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Egyptian Artifacts

Inscribed Stones

There are two 𓏻 things that completely fascinate me: ancient Egyptian history and geology so these “inscribed stones” are so interesting to me! I love when I can combine my passion for these two 𓏻 subjects! Rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“₯ are basically the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ of the Earth 𓇾𓇾! What’s even better is when hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ appear on pieces/fragments of rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ – it’s like hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ inception!Β 

Inscribed Stones
Many Inscribed Stones with the cartouche of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

The MET has these listed as β€œinscribed stones,” which were most likely intentionally put at the base of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Valley Temple as offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦. Three 𓏼 different types or rocks are shown in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above: limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ and quartzite. All three 𓏼 of these rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“₯ are found in abundance across Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, especially the sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ and limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰!Β 

Inscribed Stones
A closeup of an Inscribed Stone with the throne name of Hatshepsut on it! Look at how beautiful the carvings are! The details on the “ka π“‚“” symbol are particularly stunning!

While many of these β€œinscribed stones” have very rough carvings on them, the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· that appears in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above on the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ is quite beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋! The version of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that appears on these fragments of rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is β€œMaatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

Let’s take a closer look at what the symbols in her name mean:

𓇳 – Ra

𓁦 – Maat (Truth) 

π“‚“ – Ka (Soul)

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.