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Reading Hieroglyphs

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to take a virtual trip to the Petrie Museum!

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ with the throne name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it!Β 

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III
Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was one of the longest reigning pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ in Egyptian history! He co-ruled with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ for about 21 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ί years, and then he ruled on his own for another 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† years! 

This alabaster 𓍱 vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ was found in a foundation deposit. Both the Petrie Museum and the MET have very similar alabaster 𓍱 vases π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“ͺ with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on them! I have done previous posts on the vases with Hatshepsut’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– – a translation and a post on foundation deposits!

These vasesΒ  π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“ͺ usually contained incense or ointment.Β Sometimes, traces of the incense or ointment can still be seen within the vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ which is so cool!

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ symbols! 

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkhepperra

π“‹Šπ“ŠΎ – Min

π“Ž€π“ƒ€π“„Ώπ“Š– – Koptos

π“ŒΈ – Beloved

All π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the full translation is: β€œThe Perfect God, Menkhepperra, Beloved of Min of Koptos.”

Koptos π“Ž€π“ƒ€π“„Ώπ“Š– is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian town of β€œGbtyw π“Ž€π“ƒ€π“„Ώπ“Š–,” and the modern Arabic name for the town is Qift. Since the Early Dynastic period, Koptos π“Ž€π“ƒ€π“„Ώπ“Š– was an important place of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 for the god π“ŠΉ Min π“‹Šπ“ŠΎ, but it was also a key trading/economic location due to its proximity to the Red Sea. Koptos π“Ž€π“ƒ€π“„Ώπ“Š– remained an important town through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods too!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.