Month: June 2024

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statues of Imhotep

When it comes to ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, I’m obsessed with a couple of different things in particular: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, and Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ! I love going to see the statues of Imhotep at the museum and my Nonno always made it into a game – #IFoundImhotepΒ 

Statues of Imhotep
Me (and William) with the Statues of Imhotep on display at the MET

Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was a real man that lived during Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– third dynasty (around 2700 B.C.E.) during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦𓂋. While Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ is best known for being the architect of Djoser’s Step Pyramid (and Egypt’s first ever pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴), he was also a high priest π“ŠΉπ“› of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! After his death, Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ became one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified.Β 

Statues of Imhotep
The Statues of Imhotep showing the quartzite one on the left and the bronze one on the right. The middle statue is a seated scribe and is not Imhotep.

There is not much that is known about Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ as a person while he was alive; most of what we know about Imhotep was written at the earliest 1,200 years after his death! Referred to as β€œSebayt π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“π“›β€ in Middle Egyptian, these β€œinstructions” or β€œteachings” refer to Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ as a great physician and a writer! One text from the 20th Dynasty called β€œEulogy of Dead Writers” even states β€œIs there another like Imhotep?” 

Statues of Imhotep
The bronze Imhotep statue. Most statues of Imhotep look like this one!

Most statues of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ are made of bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ (like you can see on the right side of this display) and are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, because that was when Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was widely worshipped.Β 

The quartzite statue of Imhotep. It is not common to see Imhotep in stone, so this piece is a treat to see on display at the MET.

The statue of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ on the left is so interesting because it is not made of bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ – it is made of the metamorphic rock quartzite!Β 

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

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Blog

The End

If you don’t know, I am a middle and high school science teacher and I have been working at my current school for ten π“Ž† years now. Earlier this month was my last day at my school – I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I am making some transitions/changes in my life π“‹Ή and this is one of them! I’m so grateful for the time I spent at my school and all of the wonderful students I got to teach over the past ten π“Ž† years.Β 

End
William and I with a geode at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC.

William and I are standing with a geode π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™, which started forming approximately 135 million years ago! While the size of this geode π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ is awe-inspiring, when I was looking back on the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦, to me geode π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ looks like the Hubble Space Telescope images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of space. 

Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ was the Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„› sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and the cosmos. Since my brain relates everything to ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, this reminded me of her and ancient Egyptian mythology surrounding Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ and the cosmos. 

In Middle Egyptian, the words for β€œnight π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„›β€ and β€œend π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“‚π“›β€ are very similar words which I find very fitting for today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³. The night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„› is the end π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“‚π“› of the day and the end π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“‚π“› of Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the daytime sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, but it is also the start of his 12 hour journey into the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. I’ve always loved the words in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 and the Amduat 𓇋𓏢𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 so I don’t see this change as an end π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“‚π“› right now…

…I will end this with a quote from one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs which is so fitting for me today; β€œIt was the end of a decade, but the start of an age.” 

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

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Blog

Turtle Fossil

While ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– is my first love, geology is my second! β€œGeology” in a very broad term that means the study of the Earth’s structure, makeup and history! Geology isn’t just the study of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ (that is petrology) but paleontology (the study of past life on Earth) falls into that category!Β I love when I am able to combine my love of geology with ancient Egypt! Read below

Turtle Fossil
William and I with the Turtle Fossil on display at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

William and I are standing with an extinct land tortoise called a β€œMegalochelys atlas” (it used to be referred to as the β€œGeochelone atlas”) and I always lovingly refer to this fossil as the β€œSmiling Turtle” because it looks like it is very happy! This big guy lived during the late Pliocene Epoch which was about two million years ago and is the largest land tortoise to ever exist!

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ were seen as an ambiguous force because they were creatures of both land 𓇾 and water π“ˆ—. Turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ were also seen as the enemy of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and in chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead, it is stated that β€œMay Ra live, and may the turtle die.” The turtles π“ˆ™π“π“„Ώπ“†‰π“¦ that lived in the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί were mostly nocturnal (and definitely not as large as this one), which is probably why they were considered to be Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 enemy.Β 

Turtle Fossil
The very large Turtle Fossil on display at the American Museum of Natural History

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Mummy of Ukhotep

This is the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± and mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of a man named Ukhotep π“‹‚π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. Ukhotep π“‹‚π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ lived during the 12th dynasty (Middle Kingdom) and he was the chief treasurer 𓋨𓅱, which is why he probably received such gorgeous π“„€ funerary equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­.Β 

Mummy of Ukhotep
The Mummy of Ukhotep on display at the MET

Ukhotep π“‹‚π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ had a wooden coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± inscribed with parts of the Coffin Texts, which were spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ that the deceased needed in order to gain magical powers in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± and mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is very typical of the Middle Kingdom burials (not just because of the styles/materials used for both the coffin and mask) but because the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was placed on his side inside of the wooden coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±, which allowed him to see out of the coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± through the eyes on the side!Β My Nonno always told me about this fact when I was little, and I was always fascinated by this funerary practice!

