheb ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ became the last pharaoh ๐๐ป of the 18th Dynasty, he was a general under the pharaohs Tutankamun ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ฑ๐๐น๐พ๐บ๐ and Ay ๐ณ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ช๐น๐๐.
This large statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ (and a second similar one) at the MET would have been placed in a temple – either the temple of Ptah ๐ช๐๐๐ฑ at Memphis or the temple of Amun-Ra ๐๐ ๐๐บ๐ณ at Karnak.
It was standard for high officials to show themselves in a seated position with a papyrus scroll ๐ ๐๐๐ on their lap. In the Old Kingdom, the statues ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ๐ช usually showed the official reading, but in the New Kingdom, the statues always showed the official writing ๐๐๐ฅ. Horemheb ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ is writing ๐๐๐ฅ a hymn to the god Thoth ๐ ค๐ญ(who is the god of writing ๐๐๐ฅ).
The hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช around the base of the statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ mention Horemhebโs ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ many titles. The hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช on the โpapyrusโ ๐ ๐๐๐ that is on Horemhebโs ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ณ๐๐ lap can actually be read, but it was so difficult to get a picture๐๐ ฑ๐/actually read them because I could not get close enough to the statue!
These two ๐ป wooden ๐ฑ๐๐บ statues ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ๐ช were something my Nonno always made sure I appreciated when we went to the MET. My Nonno loved the Egyptian pieces that were made out of wood ๐ฑ๐๐บ because wood is difficult to preserve. Since wood is organic, in heat and humidity it will break down, especially over thousands of years. He always wanted me to appreciate how well preserved these two ๐ป wooden ๐ฑ๐๐บ statues were!
These two ๐ป wooden ๐ฑ๐๐บ statues ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ๐ช are from the 5th Dynasty and depicts the Governor Merti and his wife. They are both wearing wigs and nice clothing garments. Eleven ๐๐บ wooden statues were found in his tomb ๐๐ซ๐๐ at Saqqara and all of them were in incredible condition.
Though it is difficult to see in my picture ๐๐ ฑ๐, Merti is carrying the Sekhem Scepter, depicted similarly by the hieroglyph ๐, which translates to โpower.โ That particular hieroglyphic symbol is also part of the goddess ๐น๐ Sekhmetโs ๐๐๐ ๐๐ name, and her name translates to โshe of might.โ
Itโs no secret that Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ (Inpu in Egyptian – the name Anubis is actually Greek) is my favorite of the Egyptian gods ๐น๐น๐น! I have always been a fan of mummies ๐๐น๐ ฑ๐พ๐ช, so it makes sense that the god of embalming, tombs, cemeteries, etc ended up being my favorite! Anubis ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ also could act as a guide to souls in the Underworld ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐(referenced in the Pyramid Texts of Unas).
The inscription (which is read from left to right on this particular text) states: ๐๐๐ต๐๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ๐ถ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ ฑ๐๐๐.
The translation is: ๐๐๐ต๐ – An offering the king gives ๐๐๐ช๐ ฑ๐ฃ- Anubis ๐ถ๐บ๐๐ – Upon his hill/mountain ๐๐ถ๐ ฑ๐๐๐ – He who is in the mummy wrappings
The title โ๐ถ๐บ๐๐โ refers to Anubisโ role as the protector of the tombs while โ ๐๐ถ๐ ฑ๐๐๐โ refers to Anubisโ importance as the god ๐น of embalming/mummification.
I am standing in front of the Name Panels for the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh ๐๐ป Senwosret I ๐๐ด๐๐๐๐ at the MET. These panels were originally part of his pyramid ๐๐ ๐๐ด complex and were reconstructed from excavated pieces.
Senwosret Iโs ๐๐ด๐๐๐๐ throne name Kheperkare ๐ณ๐ฃ๐ is seen multiple times along with his Horus name โ๐น๐โ which means โliving in births.โ
These panels were originally part of his pyramid ๐๐ ๐๐ด complex and were reconstructed from excavated pieces.
