Tag: artifact

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Triad Amulet

I love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things!!!

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 had some type of familial 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 relationship/significance to each other. One of the Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 triads during the Late Period was Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, and Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 on the left is a representation of this Triad!

The Ossirian Triad (the three 𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 to the right) is a representation of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (“Mistress of the House” and associated with vultures), Horus 𓅃𓀭 (god 𓊹 of the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 and the protector of the ruler 𓋾 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖), and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (goddess 𓊹𓏏 of healing and magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜).

Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, the sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏 of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife 𓈟𓏏 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 is representative of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus 𓅃𓀭 and that protective power extends to the wearer.

This type amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Before Ushabtis

Wax Figures were the precursors to the famous Ushabti figures. (The MET)

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 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!

These precursor-ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 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.

These particular wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures belonged to Queen Neferu, who lived during the 11th Dynasty (c. 2051–2030 B.C.E) during the reign of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪. Her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 had many of these wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures, however in general, not many similar ones have been found (in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found)

Ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Interesting Roman-Egyptian Stela

Limestone stela from the Roman Period of Egyptian history

This is certainly an interesting stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 for sure! This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪, statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!

The first thing I noticed is that there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! So the only way to “decipher” it is by looking at who is depicted! At the top, you can see the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺, a symbol of life 𓋹𓈖𓐍 and regeneration. Beneath the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 are two 𓏻 snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and the “ankh 𓋹,” which is the symbol for life 𓋹𓈖𓐍! While crudely carved, this is a very typical design to see on the top of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸.

In the middle panel, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (middle) is presenting the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 (left). This scene is a very typical one that you would see on a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! During the Roman times, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was viewed as the “conquerer of death,” and was depicted a lot with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person in artwork.

On the bottom panel, it is inferred that Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (left) and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (right) are pictured in a mourning stance. I say “inferred” because usually when Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are pictured, they have their crowns on their head which make them very easy to recognize! Here they do not, however, there might be a tiny indication of a crown on Isis’ 𓊨𓏏𓁥 head (though it is hard to see). I think the crowns are missing because the artist ran out of room!!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Hatshepsut

Nicole (me) with the Red Granite Statue of Hatshepsut at The MET

In this red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, she is represented in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar 𓏌𓏺 in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢/offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 at the base of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 say that she is offering plants to Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭.

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted in the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 region of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖). Egyptologists/archaeologists have inferred that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 would have been placed on the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 side of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, hence why the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 is on her head 𓁶𓏺.

Hatshepsut wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt

One thing I love about this particular statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is that her Horus Name, “Wosretkau 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓”, is on the back of the statue! The name 𓂋𓈖 “Wosretkau 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”

Hatshepsut’s Horus Name, “Wosretkau.”

Usually her given name “Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪“ or her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓“ are the names that are written in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and fragments of these names are also on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, but they are badly damaged and difficult to photograph!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ovoid Stone of Hatshepsut

This piece is known as an “Ovoid Stone” or a “Hammering Stone” and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction. Also, it’s two 𓏻 of my favorite things: rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! It seems like such a random and underwhelming piece, but most of the time those are my favorites!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓏏𓄤(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓁹𓈖𓊃𓅓𓏠𓏧𓊃𓏛𓆑𓊃𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 –

“The Great Goddess, Maatkare, she made the monument for her father, Amun-Re…”

𓏸𓆑𓏸𓍱𓈙𓁷𓏸𓇋𓏠𓈖𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐𓁹𓈖𓋹𓍘

“…at the stretching of the cord 𓍱 over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!”

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 stakes into the ground at the four corners of the building and then linking them with a cord.

Some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 were hard to see in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so I hope this translation accurate!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Roman-Egyptian Limestone Stela

(from left) The Pharaoh, Anubis and a Goddess (inferred to be Hathor)

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 from the Roman Period is an interesting piece! Let’s take a closer look!

The stela depicts 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (left) holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 and and offering a cloth 𓍱 to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (middle) and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 (right). The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is wearing the Atef Crown 𓋚. The Atef Crown 𓋚 is usually associated with the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.

Right next to the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 head 𓁶𓏺 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 you can just see a cartouche which simply says (𓉐𓉻) or pharaoh! The emperor Augustus usually wrote his cartouche as (𓉐𓉻), however many other rulers during this time period did too so we can’t necessarily say for sure that it is Augustus that is depicted!

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is shown wearing the double crown 𓋖 of both Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, which is cool because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 usually isn’t depicted with a crown on his head 𓁶𓏺 in more traditional Egyptian art. During the Greek and Roman Periods, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was regarded as the “conquerer of death” and “companion/escort of the dead” and was very popular! Both Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 are holding Ankhs 𓋹𓋹𓋹 in their hands.

