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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Sobek

I enjoyed talking about my friend SobekΒ π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ so here’s another piece that depicts SobekΒ π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹! This is a raised limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰Β relief of SobekΒ π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹Β from the Ptolemaic Period and is at the MET.

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 is usually depicted as a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ sitting on a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ – just like this hieroglyph β€œπ“†‹,” or as a human body with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head 𓁢𓏺. 

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 was worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ from the Old Kingdom through the Roman Periods, but his popularity seemed to have peaked during the Second Intermediate Period as many pharaohs π“‰π“‰»π“¦ of the 13th Dynasty had names π“‚‹π“ˆ–𓏦 that were associated with him. For example, the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the pharaohs π“‰π“‰»π“¦ called β€œSobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” translates to β€œSobek is satisfied.” There were also many commoners whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was also Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ.

Fun fact! While β€œSobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” can literally be written as β€œSobek π“†‹β€ and β€œHotep π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” with the ideogram for β€œSobek π“†‹β€ taking on the full meaning of the word, the name can also be written as β€œπ“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ,” which also spells out Sobekhotep, but this time, only phonograms are used! I love seeing different variations of the same words in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ostracon of the Crocodile God Sobek

This is an ostracon, which is basically either a broken piece of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (in this case), pottery, a rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™, etc. that was used for drawing practice or even β€œTo Do” lists! A lot of the ostraca from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were often used as β€œpolitical cartoons” – where animals were depicted doing human things that were usually comments of society and the social hierarchy! Pieces of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ were often used because papyrus π“…“𓍑𓏏𓏛 was too expensive to practice on! 

This nice little ostracon pictured however, is just a lovely drawing of the crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom (Ramesside – c. 1295–1070 B.C.E.) and was most likely found at Deir el-Medina! 

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 was one of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that was named in the Pyramid Texts, which makes him one of the oldest deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. He is often depicted as a human body with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head 𓁢𓏺. 

Some of the Egyptian legends state that Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 rose out of the primordial waters and created the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Since Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 is associated with the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, this makes him also associated with fertility (much like Taweret, the crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of fertility) since the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ associated the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί with fertility and rebirth. 

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 was both feared and revered due to him being a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ! He was worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ in order to ensure the fertility of both people and crops, but also to protect against crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ attacks. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III

ThisΒ blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β is in exquisite condition.

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III at the MET

This piece is possibly from the model of a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, but its function isn’t actually known. Despite its small size, the sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β is definitely a standout in Gallery 119 at the MET!

A sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is the combination of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› (the body) and a human (the head 𓁢𓏺).  Sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ with the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— on the forehead. He also has a false beard in his chin. This is a very typical way for a pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to be depicted in statuary because this style represented the power and royalty of the pharaoh π“‰π“‰». 

The hands of the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are holding a nemset jar π“Œπ“Ί in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, but there is no inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– to say which god π“ŠΉ/goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to.  

This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty – New Kingdom (c. 1390–1352 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

A Column that Looks like a Sistrum

This may look like a sistrumΒ π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, but it’s actually a column from a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

A column that looks like a sistrum (with Hathor) at the MET

A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ usually had Hathor’s 𓉑 head 𓁢𓏀 (complete with her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle – just like this column!

While it is difficult to tell in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, some paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still left on the column! Based on scientific testing of the trace pigments left behind, Hathor’s 𓉑 hair would have been blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯!Β Fun fact: β€œEgyptian Blue” is the oldest synthetic color pigment in the whole world!

There are images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Hathor π“‰‘ and inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on all four 𓏽 sides as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is exciting because these are all phrases I have taught through my previous posts! See if you can read along before reading the translation!!!

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s throne name)

How well did you do? We’re you able to read the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯? Let me know!!

This piece is dated to the Late Period, Dynasty 30, reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Osiris Statues at the Museo Egizio

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was taken by my Nonno at the Museo Egizio! While I have never been to the Museo Egizio, my Nonno always spoke so highly of the museum; he absolutely loved it there! He always brought me back books whenever he went! I always got an English and Italian version so I could practice my Italian too!Β 

These are three bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are dated to the Late Period. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ Is typically depicted as a mummy π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύ wearing the Atef crown π“‹š and holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flailπ“Œ… . The crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… are symbols associated with kingship. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are highly abundant and have been associated with worship π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ in homes and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ but have of course been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ. 

