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Egyptian Artifacts

Unfinished Stela

Look at this unfinished stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ – there are no hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!! I love when museums have unfinished pieces of Egyptian art because it’s so cool to see various steps in the artistic process! The empty boxes above the deceased (right) and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (left) are where the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ should be!

On the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, there are two Wedjat π“‚€ symbols. The Wedjat π“‚€ is a very common symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and regeneration. In between the Wedjats π“‚€π“‚€ is the Shen 𓍢 symbol! The Shen 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Both of these symbols could be worn by both the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“…±π“¦ and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) is making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (left). This image is a very popular one to appear on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ.

Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because he is wearing the sun-disc 𓇳𓏀 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front. Also, Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… and which is another common way to depict him. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is also sometimes shown holding a scepter π“Œ€ along with a flail π“Œ….

Based on the styling and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 22nd-25th Dynasties. There are many stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ like this in other museums too (except they are mostly finished, not unfinished)!