Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela for Irethoreru

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Irethoreru and it is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period, c. 775-663 B.C.E.). This stela is composed of the igneous rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ syenite, which is very similar to granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ except for the fact that it contains much less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™. This property is what allows such beautiful π“„€ color contrast between the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ itself versus the sunken relief. The contrast between the two 𓏻 makes this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ particularly stunning in my opinion.

On the right side, we can see Irethoreru making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. All three 𓏼 figures are standing underneath Horus the Behdetite (the winged solar disc with uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗), which is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that was popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ and temple decorations throughout many Egyptian time periods.

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

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – Great One
π“ŠΉπ“… – God’s Mother/Goddess

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – β€œOsiris”
π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – β€œGreat God”
π“ŽŸπ“‡― – β€œLord of the Sky” (𓇯 by itself usually means β€œabove,” but for this translation it’s just the word sky/heaven which is usually written as π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. This is usually Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ title so it’s a little strange to see it associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!)
π“‹Ύ – Ruler
𓆖 – Eternity