Month: December 2023

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Lord of the Sacred Land

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the significance of the epithet β€œLord of the Sacred Land π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦.”

An epithet is almost like a title, except it comes after a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– instead of before it! The epithet β€œLord of the Sacred Land π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦β€ (some also translate it as β€œLord of the Necropolis), will commonly follow the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in inscriptions! This phrase is representative of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 role as protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The β€œsacred land” that is being referred to is actually the tombs/cemeteries for the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

Lord of the Sacred Land
“Lord of the Sacred Land” painted on a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus

Let’s break down the phrase!
π“ŽŸ – Lord
𓇾 – Land
𓂦 – Sacred

This phrase gives us a nice and simple look at Middle Egyptian sentence structure! In Middle Egyptian, the adjectives follow the noun hence why it reads β€œlord land sacred” instead of β€œLord Sacred Land.” In English, the adjective comes before the noun in a sentence!

Let’s take a closer look at each of the symbols!

The β€œbasket π“ŽŸβ€ symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œnb” which is thought to have been pronounced like β€œneb.” The π“ŽŸ alone can also mean the common words β€œLord,” β€œPossessor,” and β€œAll.”

The β€œstrip of land with sand 𓇾” symbol is an ideogram for land, Earth and world. It is also a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œt3” and can be a determinative in the word β€œeternity 𓆖.”

The β€œforearm with brush 𓂦” symbol is both an ideogram and determinative for β€œsacred” and is associated with the sound β€œαΈsr.”

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

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ahmose I

Despite the 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 years separating their reigns, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (Dynasty 11) and Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ (Dynasty 18) are considered to be two 𓏻 of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– greatest pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ for a very similar reason. They were both responsible for reunifying Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

Ahmose I
Me with the head of the pharaoh Ahmose I at the MET

Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ defeated the Hyksos and founded the 18th Dynasty, which is the start of the New Kingdom (this is my favorite part of Egyptian history)! This is the time period when Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– not only reached its peak power politically, but also a golden age in arts and building projects. Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ is responsible for jump-starting all of this by opening quarries π“Ž›π“π“π“‰π“₯, mines, and trade routes in order to undertake these large construction programs.

This beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Ahmose I π“‡Ίπ“„Ÿ shows him wearing the White Crown π“„€π“‹‘ of Upper Egypt 𓇓. It is estimated that Ahmose I ruled for around 25 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ύ years.

Ahmose I
A closer view of the head of a statue of pharaoh Ahmose I at the MET.

What does Ahmose I’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– mean? Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This is what the individual symbols mean:
𓇺 – Iah (The Moon)
π“„Ÿ – Born/Birth
All together, the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œThe Moon is Born” which is such a wonderful name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! I love it!

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II’s Birth Name

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to be looking at the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· for the Middle Kingdom pharaoh Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ!

Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name is a combination of two different Middle Egyptian words! Let’s break down the two words:

π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (π“ˆ– – n) (𓍿- t) (π“…± – u/w)
π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Hotep (π“Š΅ – htp) (𓏏 – t) (π“Šͺ – p)

Montu π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± refers to of the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ headed god π“ŠΉ of war who was mainly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 in Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. The word β€œhotep/htp π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” translates to the word β€œsatisfied” or β€œcontent.” The word β€œhotep/htp π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” can also mean β€œoffering” or β€œpeace!” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Montuhotep π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ means β€œMontu is satisfied” or β€œMontu is content.”

Montuhotep II
The birth name cartouche of the Middle Kingdom pharaoh Montuhotep II

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols!

The β€œπ“  game board and pieces” is a biliteral phonogram. The β€œ 𓏠” is associated with the sound β€œmn” which could be pronounced like β€œmen,” β€œmun,” β€œmon,” etc.

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is a uniliteral phonogram associated with the sound of β€œn!” Here it is a phonetic complement!

The β€œπ“Ώ hobble/tie” is a uniliteral phonogram sign associated with the sounds of β€œαΉ―β€ or β€œt.”

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u.

The β€œbread loaf on mat π“Š΅β€ symbol is a triliteral phonogram for the sound β€œαΈ₯tp” and is also an ideogram for β€œoffering slab” which is also associated with the sound β€œαΈ₯tp.”

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” Here it is a phonetic complement!

The β€œstool π“Šͺ” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œp.” Here it is a phonetic complement!

Read about Montuhotep II’s Throne Name in this post!

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Montuhotep II’s Throne Name – Nebhapetra

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to be looking at the throne name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· for the Middle Kingdom pharaoh Montuhotep II! While Montuhotep π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ is his birth name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· we are looking at in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is his throne name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, which is β€œNebhapetra π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€.”

Nebhapetra
The throne name cartouche of Montuhotep II which reads “Nebhapetra”

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!
𓇳 – Ra
π“ŽŸ – β€œNeb” (nb)
π“Š€ – β€œHapet” (αΈ«rw or αΈ₯jpt)

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun 𓆄𓅱𓇳, today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, and for words associated with time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.” Re is written first but pronounced last due to β€œhonorific transposition” – the name of the god is written first out of respect.

The β€œπ“Ž  basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of β€œnb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like β€œneb.” The π“ŽŸ alone can also mean the common words β€œLord,” β€œPossessor,” and β€œAll.”

The β€œoar π“Š€β€ symbol is a triliteral phonogram or an ideogram. As a triliteral it represents the sound β€œαΈ«rw,” and as an ideogram for β€œoar” it represents the sound β€œαΈ₯jpt” which is the sound used in this case!

So all π“ŽŸ together his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œPossessor of the Oar of Ra.”
𓇳 – Ra
π“ŽŸ – Possessor
π“Š€ – Oar

This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign π“‹Ύ. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Read about Montuhotep II’s Birth Name in this post!

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱!

A lot of people know him by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œCheops,” which is the Greek version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. However, when you read his cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·, it is very clear that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 is best known for constructing the Great Pyramid at Giza!

Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs
The name of the Pharaoh Khufu in Hieroglyphs

Let’s break down the meaning of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œKhufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱,” which means β€œHe Protects Me.”
𓐍𓅱 – Protects
𓆑 – He
π“…± – Me/I

The β€œplacenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œαΈ«β€ which is kind of like a β€œk” sound. This symbol is actually considered β€œunclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents!

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u and sometimes functions as an ideogram. It mostly appears as a uniliteral phonogram and is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions!

The β€œhorned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œf.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. It can also be the pronoun β€œhe/him.”

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

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