This is the first post in a new series I am doing called “Ushabti Friends,” which aims to educate on the fascinating funerary objects called Ushabtis!
There are so many different types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Today, we are going to start off with the first known ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure which is called a “wax ushabti”
Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 we know and love evolved in the 12th Dynasty, wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figurines that looked like humans (and had their own mini coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦) were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! They are known to Egyptologists as “wax ushabtis.”
These precursor-ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were made of beeswax and beeswax was said to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, resurrection, and regeneration.
The figures are somewhat detailed and were wrapped in a linen cloth 𓍱 and placed in the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 did not identify any role or jobs that the figure had (like the text on a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 could identify what it’s job was), but it did identify the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Sometimes even the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 an offering the king gives) appeared on the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 as if it were a real one!
If these figures weren’t workers, then what was their purpose? It is thought that this figure would take the place of the body should the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be destroyed.
Not many of these “wax ushabtis” have been found, especially in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found!
Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom.
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This section of a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is from the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht” which is dated to the Ramesside Period (New Kingdom c. 1320–1200 B.C.E.). Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 was the tax master 𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 (I’m sure he was popular) and this high position is what allowed him to have such a gorgeous funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!
This entire papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is composed of what has been called Chapter 168 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, otherwise known as the “Chapter of Offerings.” However, most of the time this text is found alone and not with other parts of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 (as is the case with this papyrus) and is considered now to be its own text and not necessarily a part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺.
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
A section of the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht”
The two sections of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point in two different directions; the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above the Falcon headed god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 point to the right while the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 point to the left. We are going to start with the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋.
Here is the text all together: 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊
Here are the individual phrases broken down:
𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By
𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 – Osiris Wennefer
𓏄 – Foremost
𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West
Here is the translation: “Words Spoken By Osiris-Wennefer, Foremost of the West.” This is a super common introduction for a god in a funerary text. It also lets you know who is depicted in the images!
Before we read the next section of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s take a look at some of the art! On his shoulder, Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 is holding the goddess Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 while he is holding up his other hand in adoration of the god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is the goddess of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 and we know it’s her because of the feather 𓆄 that’s on her head!
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to be reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽. These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point to the left so we will start reading them from the left!
Here is the text all together: 𓏏𓇼𓀢𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓁹𓊨𓀭𓉻𓂝𓏛𓈖𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡𓄓𓉐𓏤𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽
Here are the individual phrases broken down:
𓏏𓇼𓀢 – Praise/Worship (should actually be written as “𓇼𓏏𓀢”)
𓈖 – of
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓏄 – Foremost
𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – The Osiris
𓉻𓂝𓏛 – Great
𓈖 – the/of
𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 – Tax Master
𓄓𓉐𓏤 – Overseer
𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 – Sethnakht
Here is the translation: “Praise for Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Osiris, the Great Tax Master, the Overseer Sethnakht.”
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Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a piece titled “Model of a Scribe’s Palette Inscribed for Amenhotep.”
While this was not a scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 that was used during this person’s life, it is dated to the 18th Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆. Since Amenhotep was a popular name 𓂋𓈖 at the time, many people including pharaohs, shared this name 𓂋𓈖! This piece is made of the chemical sedimentary rock travertine, which is more commonly known as alabaster 𓍱!
We are going to be translating the right side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 first! Also if you are new here, please know that I do all of the translations myself!
Here is the full inscription on the right side: 𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏅𓈖𓏏𓏭𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓊹𓉼𓎟𓂋𓏤𓍬𓏦𓈉𓄪𓐍𓇌 𓐍𓂋𓏌𓏏𓇯 𓄟𓋴𓊹𓊹𓊹𓊩𓁹𓇓𓏞𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗𓐝𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼
𓇓𓏙𓊵𓏏𓊪 – An Offering the King Gives
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓏅𓈖𓏏𓏭 – Foremost of
𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West
𓊹𓉼 – The Great God
𓎟 – Lord of
𓂋𓏤𓍬𓏦𓈉 – Rosetau
𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated
𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓏌𓏏𓇯 – Nut
𓄟𓋴 – Child of, Born of
𓊹𓊹𓊹 – Gods
𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris
𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary
𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗 – Overseer
𓐝 – of
𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖 – Memphis
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼 – Amenhotep
The full inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Great God, Lord of Rosetau, Venerated before Nut, Born of the Gods, The Osiris, the Royal Scribe, Overseer of Memphis, Amenhotep.”