The name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 isn’t in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, however, I think the goddess 𓊹𓏏 depicted is Hathor 𓉡 because the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, and sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 are associated with Hathor 𓉡. Plus, Hathor 𓉡 was also a popular goddess 𓊹𓏏 to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 during this time period. I’m sure others have their interpretations as well, this is just mine!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabits and the Shabti Spell

Ushabti at The MET. The black text going down the center of the figure is the Shabti Spell

I have always loved and will always love ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures!! They are one of my absolute favorite things to see in museums, and that is probably because my Nonno loved ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 so much! He used to tell my sister and I stories about the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 and I became enthralled with them so let’s take a look at this little guy!!

This style of ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is very common in the Third Intermediate Period. The figure is made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 with details in black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. Most ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures contained hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on them that were part of the “Shabti Spell,” which is taken from chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. The spell was very formulaic and appears on many different ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪! Since space is very limited on these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪, this is a very shortened version of the spell!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris
𓎟𓅄 – Nb-Hrw
𓐙𓊤 – Justified (or “True of Voice”)

All together 𓈖𓊗, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 read: “The Osiris, Nb-Hrw, Justified.”

The name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, which in this case is “Nb-Hrw 𓎟𓅄,” will always follow the epithet “The Osiris 𓊩𓁹.” The reason why the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is referred to as “The Osiris 𓊩𓁹” is because the ancient Egyptians wanted to live forever 𓎛𓇳𓎛 in the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, just like Osiris 𓊩𓁹! “Justified/True of Voice 𓐙𓊤,” meant that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 lived an honest and true life 𓋹!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of the God Horus

Bronze Statues of Horus at The MET

These are bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, most likely dated to the Late-Ptolemaic Periods.

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was one of the earliest Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. He was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 from the beginning of the dynastic period. The Turin Canon (provides information about Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 earliest rulers 𓋾𓋾𓋾) refers to the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 as the “Followers of Horus.”

Horus 𓅃𓀭 had many roles as a god 𓊹, and these roles evolved and changed throughout Egyptian history. He was originally the Sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 God 𓊹 and was referred to as the “Lord of the Sky.” Horus 𓅃𓀭 then evolved to become associated with the sun 𓇳𓏺, and was referred to as the “God of the East.” He was also combined with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and this is how the deity 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 came to evolve.

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was also worshipped as the son 𓅭 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The triad/family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 unit was extremely important to ancient Egyptian religion/culture. Most notably, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is usually associated with being the god 𓊹 of kingship. As the son 𓅭 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the mythological heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Horus 𓅃𓀭 is usually seen as a human with a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 head. On his head 𓁶𓏺 is usually the double crown 𓋖 of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. This is how you can differentiate between Horus 𓅃𓀭 and other falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Goddess Taweret

Taweret at The MET (photo by Amanda)

Here is a gorgeous 𓄤 (and ADORABLE) faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆/statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗! More people are now familiar with Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 because of Moon Knight, but let’s dive into some history/information about her because I think she’s an amazing figure in the Egyptian pantheon!

While the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was a protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 and children 𓐍𓇌𓀕𓏪! The name 𓂋𓈖 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means “the great (female) one!” That is certainly a name 𓂋𓈖 that suits her!

While many amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were usually placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 on their journey to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife), amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 were usually found in homes because she was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was essential to family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 life.

The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 would provide protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 in the home, especially during childbirth, which was quite deadly for mothers 𓅐𓏏𓁐𓏪 at the time. For this reason, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was usually worshipped in the home instead of in temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪!

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was also associated with the inundation of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Since the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 needed to flood in order for the soil to be fertile enough for crops to grow, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of fertility, this association is perfect!

Taweret at The MET (photo by Amanda)
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis as the Defender of Osiris/Dionysus

How cute is this little (4.9 cm) gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾?!?! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is titled “Anubis as Defender of Osiris/Dionysus (?).” It is always so cool to see elements of Egyptian, Greek, or even Roman culture combined into a single statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to the 2nd – 3rd Centiry A.D., which is the Roman Period of Egyptian history!

While the Romans equated Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 to Mercury, the Greeks actually equated Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 to Dionysus! One interpretation of the statue is this: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is dressed in a military outfit, in order to signify his role as a fighter against the enemies of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is holding a Thysrus in one hand 𓂝𓏺, which is a staff symbolic of/carried by the followers of Dionysus. In the other hand 𓂝𓏺, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is holding a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄.

Cool Connection! BTS actually have a song called “Dionysus” and it is incredible with lots of cool mythological references/metaphors! My favorite line from the song is “Art is alcohol too, if you can drink it, you’ll get drunk fool…” The song is about loving art so of course I love the lyrics because you all know how much I love Egyptian art!

In my independent study of Korean I did learn this though: The Korean word for “art” is 예술 (yesul) and the Korean word for “alcohol” is 술 (sul) so these lyrics are actually a word play! I just love languages and connecting the things I love together!