Tag: petrie museum

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Will of Mery

This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is one of the oldest legal documents found in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛, which is the Will of Mery, is dated to about 1818 B.C.E., which was during the Middle Kingdom. It is currently on display at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL in London! 

Will of Mery

You may notice that this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is not written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 or even cursive hieroglyphs! Like most papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦, it is written using a script called Hieratic. Hieratic is a script that was used on papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and the symbols do not match their hieroglyphic counterparts! I cannot read Hieratic and I have found it quite difficult to learn! Plus the Hieratic symbols have evolved over time so they have changed a lot which only makes it more difficult! 

Luckily, the UCL website has a wonderful translation of this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 so I was able to read what was being said! This is a will in which a man named Mery (a very popular name 𓂋𓈖 in ancient Egypt) asks for his son 𓅭 Intef to be appointed to his job in the temple of Senwosret II. It also reveals some presumed family drama – Mery cancels the previous will that left things to Intef’s mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 and then leaves it instead to his children 𓐍𓇌𓀔𓏪 that were born by another woman. 

The UCL website poses some questions such as “Did Intef’s mother die or did Mery divorce her?” – there are some things we will never know! It’s amazing how documents such as these can give us such insight into ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 but still leave us with so many questions! 

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

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Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blade With Hatshepsut’s Name

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name!

Bronze Blade With Hatshepsut's Name
Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name in the hieroglyphic inscription at the Petrie Museum

While it doesn’t look like much, this piece is actually a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 that was once attached to a handle. This was one of my favorite objects that I saw at the Petrie Museum because it has Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name on it!

I also think this piece is unpublished, so it was a total surprise for me to see that it even existed! Since her name 𓂋𓈖appears on the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴, it means that it was most certainly made during Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 time as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

𓄤𓊹 – Great God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name which translates to “Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳.”)

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓏃 – Foremost 

𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (the name given to Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri. It can also be written as 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐). 

𓌺𓇌 – Beloved 

Put together, the inscription reads: 𓄤𓊹(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐𓌺𓇌 “The Great God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Foremost of the Holiest of Holies.” 

Interestingly, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is referred to as “The Great God 𓄤𓊹” instead of the “Great Goddess 𓄤𓊹𓏏” as she usually is in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. Certain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 towards the later part of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 did sometimes omit the feminine ending of the word, so this might mean the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 is from the late part of her rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏. Or this could just be a spacing issue – the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 is small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 so maybe not all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 could fit! 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Pyramid Texts of Pepy I

This small relief on display at the Petrie Museum is a section of “The Pyramid Texts” which is the oldest known funerary/religious writings in the world. The original text dates back to the Old Kingdom. 

The Pyramid Texts of Pepy I
A small relief which contains the Pyramid Texts of Pepy I

The Pyramid Texts can be thought of as a precursor to both the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺! The main differences between these religious texts are that the Pyramid Texts were only accessible to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because they were only carved inside of the pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦. Also, the Pyramid Texts were also not illustrated!

This particular section of the Pyramid Texts contains a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that Pepy I 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 would say that would provide him with food and drink for eternity 𓆖! Here is a piece of the leftmost column that I could translate (a lot is cut off): 

𓇋𓅱 – My/I

𓇬𓈎𓈎 – Eat

𓏏𓏐- Bread

𓏊- Beer

The cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the 6th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Pepy I 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 was one of the first cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 I learned to read/recognize because it’s written with only uniliteral hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! A lot of the Old Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 have names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 spelled with uniliteral signs, which makes them great for beginners to read/learn! One of the ways I started learning hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 was by practicing reading the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥! 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in Pepy’s 𓊪𓇋𓊪𓇋 cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷: 

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p,” and does not have any other grammatical functions!

The “reed 𓇋” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and most commonly represents the sound of “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to take a virtual trip to the Petrie Museum!

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it! 

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III
Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was one of the longest reigning pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 in Egyptian history! He co-ruled with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 for about 21 𓎆𓎆𓏺 years, and then he ruled on his own for another 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 years! 

This alabaster 𓍱 vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 was found in a foundation deposit. Both the Petrie Museum and the MET have very similar alabaster 𓍱 vases 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 on them! I have done previous posts on the vases with Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 – a translation and a post on foundation deposits!

These vases  𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 usually contained incense or ointment. Sometimes, traces of the incense or ointment can still be seen within the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 which is so cool!

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbols! 

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God 

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkhepperra

𓋊𓊾 – Min

𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 – Koptos

𓌸 – Beloved

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, the full translation is: “The Perfect God, Menkhepperra, Beloved of Min of Koptos.”

Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian town of “Gbtyw 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖,” and the modern Arabic name for the town is Qift. Since the Early Dynastic period, Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 was an important place of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 for the god 𓊹 Min 𓋊𓊾, but it was also a key trading/economic location due to its proximity to the Red Sea. Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 remained an important town through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods too!

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Drawers Full of Ushabtis!

My Nonno always spoke very highly of the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL in London. As a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀕, he would always tell me that they had “drawers and drawers full of ushabtis” and it just sounded so cool to me! I wanted to visit so badly! 

Ushabtis
A view of a drawer in the Petrie Museum which contains a collection of faience ushabtis

When we got to visit the museum together 𓈖𓊗, it was like a dream come true! It was VERY COOL to be able to open the drawers in the cabinets and be greeted by ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪!

Ushabtis
A view of a drawer in the Petrie Museum which contains terracotta ushabtis

We spent hours at the museum going through everything and I spent the most time with the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 (no surprise there)!! 

Ushabtis
A view of a drawer in the Petrie Museum which contains wood, limestone, faience, and terracotta ushabtis

The Petrie Museum has quite the collection of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 and they are representative of a lot of the differing styles of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 through different time periods in Egyptian history. Most of the photos are representative of more “classical” ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 from the 20th Dynasty forward (made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 or terracotta 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇), while the picture below shows the “stick ushabtis.” 

Stick Ushabtis
A view of a drawer in the Petrie Museum which contains stick ushabtis

Stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 (17th to the beginning of the 18th Dynasty) are made of wood  𓆱𓏏𓏺, have a roughly mummiform shape, no artistic details, and have an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the front.  The function of these stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 also seems to be different than that of the regular ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 that are found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 whose function was to perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 have only been found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖, in the above ground chapels that were found near tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦, not inside the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐! 

The stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 most likely represented the family members of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were placed in the above ground chapel as a way to symbolize family members being close to their dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 loved one.

Ushabtis
A view of a drawer in the Petrie Museum which contains faience ushabtis, and a stone ushabti in the back.
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hedgehog Amulet

I think hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 are such cute little animals!! I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things, so a hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 is perfect for me because both hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 and amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! This particular blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 is from the Petrie Museum in London! Plus, I think hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 are such cute animals!

Hedgehog Amulet
A blue faience hedgehog amulet at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London

The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 used amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 a lot in both their daily life and afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! No matter who was wearing it, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 had the same function: to invoke magical protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 for the wearer! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 could represent gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏, everyday objects, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰, animals, and many other things! 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 could also be worn by the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 too! 

In ancient Egypt, the hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱, which is a concept central to the ancient Egyptian religion. This association occurred because when food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 is scarce, hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 will retreat into their underground burrows for long periods of time. Hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 only re-emerge from their burrows during times of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 abundance. This disappearing/appearing pattern strongly correlated with the concept of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 to the ancient Egyptians. 

Hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 in order to invoke rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were also thought to provide protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 bites. Most hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are dated to the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom, with their popularity peaking around the 18th Dynasty. 

“Hedgehog” can be written in two 𓏻 ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭

𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Deities Maat and Osiris-Iah

These two 𓏻 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces at the Petrie Museum are both such nice representations of Egyptian deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹! Bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were popular during the later period of Egyptian history, and there are so many of them for two 𓏻 reasons! The first 𓏃 is that bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 preserves really well so the pieces aren’t as subject to breakdown and the second is because bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces were mass produced! Both of these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are dated to the 26th Dynasty. 

Osiris-Iah (left) and Maat (right)

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the forefront of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦. Not only was Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄, fact, law, order and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜, “maat” was also a concept and a way of life in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 was also the balance and order in the whole universe. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is usually shown as a woman with a feather 𓆄 on her head.  Her most important role was in the judgement of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 fun! The words for “Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦,” “truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄,” and “justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜” are super similar! 

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in the back of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the combination god 𓊹 Osiris-Iah. I know the description says “Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭,” but the crown on the head of the deity 𓊹, which shows the moon and a crescent underneath, leads me to believe this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is Osiris-Iah. 

While Iah 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 is the god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹, he seems to be the adult version of the god 𓊹 Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯(another lunar god 𓊹), and over time seemed to take over the lunar aspect of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. So why was Iah 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 assimilated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭? This is most likely due to the monthly lunar cycle, which seems to follow a birth 𓄟 – death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 – rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 cycle. This cycle was the backbone to the Egyptian religion, and was always linked back to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

Some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 fun! The words for the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 “Iah” and “moon” are the same – 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Pharaoh Narmer or Khufu?

Which pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is this – Narmer 𓆢𓍋 or Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱?  We will probably never know!!  This is both the best and most frustrating part about Egyptology sometimes – it’s the mystery and the “not knowing.” 

