Tag: hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Book of the Dead Translation

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to look at some writing in the Book of the Dead (known to the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ as the Book of Coming Forth By Day). This Book of the Dead belonged to a man named Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, who was a priest π“ŠΉπ“› of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. He lived during the early Ptolemaic Period (between 332-200 B.C.E.). This Book of the Dead is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

This inscription is about the god π“ŠΉ/π“€­ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! Let’s just jump right into it – some of these words are vocabulary we have gone over previously (or variants of the words), so see if you can recognize the words or phrases before reading the translation!

Since the symbols point to the right, we are going to start reading from the top of the right column! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are always read from top to bottom no matter what!

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ
β€œWords Spoken By π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, Foremost of π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“ the West π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€¦β€

π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“€­π“™π“Š€π“ŽŸπ“‹‚π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–
β€œIt is π“ƒΉπ“ˆ– the perfect god π“„€π“€­, true of voice π“™π“Š€, Lord π“ŽŸ of Abydos π“‹‚π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–β€¦β€

π“ŽŸπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“π“†“π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­
β€œLord π“ŽŸ of Eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, Ruler π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of His Own π“†“π“π“ˆ–, King π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Recumbent Jackal on Shrine Hieroglyph

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to look at my favorite hieroglyphic symbol: Anubis 𓃣! So out of all 700+ symbols, this symbol of Anubis on a shrine 𓃣 has always been (and will always be) my absolute favorite!

There are three 𓏼 variants of this symbols: 𓃒, 𓃣, and 𓃀. The variants just mean that all three symbols could be used in the same way to represent the same thing!

The official name of this symbol given by Egyptologists is β€œrecumbent jackal on shrine 𓃣” and it is used as both an ideogram and a determinative. 𓃣 is the determinative in the word β€œAnubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣” and also an ideogram for β€œAnubis 𓃣.”

When 𓃣 functions as an ideogram, the β€œπ“ƒ£β€ would be pronounced the same as β€œπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣.” The proper way to say Anubis in Middle Egyptian is β€œjnpw” (pronounced like β€œInpu”).
𓇋 – j (i)
π“ˆ– – n
π“Šͺ – p
π“…± – w (u)
𓃣 – Determinative – not pronounced!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œAnubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, so that is why the hieroglyphs don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–!

Since this is my absolute favorite symbol, when I was a kid, I was so mad that I could not use this symbol as part of my name π“‚‹π“ˆ– (my name written out is π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­π“€­).

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ointment Jars from Deir el-Bahri

These ointment jars were found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!

These ointment jars that were found are made of travertine and many have hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ on them! Many of the jars found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 contain oil stains, which means that they were probably used primarily to hold oil that was used in ceremonies at the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. You can also see a blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, which were very common to find in foundation deposits too!

I love seeing the artifacts from the foundation deposits because they give a glimpse into cool things such as temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ construction and religious worship! The artifacts found in foundation deposits also contain the cartouches of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 under whom the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was constructed under!

One of the ointment jars has some simple text on it! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“ŠΉπ“π“„€ – The Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut as Female King

I seem to always talk about the white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ because it’s my favorite, but I never seem to discuss the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ or β€œHatshepsut as Female King.” This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is my second π“Œπ“» favorite!

The most striking aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so she would be forgotten from history. Many blame Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 for this, but actually any motivation behind this deliberate destruction of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is unknown and mostly speculation.

It’s very difficult to read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this statue, but you can make out that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is using the female version of titles, and referring to herself as a woman!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!
π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – Perfect Goddess
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare

Something interesting about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (that cannot be seen in my pictures) is that Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ that protects π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ in childbirth (and women/children in general), is actually carved into the back of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! This is the only deity π“ŠΉ that is overtly carved into Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary so this allows Egyptologists to infer that the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was probably meant to belong in the Hathor 𓉑 shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and was probably used in cult worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒. It’s interesting that a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ specifically aimed towards women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ was chosen to be carved!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Water Jars in a Rack” Hieroglyph

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

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to be looking at another popular hieroglyphΒ π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! This is the β€œwater jars in a rack 𓏅” symbol!

𓏅 is most commonly used as a triliteral phonogram, and is associated with the sound αΈ«nt. Less commonly, 𓏅 (and it’s variants) can be used as an ideogram for the word β€œjar-rack” and would then be associated with the sound αΈ«ntw.Β 

There are many variants of this symbol, all of which have the same sound associated with them. They are also classified as β€œwater jars in a rack: 𓏃, 𓏄, and 𓏆.” All of these can be used interchangeably! 

Let’s take a look at how 𓏅 can be used in a variety of inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! 

