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Egyptian Artifacts

A Column that Looks like a Sistrum

This may look like a sistrumΒ π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, but it’s actually a column from a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

A column that looks like a sistrum (with Hathor) at the MET

A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ usually had Hathor’s 𓉑 head 𓁢𓏀 (complete with her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle – just like this column!

While it is difficult to tell in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, some paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still left on the column! Based on scientific testing of the trace pigments left behind, Hathor’s 𓉑 hair would have been blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯!Β Fun fact: β€œEgyptian Blue” is the oldest synthetic color pigment in the whole world!

There are images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Hathor π“‰‘ and inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on all four 𓏽 sides as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is exciting because these are all phrases I have taught through my previous posts! See if you can read along before reading the translation!!!

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s throne name)

How well did you do? We’re you able to read the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯? Let me know!!

This piece is dated to the Late Period, Dynasty 30, reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.E.).