Tag: thutmosis iii

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 2)

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is my second post on Cleopatra’s Needle and here is a link to the first!

This obelisk 𓉶 was commissioned to be built by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign to highlight his military victories. On the obelisk 𓉶, not only can you see Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 throne name cartouche, but you can also see both the throne name and birth name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! Rameses II usurped this monument, as he did with the monuments of many past pharaohs! He not only put his cartouches, but at the top of the obelisk 𓉶 his Horus Name also appears in the serekh! 

Cleopatra's Needle
A closeup image of the hieroglyphs on Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is Thutmosis III’s throne name and it appears multiple times on the obelisk. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Ramessu Mery Amun 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓” is Rameses II’s birth name. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun,” but could also be translated as “Ra Bore Him, Beloved of Amun.”

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

𓈘 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” is Rameses II’s throne name and translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Can you spot the three different cartouches in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? I will probably be doing another post on the inscriptions and their meaning so look out for that post too!

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!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 1)

“Cleopatra’s Needle” aka the Obelisk 𓉶 in Central Park is one of the most beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 sights in Manhattan!

Cleopatra's Needle
Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park

This obelisk 𓉶 (and another, which now resides in London) was not commissioned by Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇; in fact, it was commissioned by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign. The obelisks 𓉶 stood at the city of Heliopolis at one of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 temples. The obelisk 𓉶 is made out of “Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶” which was the third most used rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 by the ancient Egyptians!

Cleopatra's Needle
Me with Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park

When the obelisks were discovered by the Romans, they were moved from Heliopolis to Alexandria and placed at a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 dedicated to Julius Caesar. The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was commissioned by Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, which is probably why the obelisks have the nickname “Cleopatra’s Needle.” 

Cleopatra's Needle
A closeup of me and Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The two obelisks were given by the Egyptian government as gifts; one is in London, and one is in Central Park in NYC! The obelisk is super close to the MET, so it’s great to go and see before or after your museum trip! 

Cleopatra's Needle
William the Hippo with the obelisk!

I’m going to do another post about the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the obelisk 𓉶, so here is the link to that post!

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!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Thutmosis III – Video

Let’s Read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this relief of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴!

Here is a very nice raised relief in limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 which depicts pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (left). He can be identified based off of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of his name 𓂋𓈖 that appear to his right. 

We are going to start reading from the right since that is the way the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point! Here are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 broken down: 

𓊹𓄤 – The Great God

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III’s throne name) 

Also on the right is the remnant of another person – most likely the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 (a portion of a shoulder and a crown are seen, so the presence of the crown allows us to infer that it is in fact another royal figure). 

What is super interesting about this piece is that the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 that are carved are not the actual pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 themselves, but statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of them! This relief is depicting a religious precession that took place at Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. This piece was excavated from the temple and is dated to c. 1478-1458 B.C.E. 

This relief of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

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

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III – The Greatest Pharaoh?

I have a very complex relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (this is probably the first time you’ve read that sentence)! Many people will probably not agree with me on this (that’s okay), but I think that Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 greatest pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! He ruled 𓋾 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for 54 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏽 years, and was a very accomplished general 𓀎𓏦, having led troops into battle himself. Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 has been rumored to have never lost a battle! 

Thutmosis III - The Greatest Pharaoh?
Me with a limestone statue of Thutmosis III – was he the greatest pharaoh?

So why my complex feelings about Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? It all has to do with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪! Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 was only three 𓏼 years old when his father Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 passed away, and was a co-regent with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 before she completely took over the throne. During her rule 𓋾, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a member of the military and gained valuable experience that allowed him to be such a successful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. I believe that Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 successful rule set Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 up for his extremely successful reign. 

About 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name 𓂋𓈖 taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! This is where my complex feelings come in because Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is my absolute favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and I believe that she is also one of the greatest rulers that Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 ever had! 

I find this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to be so beautiful 𓄤 because the white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (it honestly looks like marble to me – but marble is metamorphosed limestone) contrasts so well with the black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the eyes 𓁹𓏦. Some red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can even still be seen on the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 that is on Thutmosis III’s 𓅝𓄠𓋴 forehead!

Thutmosis III - The Greatest Pharaoh?
White Limestone statue of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III

The face of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is not the original, it is a cast; the original face is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! The MET then made a cast of the torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and that is now at the Egyptian Museum as well! So each museum has a real part of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, and a cast of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The face and torso of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 were not found at the same time, hence why they ended up in different places! 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree! 

Steatite Scarab Ring
Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣! 

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣. 

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌. 

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

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

Ritual Statue

A “Ritual Statue” was used in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 on processional boats to show the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 worshipping the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. Usually, the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 that appeared on these processional/ceremonial boats were of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 exclusively. This particular ritual statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is the earliest one found from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that depicts a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Ritual Statue
Ritual Statue of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III on display at the MET

Another important aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that it is made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 – with the exception of a few Middle Kingdom examples, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 seems to be the start of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!  Both ritual statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary became much more common during the Third Intermediate and Late Periods. 

My Nonno loved bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary, and I do too because they are always so well preserved and the details can easily be seen! On this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in particular, the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 around the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 is still intact (some of the gold was restored) as is the nemset jar 𓏌𓏺! The inlays in the eyebrows are missing, but might have been gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 or stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪. While an arm 𓂝𓏺 may be missing, this gives us insight into the artistic ingenuity of the Egyptian artisans; the arms 𓂝𓏦 attach perfectly into the grooves provided, which allowed for more detailed work! 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and we know that because the throne name of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 appears on the belt that the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is wearing! Kneeling bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 dated to the New Kingdom are extremely rare! 

