Month: July 2023

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

A Predynastic Safari

Let’s go on a Predynastic Safari!

I love art from the Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods because the objects usually contain a lot of animals! This is a “Hair Comb Decorated with Rows of Wild Animals” and it is dated to the Predynastic Period (c. 3200 – 3100 B.C.E.). This piece is made of ivory 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓌟. 

A Predynastic Safari
While this piece is called “Hair Comb Decorated with Rows of Wild Animals” I like to refer to it as “A Predynastic Safari” since it shows so many different animals!

Archaeologists believe that it is a comb because the remnants of the teeth of the comb can still be seen along the bottom! It is thought that this was some type of ceremonial object and not just a regular comb due to the incredible details on it! I wonder if it was part of a burial?

The animals on this comb are arranged into five 𓏾 rows in raised relief and the incredible details show just how talented the Egyptian artists were even at the beginning of the civilization! It’s also interesting to see each row of animals facing in opposite directions! 

The top row shows elephants 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓃰𓏪 standing on top of snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪, which suggests some type of religious/cultural symbolism that we don’t know much about! The fact that this is the top row may also have some significance! While seeing snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 is super common in Egyptian art and mythology, elephants 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓃰𓏪 are not so it’s very cool to see a depiction of them!

The second row shows birds (they look like pelicans 𓊪𓋴𓆓𓏏𓅞𓏪 to me) and a giraffe 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱! Giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 are one of my absolute favorite animals and they do not appear often in Egyptian art even though they are native to the African Continent! During the Predynastic times, giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 and the Egyptians did occupy the same areas, however, as the climate became drier, the giraffes 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓃱𓏪 migrated out of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 which is probably why they do not appear in the art/mythology as often!  

The third row shows hyenas 𓅓𓅓𓃡𓏦, the fourth row shows cattle 𓃒𓏦 and the fifth row shows boars 𓂋𓂋𓇋𓃟𓏦! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III – The Greatest Pharaoh?

I have a very complex relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (this is probably the first time you’ve read that sentence)! Many people will probably not agree with me on this (that’s okay), but I think that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 greatest pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! He ruled 𓋾 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for 54 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏽 years, and was a very accomplished general 𓀎𓏦, having led troops into battle himself. Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 has been rumored to have never lost a battle! 

Thutmosis III - The Greatest Pharaoh?
Me with a limestone statue of Thutmosis III – was he the greatest pharaoh?

So why my complex feelings about Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? It all has to do with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 was only three 𓏼 years old when his father Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 passed away, and was a co-regent with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 before she completely took over the throne. During her rule 𓋾, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a member of the military and gained valuable experience that allowed him to be such a successful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. I believe that Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 successful rule set Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 up for his extremely successful reign. 

About 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name 𓂋𓈖 taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! This is where my complex feelings come in because Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is my absolute favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and I believe that she is also one of the greatest rulers that Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 ever had! 

I find this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to be so beautiful 𓄤 because the white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (it honestly looks like marble to me – but marble is metamorphosed limestone) contrasts so well with the black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the eyes 𓁹𓏦. Some red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can even still be seen on the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 that is on Thutmosis III’s 𓅝𓄠𓋴 forehead!

Thutmosis III - The Greatest Pharaoh?
White Limestone statue of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III

The face of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is not the original, it is a cast; the original face is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! The MET then made a cast of the torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and that is now at the Egyptian Museum as well! So each museum has a real part of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and a cast of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The face and torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 were not found at the same time, hence why they ended up in different places! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Horus Name of Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the Horus Name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! The Throne Name (𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖) and the Birth Name (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓) usually appear more in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 so let’s take a closer look at the Horus Name! 

The Horus Name is the oldest way that a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 name 𓂋𓈖 was written/identified and is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade 𓊁, Horus the Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the palace 𓊁, and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace 𓊁. The palace 𓊁 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is pronounced like “serekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! 

Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 had a lot of different variations of his Horus Name, so let’s take a look at the two 𓏻 that are pictured! 

Horus Name of Rameses II
Two variants of the Horus Name of Rameses II

𓂡𓃒𓁛𓌺 – “Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra”

𓂡𓃒𓁧𓌺 – “Strong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

“Strong Bull 𓂡𓃒“ was a very popular way to start off the Horus Name for male pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 because bulls 𓃒𓃒𓃒 were a symbol of strength 𓌀 and fertility, both of which are qualities that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to have!

