Month: March 2025

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Egyptian Artifacts

Talatat of Akhenaten

These small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ blocks are called β€œTalatat” and were used solely during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–! These were used in the construction of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€) and the palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 at Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–. Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– was the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–. 

Talatat of Akhenaten
Talatat from Amarna at the MET. The top talatat shows an image of the pharaoh Akhenaten

The top Talatat in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was part of a much larger relief which was the pinnacle image of the time – Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– and the royal family (including Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­) receiving β€œAnkhs 𓋹” which is the symbol for β€œLife” from the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. 

The Talatat were unique because they were so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© that a single worker could carry one and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–, and were never used again. 

Even though originally from Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–, these Talatat were actually found in other places across Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β  After Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

I like to think of this as an ancient Egyptian recycling program! It’s truly fascinating to see not only how the ancient Egyptians procured some of their building materials, but also to understand the intent behind them. Since Akhenaten was to be “erased” from history, his monuments were destroyed and the materials repurposed.

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
Video

Tour of Gallery 122

Let’s go on a tour of Gallery 122 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

@ancientegyptblog

One of my favorite things about the Metropolitan Museum of Art are these little β€œhidden” galleries that are off-shoots of the main galleries! This is Gallery 122, and it’s one of my favorites because this gallery houses many Amarna-era pieces along with pieces from the 19th Dynasty! The 18th and 19th Dynasties are my favorite parts of Egyptian History! There are so many little and wonderful hidden treasures in these rooms! They may not be the β€œbig-ticket must-see” artifacts, but they have their own unique charms and history and I love them! Among the pieces in this gallery are Amarna-age trial pieces, broken pieces of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–/Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­, many different ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures, flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 from the funeral of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“, a wooden statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, lots of pottery π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ shards and so much more! I hope you enjoy this little gallery tour! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #anticoegitto #egitto

♬ Glimpse (Slowed + Reverb) – Gabriel AlbuquerqΓΌe

One of my favorite things about the Metropolitan Museum of Art are these little β€œhidden” galleries that are off-shoots of the main galleries! Gallery 122, is one of my favorites because this gallery houses many Amarna-era pieces along with pieces from the 19th Dynasty! The 18th and 19th Dynasties are my favorite parts of Egyptian History!Β 

There are so many little and wonderful hidden treasures in these rooms! They may not be the β€œbig-ticket must-see” artifacts, but they have their own unique charms and history and I love them! 

Among the pieces in this gallery are Amarna-age trial pieces, broken pieces of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–/Nefertiti π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡π“π“­, many different ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures, flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 from the funeral of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“, a wooden statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, lots of pottery π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ shards and so much more! 

I hope you enjoy this little gallery tour! 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and most importantly, my Nonno!