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Reading Hieroglyphs

Mummiform Coffin of Harmose

This (left) mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a singer named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Harmose who lived during the joint rule of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣(New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, c. 1479–1458 B.C.E.). While Harmose was not royal, this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is still quite striking. The face is overlaid with gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ foil while the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are made out of inlaid alabaster (white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³) and obsidian (black π“†Žπ“…“). The coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 was found in the vicinity of Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ during excavations funded by the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the 1935-1936 dig season.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! By now, I’m sure those of you who have been following me for a bit can now recognize parts of the standard offering formula!

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives…”

π“Š©π“Ή – β€œ…Osiris…” (this is a not as common variation of his name)

π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“› – β€œ…Ruler of…”

𓆖 – β€œ…Eternity…”

π“‰Όπ“ŠΉ – β€œ…The Great God”

π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”

π“Œπ“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos…” (this is another variation – Abydos is more commonly written as π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–)

𓉓 – β€œ…A Voice Offering of…”