Let’s break down the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 even further: 

𓂡 – Strong

𓃒 – Bull

𓁧/𓁛 – Maat/Ra

𓌺 – Beloved

Both variants of Rameses II’s Horus Name contain the shortened variants of certain words! 

𓁧 – Maat (𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁧)

𓁛 – Ra (𓇳𓏺𓁛)

𓌺 – Beloved (𓌻𓂋𓇌)

Variants can be tricky for those starting to learn hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, but with practice they become much easier – especially the shortened version of the words!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog

Categories
Video

Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II – Video

Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 (New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, c. 1292-1190 B.C.E.). 

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the “Shabti Spell” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. This spell gives the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. 

Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II
Me with the Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum

This ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is mummiform meaning that it looks like a mummy/the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! The ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is holding a holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 and is wearing the  nemes head cloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴. 

Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was plundered in the 20th Dynasty, and only three 𓏼 of his wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain! 

In 1049 B.C.E., the High Priest of Amun ordered Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 be moved from his original tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and to the Royal Cache, a place where many royal 𓋾 mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 were re-buried in order to protect the mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 from tomb robbers. 

While the provenance of this ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is unknown, it is assumed that it was originally from Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 original tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 (KV 7). 

Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II
Wooden Ushabti of Rameses II on display at the Brooklyn Museum

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Lintel of Amenhotep II

My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐, my brother 𓌢𓈖𓀀 and I are with a red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 relief, titled “Lintel of Amenhotep II!” This is a really interesting piece that contains so much history! 

Lintel of Amenhotep II
My sister (left), brother (middle) and me (right) with the Lintel of Amenhotep II at the British Museum

This piece was originally carved for the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪. Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the son 𓅭 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and he even co-ruled with his father! It was during the co-reign of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 that the destruction of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 monuments 𓏠𓏍 began. 

This relief shows mirrored scenes of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 wearing the khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (also known as the blue crown) presenting nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 (containing either wine or water ) to the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Over fifty 𓎊 years after this relief was carved, many of the figures (see the left side) and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 were destroyed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 in an attempt to erase images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the old religion. 

Then, many years after Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 during the 19th Dynasty, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 had some of the damage repaired – most of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 were actually recarved! How can Egyptologists tell it was recarved? The sunken relief is deeper in the rock! 

In order to show that it was he, pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 who restored this piece, he had his cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 and a record of the restoration carved in between the two 𓏻 images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺! Can you spot Seti I’s throne name (𓇳𓁦𓏠) and birth name (𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖) cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? 

The description of this piece from the British Museum gave a short timeline of the history of this fascinating piece! I remember being confused by seeing the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of both Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 on the same relief because they are pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from different dynasties! What’s even more interesting is that this is not a case of the more common “usurping of monuments 𓏠𓏍” from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hieroglyphs, Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic?! There are so many ways to write the Egyptian Language! 

Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, the script everyone is most familiar with, was the first 𓏃 script used by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 to write their language! There are well over 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 unique hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and over 800 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 symbols if you count the variants! Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 were mainly used on temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏥, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥, obelisks 𓉶𓉶𓉶, other funerary equipment  𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 such as sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 and other objects of all kinds! 

Then there are Cursive Hieroglyphs which is also known as Hieroglyphic Book Hand! This was usually used on handwritten papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and was a less detailed version of the traditional hieroglyphic symbols. Cursive Hieroglyphs are easy to read because these symbols match their traditional hieroglyphic counterparts! 

Hieratic is a script that was used on papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and the symbols do not match their hieroglyphic counterparts! I cannot read Hieratic and I have found it quite difficult to learn! Plus the Hieratic symbols have evolved over time so they have changed a lot which only makes it more difficult! 

Hieroglyphs Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Imhotep at the MET and it shows Cursive Hieroglyphs (left) and Hieratic (right). I love how both scripts are used because you can really see the difference between the two! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Augustus

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a look at one of the sunken reliefs on the Temple of Dendur at the MET! This relief shows Emperor Augustus wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt 𓌉𓏏𓋑 standing before Horus 𓅃𓀭. 

The Cartouches of Augustus
The Cartouches of Augustus – can you spot all three?

To me, what is most interesting though are the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of Augustus! Unlike the Greek rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that spelled out their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 using phonogram symbols, Augustus went a different route when having his name 𓂋𓈖 represented in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see all three 𓏼 of his cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦: 

𓈎𓇌𓊃𓂋𓊃𓋹𓆖 – (Kaisaros)

𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 – (Autokrator)

𓉐𓉻𓀀 – (Pharaoh (pr-ˁ3))

“Autokrator” is the Greek word for “Emperor,” “Kaisaros” is the Greek word for “Caesar,” and “pr-ˁ3” is the Middle Egyptian word for “pharaoh.”

