Month: November 2024

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Egyptian Artifacts

Head of Akhenaten or Nefertiti?

The MET has this piece listed as β€œHead of Akhenaten or Nefertiti” but to me, the head looks more like Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­ than Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–! Let me know who you think this piece looks more like in the comments!  

This piece is dated to c. 1353–1336 B.C.E., which unsurprisingly is during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. The piece was found during the 1891-1892 excavations of Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– (present-day Amarna) by Flinders Petrie and Howard Carter. 

The bust was found in one of the sculptor’s π“‹΄π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“€€ workshops. The sculptor’s π“‹΄π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“€€ workshops in Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– have been the source of many beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 pieces from this time period. I love the artifacts that are found in an unfinished state because it gives such insight into how these incredible ancient Egyptian artists worked and it shows that even the most grand of pieces started off in humble states! If this piece had been finished, would it have looked like the famous Bust of Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­? Or was the piece just meant to be a trial piece and this was what it was supposed to look like?

One of my favorite things about this account is I get to learn as I am teaching! I did not know the word for β€œsculptor π“‹΄π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“€€β€ off the top of my head so I looked it up! One of the alternative translations for β€œsculptor π“‹΄π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“€€β€œ is β€œLife Giver” which I find so fascinating – it really gives insight into the Egyptian culture because the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 or statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a person could give 𓏙 life π“‹Ή to them after death! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Apis Bull

These are bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒. The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 can actually be traced back to as early as the First Dynasty! 

The Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– near the Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± Temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. People would travel from various locations to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ just to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒, and the mother 𓅐𓏏 of the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒. 

While Hathor 𓉑 is probably the most famous of the cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was also very widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 and represented eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› and the harmonious balance of the whole universe. The Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 which is probably why a lot of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were referred to with the title of the β€œstrong bull 𓂑𓃒.” This was to represent the strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and vitality of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Usually a live bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ was used to be worshipped, and the bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ needed to have special markings on it such as a triangle shape on its forehead, or patches that represented wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ on its body. When the bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ that was being worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 died, it was embalmed π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž and buried elaborately. A new bull π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“ƒ’ would then take its place. 

One of the easiest ways to recognize the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 in statuary is by looking for the sun disc 𓇳 on its head, and the elaborate cloth that is decorating the back of its body. In this picture it’s hard to see the triangle on its forehead that usually represented the Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒, but it is there! 

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Great Sphinx of Tanis

Did you know that this sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ in the Louvre is one of the largest outside of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–?

The sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is known as the β€œGreat Sphinx of Tanis” because it was found in the ruins of the Temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ in Tanis π“†“π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“Š–! Tanis π“†“π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“Š– was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from the 21st-23rd Dynasties. 

The sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is made of red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ which is an extremely strong 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and durable rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™! Red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ was very valued not only for its pink color but its durability. As you can see, the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ retained its beautiful π“„€ features really well due to the characteristics of the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™

This sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is so interesting because the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 Merneptah π“‡³π“ƒ’π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ (19th Dynasty) and Sheshonq I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Œ»π“†·π“†·π“ˆ–π“ˆŽ (22nd Dynasty) are both seen on the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€.  Why are two 𓏻 pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ there?  Well, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used to recycle monuments, a process called “usurping.” The practice of usurping was when the current pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take old pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ off of monuments 𓏠𓏍 and put their own there! It is basically ancient plagiarism and it occurred quite frequently. 

Some Egyptologists say this sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ actually dates back to the Old Kingdom, as the face 𓁢𓏺 doesn’t represent any known pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! A book that I have says the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ dates to the Middle Kingdom. We will probably never know when the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was carved which is both fascinating and frustrating at the same time! 

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Painted Wooden Stela

This painted wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is an absolutely beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 piece from the Third Intermediate Period (22nd Dynasty, c. 825–712 B.C.E.) and one of my favorites to see at the MET. 

Painted Wooden Stela at the MET

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ depicts the god π“ŠΉ Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 leading the deceased woman, Tjanetiset, to the deity π“ŠΉ Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€. This imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is very common on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ from this time period. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the combination of the deities Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and he is the god π“ŠΉ of the morning sun π“…ƒπ“ˆŒπ“π“­π“€­. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦  and depictions of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ in funerary art became more prominent during the Late Period. 

I love this piece so much because it looks like Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and the woman Tjanetiset are holding hands and he is leading her to Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€! What’s very interesting is what is in Tjanetiset’s other hand! If you look closely, she is holding a heart in her hand 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and it looks like she is holding it in an offering position to Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€. 

In ancient Egyptian religion/culture, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not only the center of a person’s life π“‹Ή, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed during the mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process, because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Akhenaten and Nefertiti

When I went to the Louvre in 2015, this was one of my must-see pieces! The love story of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— has always fascinated me . This painted limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 reminds me of the popular β€œcouples statues,” which depict a husband and wife sitting together, that were prominent in burials during the Old Kingdom!

Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— was the β€œGreat Royal Wife π“‡“π“π“ˆžπ“π“…¨β€ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. This statue depicts Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— (left) and Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– (right) holding hands and walking forward. We know they are walking forward because one foot is placed in front of the other. 

Let’s talk about their clothing! They both have sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸π“ͺ on their feet and wearing broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦, the necklace π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ of choice for royals and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is also wearing the blue Khepresh crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ on his head, while Nefertiti appears to be wearing what looks like the red crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”, but there is blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on it! . The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is still present on the front of both crowns! 

What was the purpose of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾? This most likely came from a private home, where it was used in a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“—. The common people would worship Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— because they were thought to be manifestations 𓆣𓆣𓆣 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ here on Earth. 

The typical Amarna-style (elongated faces and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) is present here, which makes it very easy to identify these figures as Nefertiti π“„€π“π“‡π“˜π“— and Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. The Amarna art revolution is so interesting because Egyptian art didn’t change much until Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule, then there was this drastic change, and then once Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– died, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ reverted back to the traditional art style and it stated that way for the rest of the civilization. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Book of the Dead

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺!

Book of the Dead
Book of the Dead on display at the British Museum!

There is so much going on in this little image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 from the British Museum!

Book of the Dead
The hieroglyphs for “Hail Osiris π“‰”π“‡‹π“‡‹π“€π“Ήπ“Š¨π“ŠΉ” are highlighted in this image

The first line has the inscription β€œπ“‰”π“‡‹π“‡‹π“€π“Ήπ“Š¨π“ŠΉ,” which would be translated as β€œHail 𓉔𓇋𓇋𓀁 Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“ŠΉ.”

I love the word β€œπ“‰”π“‡‹π“‡‹π“€,” because it has so many different meanings depending on the context! Phonetically, it would most likely be pronounced as β€œhey 𓉔𓇋𓇋𓀁” which is one of the ways it can be translated! β€œπ“‰”π“‡‹π“‡‹π“€β€ can mean hey/hi/hello in some contexts, it can also mean β€œhail” like translated above, but it’s also sometimes translated as β€œcheer, rejoice, shout, or oh!.” If there is a different determinative after the first two symbols β€œπ“‰”π“‡‹π“‡‹,” it will also change the meaning! 

I’ve mentioned this before but I love the β€œcaptions” that the ancient Egyptians would put next to gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ in the art so you know which deity you are looking at! In the bottom image you can see Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 who are three prominent funerary deities with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the deceased. 

Book of the Dead
The hieroglyphs for important deities are highlighted in this image.

Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are also in the top image on the barge with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the deceased. Much like how they would appear on coffins, Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ is always at the feet of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 while Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is at the head of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. 

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