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion.  This is because Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the ruler of the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.  The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ after the Weighing of the Heart ceremony; but only if their heart was in balance! 

When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Frog Amulet

How cute is this frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amuletΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†?!?!

Frog Amulet at the MET

In ancient Egyptian religion and culture, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were thought to have magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ powers and bestow them upon its wearer. Β Worn by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, different amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ served various religious and protective functions. To understand the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulet’sΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†Β function we need to understand the significance of the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† in ancient Egyptian religion and culture!Β 

Scientifically speaking, frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ would appear after the flooding of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, so they were associated with life π“‹Ή/the regenerative qualities of water π“ˆ—. Not only is water π“ˆ— necessary for humans to consume, but also for irrigating land for agriculture. 

The frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† is also associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† who is represented as a woman with a frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† head. Also, the frog determinative 𓆏 appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– so she was clearly associated with frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦. Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of birth and rebirth. She also protected π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ during the childbirth process. 

Frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were worn by women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ for both protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ during childbirth and for an easy childbirth. Frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were also found on mummies π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύπ“ͺ of both men π“Šƒπ“€€π“ͺ and women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, with the purpose that the amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† would help them with a successful rebirth in the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Sobekhotep

This is the stelaΒ π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰ΈΒ of a man named Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ who was a scribe that worked at a wine cellar! This stelaΒ π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰ΈΒ is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and the reign of Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β (c. 1390-1352 B.C.E.).Β This stela is at the British museum.

The stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸 is divided into three 𓏼 different sections. On the top, Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 are worshipping Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (right) and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 (left). Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 have their arms raised, which is how it is interpreted that they are worshipping π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ those gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are the two 𓏻 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are generally worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ on funerary stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸π“ͺ because they are the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ most associated with death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. 

In the middle section, Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 and one daughter 𓅭𓏏 are receiving offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 presented by four 𓏽 of their sons π“…­π“¦. More sons π“…­π“¦ and daughters π“…­π“π“¦ appear in the scene on the bottom of the stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸. The family π“…•π“‰”𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ life π“‹Ή and culture, as was religion, which is why funerary stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸π“ͺ usually represented both. 

As a side note, I really love Sobekhotep’s π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

𓆋 – Sobek

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Hotep (peace, satisfied, etc)

So the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can be translated to β€œSobek is satisfied.” Can you find Sobekhotep’s π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on the stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸? (Hint: the name usually appears next to the person)!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

William the Hippo!

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are one of them! At the MET, the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is named π“‚‹π“ˆ– William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 and is kinda the unofficial mascot of the museum, so I just tend to call all of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 no matter what museum I am at!Β 

William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil! William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and rebirth.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets and Amulet Molds

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and the molds that were used to make them!

Amulets and Amulet Molds at the MET

These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, but also make the amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺΒ small and detailed! The amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are grape and daisy/rosette amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! In the mold on the top left (and the two grape amulets next to it), you can even see the cartouche β€œπ“‡³π“§π“Ž  Nebmaatra,” which is the throne name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†!

Flowers were really popular in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! If you look at lists of hieroglyphic symbols, there are tons of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that represent plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! The phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was found with flowers π“†Όπ“…±π“†°π“¦, as were other royal mummies. Even commoners would adorn their dead with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° arrangements. This is why amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° designs were so popular!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

I had the most amazing day at the Brooklyn Museum with my sister and parents! This was the best birthday (May of 2021) I have had in a long time and I’m so lucky that my family not only supports me in my love of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, but that they went out of their way to make my day special! Thank you Amanda for following me around and taking pictures πŸ˜ƒ.

Here I am with a figure of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 from the Ptolemaic Period! As you all know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god π“ŠΉ so I was really excited to see this beautiful π“„€ piece! This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue shows Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in his jackal form. The kneeling position is representative of him guarding the necropolis from high above on a hill/mountain- as was his role as the god of cemeteries (and mummification). It’s also similar to his determinative hieroglyph 𓃣.

One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles is β€œupon his hill π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘β€ and this hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ phrase usually follows his name in dedication texts! Another common title associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is β€œhe who is in the mummy wrappings π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–.β€œ