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Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ on display at the Brooklyn Museum.Β Β 

Stela of Rameses II
Stela of Rameses II on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ talk about how Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– there. The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was a way to commemorate Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ presenting statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³. 

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! 

Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook π“‹Ύ) from the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³. This is meant to represent that Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ saw Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ as a legitimate and rightful ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ (in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–/Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ kind of replaces Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ in popularity as king 𓇓 of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and that they were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.Β 

It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ appear on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!Β These names appear on the top two rows of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here are Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ five 𓏾 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦:Β 

π“ƒ’π“‚‘π“‡³π“Ίπ“€­π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Horus π“…ƒ Name (The Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra) 

π“…–π“Ž‘π“†Žπ“π“Š–π“…±π“‚π“†‘π“²π“‚‘π“ˆŠπ“π“¦ – Nebty π“…’ Name (Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands”)

π“Œ‚π“π“‚‘π“„˜π“‚§π“‚‹π“‚‘π“Œ”π“π“€π“» – Golden Horus π“…‰ Name (β€œPowerful of Arm, He Who Has Subdued the Nine Bows”)

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Throne Name (β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra”)

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Birth Name (β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun”)

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

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