Month: February 2024

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Clay Donkey

This little π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ donkey π“ƒ˜π“Ί is easy to miss in the display cabinets of the galleries at the MET, but he is just so cute!Β 

Clay Donkey

This piece was is very rudimentary but I love how it shows a different level of ancient Egyptian artistry. There are four little sticks in the donkey π“ƒ˜π“Ί which are used to hold the little clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ balls which are probably representing sacks of grain π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“…±π“Έπ“¦. This little π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ donkey π“ƒ˜π“Ί was actually found by Howard Carter when he was excavating near Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple!  

While horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗π“ͺ weren’t introduced into Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– until the Second Intermediate Period (around 1600 B.C.E.), donkeys π“ƒ˜π“ƒ˜π“ƒ˜ seem to have been in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– since around 4500 B.C.E. (based on bone evidence). However, the first artistic representation of a donkey π“†„π“…±π“ƒ˜ is from a palette dated to 3100 B.C.E., which is around the end of the Predynastic Period and the start of the Archaic Period (1st and 2nd Dynasties). 

Another distinction between donkeys π“ƒ˜π“ƒ˜π“ƒ˜ and horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗π“ͺ in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were that donkeys π“ƒ˜π“ͺ were used mainly for work and for hauling goods/materials in carts (as seen in this clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ representation) while horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗π“ͺ were only used for pulling chariots π“…¨π“‚‹π“‚‹π“π“Œπ“¦ and were reserved solely for the military and pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯. 

This piece is dated to the Second Intermediate Period – Early New Kingdom (13th-18th Dynasties, 1991–1450 B.C.E.). 

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“To Rule” 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 theΒ  word β€œπ“·π“Ά,” which has a bunch of different (but seemingly related) meanings in Middle Egyptian!Β 

To Rule
“To Rule” in raised relief from a Middle Kingdom relief at the MET

Here is a list of some of the meanings of the word β€œπ“·π“Άβ€: 

-To Rule

-Who is Upon

-Nomarch (kind of like a governor who was appointed by the pharaoh)

-Governor (this would be a more modern interpretation of the word) 

-Leader

-Magician

Let’s take a closer look at the two symbols which comprise this word! 

The β€œface 𓁷” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound αΈ₯r and is an ideogram for the word β€œface.” 

The β€œhead 𓁢” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œtp” and is an ideogram/determinative for the word β€œhead.”

So all together the word β€œπ“·π“Άβ€ would have a sound value of β€œαΈ₯r-tp.”

The β€œface 𓁷” symbol is always fascinating to see because it’s artistically different from most of the other 750+ hieroglyphic symbols. The β€œface 𓁷” symbol is so different because it is a front view of a face instead of a profile view. Most ancient Egyptian art is done in profile, so this symbol really stands out to me amongst other hieroglyphic symbols.  

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Mosaic

While this beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 Roman mosaic is not Egyptian, it is inspired by ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! The global fascination and love of ancient Egyptian art didn’t start in modern times; in fact, the Romans were enamored with ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– too! The Romans saw Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as a β€œland of wealth and antiquity.” 

Roman Mosaic
An Egyptian inspired Roman Mosaic at the MET

Mosaics are a Roman art form, but if you look at the center you will see Egyptian figures! The figure on the left has blue skin and the sun/horn headdress that is typical of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ during this time period, while the seared figure on the right is wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth which is typical dress for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.Β 

The scene is definitely strange because a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ would never be making an offering to a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 – the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would always be making an offering to a god π“ŠΉ or goddess π“ŠΉπ“! This scene was clearly meant to convey what the Roman’s felt as an Egyptian atmosphere and it’s interesting to see the Roman interpretation of Egyptian culture despite its inaccuracies. 

Fun Fact: Roman Emperors liked Egyptian art, and some (like Caligula π“ˆπ“‹Ύπ“©π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ŽΌπ“ƒ­π“‚§π“‚‹π“° and Hadrian π“‰”π“π“‚‹π“‚π“ˆ–π“Šƒπ“ˆŽπ“Šƒπ“‚‹) had pieces from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– brought to Rome to adorn their gardens π“Ž›π“Šƒπ“Šͺπ“ˆˆπ“₯ or estates.Β 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!