Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and was made for a woman named Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 who was ironically a singer for the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 ! 

This ushabti 𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because they undergo much development during this time period. It’s very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabti’s 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue! 

Here’s the full inscription on the ushabti: 𓇓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓅮𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤

Let’s break down the inscription by each individual word:

𓇓𓂝𓏏 – Singer 

𓈖 – of

𓅮 – (indicates past tense)

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten 

𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 – Isis

𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 – True of Voice/justified

While limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is not the most common material for ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to be made out of, it’s not unheard of to have ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 like this during the 18th Dynasty period.

It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, remained. 

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

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