Tag: hatshepsut

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

Here is a β€œLarge Seated Statue of Hatshepsut” that is dated to the early 18th Dynasty (c.Β 1479–1458 B.C.E.), and most likely the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.Β 

Even though Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is β€œportraying herself as a male” (as described by some historians), she is actually portraying herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Paint can still be seen on the Broad Collar

She is wearing the nemes headdressΒ π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄Β and a broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹Β (necklace worn by royalty/the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ). Some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is actually still visible on the broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹! The face on this statue is completely destroyed, and this was definitely done on purpose.Β 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘ – Bodily/Of Her Body

(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)

π“Œ»π“‡Œ – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓆖 – She Live Forever

Put together, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved, May She Live Forever.” Some of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is missing, so this is what I could see! 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! If she called herself the β€œSon of Ra” the inscription would look like β€œπ“…­π“‡³β€ instead of β€œπ“…­π“π“‡³. ” The word for β€œbodily π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘β€ is also feminized, and would be written as β€œπ“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“†‘β€ if it was referencing a male.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Reading Hieroglyphs from the Stela of Hatshepsut

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!

Today I’m going to focus on one of my favorite pieces – the Stela of Pharaoh Hatshepsut! I’m sure it comes as no surprise to many of you that this is one of my favorites! I have been obsessed with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ since I was a kid, and getting to see this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ up close was a dream come true.

Close-up of the Stela of Hatshepsut at the Vatican Museum.

You can see two cartouches – Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare (𓇳𓁦𓂓) and Thutmosis III’s throne name Menkhepra (𓇳𓏠𓆣). In between the two cartouches is the phrase β€œπ“™π“‹Ήπ“‡³π“Ίπ“‡β€ which translates to β€œGiven life like Ra.”

β€œπ“™π“‹Ήπ“‡³π“Ίπ“‡β€ can also be written as β€œπ“™π“‹Ήπ“‡³π“‡β€ (the 𓏺 hieroglyph is missing). So why did the artist carve the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ this way? It’s for the aesthetics – to make the symbols line up properly and take up the right amount of space!

What’s also cool is β€œπ“™π“‹Ήπ“‡³π“Ίπ“‡β€ can be used before either of the cartouches! Usually this phrase is put before a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– but since these symbols are non-directional they can be used either right to left or left to right. What a way to maximize space on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

Fun fact: You can tell which direction to read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on any piece based on the direction a bird is pointing! Since this bird (π“…­) is pointing to the left, the symbols would be read from left to right.

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Egyptian Artifacts

More Scarabs of Hatshepsut

The MET was an integral part of the excavations of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. During the 1926-1927 dig season, 299 scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and stamp seals were discovered near the eastern wall of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were symbols of regeneration and rebirth.

On the scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, are various inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ with every title/name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Hatshepsut has ever held. These three 𓏼 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ have her birth name π“‚‹π“ˆ– inscribed π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ. Her birth name π“‚‹π“ˆ– cartouche translates to β€œUnited with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.”

If we were to only write the part that translates only to β€œHatshepsut,” her cartouche would look like this: (𓄂𓏏𓀼π“ͺ). Why is Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ mentioned in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–? By adding Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– to her name, she directly linked herself to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. She claimed that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ was her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus justifying her right to rule.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut

Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of the most abundant items excavated in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and I love them! I think they’re cute, but they also hold a lot of meaning for the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ. Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were symbols of regeneration and rebirth, which was one of the main aspects of the religion.

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ, while at first glance may look very similar but actually mean different things!

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut at the MET

The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left says β€œπ“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œLord of the two lands, Maatkare.” The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right says β€œπ“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œLady of the two lands, Maatkare.” When a β€œπ“β€ glyph is added to words, it makes the word feminine.

While a very tiny difference, it is interesting because one of the misconceptions about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ I see a lot was that she was β€œtrying to be a man” – she wasn’t trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, she was just traditionally representing herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, as all other pharaohs did. The pharaonic representations just tended to have male characteristics because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were men. Most of her art contains the feminine form of titles in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, which is why I find these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ interesting. It’s not common to see her use the male form of words/titles.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Here are some more scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ from the MET! The MET has so many of these beautiful π“„€ scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and I honestly love looking at them! I really like tiny things, so scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and other amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of my favorite pieces to see in museums!

