The images ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ฅ in this post are from the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel ๐ป๐ด๐ of Raemkai. The West ๐๐๐๐ is significant in ancient Egypt because the West ๐๐๐๐ is the realm of the dead. In a typical tomb chapel ๐ป๐ด๐ built during the Old Kingdom, the West Wall would have a False Door and then scenes that would be typical of offering rituals.ย ย
In the ancient Egyptian religion/culture, it was thought that the carvings on the walls of tombs ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ช could come to life. If people were depicted providing food ๐ฌ๐๐ ฑ๐๐ฅ to the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ, then it was thought that the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ would have enough sustenance for the afterlife ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐!
This first image ๐๐ ฑ๐ is a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which shows a butchering ๐๐๐ด scene. Meat ๐๐น was one of the most important offerings ๐ ๐ that could be given to the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ which is why this type of scene would be included in a tomb chapel ๐ป๐ด๐.ย
While you can probably tell that the people in this image ๐๐ ฑ๐ are butchering ๐๐๐ด๐ช cattle ๐๐ฆ, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช!
In the image ๐๐ ฑ๐, you can see the word โ๐๐๐ดโ which means โto slaughterโ or โto butcher.โ This word can also be written as โ๐๐๐ด๐ชโ which is the same word but with the determinative at the end! I prefer it when the words have determinatives because it makes everything easier to read!
If you look closely, the ๐ด symbol is actually carved backwards which confused me at first because if you read the word the opposite way, it becomes โ๐ด๐๐โ which translates as โto know/to learnโ which does not make sense in the context of the scene!
So here are some new vocabulary words for you:ย
๐๐๐ด to slaughter/to butcher
๐ด๐๐ to know/to learn
This second image ๐๐ ฑ๐ is also a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which also shows a butchering ๐๐๐ด scene. Meat ๐๐น was one of the most important offerings ๐ ๐ that could be given to the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ!ย
While you can probably tell that the people in this image ๐๐ ฑ๐ are butchering ๐๐๐ด๐ช cattle ๐๐ฆ, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! I love these ancient Egyptian โcaptionsโ because there arenโt a lot of hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช so itโs not too overwhelming to translate if youโre just starting out!
Letโs read some hieroglyphs ๐น๐๐ช! Here is a breakdown of the inscription ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐น:
๐ฎ – to cook/to bake
๐๐๐ – bone marrow
๐๐น – meat
This tomb chapel ๐ป๐ด๐ is on display at the MET and is absolutely beautiful to go in and explore! Hereโs a tip for your next visit: it is kind of hidden and located directly across from the Blue Faience Tiles from Saqqara and itโs not very crowded so you can really enjoy it!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!