Now, 𓏅 is very commonly used as a proposition to mean β€œin front at/of:” 

π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰±/π“…π“π“ŠΉπ“‰± – In Front at the God’s Booth (one of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 epithets)

π“…π“ˆ–π“ – At the Head of/In Front of 

𓏅 Is also commonly used to mean the word β€œForemost,” especially in epithets of the godsπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. β€œForemost” can also be written as β€œπ“„‚π“.”

π“…π“ˆ–π“π“­π“‹€π“„Ώ/ – Foremost of the Westerners (one of Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ epithets)

π“…π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – Foremost of the West (I have seen this epithet of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ written this way too)

𓏢𓏅 – Is Foremost (priest’s title)

𓏅 can also function as an ordinal number and mean β€œFirst.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The “Sedge” Hieroglyph

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

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to be looking at another popular hieroglyphΒ π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! This is the β€œsedge 𓇓” symbol!

The 𓇓 is a biliteral phonogram and has the sound of β€œsw.” The symbol can also function as an ideogram for both the words β€œking (nswt)” and β€œsedge (swt).” The sedge 𓇓 is also the symbol to represent Upper Egypt!Β 

Let’s take a look at some examples of how 𓇓 can be used in words!

𓇓 – King

π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­ – King

π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€² – King

π“‡“π“π“‡Œπ“›/π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“‡Œπ“› – To Be King

π“‡“π“‡Œ – Kingship

π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž King’s Wife 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance (literally β€œKing’s 𓇓 Knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏(π“œ)”)

Now, let’s take a look at some examples of how 𓇓 can be used in popular phrases:

π“†₯ – He of the Sedge and the Bee or King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – An Offering the King Gives (𓇓 – King, π“π“Š΅- Offering, 𓏙 – Gives)

As you can see, the sedge 𓇓 symbol has many uses, and they mostly have to do with the word β€œking!” So if you see the 𓇓, in most cases you’re going to be dealing with something to do with the king π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€²/pharaoh π“‰π“‰»! 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Closeup of the Hatshepsut Stela

Here’s a closeup of a part of the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ from the Vatican Museum in Rome! My Nonno took this picture on one of his trips to the museum. He knows how much I love this piece (it’s second only to the limestone statue of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 at the MET).

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

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see the cartouches for the throne names (or prenomen) of both Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III. The prenomen was one of the five royal names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

𓇳𓁦𓂓 = Maatkare (Hatshepsut)
𓇳𓏠𓆣 = Menkhepra (Thutmosis III)

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in between the two cartouches spell out 𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏇 which translates to β€œgiven life like Ra”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Pharaoh Horemheb with the God Amun

My Nonno took this picture!! This is a statue of the Pharaoh Horemheb π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŒΊπ“„Ώπ“‹”π“π“Ž± with the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– is pictured as larger than the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ were always depicted bigger to symbolize the fact that they were more important than the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The only being a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 ever bowed to was a god, since the pharaohs themselves were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.

Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– was the King of the Gods (kind of like Zeus). As early as the 11th Dynasty, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– was the patron god π“ŠΉ of Thebes. At the start of the 18th Dynasty, the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– gained great national importance in the pantheon and this is illustrated with Amun’s fusion with the sun god Ra (Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³).

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

On the left side of the statue, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ read: π“„€π“ŠΉ π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“™π“‹Ή – this translates to: β€œThe great god, lord of the two lands, Djeser Kheperu Re, beloved of Amun-Ra, given life.”

While on the right side, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ read: 𓅭𓇳 π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŒΊπ“„Ώπ“‹”π“π“Ž±) π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“™π“‹Ή -this translates to: β€œSon of Ra, lord of appearances, Horemheb, beloved of Amun-Ra, given life.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of the Pharaoh Khafre

This is another picture my Nonno took! I’ve always thought this cast of Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ cartouche was super interesting! As a kid I loved it because Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ was one of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ who built a pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Giza in the 4th Dynasty, and my Nonno would always point this piece out to us because of that. As I started studying hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ though, this piece became even more interesting to me!

The cartouche reads: π“…­π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘π“‡³π“†₯, which translates to Son of Ra, Khafre, King of Upper and Lower Egypt.

What’s interesting about this cartouche though is usually β€œSon of Ra𓅭𓇳” and β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt π“†₯” appear as titles above the cartouche, instead of inside of it! I don’t know why it’s written like this, but I’ve always found it to be an interesting piece because of this!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ancient Plagiarism – aka Usurping

This statue is very interesting because it was originally made for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ during the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty. However if you look at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the cartouches of Rameses II can be read! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ used to recycle statues all the time – this is a process known as usurping (taking one pharaoh’s monuments, erasing their name, and putting yours!). It’s kind of like ancient plagiarism!!

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

π“†₯(π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre
𓅭𓇳(π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) Son of Ra, Rameses

This statue is made of granodiorite, a type of volcanic (igneous) rock. It was quarried at Aswan and then transported up the Nile to Memphis, where it was sculpted.