This picture is one of my absolute favorites. It kinda looks like we are in Egypt ππ ππ! It was from one of my birthday trips to the MET – I believe this is my 16th birthday (I am 30 now).
I have such amazing memories here – there was a time when there was no glass covering the walls inside the mastaba (fun fact: mastaba means bench in Arabic)- I will never forget being inside this tomb seeing it without glass – as it was meant to be seen. Nonno was so happy π«π ±π that I would be able to experience that!! The inside of the tomb ππ«ππ is beautifully decorated with hieroglyphics πΉππͺ and paintings!
These hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are from the wooden π±ππΊ Coffin π΄π ±πππ± of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).Β
This is a variant of the name ππ of the goddess πΉπ Isis π¨ππΊ in hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! More commonly, her name ππ is written as β π¨ππ₯,β and the difference between the two is the determinative at the end. Why was the determinative not used in this inscription? Most likely due to spacing issues!
The βseat π¨β symbol has many different functions in Middle Egyptian! In the case of the name βIsis π¨ππΊ,β the seat functions as a biliteral phonogram for the sound βjs.β In other words, it can be a phonogram for the sounds βst,β and βhst.β π¨ is even an ideogram for the word βseat!β
The βflat loaf of bread πβ is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound βt.β It also functions as the ideogram for the word βbread ππΊβ and can be used to make words feminine!
The βstroke πΊβ hieroglyph is used at the end of words when there is a bit of space left over – itβs all for the aesthetic! This symbol is not pronounced, it is solely used for punctuation/aesthetic purposes!
The name ππ βIsisβ is actually the Greek version of the name ππ of this goddess πΉπ! If we were to pronounce her name ππ the way the ancient Egyptians πππππͺ did (or inferred how they did), her name ππ would be pronounced like βIst π¨ππΊ.β
Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh ππ» Amenhotep III ππ ππ΅πΎπ! Amenhotep III ππ ππ΅πΎπ ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule πΎ was a time of prosperity for Egypt ππ ππ, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!
This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯ faience π£πππΈπΌ pieces are original, but the gold ππππ and plaster are not.
Letβs take a closer look at the symbols in the cartouche:
π³π§π – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra)
The βπ³ sun discβ symbol is an ideogram for βraβ or βre,β but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like βraβ or βre.β
The βπ§ goddess with a featherβ symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like βMaat.β
The βπ basketβ is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of βnb,β which is inferred to be pronounced like βneb.β The π alone can also mean the word βLord,β especially in the titles that come before a pharaohβs cartouche.
Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!
Fun Fact: Amenhotep III ππ ππ΅πΎπ was the fatherΒ πππΒ of AkhenatenΒ ππππ³π ππ!
Today we are going to learn how to read the name ππ of the god πΉ MontuΒ π ππΏπ ±π!Β MontuΒ π ππΏπ ±πΒ was a war god and was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom.Β
A closeup of the name “Montu” in hieroglyphs from a stela at the MET
The βπ game board and piecesβ is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The β π β is associated with the sound βmnβ which could be pronounced like βmen,β βmun,β βmon,β etc.
The βripple of water πβ is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The βπβ is associated with the sound of βn!β
The βπΏ hobble/tieβ is also a uniliteral phonogram sign. The βπΏβ is associated with the sounds of βαΉ―β or βt.β
The βQuail Chick π ±β is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral symbol that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word βchick π ±πΊ.β
The final symbol in the name, βπ seated god,β is one that is not pronounced! This is a determinative symbol, which means that it is a symbol used to show the general meaning of the word! It is basically used as punctuation at the end of the word to show you that it is over!
Here are some vessels from the MET that are from the rule of Pepy II πͺπͺππ. Made of alabaster, the purpose of these vessels was to keep cosmetic oils cool.
In the picture ππ ±π above, on the middle vessel you can see Pepy IIβs πͺπͺππ cartouche. On the vessel to the left, you can see his throne name, Neferkare π³π€π, which means βthe soul of Re is beautiful.β
In the pictureππ ±π above, the vessel on the right is a little more clear. You can see Pepy IIβs πͺπͺππ cartouche, however the title π π³, βSon of Ra,β is also embedded in the cartouche instead of on top of it. This was a stylistic thing that occurred during the Old Kingdom. However, the title π₯, βKing of Upper and Lower Egyptβ is present before the cartouche in this instance. The placement of the hieroglyphs can be super interesting!
This special amuletΒ ππͺπ Β is known as a Heart Scarab! This particular Heart Scarab belonged to HatneferΒ ππ€π, who was the motherΒ π ππΒ of SenemutΒ π’ππ πΌ! SenemutΒ π’ππ πΌΒ was HatshepsutβsΒ ππ ππΉππππΌπͺΒ most trusted advisor (amongst other things π)!Β
Heart Scarab of Hatnefer at the MET
In ancient Egyptian culture, the heart πππ£ was not only the center of a personβs life πΉ, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart πππ£ was not removed during the mummification process, because the deceased π ππ± person would need it on their journey through the afterlife πΌπΏππ. The personβs heart πππ£ would be weighed against Maatβs ππ΄π£ππ¦ feather ππΊ by Anubis πππͺπ ±π£, and that would determine if the deceased π ππ± would be presented to Osiris πΉπ¨π and then enter the Field of Reeds πππ ππΏππ ±π°π, or eternal π life πΉ. This was called the βWeighing of the Heart,β and it is something I have written extensively about!