A lot of Egyptian art was designed to be in three layers. The falcon god ๐น Horus ๐ ๐ญ is seen at the top of all the panels which represent the world ๐พ๐พ according to Egyptian religious beliefs – at the top is the realm of Horus ๐ ๐ญ, then beneath that is the realm of the pharaoh ๐๐ป.
This is probably going to sound strange to some, but I was so excited to see the back of the Hatshepsut ๐๐ ๐๐น๐๐๐๐ผ๐ช statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ at the MET!
Usually when the statue ๐๐๐๐ญ๐พ is displayed you canโt see the back of it, but since the statue is part of the special exhibition of the 150th anniversary of the MET, itโs in a different room! The different location allowed me to gain new views of my absolute favorite piece!
I had only ever seen the back of the statue in a book ๐ ๐๐๐ that I have from the special exhibition โHatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaohโ at the MET in 2006. The back is very interesting because you can still see some of the original paint remaining (although in my photo it is difficult to see)!! The paint is a blue-green ๐ ๐๐ color!
These clay model houses ๐๐ฅ were found by Petrie, but they are in the MET!
When Petrie found these, he gave them the name โSoul Housesโ due to them being very close to tombs/burials. These Soul Houses ๐๐ฅ are usually found in or near Middle Kingdom burials. These clay models ensured that the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ had access to shelter and food ๐ฌ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ฅ in the afterlife ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐. They are thought to take the place of offering tables – since offering tables were usually for the wealthy, the Soul House ๐๐ค was a more affordable option for people.
I have always been a person who likes tiny things, and the Soul Houses are no exception! I used to call them โEgyptian Dollhousesโ ๐ญ – (not going to lie, I still refer to them as dollhouses!!)
This beautiful ๐ค sculpture at the MET is a raised relief of an owl ๐ hieroglyph ๐น๐ dates to the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐.
This relief shows only the partial hieroglyph ๐น๐ and this style of an object being โunfinished but actually finishedโ was very popular during this time period. Limestone pieces such as these are often referred to as โsculptors modelsโ by Egyptologists because they are very detailed and only show one specific part of the object.
I have always loved this piece because I love owls!! I love owls because I absolutely love Harry Potter and anytime I see an owl it reminds me of Hedwig!
One of my favorite things about the Temple of Dendur at the MET are the incredible details that are carved into the walls! The templeย ๐๐๐ย was built by the Roman Emperor Augustusย ๐๐ป๐(who liked to refer to himself as just pharaohย ๐๐ปย in his cartouche) and was meant to be a place of honorย for the goddess ๐น๐ Isisย ๐จ๐๐ฅ. Just like most other Egyptian temples, the common people werenโt allowed to worshipย ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ขย inside of it.ย
A lot of Egyptian architecture was built in three ๐ผ layers! In the case of the Temple of Dendur specifically, the three ๐ผ layers are the Earthย ๐พ๐พ, the Skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏ, and then what happens between the Earthย ๐พ๐พย and the Skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏ. The โbetween theย ๐พ๐พ andย ๐ช๐๐ฏโ sectionย is the templeย ๐๐๐ itself! This section would be where the carvings of the deities ๐น๐น๐น are!ย
The picture above details the section of the templeย ๐๐๐ย that represents the Earthย ๐พ๐พ. I love this because it looks like papyrus ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ and lotus ๐ธ๐ช plantsย ๐พ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐย are growing out of the base of the templeย ๐๐๐! I think it is such a beautiful ๐ค way to represent the Earthย ๐พ๐พ! The ancient Egyptians really like plantsย ๐พ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐย and flowersย ๐ผ๐ ฑ๐ฐ๐ฆย so it makes sense that they would want to represent them realistically in this way! How do we know that the ancient Egyptians liked plantsย ๐พ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐย and flowersย ๐ผ๐ ฑ๐ฐ๐ฆ? Art like this allows us to make these inferences!ย
Fun fact! There are so many ways to write โpapyrusโ in Middle Egyptian! Here are a few:
๐ ๐๐๐ – papyrus roll/scroll
๐ ๐๐๐ฐ – papyrus plant
๐ฏ๐ – papyrus
๐ ๐ฐ – papyrus
๐๐๐๐ – papyrus marsh
Letโs now take a look at the โin-betweenโ layer!
