Tag: horus

The Soul of Pe Statue at the Vatican

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 24, 2023

The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖

The Soul of Pe statue at the Vatican Museum

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 kneeling statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deity 𓊹 is referred to as the “Soul of Pe” and it is actually another way to depict the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Also known as “Horus of Pe,” these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 became popular during the Late Period, after 600 B.C.E.

The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and refer to the ancestors of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 symbolized the predynastic rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were thought of as very powerful deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that not only aided the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, but also the current living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 and Pe 𓊪𓊖 were both cities in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were around as early as the predynastic period. Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 was originally the cult center for the god 𓊹 Horus in Upper Egypt 𓇓, however, Pe a town in Lower Egypt 𓆤, was awarded to Horus 𓅃𓀭 by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 after his eye was injured during his battle with Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 for the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭/Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is shown in a characteristic kneeling position with one arm raised, with the other resting on his chest. This is known as a “jubilation position,” which is meant to show the Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 celebrating the rising of the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶. The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is usually represented as Horus the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, while the Soul of Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 is usually represented as a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Oil Lamps

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 15, 2023

While my Nonno loved ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, he also absolutely loved Ancient Rome and the Roman Emperors. This is why he loved the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 so much. Even though the Ptolemaic Period was technically Hellenistic Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, there was still a heavy Roman influence because Rome was still very powerful at the time!

When Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 committed suicide in 31 B.C.E., that was seen as the end of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and the beginning of Roman Egypt. This makes Cleopatra 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt! Nonno often told me stories about Mark Antony, Cleopatra 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀, Julius Caesar – he loved that whole part of history so much.

These are ancient oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶! These oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 are made of clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and can be found throughout countries that were ruled by the Roman Empire! Many are found in present-day Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, Turkey, Syria, and many others! My Nonno absolutely adored these – he loved that you could still see where the oil 𓂝𓆓𓐖𓏊𓏦 had burned on some of them (that’s the black 𓆎𓅓 discoloration at the opening). Nonno always made sure to point these out in museums and now of course I always look for them. I love seeing the different designs on them! Each lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 is unique which I love!

Isis and Horus design on the oil lamp, along with the black discoloration on the opening!

Due to Roman influence in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 from Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were sometimes made with the Egyptian Gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on them! The oil lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 all the way on the right depicts Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 nursing Horus 𓅃𓀭. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 grew in popularity, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 during the Roman times, and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby 𓈖𓐍𓈖𓀕 has even appeared on the back of Roman coins. Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 were also made in abundance during this time period.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, petrie museum, roman

Reading Hieroglyphs

Reading Hieroglyphs – Stela of Irethoreru

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 11, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 for a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Irethoreru and it is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period, c. 775-663 B.C.E.). I have posted about the full stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 in the past, but today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to take a closer look at some of the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on it! I like to highlight the titles/epithets associated with Gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and Goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏, because they are inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that you can easily recognize a lot!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are starting right underneath the solar disc!

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓉼𓊹 – Great God (this is actually written backwards and should be “𓊹𓉼”)

𓎟 – Lord

𓇯 – Sky

𓋾 – Ruler

𓆖 – Eternity

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this reads: “Osiris, the Great God, Lord of the Sky, Ruler of Eternity.” “Lord of the Sky 𓎟𓇯” is usually Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 title, so it’s interesting to see it associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 here! Also, “𓇯” can mean the word “above,” as “sky” is more commonly written as “𓊪𓏏𓇯.”

Here’s the next inscription:

𓊨𓏏𓆇 – Isis

𓅨𓂋 – Great One

𓊹𓅐 – God’s Mother/Goddess

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this reads: “Isis, the Great One, the God’s Mother.”

Next to each Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗, the name 𓂋𓈖 of the city “Behdet 𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖” (modern day Edfu) is written. Behdet 𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 is an Egyptian city 𓊖𓏺 in Upper Egypt 𓇓. Horus of the Winged Disc or “Behdetite” was the chief god 𓊹 of the city 𓊖𓏺.

Tags brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, horus, isis, osiris

Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stelae – “Cippus”

These pieces are known as Magical Stelae, or a Cippus.

The Cippus depicts Horus 𓅃𓀭 (or technically Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭, the Greek version of Horus 𓅃𓀭) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏥 and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and scorpions 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫𓏪 in each hand. The god 𓊹 Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 also appears above Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 head 𓁶𓏺. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 was known to ward off evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨 and bad luck.

Normally, stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 were used to commemorate the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 so a Cippus is almost like a protective amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the form of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. This Cippus was used by the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was called upon as a defender against snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 or scorpion 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 bites. Placing the Cippus on a wound would evoke its magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 and healing powers. Cippus stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏦 due to their protective nature.

Cippus pieces have also been found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 , but the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 too.

