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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sphinx of Thutmosis III

Here is a small quartzite Sphinx of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. This little statue is interesting for a couple of reasons. One of which is the way that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is commonly sculpted – he usually has a very child-like face. This is significant because it is thought that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was shown in a child-like way to visually justify the fact that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was co-ruler and then eventually the sole pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Another interesting point is the inscription, which reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓏠𓆣) π“Œ»π“‡Œ. β€œThe great God, Menkhepra, beloved.”

The part of the inscription where Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– name should be, has been erased. The inscription should read: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓏠𓆣) π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– π“Œ»π“‡Œ β€œThe great God, Menkhepra, beloved of Amun.”

Why was Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– name erased? Well, we can thank Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ– for that! When Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– banned the worship of the traditional pantheon, he tried to have Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– name erased everywhere!