Tag: anubis

Anubis – drawing, hieroglyph or both?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 30, 2022

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. While this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is not part of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, this is my favorite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃; Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐!

As many of you know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art!

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃: 𓃣 and 𓃤. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 or 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃤

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣 or 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃤

𓃣 or 𓃤

𓁢

Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. This is not all of the variations of the name 𓂋𓈖, but the ones you will see the most!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god 𓊹 that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, places of burial).

While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐, shrines associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was called 𓉱𓊹, or the “God’s Booth.”

One of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is: 𓏅𓊹𓉱 or “In front at the God’s Booth.”

Tags anubis, book of the dead, gods and goddesses, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 7, 2022

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 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but that they went out of their way to make my day special! Thank you Amanda for following me around and taking pictures 😃.

Here I am with a figure of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 from the Ptolemaic Period! As you all know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god 𓊹 so I was really excited to see this beautiful 𓄤 piece! This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 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’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name in dedication texts! Another common title associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is “he who is in the mummy wrappings 𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖.“

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Mummiform Coffin of Gautseshenu

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 2, 2022

Mummiform Coffin of Gautseshenu which contains the Weighing of the Heart and other funerary scenes at the Brooklyn Museum.

The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 was the central god 𓊹 in the scene, and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it. While I have posted multiple versions of this scene from various Books of the Dead, this is the first time I saw it on a coffin and I was just in awe. It’s amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are.

For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather. If Anubis determines there’s balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. This simplified version of the scene is missing Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Amemet.

If you’re looking at the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 from the front, you can see Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts in a very small amount of space!

This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to man named Gautseshenu and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖.

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum, mummy

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer is one of my absolute favorite artifacts, and seeing it in the British Museum was a dream come true for me!

On the top panel, Hunefer (the deceased) stands before the 42 divine judges and pleads their lifetime of truth and moral doings. The Book of the Dead provided the deceased with the words to say so they would pass this trial!

On the bottom panel: This is the Weighing of the Heart ceremony! Let’s start from the left! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is leading Hunefer (the deceased) to the scales (not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous they are holding hands 😂). Here, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather (Maat is sitting on top of the scales). If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two 𓏻, that means that the deceased lived a truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹.

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 (the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is there waiting to see if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 didn’t live a truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 life! If the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 weighs more than the feather, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 would eat the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and the deceased would “die a second time” and not live in eternal paradise. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings of the ceremony.

If the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 passed the Weigning of the Heart, they would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭 and would then enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and live in eternal paradise!

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, british museum, gods and goddesses, horus, maat, osiris, thoth

Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Roman Sarcophagus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2022

For my whole life I have called this piece the “Roman Anubis Mummy!!!”

As anyone who has followed me for a while knows, I love absolutely anything that has to do with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! He has been my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 since I started learning about mythology at six 𓏿 years old! Since I was a kid who was obsessed with mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 too, it makes sense that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, god 𓊹 of mummification and cemeteries would be a favorite of mine!

What is interesting about this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 though is that he is depicted with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is usually represented with the moon (as he is god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 along with hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, wisdom etc.), while Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 connection to the lunar disc 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 is not well understood. One of the earliest images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 actually comes from Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, in the scene that “confirms” that Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 was Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus she had the divine right to rule. Other scenes connecting Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 to the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 exist, but the relationship between two 𓏻 are not well understood and it is something I wish we knew more about!

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Artemidora who lived in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The text above Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 reads “Artemidora, daughter of Harpokras, died untimely, aged 27. Farewell.” The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 taken of her mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 using radiographic techniques confirm this age of death. Big thanks the @metmuseum for the translation, because while I can read and translate hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 I certainly do not know Greek!

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis and Osiris – Cool Pieces at the Petrie Museum

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 has two 𓏻 cool things: an interesting limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 piece that represents Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (left) and a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece that represents Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 (right). While neither piece is “grand,” they pose some interesting questions because they are quite unique!

