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Reading Hieroglyphs

Middle Kingdom Coffin and Hieroglyph Translation

This is a stunning π“„€ example of a Middle Kingdom coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±(Late 12 to mid-13 Dynasty c. 1850–1750 B.C.E.). Many coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± from the Middle Kingdom were made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and elaborately painted. This coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± belonged to a person named Khnumnakht, who is an unknown individual except for this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±.

The panel of this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± that I chose to highlight is significant for many reasons. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”
π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos.”