One thing I love about this display at the Louvre is now all of the Cippus pieces are together 𓈖𓊗 in one single case! I also think the one in the middle, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 holding a Cippus is very unique; this was the first time I saw a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 like that!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

Harpokrates

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 19, 2022

While a lot of the same themes and ideas persisted through the Egyptian religion for thousands of years, changes and evolution did occur from time to time! One of the ways those changes showed up were in the evolution of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏. In both classical Egyptian and Graeco-Roman times, Horus 𓅃𓀭, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 were very popular deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, however, their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 and roles did evolve. For example, Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was replaced/referred to as Serapis 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 by the Ptolemies. Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the ways that Horus evolved 𓅃𓀭!

In this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is represented in his Greek form Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 (or Harpocrates), with his trademarked “finger to lips” pose. This pose represents the “be quiet” gesture because to the Greeks, Harpokrates was the god 𓊹 of silence. In the Hellenistic world, Harpokrates could also be the god 𓊹 of secrets, confidentiality, and even the embodiment of hope!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 is actually a Greek adaptation of the Egyptian “Heru-pa-khered” or “Heru-pa-khart” which translates to “Horus the Child” or “Horus the Younger.” This name 𓂋𓈖 makes sense when you look at the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, because Horus 𓅃𓀭/Harpokrates is represented as a child! Also, the determinative hieroglyph (last symbol in the phrase) for the word child “𓐍𓇌𓀔/𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔” shows a seated boy with his hand to his mouth, which is where the idea for the representation of Harpokrates 𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 is thought to have originated from!

Here is a breakdown of Harpokrates’ name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:
𓅃𓀭𓅮𓄿𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 – Harpokrates

𓅃𓀭 -Heru
𓅮𓄿 – pa
𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀭 – khered/khart

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Faience Statue of Isis Feeding Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 11, 2022

The statue of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Late Period through the Ptolemaic Period. Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (The Divine Mother), and was often associated with motherhood 𓅐𓏏𓁐, the protection of women, and a user of magic. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 holding a child is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 and statue was very popular in Roman households, most likely as a symbol of motherhood and family. My Nonno always made sure to point these statues out to us, as he felt they were really important due to the likely influence on Catholic symbolism.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Isis Feeding Horus as a Baby

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 5, 2022
1 Comment on Isis Feeding Horus as a Baby

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦, stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪, and even as small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time.

While my Nonno loved Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 like this in museums whenever I visit!

Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, and a user of magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 holding a child 𓐍𓇌𓀕 is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Eye of Horus vs. Eye of Ra

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date October 24, 2022

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and the molds that were used to make them! These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, but also make the amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 small and detailed! The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are the Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 and the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛!

How do you tell them apart? The left eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 is the Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the right eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 is the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! The right/left sides is based on a human eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, so it would be opposite to the observer. In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, most of these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are actually Eyes of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! The one amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 at the top right is the eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭! If you get them mixed up don’t worry – I sometimes do too!

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 that Horus 𓅃𓀭 lost when battling Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 restored Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth or healing 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 due to the nature of the myth. The wedjat 𓂀 was also common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. The Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 was an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 used by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The Eye of Horus was also associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹!

While most people associate the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 with Horus 𓅃𓀭, there is an Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 too! While the Eye of Ra was also an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, it was also associated with power. The Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 can be thought of as an extension of Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 power and thus an extension of the sun 𓇳𓏺 itself. The Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 can see everything, and even transformed into Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 in one of the myths!

As you can see, it’s interesting how the two eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 both represent the sun 𓇳𓏺 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹- the two 𓏻 largest objects in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! One is associated with day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳, and the other night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛! The sun 𓇳𓏺 and the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 are almost like the two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 watching the Earth 𓇾𓇾!

Tags amulet, artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, ra, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Isis, Osiris and Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 18, 2022

This bronze statue at the MET is from the Ptolemaic Period (664 – 31 B.C.E.) represents Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭- the main triad of the Egyptian pantheon.

Here, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is represented in his Greek form Harpokrates, with his trademarked “finger to lips” pose. This pose represents the “be quiet” gesture because to the Greeks Harpokrates was the god 𓊹 of silence. What is interesting about this piece is that there are suspension loops on the back of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and Harpokrates – this piece is probably too big to be worn as a necklace, so the loops may have some type of unknown symbolic significance.

Many gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon appeared in groups of threes 𓏼, which were known as Triads. They were groups of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that usually have some type of familial significance to each other. For example, one of the Memphis triads during this period was Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, and Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, just like Horus 𓅃𓀭 is the son of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭!!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, osiris, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Isis, Horus and Osiris

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 7, 2022

Here’s a picture featuring bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪! of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, Horus 𓅃𓀭, and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 at the Brooklyn Museum!

Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion. This is because Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was the god 𓊹 of the dead and the ruler of the afterlife, and Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death and meeting with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Late Period through the Ptolemaic Period. Symbolically, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood 𓅐𓏏𓁐, the protection of women, and a user of magic. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 holding a child is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, horus, isis, osiris

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