Is this Pharaoh Narmer or Khufu? We will probably never know!

The awkward photography aside (I have never claimed to be good at photography, just hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪), this is a very fascinating statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Petrie Museum in London! Petrie thought this head of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 represented Narmer 𓆢𓍋, while Egyptologists today believe that it depicts Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱. 

Narmer 𓆢𓍋, also referred to as his throne name Menes 𓏠𓈖𓇋, was the first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of a united Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and the founder of the First Dynasty. His rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏 began around 2900 B.C.E., which was when Upper 𓇓 and Lower Egypt 𓆤 were united into one kingdom. The “Narmer Palette” is the most famous depiction of this pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 as not much art has survived from so long ago. The name “Menes 𓏠𓈖𓇋” means “He Who Endures,” which is very fitting for Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the Fourth Dynasty, and is most well known for commissioning the construction of what is now known as the “Great Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 of Giza.” This is the only aspect of Khufu’s 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 that has been documented – we actually don’t know much about him! Only one small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 has been found to date, so it would be pretty cool if this was actually Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱! The name 𓂋𓈖 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 means “He Protects Me.” 

I actually have no idea who this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is meant to depict – it could honestly be either pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Who do you think is shown here – Narmer 𓆢𓍋 or Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱?  

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Nefertiti’s Name and Titles in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

On this relief from the remains of the Central Palace at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 (present day Tel el-Amarna), you can see Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤  𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, and their daughter 𓅭𓏏 Meriaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓈘𓏏𓁐 praising the sun god, Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. The rays of the sun are depicted as hands giving the symbol of life, the ankh 𓋹, to the royal family. 

Nefertiti’s cartouche appears twice on this relief. Let’s look at the inscription on the left! Some of it is missing, but I am going to infer the missing pieces: 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓈘𓏏𓁐 – Meriaten (the last two symbols of her name are seen in the inscription 𓏏𓁐) (this is my guess)

𓌺 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓈖 – Born of 

𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 – King’s Great Wife 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 – Neferneferuaten Nefertiti

𓋹𓍘 – May She Live! 

𓆖 – Everlasting (eternity)

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

So all together, the inscription reads: “Meriaten, born of the beloved King’s Great Wife Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, May she live for everlasting eternity.” 

Nefertiti’s cartouche reads “Neferneferuaten Nefertiti” which pretty much translates to “Beauty is the Beauties of Aten, the beautiful one has come.” “𓄤” is a triliteral phonogram and translates to “nfr” (pronounced nefer) which means beauty or beautiful. This is actually the shorthand way to write “beautiful,” and the other  way it appears in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is fully spelled out as “𓄤𓆑𓂋” – it’s still pronounced the same though as “𓆑 = f” and “𓂋 = r.” 

Above her cartouche on the left side of the relief you can see her title “King’s Great Wife” 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 – (ancient Egyptians had no word for queen). Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 also usually had multiple wives, so this title denoted the “favorite” wife. 

While both of the following words – 𓆖 and 𓎛𓇳𓎛 mean the word “eternity,” a lot of times they are seen together on inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! It would be silly to say “eternity eternity,” so Egyptologists translate this phrase as “𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛 Everlasting Eternity.” 

This relief is presently located at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL, London. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Oil Lamps

While my Nonno loved ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, he also absolutely loved Ancient Rome and the Roman Emperors. This is why he loved the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 so much. Even though the Ptolemaic Period was technically Hellenistic Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, there was still a heavy Roman influence because Rome was still very powerful at the time! 

When Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 committed suicide in 31 B.C.E., that was seen as the end of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and the beginning of Roman Egypt. This makes Cleopatra 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt! Nonno often told me stories about Mark Antony, Cleopatra 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀, Julius Caesar – he loved that whole part of history so much. 

These are ancient oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶! These oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 are made of clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and can be found throughout countries that were ruled by the Roman Empire! Many are found in present-day Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, Turkey, Syria, and many others! My Nonno absolutely adored these – he loved that you could still see where the oil 𓂝𓆓𓐖𓏊𓏦 had burned on some of them (that’s the black 𓆎𓅓 discoloration at the opening). Nonno always made sure to point these out in museums and now of course I always look for them. I love seeing the different designs on them! Each lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 is unique which I love!

Isis and Horus design on the oil lamp, along with the black discoloration on the opening!

Due to Roman influence in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 from Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were sometimes made with the Egyptian Gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on them! The oil lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏤𓇶 all the way on the right depicts Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 nursing Horus 𓅃𓀭. As Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 grew in popularity, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans.  Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 was widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 during the Roman times, and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a baby 𓈖𓐍𓈖𓀕 has even appeared on the back of Roman coins. Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 feeding Horus 𓅃𓀭 were also made in abundance during this time period.