Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Name of Thutmosis I or Thutmosis II?

Have you ever asked yourself “Are these hieroglyphs the name of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 or Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ–?” The names are so similar, that if you’re reading hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you probably have!

The discovery of the tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ of Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– is so exciting and I cannot wait to learn more about this discovery!! The 18th Dynasty is my favorite time period, and Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 so I am really excited about all of the new information that can be learned from this discovery!

In celebration of this wonderful discovery, Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Thutmosis I or Thutmosis II
A display of scarabs which show the names of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs Thutmosis I and Thutmosis II. This display is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Can you find the name of Thutmosis II amongst the Thutmosis I scarabs?

In this beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 display of scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ at the MET, there is a collection with the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ–. Except there is a mistake in the display – one of the scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ in the Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 section actually belonged to Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ–!

Can you find it? Scroll below to see the answer once you’ve looked!Β 

Thutmosis I or Thutmosis II

It’s the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 in the bottom row, second from the left! The throne names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– are very similar to each other – there is only a one hieroglyph difference between the two! 

Let’s take a closer look at the names: 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 – β€œGreat 𓉻 is the Manifestation 𓆣 of the soul π“‚“ of Ra 𓇳” (Thutmosis I)

π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– – β€œGreat 𓉻 is the Manifestation 𓆣 of π“ˆ– Ra 𓇳” (Thutmosis II) 

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 most importantly, my Nonno!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

World Hippopotamus Day

Apparently yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was World Hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― Day and I missed it! I guess it’s not that big of a deal because I feel like every day π“ŽŸπ“‡³ is hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― day to me! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is the last time I saw William at the MET before I moved to Florida, and yes I was crying!Β 

World Hippopotamus Day
Me with my plush William (and the real William) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. I was crying in this picture because I don’t know when I will see William in person next as I have moved to Florida!

It’s no mystery that I love the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ that were common during the Middle Kingdom! β€œWilliam” is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– given to the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― at the MET! William was made in the first part of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1961–1878 B.C.E.) and was found in a tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ in Upper Egypt 𓇓. 

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. 

However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil, which is why statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ such as Willam were placed in tombs π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰! If you look closely though, three of William’s legs have been restored – they were probably broken off in antiquity to protect the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 from the hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―! 

A closeup image of William at the MET! This image clearly shows the painted Lotus flowers and his restored legs!

William has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate him with rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± and regeneration! William is most likely painted blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ to represent the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί.Β 

I hope everyone had a wonderful World Hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― Day!

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 most importantly, my Nonno!

Categories
Blog

Five Years

It’s been five years since my Nonno passed away and I still have no words to describe how much I miss my Nonno. The pain I felt on this day five years ago is still ever present and is something that will probably never go away. 

My Nonno was such a big part of my life and everything reminds me of him. The most obvious one, ancient Egypt, reminds me the most of him. My apartment is littered with not only his ancient Egyptian trinkets but also his books. My brain is full of all the wonderful things he taught me. My soul is filled with the passion for ancient history that he instilled in me. 

But it’s not only ancient Egypt – it’s Disney World, anything Italian, even my vacuum cleaner (because he gave it to me). I can’t even clean without a reminder that he isn’t here with us anymore. I can’t ride the Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, and the Peoplemover without remembering how much he loved those rides and how much I wish he could be here in Florida with me to enjoy them. 

β€œBut what is grief if not love persevering?” is a quote from WandaVision that I think about frequently and I feel accurately describes my emotions. My grief/love will always be present – and I think that’s the curse of being so lucky. I was so lucky to have my Nonno and to be his granddaughter. 

Five Years
One of my selves dedicated to my Nonno – the Hatshepsut Stela from the Vatican he gave me, the picture frame is his, and in the picture frame is my favorite picture of us from our trip to Pompeii in July of 2024.

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblogΒ onΒ InstagramΒ andΒ TikTokΒ to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and most importantly, my Nonno!