So how does the Heart Scarab play into this? In modern terms, the Heart Scarab could be seen as a βcheat codeβ for getting past the βWeighing of the Heartβ – this special scarab ππͺπππ£ is inscribed ππ ±π with Chapter 30A from the Book of the Dead (most are inscribed with Chapter 30B). In this spell, the deceased π ππ± asks their own heart πππ£ to not betray them during the βWeighing of the Heart.β
Basically, the ancient Egyptians πππππͺ feared the outcome of their final judgement so they developed this amulet ππͺπ as a way to ensure a positive outcome to the scales!
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 30A: β Do not stand against me as witness beside the lords of the ritual, Do not say against me, he did do it, about my actions, Do not make a case against me beside the great god, Hail my heart, Hail my heartβ¦β
Being at the Temple of Dendur is just so relaxing to me. I just love being in this room – I have so many amazing memories here with my Nonno and my sister π’ππ who is in the picture ππ ±π with me! I could literally just sit in here for hours and just exist.
One of my favorite things as a kid was the little crocodile π π΄ππ statue thatβs in the βriverβ that goes around the temple! I always thought it was so cool! The ancient Egyptians πππππͺ both feared and worshipped crocodiles π π΄πππ¦. Sobek π΄ππ‘π, the god πΉ with the head of a crocodile π π΄ππ was worshipped from the time of Narmer all the way through the Roman period. He was a fertility god πΉ, associated with the annual flooding of the Nile ππππ ±ππππΊ.
Sobek π΄ππ‘π also represented the power and might of the pharaoh ππ» because crocodiles π π΄πππ¦ are incredibly strong – and were a constant threat to those living along the Nile ππππ ±ππππΊ. Sobek π΄ππ‘π is the son π of the war goddess πΉπ Neith ππππ and is sometimes referenced as being the son π of Seth πππ‘π£. Hundreds of crocodile π π΄ππ mummies have been found in Faiyum and other places in Egypt ππ ππ, most likely as way to appease Sobek π΄ππ‘π.
Here are some cat π ππ ±π and animal mummies at the MET! Also on an unrelated note if you look to the far left, you can see the back of an Imhotep ππ π΅ππͺ statue!
The ancient Egyptians πππππͺ made a lot of animal mummies – over four million ibis πππ € mummies and seven million dog ππ ±ππ ±π₯ mummies have been found in Saqqara alone! The ancient Egyptians πππππͺ actually never wrote down (at least in what archaeologists have found) the role that animal mummies played in religion or society. This leaves a lot of room for inferences! Although animal mummies are the most common form of Egyptian artifact, they are among the least understood of all objects. Maybe at some point an explanation will be found!
One of the possible explanations of the significance of animal mummies can be tied to the Egyptian cultural aspect surrounding animals. Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for βanimalβ – there was the word ππ π but it translates more accurately to βbeastβ then all animals in general. Animals were usually referred to by their name ππ instead of as a singular category. Their name ππ was usually very similar to the sound the animal made! For example, the Middle Egyptian word for cat is π ππ ±π (miu) which can be pronounced like βmeow.β The word for dog is ππ ±ππ ±π₯ (iwiw) which can almost sound like βwoof woof.β
Why is this significant? It shows that the Egyptians πππππͺ didnβt regard animals as different from humans or less than humans (unlike the Greeks and Romans, and eventually Western cultures). Animals were living things that contained a ba π ‘πΊ (part of the soul π that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods through death and mummification just like humans.
These are three πΌ golden ππππ bracelets ππ πππππͺ /armlets ππ΄π‘ππ ±π₯. They were found in the tomb ππ«ππ of three πΌ minor wives ππππͺ of Thutmosis III π π€π π£. While some of the inlaid glass is missing, these bracelets ππ πππππͺ are in incredible condition. I love how the blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯, red π§πππ and gold ππππ all looks together!
Inside the bracelets, are the titles and cartouches of Thutmosis III π π€π π£. The engravings were put inside the bracelet ππ ππππ so his name ππ would always be close to his wives ππππͺ. I find this cool because even in modern times, itβs very also popular to have engravings with names πππ¦ or initials on the backs of rings or bracelets! Itβs incredible to me how certain ideas and styles have persisted through time!
Translation time!
π π³(π π€π π£)π – βSon of Ra, Thutmosis III*, For all Eternity (or Everlasting)β
π€πΉ(π³π π£)ππΉ – βThe Great God, Menkheperra, Given Lifeβ
*this cartouche (π π€π π£) is a variant of Thutmosis IIIβs birth name. The name ππ is usually written as (π π π΄) but this particular variant was used after Year 21 πππΊ of his reign. (π π€π π£) translates to βThoth is born, beautiful of formβ while the regular birth name cartouche (π π π΄) translates to just βThoth is born.β His throne name (π³π π£) Menkheperra translates to βLasting is the form of Ra.β
While this may look like a statue πππππΎ of Bastet π―πππ, itβs actually a cat π ππ ±π mummy!
There are many different ways that animal mummies have been found. Some are wrapped in linen π± while others are found in these elaborate statue-like coffins π΄π ±πππ±. These types of mummy-wrappings were popular during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods.
Cats π ππ ±π πͺ were sacred animals in Egypt ππ ππ because they were thought to represent the soul π of Bastet π―πππ or Sekhmet πππ ππ. Much like today, cats π ππ ±π πͺ were also pets in Egypt ππ ππ and cat π ππ ±π mummies have been found in human tombs ππ«πππ¦ as well. The thought is that the cat π ππ ±π and the owner would be able to stay together ππ in the afterlife πΌπΏππ if they were buried together ππ.