Augustus making an offering to Osiris and Isis
What I like most about the โbetween the Earth ๐พ๐พ and Sky ๐ช๐๐ฏโ section is the depiction of Emperor Augustus ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ with many different Egyptian deities ๐น๐น๐น! He doesnโt look like an Emperor though – he looks like a pharaoh ๐๐ป! Augustus can be seen wearing many articles of Egyptian royal ๐พ fashion such as the Atef crown ๐, the double crown ๐, a false beard, a broad collar ๐ ฑ๐ด๐๐บ๐, armlets ๐๐ด๐ก๐๐ ฑ๐ฆ, and bracelets ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. These are all features that are associated with Egyptian pharaohs ๐๐ป๐ฆ, even though Augustus ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ was Roman.
In the following reliefs, Augustus ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ is making offerings ๐ต๐๐ช๐๐๐ฆ to Egyptian gods ๐น๐น๐น. In the first image ๐๐ ฑ๐, he is making an offering ๐ต๐๐ช๐๐๐ฆ to Osirisย ๐น๐จ๐ญย and Isisย ๐จ๐๐ฅ. You can even see the papyrusย ๐ ๐๐๐ฐย and lotusย ๐ธ๐ชย flower plantsย ๐พ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฐย from yesterdayโs post just below the relief!ย
Hathor (right), Horus (middle) and Augustus (right) with me!A closeup view of Horus and Augustus
In the second/third images ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ฆ above, Augustus ๐๐ป๐ is making an offeringย ๐ต๐๐ช๐๐๐ฆ of wineย to Horusย ๐ ๐ญย and Hathorย ๐ก!ย
You can also see three ๐ผ of Augustusโ cartouches in these images! Can you spot them all?
๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐ – Autokrator (Greek for โEmperorโ)
๐๐๐๐๐๐น๐ – Kaisaros (Greek for โCaesarโ)
๐๐ป๐ – Pharaohย
The next and final layer we are going to talk about is the skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏ! The wingedย ๐ง๐ณ๐๐ย sun disc ๐ณ๐บ appears above all of the entrances to the templeย ๐๐๐.
The wingsย ๐ง๐ณ๐๐๐ฆย belong to Horusย ๐ ๐ญ, who was often represented as a falconย ๐๐๐ก๐ .ย Horusย ๐ ๐ญ, whose ย realm was the Skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏ,ย was one of the most important gods ๐น๐น๐น in the Egyptian pantheon. Horusย ๐ ๐ญย was not only the mythological representation of the pharaohย ๐๐ป/heir to the throne of Egyptย ๐๐ ๐๐, but also a skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏย god ๐น. Horusโย ๐ ๐ญย name ๐๐ means โThe Distant One,โ due to him residing in the skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏ!ย
Due to the symbolโs association with Horus ๐ ๐ญ, the winged ๐ง๐ณ๐๐ sun disc ๐ณ๐บ also represents royalty ๐พ, power, divinity ๐น, and order vs. chaos. There are many different representations of Horus throughout Egyptian mythology. The the winged ๐ง๐ณ๐๐ sun disc ๐ณ๐บ design is also known as โHorus the Behdetiteโ and is a representation of Horus ๐ ๐ญ.
The sky ๐ช๐๐ฏ was not only the realm of Horus ๐ ๐ญ, but many other deities ๐น๐น๐น as well. Ra ๐ณ๐บ๐, Shu ๐๐ ฑ๐ญ, Nut ๐๐๐ฏ๐ญ, Khepri ๐ฃ๐๐๐ and others were deities ๐น๐น๐น associated with the sky ๐ช๐๐ฏ. The sky ๐ช๐๐ฏ was where the divine ๐น resided, hence why it was so heavily represented in Egyptian mythology and architecture.
The two ๐ป columns represent papyrusย ๐ ๐๐๐ฐย and lotus flowersย ๐ธ๐ชย growing from the ground/Earthย ๐พ๐พย to the skyย ๐ช๐๐ฏ! These columns can be seen as forming a connection between all three ๐ผ layers of the templeย ๐๐๐! I will never not be amazed by the symbolism and craftsmanship of Egyptian architecture!ย