Let’s start with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (because he’s my favorite)! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is seated on a shrine (very similar in style to one of his determinative “𓃣” hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪). The ears are strange here because they are beautifully 𓄤 carved, but the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 between them was not cut away. Was this a stylistic choice or was the piece unfinished? We will probably never know! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was found at Saqqara and dates to the 26th Dynasty.

The Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 piece is also a bit strange. It is a large wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 figure that has been put into a base during modern times (to display easier). Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is shown in his typical mummiform 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 way – wearing the Atef Crown 𓋚 and holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 in his hands. What’s interesting is that the figure is very “blocky” – there are absolutely no fine details shown. Ancient Egyptian artists were known for fine details so again the question is: is the piece intended to look like this or is it incomplete? Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is dated to the 30th Dynasty – Ptolemaic Period and was also found at Saqqara.

Also totally unrelated but you can see the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 necklace from my previous post in the background of this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!!

Tags anubis, artifact, osiris, petrie museum

Reading Hieroglyphs

Inscription – “Before Anubis”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

Here is a piece of an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!

𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓃣 – “Anubis”

A very simple inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖, but something that was important for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 since Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was tasked with the protection of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! In order for ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 to journey through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and eventually reach the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾/body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to remain intact! So a person definitely wanted to be near Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢!

Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢
𓃣
𓃤
𓁢

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

Tags anubis, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis Engraving on a Sarcophagus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 has been my favorite god 𓊹 since I was a child 𓐍𓇌𓀕. Why is he my favorite? Here are some fun facts about Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 so you can see why!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the god of mummification, graveyards/cemeteries, funerals, tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 and a bunch of other things associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even as a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀕, I was fascinated by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 and the process of mummification, so by default Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite!

The name 𓂋𓈖“Anubis” is actually the Hellenistic version of his name 𓂋𓈖 – the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 called him Inpw.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is usually represented by the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or having the head 𓁶𓏤 of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 because these canines were often found in cemeteries.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 has no temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 dedicated to him because every tomb/cemetery was considered a “temple” to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs: 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢, 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, 𓃣.

Here are some titles that Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with. His name 𓂋𓈖 appears with these a lot in hieroglyphic inscriptions:
𓁶𓏺𓈋 𓆑 – “Upon his hill”
𓏅 𓊹 𓉱 – “In front at the God’s booth” (shrine)
𓇋𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐎𓊖 – “He who is in the mummy wrappings”

Tags anubis, artifact, british museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2022

I love this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 so much! I think it’s gorgeous 𓄤!! He’s Roman-ified and wearing a toga!! It’s a really nice piece and one of my favorites in the Vatican! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 even joined me for this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the Egyptian god 𓊹 of mummification, burial rites and tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥/cemeteries. However, when Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was conquered by Rome, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was likened to the Roman god 𓊹 Mercury! Mercury had many functions, but one of the traits that related him to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was that Mercury guided souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. It was part of Mercury’s function as the messenger god 𓊹!

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is even holding a caduceus in his hand – a symbol often associated with Mercury. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is also looking quite fashionable with his Roman style sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏦!

As you all know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god 𓊹. I also love this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 because it shows the blending of the Egyptian and Roman religions which happened after Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was defeated by Rome during the Battle of Actium.

The Battle of Actium (September 12th, 31 B.C.E.) was the last battle of the Roman Republic and gave rise to the Roman Empire (and the fall of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖). The battle was fought between Octavian and Marc Antony/Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇. With Octavian’s victory, he secured his place as the first Emperor of Rome.

Tags anubis, gods and goddesses, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Sarcophagus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2022

This is a close-up photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis (or Inpw to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪) 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 from a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET. I chose to highlight this particular detail from the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 because while it is not part of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, this is my favorite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃; Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine! As many of you know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢, 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, 𓃣, 𓁢. Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god 𓊹 that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, burial places). While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐, shrines associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was called 𓉱𓊹, or the “God’s Booth.” One of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is: 𓏅𓊹𓉱 or “In front at the God’s Booth.”

Tags anubis, gods and goddesses, the met

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