Mummy of Ukhotep
The Mummy of Ukhotep with hieroglyphs on his coffin! Learn how to read the hieroglyphs below!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here is the inscription: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Ήπ“Š¨π“ŽŸπ“ˆ–π“…˜π“Ž›π“Ž›π“‡³ π“…π“ˆ–π“π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–π“‰»π“ŽŸπ“†„π“

Here is a breakdown of the inscription: 

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – An Offering the King Gives

π“Ήπ“Š¨ – Osiris (his name is missing the determinative this time – usually it’s written as π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­)

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

π“ˆ–π“…˜π“Ž›π“Ž›π“‡³ – Eternity 

𓏅 – Foremost 

π“ˆ–π“ – of

π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– – Abydos

π“ŠΉπ“€­ – God

𓉻 – Great

π“ŽŸ -Lord 

𓆄𓏏 – Maat

Fun Fact: β€œπ“ˆ–π“β€ is also another way to spell the name of the goddess Neith but it can also mean β€œof” and a bunch of other filler-type words!

The variant of β€œeternity π“ˆ–π“…˜π“Ž›π“Ž›π“‡³β€ used in this inscription is very Middle Kingdom too – I rarely see this one used ever!! Usually the typical β€œπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›β€ is used!Β 

Mummy of Ukhotep
The Mummy of Ukhotep with some of his other funerary equipment including his canopic jar case (near the head of the mummy)

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Wide Heart

𓄫𓏏𓄣 – β€œBe Happy, β€œHappiness,” β€œJoy,” – or more accurately translated from Middle Egyptian, β€œWide Heart.” 

Wide Heart

I LOVE how the direct Middle Egyptian translation of the word is β€œWide Heart 𓄫𓏏𓄣” – I think it carries so much meaning in such a little phrase. β€œAncient Egypt makes my heart wide” sounds cooler than β€œAncient Egypt brings me joy/happiness” – in my opinion at least!

I always love seeing Happiness/Joy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 written on objects because that is exactly how I felt when I was in a museum and looking at Egyptian artifacts with my Nonno. The only emotion I could feel at the time was joy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 and I was so lucky. I would do anything to go to a museum with my Nonno and experience those emotions again. 

While I still feel joy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 in museums now, there’s always a sadness and a feeling that something is missing because I truly miss my Nonno more than anything. 

I’m kind of in a transition period of my life at the moment (hence the non-consistent posting) and I am hopefully on my way to doing something that will make me happy 𓄫𓏏𓄣! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here are some common variants for the word that will pop up in inscriptions:

π“„«π“„£

𓄫𓄣𓏏

𓄫𓏏𓄣𓏺

𓄫𓄣𓏺

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Wosretkau in Hieroglyphs

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

Something that makes this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut at the MET so unique is that her Horus name appears instead of her Throne Name (𓇳𓁦𓂓) or Birth Name (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ)! The Horus Name appears in a Serekh which is a different enclosure from a cartouche. The Serekh consists of the Falcon Horus π“…ƒ standing on top of a palace facade π“Š.Β 

Wosretkau

I’m pointing to her Horus Name in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 – Hatshepsut’s Horus Name is β€œπ“„Šπ“‹΄π“π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ – Wosretkau or Useretkau.” 

Let’s break down the meaning of her name:

π“„Šπ“‹΄π“ – Powerful, Mighty, Strong (this is the female version; male version is π“„Šπ“‹΄). 

π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ – Kas (Souls) 

β€œWosretkau” translates to β€œThe Mighty of the Kas” or β€œThe Mighty of the Souls.”

Wosretkau

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic symbols π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ:

The β€œhead and neck of a jackal π“„Šβ€ symbol is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œwsr” or β€œusr.” 

The β€œfolded cloth 𓋴” is a uniliteral phonogram for β€œs.”

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The β€œπ“‚“ two arms” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œka,” and also functions as an ideogram for the same. The word β€œka” has been translated into our modern languages as β€œsoul.” 

I think that is such a cool name π“‚‹π“ˆ– to have! This name π“‚‹π“ˆ– has only been recorded in a couple of places, including the Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ at the Vatican Museum, the Obelisk 𓉢 at Karnak, and on a couple of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ from Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 (like this one at the MET). 

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Amun-Ra 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 an inscription that appears on aΒ  β€œDoorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II” which is on display at the MET. Since this is from the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, we can easily date the inscription to the 19th Dynasty! This piece is made of red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ which is both a highly durable and very beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. The durability of the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ has allowed the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ to stay so well preserved for so long!

Amun-Ra

Here is a breakdown of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ:

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra

π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Thrones

π“ˆ˜ – Beloved

All together the inscription reads β€œBeloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones.” 

So why is the inscription written/translated the way it is? β€œAmun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ίβ€ is written first but said last due to what is called β€œhonorific transposition.” Out of respect for the god π“ŠΉ, their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written first but said last in the sentence! In English (and other languages like Italian) we have something similar to this – we say β€œten dollars” but write it as β€œdollars ten” – $10! 

β€œLord of the Thrones π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ is an epithet which is kind of like a title that is written after the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ so it both written and pronounced after the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ. 

This type of inscription commonly appears after the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· which is the oval enclosure that distinguished the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 from other hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in inscriptions. In my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can even see the bottom part of the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·!

When you first start learning how to read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ it seems like a puzzle but it definitely gets so much easier with practice!Β 

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

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