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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Pharaoh Rameses II

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the throne name and the birth name cartouches 𓍷𓍷𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! The cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are written on a blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό cup π“ŽΊπ“! Cups π“ŽΊπ“π“¦ such as these, which were inscribed with the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, were commonly found in foundation deposits of building projects that had been commissioned by that particular pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. These types of cups π“ŽΊπ“π“¦ were usually not owned or used by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 despite his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– being on it!Β 

The Cartouches of Pharaoh Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to start with the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the left! This is the throne name of Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, which is preceded by the normal royal title!Β 

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre setep en Ra

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œUsermaatre setep en Ra π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–β€ translates to β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

π“„Š – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Mast)

𓇳 – Ra

π“‰π“ˆ– – Chosen

Now let’s look at the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right! This is the birth name of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ which is also preceded by the normal royal title! 

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

π“ˆπ“₯ – Appearances 

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Ramessu mery Amun

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œRamessu mery Amun π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“β€ translates to β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– could also be translated as β€œRa Bore Him.” Let’s look at the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– more closely:

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

π“ˆ˜ – Beloved

π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

Both of the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are sitting on top of the hieroglyphic symbol for β€œgold π“‹ž.” The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was associated with gold because the skin of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ were thought to be made of gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰. Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was a god π“ŠΉ on Earth, it makes sense that he would be considered to be golden!