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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Amenemhat I at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Today we are going to look at an inscriptionΒ π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–Β that is on a relief at the MET! I chose this one because this relief shows the cartouches of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 I haven’t spoken about much – Amenemhat IΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“!Β 

Amenemhat IΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1939-1910 B.C.E.). He was of non-royal birth, and it is unknown how he acquired the throne. It is possible that he was the sameΒ AmenemhatΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ that was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep IVΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ and then took the throne after Mentuhotep IV’sΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.Β 

Since the directional hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Once again, some of these words (especially the titles) I have taught before and you may recognize! 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ – Amenemhat (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt or He of the Sedge and the Bee

π“‡³π“‹΄π“Š΅π“π“Šͺπ“„£ – Sehotepibra (Throne Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Amenemhat π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓅓𓄂𓏏 translates to β€œAmun is in the Front” -let’s break this down too:

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“…“ – in 

𓄂𓏏 – Front/Foremost