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Reading Hieroglyphs

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

This section of a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is from the β€œFunerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht” which is dated to the Ramesside Period (New Kingdom c. 1320–1200 B.C.E.). Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂑𓀽 was the tax master π“ˆ™π“π“΄π“‚‘ (I’m sure he was popular) and this high position is what allowed him to have such a gorgeous funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

This entire papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is composed of what has been called Chapter 168 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, otherwise known as the “Chapter of Offerings.” However, most of the time this text is found alone and not with other parts of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 (as is the case with this papyrus) and is considered now to be its own text and not necessarily a part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

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

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht
A section of the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht”

The two sections of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ point in two different directions; the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ above the Falcon headed god Osiris-Wennefer π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ˆ–π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹ point to the right while the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂑𓀽 point to the left. We are going to start with the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ above Osiris-Wennefer π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ˆ–π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹.Β 

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Here is the text all together: π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ˆ–π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“„π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ

Here are the individual phrases broken down:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By 

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ˆ–π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹ – Osiris Wennefer

𓏄 – Foremost

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Here is the translation: β€œWords Spoken By Osiris-Wennefer, Foremost of the West.” This is a super common introduction for a god in a funerary text. It also lets you know who is depicted in the images!Β 

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Before we read the next section of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, let’s take a look at some of the art! On his shoulder, Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂑𓀽 is holding the goddess Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ while he is holding up his other hand in adoration of the god Osiris-Wennefer π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ˆ–π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹. Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ is the goddess of truth π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ and justice π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ and we know it’s her because of the feather 𓆄 that’s on her head!Β 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to be reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that are above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂑𓀽. These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ point to the left so we will start reading them from the left!Β 

Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

Here is the text all together: π“π“‡Όπ“€’π“ˆ–π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“„π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠπ“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“‰»π“‚π“›π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“π“΄π“‚‘π“„“π“‰π“€π“ƒ©π“π“‚‘π“€½

Here are the individual phrases broken down:

𓏏𓇼𓀒 – Praise/Worship (should actually be written as β€œπ“‡Όπ“π“€’β€)

π“ˆ– – of

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris

𓏄 – Foremost

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – The Osiris

𓉻𓂝𓏛 – Great

π“ˆ– – the/of

π“ˆ™π“π“΄π“‚‘ – Tax Master 

𓄓𓉐𓏀 – Overseer

𓃩𓏏𓂑𓀽 – Sethnakht

Here is the translation: β€œPraise for Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Osiris, the Great Tax Master, the Overseer Sethnakht.” 

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

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