These two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ both show Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 in between the Red Crown of Lower Egypt π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”. The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Ra.”

The Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” is also known as the Deshret, which can also translate to β€œred land π“… π“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ.” The word Deshret π“… π“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ referred to both the crown (π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”) and the desert (π“… π“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ) on either side of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. While the words are written differently in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, they are pronounced the same.

The fertile soil along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί was referred to as Kemet π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, or β€œblack land.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Partial Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This is another amazing piece from Gallery 115 at the MET – aka The Hatshepsut Room (as I call it). This granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is from the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 It is titled β€œHead and Shoulders of a Sphinx of Hatshepsut” because it used to be part of a large Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€.

Six 𓏿 large sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ were found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 during the excavations done by the MET. Though it is hard to see in the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏, the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ does actually have some remainders of the original paint on it! I can’t even imagine how beautiful π“„€ it must have looked after it was just carved and painted!

Much like your typical Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is seen wearing the false beard and the nemes headcloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄, which was the normal style for how pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were depicted.

A lot of Hatshepsut’s statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that are from her temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 are made of either granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ or red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ, which is a very hard rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ (aka very resistant to weathering/breakdown). Granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ was mined is Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– and then shipped up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί- definitely an incredible journey!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut

It’s been a little bit since I’ve spoke about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!! As many of you know, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and she has been an inspiration to me ever since I was a little kid! The β€œHatshepsut Room” at the MET is my most favorite gallery in any museum that I’ve been to – I feel so lucky that it’s so close to me here in NY! I still get so excited every time I get to step into the gallery! It is breathtaking every single time! Even with the mask, I think it’s very easy to see just how happy I am in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏.

This is a bust of Pharaoh Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, in the form of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (Osiride). The statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ originally stood over 4.6 m (15 ft) high and is originally from Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was not a free-standing statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ- it was actually carved from the blocks that were once part of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰.

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ holds the traditional crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… across her chest, along with an ankh π“‹Ή and scepter π“Œ€. In antiquity, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“„€π“‹‘ on her head. About twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† years after Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ died, these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were cut off of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and thrown into a pit near the entrance. The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ remained buried until they were discovered by excavators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1930s.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Abydos Kings List and the Missing Pharaohs

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List. There are two surviving King Lists from temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. One temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abydos, while Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, Smenkhare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– should be!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ were considered gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab of Hatshepsut

Here is a scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ from the MET! The MET has so many of these beautiful π“„€ scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and I honestly love looking at them! I really like tiny things, so scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and other amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of my favorite pieces to see in museums!

This scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 has a very simple message:

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – β€œPerfect God”

𓇳𓁧𓂓 – β€œMaatkare”

Interestingly, Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ throne name Maatkare (which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re”) is usually written as 𓇳𓁦𓂓, however on the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, the symbol for Maat is slightly different! On this scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, the symbol shows Maat holding an ankh 𓁧! It’s a very subtle but cool variation. It doesn’t change the meaning or the pronunciation of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but I love seeing little changes like this! Clearly, this was an artistic choice!

When learning hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, throne names are a great place to start learning because the names aren’t too complex! Let’s use Maatkare 𓇳𓁧𓂓 as an example!

𓇳 – Re

𓁧 – Truth (Maat)

π“‚“ – Soul (Ka)

With the three 𓏼 symbol cartouche, especially when Re 𓇳𓏺 is involved, it’s read middle-right-left. So why is Re 𓇳𓏺 written first but said last!? Honorific transposition! As a sign of respect, Re (or another god π“ŠΉ) is always written first!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blades of Hatshepsut

Believe it or not, these two 𓏻 pieces were probably my favorite objects that I saw in the Petrie Museum.

I was so excited when I saw them, because Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 throne name appears on it! Since I absolutely love anything to do with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, I was incredibly excited to see something with her name on it. These two 𓏻 pieces are actually bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ blades that were once attached to a handle.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“„€π“ŠΉ – Perfect God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name – translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.”)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (Deir el-Bahri temple)

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

Put together, the inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ƒπ“‚¦π“‚¦π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ β€œThe Perfect God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Holiest of Holies.”