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Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyph Translation of a Statue of Thutmosis III

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to be looking at an inscriptionΒ π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–Β that is on a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 depicts him in an offering position. An offering position is when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is depicted as kneeling, with nemset jarsΒ π“Œπ“Œπ“ŒΒ in his hands. The only being a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would kneel for is another god π“ŠΉ, and the god π“ŠΉ that Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋾𓆄 is making an offeringΒ π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to is Amun-RaΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί. Based on the inscriptionΒ π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was probably intended to be placed in the Temple of Amun-RaΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“ΊΒ at Karnak.Β 

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

Since the directional hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are pointing to the right, we will start reading from the right! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are always read from top to bottom, so we will start with the top line too!

π“‹Ή – Life/Living

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkhepperra (Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓅝𓄠𓋾𓆄 – Thutmosis (Thoth is Born, Ruler of Maat)

Here is the bottom line (we will also start reading from the right):

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ίπ“€­ – Amun-Ra

π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Thrones

π“‡“π“π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ – King of the Gods

π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Beloved

π“‹Ή – Life

𓆖 – Eternal/Eternity

So here is the full inscription: β€œLife, the Perfect God, Menkhepperra, Son of Ra, Thutmosis, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones, King of the Gods, Eternal Life.” 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the reign π“‹Ύ of Thutmosis III π“…π“„ π“‹Ύπ“†„ (c. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) which was during the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom).