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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Emperor Augustus

The Emperor Augustus depicted on the Temple of Dendur at the MET

Here is the Emperor Augustus π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“π“‚‹! He doesn’t look like an Emperor though – he looks like a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Augustus is seen wearing the Atef crown π“‹š, a false beard, a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹, armlets π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Ž‘π“π“…±π“¦, and bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏦. These are all features that are associated with Egyptian pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, even though Augustus was Roman.

In this sunken relief, Augustus π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“π“‚‹ is making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ to another god π“ŠΉ. Augustus had many temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ constructed that adhered to Egyptian religion and culture instead of the Roman/Hellenistic ways. This was a strategy that Augustus used to legitimize himself as the ruler of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and gain the respect π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„… of the local population. This particular image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Temple of Dendur, which is at the MET.

To me, what is most interesting though are the cartouches of Augustus! Unlike the Greek rulers of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– that spelled out their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ using phonogram symbols, Augustus went a different route when having his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– represented in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see two 𓏻 (of his three 𓏼) cartouches:

π“„Ώπ“²π“π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“π“‚‹ Augustus (Autokrator)
π“ˆŽπ“‡Œπ“Šƒπ“‚‹π“Šƒπ“‹Ήπ“†– Augustus (Kaisaros)

β€œAutokrator” is the Greek word for β€œEmperor,” while β€œKaisaros” is the Greek word for β€œCaesar.”

Augustus chose to have various words for β€œruler” as his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule!

A close-up of Augustus’ cartouche on the Temple of Dendur at the MET

Here is another variant of Augustus’ cartouche:
𓉐𓉻𓀀

This cartouche I have always found so fascinating because it is literally the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Middle Egyptian plus the determinative sign π“€€. Most names (even when spelled out with phonograms) are followed by a determinative for a male π“€€ person or female 𓁐 person. By choosing to have his name depicted in this way, Augustus was literally calling himself the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

In Middle Egyptian the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 literally translates to β€œGreat House. β€œ this is a direct reference to the palace where the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 resided during his/her rule.

𓉐 – House
𓉻 – Great

Augustus chose to have various synonyms for β€œruler 𓋾” as his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (Emperor, Caesar, Pharaoh). Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule!