Tag: seti i

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The King’s List and Hatshepsut

King's List
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.

Here I am with the King’s List in the British Museum! In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name 𓂋𓈖 should be because she was one of the pharaohs left off the list – she was left off because she was considered to be a non-legitimate pharaoh. 

King's List
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

King's List
A closeup of the cartouches on the King’s List

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to look at the Throne Name cartouches of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs to show where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name is missing! We will start reading from the right since the hieroglyphs point in that direction! 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 – Thutmosis I “Great is the manifestation of the soul of Ra” 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Thutmosis II “Great is the manifestation of Ra” 

 𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Tutmosis III “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra” 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Amenhotep II “Great is the manifestation of Ra”

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Thutmosis IV “Lasting are the Manifestations of Ra”

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Amenhotep III “Possessor of the Truth of Ra”

As you can see, the cartouches jump right from Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and totally skip Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! 

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

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Categories
Ushabti Friends

Ushabtis of Seti I – Ushabti Friends

Ushabtis of Seti I

As part of my “Ushabti Friends” series, I am teaching you how to look at the different characteristics of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to show how unique and wonderful these pieces are! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the ushabtis of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠! 

Ushabtis of Seti I
Ushabtis of Seti I

Pharaoh Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had an estimated  1000+ ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, however, only about 700 remain! Most of Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and when Giovanni Belzoni discovered Seti I’s tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in the Valley of the Kings in 1917, he used a lot of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 as torches (this fact still haunts me – it was also one of my Nonno’s favorite stories to tell). Anytime Seti I came up in conversation my Nonno would say “can you believe some idiots used his ushabtis as torches??!!”

Besides the tragic wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis, Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 had many faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪. His faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are such a beautiful 𓄤 blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 color and are inscribed with the Shabti Spell in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

Ushabtis of Seti I

Some of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 as well, however, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are better preserved on some pieces better than others because wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 will naturally deteriorate over time due to the nature of the organic materials. 

So how can we tell these are ushabtis of Seti I from the 19th Dynasty? 

  1. The ushabtis were found in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings
  2. The ushabtis are inscribed with his throne name (𓇳𓁦𓏠) and birth name (𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖).
  3. The ushabtis have characteristics of the 19th dynasty such as the faience ushabtis which are holding a hoe in each hand 𓌸 (typical of 18th-25th dynasties)
Ushabtis of Seti I

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

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Ushabtis of Seti I
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Lintel of Amenhotep II

My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐, my brother 𓌢𓈖𓀀 and I are with a red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 relief, titled “Lintel of Amenhotep II!” This is a really interesting piece that contains so much history! 

Lintel of Amenhotep II
My sister (left), brother (middle) and me (right) with the Lintel of Amenhotep II at the British Museum

This piece was originally carved for the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪. Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the son 𓅭 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and he even co-ruled with his father! It was during the co-reign of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 that the destruction of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 monuments 𓏠𓏍 began. 

This relief shows mirrored scenes of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 wearing the khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (also known as the blue crown) presenting nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 (containing either wine or water ) to the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Over fifty 𓎊 years after this relief was carved, many of the figures (see the left side) and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 were destroyed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 in an attempt to erase images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the old religion. 

Then, many years after Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 during the 19th Dynasty, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 had some of the damage repaired – most of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 were actually recarved! How can Egyptologists tell it was recarved? The sunken relief is deeper in the rock! 

In order to show that it was he, pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 who restored this piece, he had his cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 and a record of the restoration carved in between the two 𓏻 images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺! Can you spot Seti I’s throne name (𓇳𓁦𓏠) and birth name (𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖) cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? 

The description of this piece from the British Museum gave a short timeline of the history of this fascinating piece! I remember being confused by seeing the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of both Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 on the same relief because they are pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from different dynasties! What’s even more interesting is that this is not a case of the more common “usurping of monuments 𓏠𓏍” from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

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

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Statue of Queen Tiye

This large granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 has quite the story and journey through history! It’s amazing how some pieces can start off in one place, but end up in a completely different location! Let’s take a closer look at this striking piece that is currently at the Vatican Museum, and follow her journey from Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 to Rome!

Queen Tiye at the Vatican Museum

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 definitely resembles other works of Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 – from the characteristic wig to the distinct face shape and design. In my opinion, there is no doubt that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was originally Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗. Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was married to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 and possessed the title of “King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏,” which pretty much meant that she was his favorite wife. Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grandmother! 

After some time had passed, the great usurper, Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, recognized the beauty 𓄤𓆑𓂋 of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and brought it to his mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 where he had it dedicated to his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 (and wife of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠), Tuya 𓏏𓅱𓇋𓄿𓁗. “Usurping” was a popular practice where pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 would take old statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 𓏪 from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and put their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 on it. Think of it as ancient plagiarism! 

Then, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 made its way out of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and to Rome! For a long time, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 adorned the “Gardens of Sallust,” which belonged to the Emperor Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 at the time. Many Roman Emperors liked Egyptian art, and some (like Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 and Hadrian 𓉔𓏏𓂋𓂝𓈖𓊃𓈎𓊃𓂋) had pieces from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 brought to Rome to adorn their gardens 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈𓏥 or estates. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was then re-discovered in 1714 and was brought to the Vatican Museums in 1839. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Small Stela of the Vizier Paser

This tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 and unassuming stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Louvre is really important to me and my Nonno because it depicts Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽, who was my Nonno’s favorite non-royal Egyptian! Nonno and I would always make it a point to try and find something related to Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 in every museum we went to! 

Though he wasn’t a royal, Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was one of the most prominent men of his time and he was vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 under two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 – Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and then Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖.  Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 served many different roles over twenty-five 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years! Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was also an architect and one of his most famous works is the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 in the Valley of the Kings! 

A vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was the highest ranking official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 and was the most powerful position in the government, besides the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Not only was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 the most trusted advisor to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but he also saw to the day-to-day operations of the government. The vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was in charge of architecture, taxation, agriculture, military, the judiciary, finances, and many other things. Honestly that sounds exhausting, however, his hard work got Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 a nice tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 for himself, so that’s how we know so much about him! I guess wanting to preserve his name 𓂋𓈖 for eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 was a success! 

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 had many different titles, including “High Preist of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳 ,” “superintendent of every work of the king,” “prophet of Maat,” “mouth of Nekhen” and “chief of secrets of the hieroglyphs.” This last title is probably why he is depicted with the god Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 on this small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! 

I wish I could see the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 more clearly, but I can see Paser’s 𓅮𓀙𓀽 name 𓂋𓈖 on the bottom part of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! 

Sorry the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a bit blurry – I wanted to get as close as I could! The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows how small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is in relation to other objects!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs from the Abydos King List!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These beautiful 𓄤 hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the Abydos King List at the British Museum. There are two 𓏻 surviving King Lists from temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. One temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son 𓅭 Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos, while Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 was excavated and brought to the British Museum. 

While the two 𓏻 lists were very similar, Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 had more rows to accommodate the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 so it appears to be shorter. There are three 𓏼 rows of cartouches on the remaining limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief – the upper two 𓏻 rows contain the cartouches of earlier pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, while the bottom row shows Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 throne name and birth name alternating – this is the part we will be reading today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to start from the right!

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – Rameses II, Beloved of Amun (birth name)

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 Rameses II (“Usermaatre” throne name)

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓁩𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Rameses II (birth name variant)

“By Permission Of 𓅓𓂞𓂞” is meant to signify that Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 commissioned the creation of this King List! It’s also cool how different variants of the name 𓂋𓈖 were used throughout the relief!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

How to Read a Three-Symbol Cartouche

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

When I was first starting to learn to read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were some of the first things I learned how to read and recognize! Learning the cartouches allowed me to become familiar with the different uniliteral, biliteral, and triliteral signs! By remembering the signs/meanings of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 associated with the names 𓂋𓈖𓏥 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, I was able to then expand my knowledge using the Book of the Dead transliteration/translation!

A lot of the New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had simple three 𓏼 symbol throne name cartouches, which sometimes takes some practice to read because of the order of the symbols! For the three symbol cartouches, usually (not always) the symbols were read “Middle-Right-Left” or “Middle-Bottom-Top” depending on the orientation of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

For example, Hatshepsut’s throne name of (𓇳𓁦𓂓) would be read “Maatkare” (Maat 𓁦 ka 𓂓 re 𓇳) and the throne name of Thutmosis III (𓇳𓏠𓆣) would be read “Menkhepherre” (Men 𓏠 kheper 𓆣 re 𓇳). 

While to most this is just a piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, to me this is significant because this piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is inscribed with the cartouche of the throne name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I!

So in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Seti I’s cartouche reads (𓁦𓏠𓇳) or “Menmaatre” (Men 𓏠 maat 𓁦 re 𓇳), however, in most inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 his cartouche is written as (𓇳𓁦𓏠)! A lot of people will translate his name as “Maatmenre” (Maat 𓁦 men 𓏠 re 𓇳) because of the way it is written. So as you can see, the orientation of the three 𓏼 symbols definitely changes and can be confusing to a beginner! I have seen both Menmaatre and Maatmenre used in published books, but if we are going to get technical, the translation of Menmaatre (Eternal is the Truth of Re) makes a little more sense than Maatmenre (Truth is the Eternal of Re). 

I chose to use Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 cartouche for this example because Nonno loved Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Offering Table Dedicated to the God Seth

This piece is a large offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 that was dedicated to the god 𓊹 Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 by the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠.

There is a lot going on with this piece! On the reliefs, Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 can be seen worshipping thegod Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣, whose likeness has been erased. During the Ramesside time period, many pharaohs had “Seth” as part of their name 𓂋𓈖 because Seth’s 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 status was elevated at the time due to him being both a powerful aggressor and being associated with foreign lands. Once Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 fell out of favor, his name 𓂋𓈖/images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 were no longer used. Seth’s image is even removed, except for when he is mentioned in Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 name 𓂋𓈖! The image of the goddess 𓊹𓏏Nephthys 𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓉐𓁐 has not been erased, because even though she is the consort of Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣, she was considered a favorable figure in Egyptian mythology.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, we see Seti I’s Horus Name: 𓅃𓃒𓂡𓅓𓈍𓋆𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓈙𓈙 “The Strong bull who appeared in Thebes and sustains the Two Lands.” 

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, we see Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the goddess 𓊹𓏏Nephthys 𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓉐𓁐 (her name 𓂋𓈖 is written above her), who is the consort of Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. We can also see Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 titles and cartouches: 

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – Menmaatra (throne name)

(𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖) – Seti, Beloved of Ptah (birth name)

𓏙 – Given

𓆖 – Eternity

In the next picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 (above) we see the cartouches again, and Seti worshipping Seth. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 translate to:

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓆑 – His

𓊽 – Stability

𓌀 – Strength

So all together, the inscription reads: “𓏙𓋹𓆑𓊽𓌀 Given Life, His Stability and Strength.”

The last picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 (above) is another variant of the Horus name! 

I always find pieces such as these so fascinating, because upon first look, it looks like just a large slab of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙. But in reality, there is so much to analyze and unpack when it comes to the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, and how they relate to the time period, and even the time periods that came long after this piece was made. While it was made during the 19th Dynasty (reign of Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖), it was definitely altered afterwards.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Seti I and Hathor

This is such a beautiful 𓄤 relief and it is actually from the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠! The tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 is the largest in the Valley of the Kings and it is also my Nonno’s favorite of all the tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪! This relief is now located at the Louvre in France.

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Hathor 𓉡 was known as the Lady of the West 𓎟𓏏𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊! This is why all of the Egyptian tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 are located on the western 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 side of the Nile!

Here, Hathor 𓉡 is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him a menat necklace 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧, which was a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓉡 – Hathor
𓁶𓁷𓏏𓏏𓊖𓋆 – Chief one of Thebes
𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands
(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – Menmaatra (throne name – “Eternal is the Truth of Ra”)
𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances
(𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁵𓇌𓈘𓈖) – Seti, Beloved of Ptah (birth name – this is an uncommon variant that uses the Osiris 𓁵 symbol instead of the Seth 𓁣 symbol)
𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – Given Eternal Life, Like Ra

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Pharaoh Seti I

Pharaoh Seti I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓇌𓁣𓈖 had over 700 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪! The typical number was around four hundred – 365 worker ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and the rest were overseer ushabtis. Most of Seti I’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓇌𓁣𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺- when Giovanni Belzoni discovered Seti I’s tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in the Valley of the Kings in 1917, he used a lot of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 as torches (this fact still haunts me – it was also one of my Nonno’s favorite stories to tell).

Besides the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis, Seti I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓇌𓁣𓈖 had many faience ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪. His faience ushabtis are such a beautiful blue color and are inscribed with hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. Seti I’s throne name, Maatmenra 𓇳𓁦𓏠, is clearly seen on the first line of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!