It is very interesting to see both forms of the god Osiris’ name in the same inscription (𓁹𓊨𓀭 and 𓁹𓊩). This is done because the second variation of the name in the inscription indicates that the deceased person (Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼) has become “The Osiris 𓁹𓊩” in death and has been reborn in the netherworld. This is ver common in funerary texts, and both men and women would be referred to as “The Osiris 𓁹𓊩.”
We are going to be translating the left side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 now!
𓇓𓏞 – King’s Scribe / Royal Scribe / King’s Secretary
𓄓𓉐𓏤𓀗 – Overseer
𓐝 – of
𓏠𓈖𓄤𓉴𓊖 – Memphis
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪𓀼 – Amenhotep
The full inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Ruler of Peace in Abydos, Venerated before Hathor, Lady of the Sycamore, Mistress of the West Roads of Horus (?), The Osiris, the Royal Scribe, Overseer of Memphis, Amenhotep.”
This side of the scribal palette 𓏠𓈖𓉔𓆓𓏞 gave me a tiny bit of trouble for three reasons:
The phrase “Ruler 𓋾 of Peace 𓊵𓏛” is an iffy translation for me and I don’t know if it’s one word or two or something totally different!
This variant of “Abydos 𓋁𓃀𓈋𓊖” is one I do not see a lot at all and I had to look it up! Usually Abydos is written as “𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖” and while the one symbol difference may not seem like a big difference sometimes it can be! At quick glance it looked like “East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓈉”
After “Mistress 𓎺𓏏” the hieroglyphs are very hard to read and I am totally guessing here! Upon first glance it looked like “Desert 𓈉 Road 𓈐𓏏” which does not sound right to me?! I had to consult my trusty dictionary and the phrase “Roads of Horus 𓅃𓈐𓏏𓏏𓈉” was there and it looks like it could be a variant of that too. The second one is probably more accurate due to the association between Hathor and Horus.
I guess this was a glance into my thought process! It goes to show that no matter how much you study or learn, translating hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 will always present fun and unique challenges! I’m posting my thoughts and challenges with the text to show that everyone goes through this while translating and if you’re learning now and struggling it’s okay!
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This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece, called a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” has a lot of contradictory information about it – the MET website and books both have different information about it! The MET website dates this piece to the reign of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 (18th Dynasty) and this piece is in Gallery 119, which is not where it should be based on the books!
The “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” on display at the MET
The books I have talk about how this piece was found in the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓. An embalming cache is a collection of the supplies and materials that were used during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process. The embalming cache was usually kept separate from the actual tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 itself, though sometimes these supplies were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the person.
But what exactly is a “Miniature Mask for a Canopic Bundle” and what is its purpose? Sometimes, small mummy masks were placed on mummified internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 and then placed in larger jars. However, all of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were placed in mini canopic coffins in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, so the purpose of this lone miniature mask is quite confusing – what was it doing in his Embalming Cache?
This mini mask (it’s just over 5 inches in height) is made of cartonnage (a material composed of linen and plaster – like an ancient Egyptian paper mache) and the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 colors on it are still strikingly bright! I love the details of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, and blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 and the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth! The lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 and the vulture, who represents the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟(protector of Upper Egypt and its rulers) are also beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 touches!
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Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at some Early Dynastic art which is dated to c. 3100 – 2650 B.C.E. Both of these pieces represent turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦! I want to give a shoutout to my friend Matt (@archaeoresearch on Instagram) for inspiring me to look at these pieces more closely!
While not as popular as some iconography, throughout Egyptian history, in the early dynastic periods turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 took the form of vessels, palettes 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱𓏦, and even game boards 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦! I love how the ancient Egyptians adopted the natural shape of the animal and incorporated it into their objects!
The “Turtle Figurine” (left) and the “Turtle as a Votive Mehen Game” (left)
The piece on the right is “Turtle as a Votive Mehen Game.” Mehen 𓎔𓈖𓆗 was a popular game 𓇋𓏲𓏏𓊑𓄛𓏦 during the Old Kingdom and persisted from c. 3,000 B.C.E. to about c. 2,300 B.C.E. The game board usually consists of a coiled snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘, however in this case, the turtle’s shell contains the concentric circles that is used as the game board!
The “Turtle as a Votive Mehen Game”
The piece on the left is referred to as a “Turtle Figurine” and not much is written about this piece at all! It’s smaller than the Mehen Turtle, and does not have the circles on it!
The “Turtle Figurine”
While we don’t have much information about the views on turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 during the early dynastic period, in later religious views, turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 were seen as an ambiguous force because they were creatures of both land 𓇾 and water 𓈗.
Turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 were also seen as the enemy of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and in chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead, it is stated that “May Ra live, and may the turtle die.”
If you are interested about turtles 𓈙𓏏𓅱𓆉𓏦 in ancient Egypt, there is a great publication from the MET that you can read here!
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It’s time for a geology lesson! Today we are going to look at the significance of the red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 used by the ancient Egyptians!
After limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙, “Aswan Granite” was the third most used rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 by the ancient Egyptians! “Aswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 area, even though they aren’t all granitic!
Intrusive igneous rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are rocks that form when magma solidifies deep under ground over long periods of time. This long period of cooling allows for crystallization to occur, which is why red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 contains large (coarse), beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙 crystals! Quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙 is a very hard and durable mineral, which makes red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 a strong rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙.
This strength has caused controversy and skepticism because “how could the ancient Egyptians have quarried and moved so much granite?” Well the answer is in the science! Tectonic forces move the granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 towards the surface and the release of that overlying pressure (called unloading) causes the granite to weather into blocks through fracturing and the creation of natural joints. All the ancient Egyptians had to do was find the right sized block for their projects and then ship it up the Nike!
The most common of the “Aswan Granite” rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 is known as red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶. Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦, obelisks 𓉶𓉶𓉶, and for parts of buildings, temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪, and even the pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴!
One of the best examples of these red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 (as seen in my picture)! You can see the beautiful colored coarse crystals in the granite!
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Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was quite the interesting day in NY as we experienced an earthquake 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾 in the morning and an aftershock in the evening! We don’t have earthquakes 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾𓏦 in NY very often so it was quite the experience for many of us!
The ancient Egyptians believed that Geb’s 𓅬𓃀𓀭 laughter is what caused earthquakes 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾𓏦 to happen! Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 is the god 𓊹 of the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, which the ancient Egyptians called the Upper Earth. Anything that occurred on the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface was considered to be Geb’s 𓅬𓃀𓀭 domain!
The deity Tatanen 𓁯 is often associated with things that come from the interior of the Earth 𓇾𓇾 (Lower Earth) such as minerals, rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦, and plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! While today we know that earthquakes 𓏌𓅩𓂋𓇾𓏦 come from the interior of the Earth, the ancient Egyptians didn’t know that but it’s still so cool they made this distinction!
The god Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 can be depicted in art in a couple of different ways!
Wereshnefer’s sarcophagus at the MET showing Geb and Nut
On Wereshnefer’s sarcophagus is one depiction: Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭, the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky/cosmos 𓊪𓏏𓇯, is seen as a woman arched over the rounded Earth 𓇾𓇾 and is supported by Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the atmosphere. At Nut’s 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 feet is Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 who is represented by feet with two arms holding the rounded Earth 𓇾𓇾!
Wereshnefer’s sarcophagus at the MET showing Geb and Nut labeled with their names in heiroglyphs
On the painted depiction, Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 is seen lying underneath the rest of the figures such as Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 and Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the atmosphere.
A painted sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicting Nut, Shu, Geb and KhnumA painted sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicting Nut, Shu, Geb and Khnum with their names labeled in hieroglyphs
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At the MET, many walk past this fragment of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 not knowing who it represents! I have always loved this particular piece because it is the head of Pharaoh Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 who is arguably the most famous pharaoh in the world today! As a kid, seeing King Tut in the MET was just SO COOL because all of the artifacts from his tomb are located in Egypt. I still think it’s cool – even though I’m an adult, I still can’t shake the child-like fascination I have with Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓.
The Head of Pharaoh Tutankhamun on display at the MET
This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was made during Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 reign (18th Dynasty), and it shows that Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 brought back the old religion and traditional styles of Egyptian art and sculpture.
Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 is wearing the khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙, also known as the “blue crown” in this statue. The khepresh 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 crown was very popular amongst the New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and it was associated with coronation, the right to rule, and victory. Fun Fact: no example of the Blue Crown (Khepresh) 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 has been found by archaeologists!
While it can’t be seen in this picture, there is a hand 𓂧𓏏𓏺 that can be seen on the back of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 head. This is the hand 𓂧𓏏𓏺 of the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭. Since Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 (king of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹) is touching Tutankhamun’s crown, it can be interpreted that Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 approved of Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 reign.
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While this looks like a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 this isn’t just any sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤: his name 𓂋𓈖 is Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲! The word “Tutu” in Egyptian can be translated as “Image 𓏏𓏲𓏏” or “One 𓏏𓏲.” The reason I am using the “𓏲” instead of the “𓅱” to write the “w/u” sound is because “𓅱” was used more for Middle/New Egyptian while “𓏲” was used in Late Egyptian!
A front view of the limestone statue of Tutu. His inlaid eyes are missing, probably lost in antiquity.
Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 was a late addition to the Egyptian pantheon as his first appearance is around 600 B.C.E., and he became a very popular deity in the late centuries B.C.E. to the Roman period. He is considered to be an obscure god 𓊹 and not much is known about him – most people think they are seeing a sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 when they see him!
The limestone statue of Tutu – can you see his snake tail?
Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 was the son 𓅭 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 and he was usually represented as a sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 (human head, lion body) with a snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 as a tail! You can see the snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 tail on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 if you look closely!
One of the reasons that Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 became so popular is because he was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 by ordinary people and Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 was accessible to everyone! Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 was thought to be the god 𓊹 of human fate and fortune and the slayer of demons. Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 was commonly known as “Who Comes to the One Calling Him” but was also referred to as “Great of Strength” and “The Lion.”
On reliefs, Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 was also portrayed as a sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 except his head was usually facing forward instead of the usual profile depiction that is in most Egyptian art. This was so Tutu 𓏏𓏲𓏏𓏲 could be see as approachable by all!
On this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, the inlaid glass eyes are missing! This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is also made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and is dated to the Ptolemaic Period.
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These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 jars 𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓏲𓏊𓏼 are very unique and I really like them! The only jars 𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓏲𓏊𓏼 similar to this that have been found in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were in the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 of Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 in the Valley of the Kings (KV46). These jars 𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓏲𓏊𓏼 at the MET are tentatively dated to the 18th Dynasty reign of Amenhotep III 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 because of this!
Limestone Jars of Yuya and Thuya at the MET
Fun Fact: Yuya 𓇌𓅱𓇋𓄿𓀼 and Thuya 𓍿𓅱𓇋𓅱 were Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 grandparents and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 great-parents!
These four 𓏽 jars 𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓏲𓏊𓏼 are made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and have lids on them that show different animals! More specifically the lids show the deity Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜, a frog 𓈎𓂋𓂋𓆏, an ox 𓃾 head and a resting calf 𓂋𓈖𓇌𓃔. No one knows what these jars 𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓏲𓏊𓏼 were specifically for!
Jars of Yuya and Thuya showcasing the interesting lids!
Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 also represented everything good, and was the enemy of anything evil. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 is also thought to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 people against sickness. Cups were fashioned in Bes’ 𓃀𓋴𓄜 likeness and people thought if they drank from the cup, Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 would heal them! So maybe these jars 𓎛𓆰𓈖𓏌𓏲𓏊𓏼 were protecting something?!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
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