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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Aafenmut

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 924–889 B.C.E., 22nd Dynasty) which belonged to a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡. This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows a typical funerary stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 scene, and this style of stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was very popular during this time period. I love this particular style because it is so colorful!Β This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

The Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is shown at the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ and the Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž represents Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey is supposed to be representative of his birth/resurrection (sunrise), growth (day) and then death (sunset). In between Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a table filled with offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of bread 𓏏𓏐, fruit, and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦.Β 

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

π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ – Ra-Horakhty

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“‚ž – Give

𓆑 – He

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓐍𓏛- Offerings

𓐝 – To

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

𓐝 – To

π“ž – Scribe

π“Ίπ“‰π“Œ‰π“Ίπ“‰ – Treasury

π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ – Aafenmut

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œRa-Horakhty, the Great God, Lord of the Sky/Heaven, may he give offerings to Osiris, to the scribe of the treasury, Aafenmut, True of Voice.”