This piece is known as an “Ovoid Stone” or a “Hammering Stone” and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction.
A closeup image of the Ovoid Stone and the hieroglyphs on it!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I divided the inscription into two parts, and then translated each of the individual words so you can get a sense of the sentence structure used in the Middle/New Egyptian language!! Here’s the first row:
𓊹𓏏𓄤(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓁹𓈖𓊃𓅓𓏠𓏍𓊃𓏛𓆑𓊃𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺
𓊹𓏏𓄤 – Great Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
𓁹𓈖 – to make/to do/born of
𓊃 – she
𓅓 – for
𓏠𓏍𓊃𓏛- monument
𓆑 – father
𓊃 – her
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Re
“The Great Goddess, Maatkare, she made the monument for her father, Amun-Re…”
And here’s the second row:
𓐍𓆑𓏸𓍱𓈙𓁷𓏸𓇋𓏠𓈖𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐𓁹𓊃𓋹𓍘
𓐍𓆑 – in front of/at (a preposition)
𓏸𓍱𓈙 – Stretching of the Cord
𓁷𓏸 – over
𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun
𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies
𓁹𓊃𓋹𓍘 – May She Live / That They Live
“…at the stretching of the cord over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!”
The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt. “Holiest of Holies” is the name for Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri.
A larger view of the display that contains the Ovoid Stone
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Here I am with the King’s List in the British Museum! In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name 𓂋𓈖 should be because she was one of the pharaohs left off the list – she was left off because she was considered to be a non-legitimate pharaoh.
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.
The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.
A closeup of the cartouches on the King’s List
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to look at the Throne Name cartouches of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs to show where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name is missing! We will start reading from the right since the hieroglyphs point in that direction!
𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 – Thutmosis I “Great is the manifestation of the soul of Ra”
𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Thutmosis II “Great is the manifestation of Ra”
𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Tutmosis III “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra”
𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Amenhotep II “Great is the manifestation of Ra”
𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Thutmosis IV “Lasting are the Manifestations of Ra”
𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Amenhotep III “Possessor of the Truth of Ra”
As you can see, the cartouches jump right from Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and totally skip Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓!
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Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
This display combines two of my favorite things: Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs! This ushabti belonged to a woman named Isis and is on display at the MET.
This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and was made for a woman named Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 who was ironically a singer for the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 !
This ushabti 𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because they undergo much development during this time period. It’s very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabti’s 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue!
Here’s the full inscription on the ushabti: 𓇓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓅮𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤
Let’s break down the inscription by each individual word:
𓇓𓂝𓏏 – Singer
𓈖 – of
𓅮 – (indicates past tense)
𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten
𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 – Isis
𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 – True of Voice/justified
While limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is not the most common material for ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to be made out of, it’s not unheard of to have ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 like this during the 18th Dynasty period.
It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, remained.
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The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏥 in this post are from the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 of Raemkai. The West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is significant in ancient Egypt because the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is the realm of the dead. In a typical tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 built during the Old Kingdom, the West Wall would have a False Door and then scenes that would be typical of offering rituals.
In the ancient Egyptian religion/culture, it was thought that the carvings on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 could come to life. If people were depicted providing food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, then it was thought that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would have enough sustenance for the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this first image shows a butchering scene
This first image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which shows a butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴 scene. Meat 𓆑𓄹 was one of the most important offerings 𓂠𓏍 that could be given to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why this type of scene would be included in a tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐.
While you can probably tell that the people in this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪 cattle 𓃒𓏦, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
In the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see the word “𓂋𓐍𓋴” which means “to slaughter” or “to butcher.” This word can also be written as “𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪” which is the same word but with the determinative at the end! I prefer it when the words have determinatives because it makes everything easier to read!
If you look closely, the 𓋴 symbol is actually carved backwards which confused me at first because if you read the word the opposite way, it becomes “𓋴𓂋𓐍” which translates as “to know/to learn” which does not make sense in the context of the scene!
So here are some new vocabulary words for you:
𓂋𓐍𓋴 to slaughter/to butcher
𓋴𓂋𓐍 to know/to learn
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this image shows a butchering scene
This second image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is also a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which also shows a butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴 scene. Meat 𓆑𓄹 was one of the most important offerings 𓂠𓏍 that could be given to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱!
While you can probably tell that the people in this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪 cattle 𓃒𓏦, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I love these ancient Egyptian “captions” because there aren’t a lot of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 so it’s not too overwhelming to translate if you’re just starting out!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is a breakdown of the inscription 𓊮𓇋𓆑𓏏𓆑𓄹:
𓊮 – to cook/to bake
𓇋𓆑𓏏 – bone marrow
𓆑𓄹 – meat
This tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 is on display at the MET and is absolutely beautiful to go in and explore! Here’s a tip for your next visit: it is kind of hidden and located directly across from the Blue Faience Tiles from Saqqara and it’s not very crowded so you can really enjoy it!
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I love this display at the MET because not only do I love tiny things, but these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 animal statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have a lot of significance!
Small Animal Statues on display at the MET! In the front is the jasper hippo, then the amethyst monkey holding its baby, and behind that is the three jerboas.
Let’s first talk about the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 jasper hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! Instead of the usual standing position, this hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is laying down and might have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 because there is actually a hole going through it! In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅 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, which is what this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 would have done for the wearer! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom.
The amethyst figure behind the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is of a monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 holding its baby! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom but it is very similar in style to some Old Kingdom pieces that are also at the MET! Monkeys 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛𓏪 are not native to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were actually pets for the very wealthy. This figure also has a loophole in it and would have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆. Usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother and child is associated with fertility and rebirth.
The three little figures behind the amethyst monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 are little desert rodents called “jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛. I thought they were mice 𓊪𓈖𓏌𓄛 at first and had to look up jerboa in both English and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – I love learning new things! The symbolic meaning of these Middle Kingdom statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are unknown, but they were buried with someone! The jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛 is a small desert rodent and these animals first show up as statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 during this time period; none have been found dated to the Old Kingdom!
Small Animal Statues on display at the MET
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Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, at an uncommon variant of Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭! As you may know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite word to spot (no matter the variant) in inscriptions!
This particular ‘spelling’ of Anubis’ name 𓂋𓈖 is a not-as- common variant of the common way to write his name which is “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣.” However, even though some of the symbols are different, his name 𓂋𓈖 would still be pronounced the same! The proper way to say Anubis in Middle/New/Late Egyptian is “ı͗npw” (pronounced like “Inpu” or “Anpu”).
Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, so I love spotting the different variants of his name 𓂋𓈖! His name turns up a lot because Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 is one of the main funerary gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and a large part of Egyptian artifacts that are in museums happen to be funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭!
Can you spot the uncommon variant of Anubis “𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭” in the inscription above?
Let’s take a closer look at the symbols!
The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”
The “red crown 𓋔” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓋔” is associated with the sound of “n,” just like the “ripple of water 𓈖.” This symbol can also act as a determinative for “red crown.”
The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.”
The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”
The “seated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as “punctuation” at the end of the name of a male god!
The name 𓂋𓈖 “Anubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name 𓂋𓈖, so that is why the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu/Anpu’s name 𓂋𓈖!
Here are some common variants of Anubis’ name:
𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 (the one pictured)
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢
𓇋𓈖𓊪
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱
Which variant do you prefer? My favorite is 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!
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