Egyptologists can also date this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to the 18th Dynasty based on the clothes it is wearing; the combination of the Khepresh Crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and the way the skirt is styled (longer in the front) are very typical pharaonic fashion for the 18th Dynasty! 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is also very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 and is only 5 inches (13.1 cm) tall! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Thutmosis III from Elephantine

Today I am standing with a relief which contains the cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 from Elephantine 𓍋𓃀𓃰𓅱𓎶𓈊! Elephantine 𓍋𓃀𓃰𓅱𓎶𓈊 is an island 𓇾𓈅𓏺 on the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, and it forms part of the city of Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 in Upper Egypt 𓇓! According to ancient Egyptian religion, Elephantine 𓍋𓃀𓃰𓅱𓎶𓈊 was where the god 𓊹 Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 lived and he controlled the waters 𓈗 of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 from caves beneath the island 𓇾𓈅𓏺! 

The Temple of Satet 𓋴𓍿𓏏𓄝𓉐 (or Satis 𓋴𓄝𓏏𓏏𓀭) is on the island 𓇾𓈅𓏺 of Elephantine 𓍋𓃀𓃰𓅱𓎶𓈊 and while it began to be built during the pre-dynastic period, it was rebuilt several times, most notably during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, and then the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. They both mostly expanded the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 and made it much larger. The relief I am standing with is from that temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! 

Cartouches of Thutmosis III
Me with a relief from the Temple at Elephantine, which shows the cartouches of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Thutmosis III.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Two 𓏻 of Thutmosis III’s cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 appear on this relief, so let’s take a closer look at each of them! We are going to look at the throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) first! 

𓇳𓏠𓆣 Menkhepperra “Lasting is the Manifestation of Re” 

𓇳 – Re 

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

Let’s look at the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! It’s hard to see which variant is in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 but I think it’s this one: 

𓅝𓄟𓊃𓄤𓆣 – Thutmosis III (Thoth is Born, Beautiful of Form)

𓅝 – Thoth

𓄟𓊃 – Born

𓄤 – Beautiful 

𓆣 – Form

Underneath the cartouches, this famous phrase “𓋹𓊽𓌀𓇳𓏺𓏇” appears: 

𓋹 – Life 

𓊽 – Stability 

𓌀 – Strength 

𓇳 – Ra

𓏇 – Like

This translates to “Life, Stability, and Strength Like Ra.” The extra “𓏺” is there as an aesthetic placeholder! All pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be like Ra, so it is a fitting phrase to be put after the name of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Thutmosis III

Look at all 𓎟 of these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! 

Scarabs of Thutmosis III

I love these displays at the MET because they have all 𓎟 of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 grouped by the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh that is inscribed on them! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the throne name of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴! I also love tiny things, so these displays are some of my favorites! 

The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is the personification is the god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛. The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were said to be the most powerful of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because the the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the dung beetle (which the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 was fashioned after) was capable of eternal regeneration. 

The god 𓊹 Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 symbolizes a “life cycle” – birth 𓄟, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This cycle was essential to Egyptian religious beliefs, as Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 spent their lives preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and entering the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife). 

Scarabs of Thutmosis III
Can you see the throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) and variant of Thutmosis III’s throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓) in the picture?

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

The most common throne name spelling for Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is “Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣.” The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

One of Thutmosis III’s throne name variants appears on one of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪- it is rare to see this variant! This throne name variant is “Menkhepperkara 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓” which translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of the Soul of Ra.” I love seeing the variants! 

Scarabs of Thutmosis III
Can you spot any of the words in the text below in the picture above?

There are some other common phrases that accompany the name 𓂋𓈖 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓂓 on these little scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! See if you can spot them in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏: 

𓎟 – Lord of/Everything/All

𓊹𓄤 – The Perfect God 

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓆖 – Eternity

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

I love this picture for two 𓏻 reasons: the first 𓏃 is because my Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Musei Vaticani! I almost feel that this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 represents how Nonno saw me, and I’ve never shared it until today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 because I wanted to keep it as “mine.” I wish I could go back to this moment because look at the happiness 𓄫𓄣 and joy 𓄫𓄣 on my face! The second 𓏌𓏻 reason is because this Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is one of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts – it was a dream of mine to see this in person, and I’m so lucky I was able to!

I know I have posted about this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸a lot, however, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳we are going to examine a different aspect of it! If you search “Hatshepsut” or “Vatican Museum,” you will be able to see my previous posts on this beautiful stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

This sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 depicts Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing the blue (khepresh) crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and is making an offering of nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 to the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺. Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is wearing the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓! 

The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was meant to commemorate restoration works in West Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖! Many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 would restore the work of previous rulers 𓈎𓏏𓋾𓏪 to demonstrate their own power and to honor the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, not to honor the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! 

Another reason why restoring previous works and building lots of new buildings (which Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 did early in her reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾), was so significant was because it meant the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (in this case, Hatshepsut) would live on since the names were part of the buildings’ inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. All of these new projects also impressed upon the common people the economic prosperity of the Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 regime. This was important for her to demonstrate immediately because she was not only a female 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 ruler 𓈎𓏏𓋾, but she kind of pushed Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 to the side and named herself the legitimate pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.