In Middle Egyptian the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 literally translates to “Great House.“ This is a direct reference to the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 where the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 resided during his/her rule. 

𓉐 – House (pr)

𓉻 – Great (ˁ3)

The third cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is the one I have always found so fascinating because it is literally the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Middle Egyptian plus the male determinative sign 𓀀. Most names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 (even when spelled out with phonograms) are followed by a determinative for a male 𓀀 person or female 𓁐 person. By choosing to have his name 𓂋𓈖 depicted in this way, Augustus was literally calling himself the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! 

Augustus chose to have various words for “ruler” as his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule! 

Can you spot three of Augustus’ cartouches in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II and Horus

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at this fragmented relief from the Louvre which depicts the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 and the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭! Horus is holding Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 hand and leading him. How do we know that this is a depiction of Horus 𓅃𓀭 since there are many falcon gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹? The word “Edfu 𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖” in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is a major clue – Horus 𓅃𓀭 of the Winged Disc or “Behdetite” was the chief god 𓊹 of the city 𓊖!

Look at who is leading Horus 𓅃𓀭- it’s the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who is the “Opener of the Ways!” Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 appears on a standard and is associated leading ritual processions. 

Rameses II and Horus
Relief showing Rameses II and Horus

Above the depiction is actually part of Rameses II’s royal titularly! Each pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 had five names, and the first one that appears is known as the “Horus Name.” Rameses II had many variants of his Horus Name, but we will look at the one that appears here: “𓂡𓃒𓁧𓌺 Strong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

𓂡 – Strong

𓃒 – Bull

𓁧 – Maat

𓌺 – Beloved

After that, the Nebty Name 𓅒 is listed! The Nebty Name is distinguished by the Nebty or Two Ladies symbol “𓅒.” Only the partial name appears on the relief: “𓅖𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖 Protector of Egypt.”

𓅖 – Protector 

𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖 – Egypt (Kemet) (most commonly, Kemet is written as “𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖,” however this is another variant).

The full name is as follows: 𓅖𓎡𓆎𓏏𓊖𓅱𓂝𓆑𓏲𓂡𓈊𓏏𓏦 “Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands.” 

Rameses II and Horus
Relief showing Rameses II and Horus

Above Horus 𓅃𓀭 appears: 

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓎟- Lord

𓇯 – Sky

𓄤 – Perfect

𓊹 – God 

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”)

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life 

𓌀 – Strength

All together the inscription says: “Edfu, Lord of the Sky, the Perfect God Usermaatre setep en Ra Give Life and Strength.”

To the left of Rameses II: 

𓃹𓈖𓈖 – It Is

𓄤 – Perfect

𓊹 – God 

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra

All together the inscription says: “It Is the Pefect God Usermaatre setep en Ra.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are one of them! The little hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are a nice plus too because they are so cute! 

Hippos and Hedgehogs
Me with the Hippos and Hedgehogs at the Brooklyn Museum!

The the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨! William has lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

Hippos and Hedgehogs
Hippos and Hedgehogs!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱, which is a concept central to the ancient Egyptian religion. This association occurred because when food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 is scarce, hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 will retreat into their underground burrows for long periods of time. Hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 only re-emerge from their burrows during times of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 abundance. This disappearing/appearing pattern strongly correlated with the concept of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 to the ancient Egyptians. 

The hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are made out of blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 just like the hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Amenhotep III

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 we looked at a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to examine a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that belonged to his 𓆑 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠!

Ushabti of Amenhotep III
An ebony wood Ushabti of Amenhotep III on display at the MET

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. The inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are a striking blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and white which make this piece really stand out not only amongst other artifacts, but amongst other ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures too! 

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is a typical mummiform piece – the ushabti has its arms crossed over its chest, and at some point was probably holding a holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 which have been lost in antiquity. The crown on its head has also been lost, which is a shame. I wonder what the crown would have been made of? 

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are wonderfully preserved. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are carved into the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, and then we’re filled with paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦! I love how much the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 stand out against the ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 – I think it’s beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! 

Can you spot Amenhotep III’s birth name (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆) and throne name (𓇳𓁧𓎠) on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾? Let me know!!! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog