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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep (Part 2)

Here is the second small papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 which belonged to a man named Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 (not the pharaoh). You should also check out Part 1 which goes into more depth on a different papyrus of Amenhotep!

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep
The Book of the Dead of Amenhotep on display at the MET.

This small section of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 has Chapter 78 written in Cursive Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. This chapter is about how the deceased can “take the form of a divine Falcon.” The gods Osiris and Horus appear in this spell, and it even involves a mythological figure called “The Double Lion.” 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep
A closeup of the Book of the Dead of Amenhotep which shows a mummy figure of Amenhotep (left) and a Falcon (right).

Next to the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 you can see the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 which I think are: 𓆣𓂋𓅓𓃀𓇋𓎡𓊹𓂋𓏻 (sometimes the cursive hieroglyphs are difficult to read – I did my best). 

“𓆣𓂋” means “to exist, to be, to change into” and “𓊹𓂋” means “divine.” While the other symbols are a little difficult to read, I can assume it’s one of the variants for the word “Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄” since I can see what I think is the beginning of the word “𓃀𓇋𓎡.” So all together this text most likely reads: “To Change Into the Divine Falcon.” 

𓆣𓂋𓅓𓃀𓇋𓎡𓊹𓂋𓏻 or “To Change Into the Divine Falcon” is the name of Chapter 78 which is what the rest of this papyrus shows! It’s amazing how the ancient Egyptians wrote titles for their “chapters” (using “chapters” or “numbers” to describe the Book of the Dead is a modern designation and was not used during ancient times).

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪” means “Amun is Satisfied” and is a name 𓂋𓈖 known by people who love ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 because there were many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who had the birth name of “Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪.” I didn’t notice it until I zoomed in on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛, but the name 𓂋𓈖“Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪” appears in the top left corner next to the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 looking figure! I love how the ancient Egyptians captioned everything – if you can read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 it makes everything so much easier! 

Let’s break down the meaning of the name 𓂋𓈖:

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun 

𓊵𓏏𓊪 – htp (Satisfied, Peace) 

If you want a lot of information about the Book of the Dead, I suggest looking at UCL’s website – it’s what I use to reference the chapter numbers!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep (Part 1)

This is a small papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 which belonged to a man named Amenhotep (not the pharaoh). Amenhotep was the “Overseer of the Builders of Amun” and he lived during the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). 

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep
Book of the Dead of Amenhotep at the MET.

This particular papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 sheet shows portions of Chapters 42 and 74 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. The “Chapters” are a modern numerical sequence put together as more copies of the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 were found. There is no particular order to the ancient Egyptian spells – each copy of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is different which is part of what makes it fascinating! 

Chapter 42 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 associates different parts of the body 𓎛𓂝𓄼 with that of a particular deity 𓊹. For example, one line from this spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 is “The lips of Anubis, the teeth of Serket…” and it continues in that fashion! 

Chapter 74 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is the spell for “hastening on foot and going out from the earth.” 

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the “Book of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 “𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺” translate to!

Let’s take a closer look: 

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

𓅓 – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where “book” comes from) 

If you want a lot of information about the Book of the Dead, I suggest looking at UCL’s website – it’s what I use to reference the chapter numbers and anything in quotes in this description is from their website! 

If you were interested in this post, please check out Part 2 which looks at the second papyrus that belonged to Amenhotep!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Nectanbo the Falcon

This piece is named “God Horus Protecting King Nectanbo II.” Nectanbo II 𓁞𓁩𓋴𓇛𓄣𓏺𓍉𓈖 was the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the short lived 30th Dynasty and he made himself the focus of a religious cult called “Nectanbo the Falcon,” which was a merging of himself with the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the god 𓊹 of kingship! 

Nectanbo the Falcon
Me with Nectanbo the Falcon!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

There’s a small inscription at the base of the statue, and the inscription is a mirrored one – this means you start in the middle and read Middle to left or middle to right depending on the direction of the symbols! The “𓋹” is the middle so that is where we are going to start! 

Nectanbo the Falcon
A closeup of the hieroglyphs at the base of the statue.

Middle to Left:

𓋹 – Life 

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt 

𓁞𓁩𓋴𓇛𓄣𓏺𓍉𓈖 – Nectanbo II “Pleasing to the Heart of Ra, Chosen of Amun” (throne name)

𓁹𓊨𓊹𓉕𓅨𓂋- Osiris Mnevis

𓌻 – Beloved

Middle to Right: 

𓋹 – Life

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓁥X𓆇𓈘𓂡𓅃𓎳𓏏𓊖 – Nectanbo II “Nakht Hor Hebit” (birth name) [the X is a symbol I don’t have]

𓁹𓊨𓊹𓉕𓅨𓂋𓌻 – Osiris Mnevis

Interesting Interpretation of the Hieroglyphs:

What’s interesting about this inscription is that I can’t tell if it’s supposed to be “𓁹𓊨𓊹𓉕𓅨𓂋𓌻 Osiris Mnevis” or “Beloved of Osiris Mnevis” with “𓌻” being “beloved.” To me it makes more sense if it is  “Beloved of Osiris Mnevis,” but I translated it both ways! 

Osiris Mnevis 𓁹𓊨𓊹𓉕𓅨𓂋𓌻 is a combination of the gods Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓊹 and Mnevis 𓉕𓅨𓂋𓌻. Mnevis 𓉕𓅨𓂋.  Mnevis 𓉕𓅨𓂋 was one of the Bull gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in ancient Egypt. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Akhenaten

This piece is listed as a “Funerary Figure” by the MET, but I think they mean to call it a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾! This particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, and he had many ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 made in various styles from many different materials (you can see another ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of his in the background of this photo). The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to him are made in the typical Amarna-art style. 

Ushabti of Akhenaten
The only fully preserved Ushabti of Akhenaten on display at the MET.

While are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, this red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is the only known one that is complete! Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 is a very durable rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 because it is composed of over 60% quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, which is a very hard mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 so it makes sense that this particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 would be the one to remain complete! 

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾. Personally, I’m glad the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were able to stick around because they’re my favorite!!

Most ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead, which is the spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that allows the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure to perform work for the deceased in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Due to the change in religion, none of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain the “Shabti Spell;” they only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Seshat

This is an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 on a Roman-era (60-70 A.D.) mummy mask. Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of writing, wisdom and knowledge. This is actually the only object at the MET that contains an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐! Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 does not appear much in ancient Egyptian art, and there are no temples or cult centers dedicated to her worship. 

Seshat

Seshat’s 𓋇𓏏𓁐 name 𓂋𓈖 literally translates to “female scribe,” and she is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪! I have always really liked Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 because she was a female figure associated with hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and I related to that aspect of her! I always wished there were more depictions of her in ancient Egyptian art!

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, she is holding writing with a stylus, which is very typical of artistic depictions of her! You can easily pick Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 out in Egyptian art because of the seven pointed emblem 𓋇 that she wears on her head (I call it a star – but no one really knows what it is). This symbol is also part of her name 𓂋𓈖, which makes it easy to spot in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of architecture, accounting, mathematics, and surveying. This is what made her an essential part of a building ceremony called the “Stretching of the Cord.” The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. It involved nailing four 𓏽 stakes into the ground at the four 𓏼 corners of the building and then linking them with a cord. 

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is definitely related to and shares some of the same functions as the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, who was also considered to be the god 𓊹 of writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 and wisdom. Usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is credited with inventing writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥/hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (hence his title “Lord of the Divine Words/Writing 𓎟𓊹𓌃𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟”), however, some mythology credits Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 with inventing writing/hieroglyphs, while Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was the one who taught writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 to man! 

Here are some ways to write Seshat’s name in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

Seshat 𓋇

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐

Seshat 𓋴𓈙𓄿𓏏𓅆

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Egyptian Artifacts

Shu

Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was the god 𓊹 of the air and atmosphere but was also associated with sunlight 𓆄𓅱𓇶! In the Egyptian creation myth, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 raised the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, separating the two 𓏻 from each other!

Shu
A small faience statue of the god Shu in his characteristic pose!

Shu 𓇋𓅱 is usually depicted as a man standing or kneeling with both of his arms raised (like this hieroglyphic symbol – 𓁏). His arms are in this position to show that he is holding up the air/atmosphere above the ground! Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was often worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 by sailors, who were looking for favorable winds 𓇋𓇬𓈖𓅱𓊡𓏦!

Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was the consort of Tefnut 𓏏𓆑𓈖𓏏𓆗, who is a goddess 𓊹𓏏 associated with moisture. In some mythology, Shu 𓇋𓅱 and Tefnut 𓏏𓆑𓈖𓏏𓆗 produced Geb 𓅬𓃀𓀭 (god 𓊹 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾) and Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 (goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky 𓏌𓏏𓇯). In the Pyramid Texts, the clouds are even mentioned as “the bones of Shu.”  

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Shu 𓆄𓅱” can actually mean “He Who Rises Up,” “Emptiness 𓆄𓅱𓅨,” or “Sunlight 𓆄𓅱𓇶/𓆄𓅱𓇳” too! In Middle Egyptian, these words were also pronounced like “Shu,” except they have different determinatives which changes the meaning of the word!

I’m fascinated by the fact that both “empty 𓆄𓅱𓅨” and “Shu 𓆄𓅱” are the same because we can’t see the atmosphere so what is above/all around us appears to be empty 𓆄𓅱𓅨 but it’s not – and the ancient Egyptians knew that! It’s incredible the insight that mythology can give us into the thoughts of the ancient Egyptians!

This faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 piece is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (332–30 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Water Clocks

“What time is it” is such a common question and the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 wondered it too! The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were masters of math and science 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 and one of their long lasting contributions to the world was the first clock – which was a sundial 𓍬𓏏𓊌 (also known as a shadow clock)! The sundial 𓍬𓏏𓊌 was the first portable time keeping device! 

Water Clocks

These two pieces pictured are also clocks except these are known as water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻. The water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is the first clock that didn’t depend on an astronomical object to tell the time! The oldest water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 known was found in the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪(c. 1500 B.C.E.). The Greeks even adopted the use of water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 around 325 B.C.E. and named them “clepsydras” which translates to “water thieves.” 

A water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is a vessel/vase that has a hole at the bottom that allowed water 𓈗 to drip through at a slow pace. Water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 were usually used to tell time at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛, but they might have been used during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 too. The water 𓈗 was drained from the vessel after twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours, and then it could be refilled and be used again! Markings on the side helped to keep more accurate time! 

These two water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 were probably used in a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. They both depict baboons because the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 could take the form of a baboon. Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was not only the inventor of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and the god 𓊹 of knowledge 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜, but his many other duties included being an overseer of measurement! 

Both of the water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 are made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼. The blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 one dated to the 4th Century B.C.E. (Late Period) while the tan colored one is dated to 664–30 B.C.E. (Late-Ptolemaic Periods). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Amarna Letters

The “Amarna Letters” is the modern designation for a group of over 300 𓏲𓏲𓏲 clay tablets that were found at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 in the 1880s. Amarna as it is commonly called, is the modern name for “Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖.” “Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖” was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖. 

Amarna Letters
Two of the clay tablets, designed as the “Amarna Letters” on display at the MET.

The “Amarna Letters” are written on clay tablets in cuneiform script, which was a type of Mesopotamian script! Cuneiform could be used to write many languages, but the language on the “Amarna Letters’” tablets is Akkadian. This is significant because it shows the reach that cuneiform/Akkadian had throughout the ancient world! Akkadian was probably the lingua franca (common language/trade language) of the time! 

Most of the letters are written from rulers outside of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, and they document diplomatic relations between these territories and Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

The Amarna Letter on the left is from Ashur-uballit the king of Assyria. In this letter he offers gifts to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 in order to open communications between the two countries! 

The Amarna Letter on the right is from Abi-milku of Tyre to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 . Abi-milku was asking Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for protection in return for his loyalty to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

One Thousand in Hieroglyphs!

Happy 1,000 𓆼 Posts to my Instagram @ancientegyptblog ! To celebrate this momentous occasion, let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the “lotus plant 𓆼” symbol! The “lotus plant 𓆼” has many functions in Middle Egyptian and it is a symbol you will see a lot!

One Thousand in Hieroglyphs
The “Lotus Plant” symbol which is used to write the number one thousand in hieroglyphs!

The most common way you will see the “lotus plant 𓆼” symbol used is when it is used as an ideogram to represent the number “one thousand 𓆼.”

For example: 

𓆼 – 1,000

𓆼𓆼 – 2,000

𓆼𓆼𓆼 – 3,000

One Thousand in Hieroglyphs
How many times do you see “one thousand” written in the inscription above? Read to the bottom of the post to see the answer!

Used in a sentence (the Offering Formula), it looks like this:

𓉓𓆼𓏐𓏊𓆼𓃾𓅿𓆼𓍱𓋲

“ A voice offering 𓉓 (of) a thousand 𓆼 bread 𓏐 and beer 𓏊, a thousand 𓆼 ox 𓃾 and fowl 𓅿, a thousand 𓆼 alabaster 𓍱 and linen 𓋲.”

The Offering Formula on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏦 and False Doors will be the most common way you will see this symbol in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! 

The “lotus plant 𓆼” is a biliteral phonogram and represents the sound “ḫ3.” The “lotus plant 𓆼” symbol can also be simply used as an ideogram for the word “lotus plant 𓆼𓏺.”

Some words that can be written with the “lotus plant 𓆼” are:

𓆼𓅡𓋴𓇼𓇼𓇼 – Starry Sky

𓆼𓏏𓉐𓏭 – Office

𓐍𓆼𓄿𓏏𓁣 – Illness/Disease

𓋴𓆼𓄿𓀁 – To Remember

I cannot believe it’s been almost four 𓏽 years since I stated this account, let alone the fact that I have written 1,000 𓆼 posts about ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! That’s a lot of “Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪,” mythology, art, pharaohs, and talking about my Nonno!

Pharaoh Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 was buried with over 1,000 𓆼 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 so now I have as many posts as Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!

The answer to the question above is: four times!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet

This beautiful 𓄤 necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 is linked to his pyramid. 

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet
The Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet

Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍢 behind! 

The necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 is made out of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, carnelian (stone with a red color), lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧, turquoise 𓅓𓆑𓂓𓏏𓈓, green feldspar, and garnet 𓄑𓏛𓈎𓄿𓌳𓄿𓅓𓏲𓈒𓏦! 

Let’s take a look at all of the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 symbolism and imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 that is compressed into this piece!

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet
A closeup of the Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet highlighting the intricate design.

The necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 is centered around the throne name cartouche of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓇳𓈍𓆣.

Each side is symmetrical, and if we start by looking at the outermost part, the Falcon represents the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and he is is holding a shen 𓍶 symbol. The shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes the completeness and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 of the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

There are two Ankh 𓋹 symbols that are hanging on two cobras 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 who are representative of Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟 and Wadjet 𓇅𓇌𓏏𓆘, two traditional goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 who are protectors of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Underneath the cartouche is the god 𓊹 Heh 𓁨, who is the personification of infinity and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛. His hieroglyphic symbol is actually the symbol for the number “one million 𓁨,” thus ensuring that the king’s rule is eternal 𓆖. 

Underneath the god 𓊹 Heh 𓁨, are stones arranged to look like the “ripple of water 𓈖” hieroglyph, which is representative of the primordial waters that the land came from in the Egyptian creation myth. Much like the water 𓈗 of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 supported Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the primordial waters support this piece!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!