Month: March 2023

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Thutmosis III from Elephantine

Today I am standing with a relief which contains the cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 from Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ! Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ is an island π“‡Ύπ“ˆ…π“Ί on the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, and it forms part of the city of Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– in Upper Egypt 𓇓! According to ancient Egyptian religion, Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ was where the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ lived and he controlled the waters π“ˆ— of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί from caves beneath the island π“‡Ύπ“ˆ…π“Ί!Β 

The Temple of Satet 𓋴𓍿𓏏𓄝𓉐 (or Satis 𓋴𓄝𓏏𓏏𓀭) is on the island π“‡Ύπ“ˆ…π“Ί of Elephantine π“‹π“ƒ€π“ƒ°π“…±π“ŽΆπ“ˆŠ and while it began to be built during the pre-dynastic period, it was rebuilt several times, most notably during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, and then the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. They both mostly expanded the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and made it much larger. The relief I am standing with is from that temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

Cartouches of Thutmosis III
Me with a relief from the Temple at Elephantine, which shows the cartouches of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Thutmosis III.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Two 𓏻 of Thutmosis III’s cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ appear on this relief, so let’s take a closer look at each of them! We are going to look at the throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) first! 

𓇳𓏠𓆣 Menkhepperra β€œLasting is the Manifestation of Re” 

𓇳 – Re 

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

Let’s look at the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·! It’s hard to see which variant is in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 but I think it’s this one: 

π“…π“„Ÿπ“Šƒπ“„€π“†£ – Thutmosis III (Thoth is Born, Beautiful of Form)

𓅝 – Thoth

π“„Ÿπ“Šƒ – Born

π“„€ – Beautiful 

𓆣 – Form

Underneath the cartouches, this famous phrase β€œπ“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“‡³π“Ίπ“‡β€ appears: 

π“‹Ή – Life 

π“Š½ – Stability 

π“Œ€ – Strength 

𓇳 – Ra

𓏇 – Like

This translates to β€œLife, Stability, and Strength Like Ra.” The extra β€œπ“Ίβ€ is there as an aesthetic placeholder!Β All pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be like Ra, so it is a fitting phrase to be put after the name of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!Β Today we are going to look at the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“!

It always felt like my Nonno took pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏π“ͺ of everything in museums – I definitely learned from the best! I’m so happy that the two 𓏻 of us did take pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏π“ͺ of everything because all of the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏π“ͺ you see on this account were either taken by me, Nonno, or sometimes another family member! Even though the glass in front of the artifacts can cause a glare and make it more difficult to take a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m thankful for it now because you can see my Nonno’s reflection!Β 

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ with the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of Rameses II on it.Β 

Cartouches of Rameses II
Cartouches of Rameses II on a calcite vase at the Louvre.

We are going to start with the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right! This is the throne name of Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, which is preceded by the normal royal title! 

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre setep en Ra

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œUsermaatre setep en Ra π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–β€ translates to β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

π“„Š – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

π“‰π“ˆ– – Chosen

Now let’s look at the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right! This is the birth name of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ which is also preceded by the normal royal title! 

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

π“ˆπ“₯ – Appearances 

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Ramessu mery Amun

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œRamessu mery Amun π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“β€ translates to β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– could also be translated as β€œRa Bore Him.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

π“ˆ˜ – Beloved

π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

Rameses II’s birth name cartouche has many variants and can also be written like this: π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Certain symbols can be substituted for each other because π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– and 𓁩 both mean Amun π“œ and 𓇳𓏺 both mean Ra.Β 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Amenhotep III

Here I am at the British Museum with a beautifully 𓄀𓆑𓂋 preserved granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ! This particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† was found at his temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–.Β 

Statue of Amenhotep III
Me with a Statue of Amenhotep III at the British Museum

In this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is depicted in the typical fashion of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! He is wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth on his head, and there is a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the forehead of the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth. A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– – all characteristics usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! While a lot of the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 has been broken off (probably just due to the passage of time), it is clear that it was once there! 

Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  is also wearing the false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ, which is another common accessory that the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wore! Why did the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wear false beards π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έπ“¦ though?! Many of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ had beards π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έπ“¦ so it was considered to be a godly trait.  By imitating the appearance of a god π“ŠΉ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 not only linked themselves to the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, but also made themselves seen as gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth 𓇾𓇾. A false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ was only worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻- no one else could wear it because no on else was a god π“ŠΉ!

Fun fact: more statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ exist of Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† than of any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (sorry Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) and over 250 π“²π“²π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† have been currently identified. I’m sure more will be found during excavations, and I am excited to see what will be unearthed in Egypt!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at an incomplete piece of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief! This piece at the Brooklyn Museum is so beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 because even though it is just a fragment, the colors are so striking and I just love looking at it! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ has always been my favorite color, and the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on this relief is still so bright even after thousands of years!Β 

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs
Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs at the Brooklyn Museum

Since the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are pointing to the left, we are going to start reading the symbols from the left! 

