Canopic Chest and Mummy of Ukhotep

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and canopic chest of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 who lived during Dynasty 12 of the Middle Kingdom. Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the chief treasurer, which is why he probably received such gorgeous 𓄤 funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, such as this canopic chest that contains dedications to the Four Sons of Horus. The purpose of the canopic chest was to hold the four 𓏽 canopic jars which contained the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Since the directional symbols are pointing towards the right, we will start reading from the right!

𓇋𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated/Revered/Honored

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef

𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Ukhotep

𓎟𓄪 – Possessor of Honor

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

“Honor 𓇋𓄪𓐍” is the full word while the phrase “𓎟𓄪 Possessor of Honor” only uses the “spine and spinal chord 𓄪” symbol to write “Honor.” Also, “𓎟𓄪 Possessor of Honor” can be written as “𓎟𓄪𓏺,” it just depends on the spacing on the object it is being inscribed on. 

As a beginner, the shortening of words can get confusing, but this is where practice comes in! 

These pieces are at the MET in NYC!