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super common symbol that you will see in a lot of inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram sign, which means it has the sound of a single consonant. The β€œπ“…±β€ is representative of the sound β€œw” or β€œu.” This symbol is also an ideogram for the word β€œchick 𓅱𓏺.”

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a uniliteral phonogram! The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ has many grammatical functions on its own, and it can mean β€œto,” β€œof,” β€œfor,” β€œwe/us/our,” β€œin,” β€œbecause,” β€œthrough,” and some others! How do we know which word it is? Context clues! In the case of this inscription, too much is missing for us to know what the word is! 

The β€œtall loaf of bread 𓏑” symbol is an ideogram for β€œbread 𓏑,” which usually appears in offering formulas. Surprisingly, it can also be used as an ideogram for β€œThoth” as well! 

The β€œhobble for cattle π“Ž‚β€ symbol is a biliteral phonogram which means it is associated with the sound of two consonants. The β€œπ“Ž‚β€ is associated with the sound β€œz3” (pronounced like β€œzah”) and is usually used in words such as β€œprotection π“Ž‚π“¦/π“Ž‚π“›β€ and other related phrases.

The β€œforepart of lion 𓄂” symbol is an ideogram for the word β€œfront” and β€œforemost.” It is associated with the sound β€œh3t” which would be pronounced like β€œhat.” 

The last word all the way on the right I can actually see in full – this is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Reconstruction from the Palace at Malqata

In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  built a new palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 which was referred to as β€œThe House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. The Heb Sed Festival π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, also known as the β€œ30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“. Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† threw himself three separate Heb Sed Festivals π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, even though he did not rule π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ for ninety years!Β 

Reconstruction using blue tiles from the Palace at Malqata
The blue faience tiles were found at Malqata, but this design is a reconstruction of what it might have looked like (the MET)

This beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 decoration is a reconstruction using the tiles that were found during the excavation of Amenhotep III’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† palace at Malqata. These strikingly blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό tiles were found on the floor of ruins of a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ dedicated to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­. 

After the death of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž , his palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 and the surrounding villages (used by the people serving the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻) at Malqata were abandoned and the site was never used again during ancient Egyptian times. This caused the site to fall into ruin and get covered by the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ sand. This allowed The House of Rejoicing and surrounding villages at Malqata to be preserved decently well, and it is considered to be one of the most extensive town sites to be preserved in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

Many examples of these blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό tiles have been found at Malqata, along with other beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 artwork that decorated the palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐! It must have been such a beautiful sight to see!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful this is! Let’s take a closer look at these beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 beaded necklacesΒ  𓂝𓏏𓍒π“ͺ from Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–!Β 

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna
Beaded Necklaces from Amarna (the MET)

There are many different styles of beads, and I just love how striking the colors are! On these necklaces 𓂝𓏏𓍒𓏦, the bright yellow beads are in the form of a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗. A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but in the later time periods also worn by women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and certain deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. 

The reddish/brown colored beads are in the shape of a fly 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦! Flies 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦π“ͺ were seen as an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† of protection and were possibly used to protect the wearer from insect bites. I love the fly 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 beads/amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦!Β 

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna
Beaded Necklaces from Amarna (the MET)

There are so many ways to say β€œnecklace” in Middle Egyptian, so let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here are some different ways to say β€œnecklace”: 

π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ broad collar 

π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace (menat)

𓃀𓏲𓃀𓏲 necklace, collar

𓂝𓏏𓍒 jewelry, necklace (with stone beads)

π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ necklace

π“ˆ™π“…±π“‹ necklace

I chose to use β€œπ“‚π“π“’β€ when writing out this description because this word (pronounced like β€œat”) is the word specifically for a necklace π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹ that has stone beads π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ! I figured that was a pretty close description to the artifacts in this display! The Menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ and the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ are very specific types of necklaces and neither of them are shown in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Tyet Knot

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a symbol known as the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ or the Isis Knot π“Ž¬!Β 

Tyet Knot
The Tyet Knot drawn in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (the MET)

This particular Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ from the First Dynasty/Early Dynastic Period! It always amazes me how the same religious symbols just persisted through Egyptian history! 

The Tyet Knot π“Ž¬, also known as the Isis knot π“Ž¬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and came to be associated with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that knots π“Ž¬ were able to bind and then release magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ. The Isis Knots π“Ž¬ were also mostly used in a funerary context, such as amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦 (starting in the New Kingdom) placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ or as part of spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

In chapter 156 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, it states that the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† should be made of red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ jasper and placed on the neck of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The spell states that the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† β€œwill drive away whoever would commit a crime against him.” 

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! Called the β€œtie π“Ž¬β€ by Gardiner, this symbol is an ideogram for β€œTyet Knot π“Ž¬β€ or β€œIsis Knot π“Ž¬β€ and is associated with the sound β€œtjt” which would be pronounced like β€œtyet.”