Tag: hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Throne Name of Amenhotep III in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh π“‰π“‰» Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†! Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule π“‹Ύ was a time of prosperity for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!

This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue π“‡‹π“Ήπ“π“„Ώπ“Έπ“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces are original, but the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and plaster are not. 

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

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra) 

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.”

The β€œπ“§ goddess with a feather” symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like β€œMaat.”

The β€œπ“Ž  basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of β€œnb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like β€œneb.” The π“ŽŸ alone can also mean the word β€œLord,” especially in the titles that come before a pharaoh’s cartouche. 

Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!

Fun Fact: Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montu in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to learn how to read the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ MontuΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“€­!Β MontuΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“€­Β was a war god and was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom.Β 

A closeup of the name “Montu” in hieroglyphs from a stela at the MET

The β€œπ“  game board and pieces” is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The β€œ 𓏠” is associated with the sound β€œmn” which could be pronounced like β€œmen,” β€œmun,” β€œmon,” etc. 

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

The β€œπ“Ώ hobble/tie” is also a uniliteral phonogram sign. The β€œπ“Ώβ€ is associated with the sounds of β€œαΉ―β€ or β€œt.” 

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral symbol that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word β€œchick π“…±π“Ί.”

The final symbol in the name, β€œπ“€­ seated god,” is one that is not pronounced! This is a determinative symbol, which means that it is a symbol used to show the general meaning of the word! It is basically used as punctuation at the end of the word to show you that it is over!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Vessels of Pepy II

Here are some vessels from the MET that are from the rule of Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋. Made of alabaster, the purpose of these vessels was to keep cosmetic oils cool.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, on the middle vessel you can see Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 cartouche. On the vessel to the left, you can see his throne name, Neferkare 𓇳𓄀𓂓, which means β€œthe soul of Re is beautiful.”

In the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the vessel on the right is a little more clear. You can see Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 cartouche, however the title 𓅭𓇳, β€œSon of Ra,” is also embedded in the cartouche instead of on top of it. This was a stylistic thing that occurred during the Old Kingdom. However, the title π“†₯, β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt” is present before the cartouche in this instance. The placement of the hieroglyphs can be super interesting!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Two Sides of the Same Coffin!

Dedication to Osiris on a coffin at the Brooklyn Museum

In the picture above, you can see a dedication to Osiris – π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ π“ŽŸπ“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š– – β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu”

Djedu π“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š– refers to the birthplace of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it!

Dedication to Anubis on a coffin at the Brooklyn Museum

In the picture above, you can see a dedication to Anubis – π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹ 𓆑 – β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, upon his hill…”

β€œUpon his hill” is in reference to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 being the god π“ŠΉ of cemeteries, and looking over cemeteries from the cliff or hill above it!

Why dedications to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣?! They are the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ most commonly associated with death!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Statue of Senwosret III

This is a black granite statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“. Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ is thought to be the most powerful pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th π“Ž†π“» Dynasty because his successful military campaigns gave rise to an era of peace π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. Peace π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ led to economic prosperity, and this led to a newfound revival in artistry and craft works.

Statue of Senwosret III at the Brooklyn Museum

This newfound artistry during this time period then led to some new styles in how the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was portrayed in statuary. The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ are so distinctive that they can be immediately recognized as his, even without reading the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Some parts of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are realistic, like the protruding eye sockets and the lines on his face, while some features, like the young and strong torso, are most likely idealized. Egyptologists can only speculate on why he was portrayed this way – some argue that it’s because Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ wanted to be seen as human before divine.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ in particular shows Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ wearing the royal nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ headcloth. Beneath his feet are nine bows – each meant to represent one of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– enemies. Since the enemies are beneath his feet, it shows successful defeat by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see his Horus nameπ“…ƒπ“Š[π“ŠΉ 𓆣𓅱] which I think means β€œHorus in divine form.” Also, you can see his prenomen or β€œthrone name” which is marked by the π“†₯ (he of the sedge and the bee aka King of Upper and Lower Egypt) hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ before the cartouche. π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ means β€œthe Souls of Ra have returned.”

Statue of Senwosret III at the Brooklyn Museum
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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief for Montuhotep II

This is a raised relief carved in limestone for the 11th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep III π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. His father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 reunited Upper and Lower Egypt, so Mentuhotep III π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“Š΅π“π“Šͺ inherited a mostly united Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. He had a relatively short reign of 12 π“Ž†π“» years.

Limestone Relief for Montuhotep II at the Brooklyn Museum

What was most interesting when I was reading about Mentuhotep III π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was some of the superficial similarities to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!! During the 12 π“Ž†π“» years of his reign, he actually sent an expedition to Punt! He also started building a mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri, but it was never completed.

This raised relief is beautifully carved, and Mentuhotep III 𓇳𓋴𓋹𓂓 appears twice. On the left he is seen wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”, and on the right he is wearing the nemes headdress π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄. In the middle is the goddess Iunyt, who was a consort of Montu π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±, a war goddessπ“ŠΉπ“. Montu π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty.

Many think that this depicts Mentuhotep III’s 𓇳𓋴𓋹𓂓 desire for a sed festival in the 30th π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† year of his reign, however he only ruled for 12 π“Ž†π“» years.

In the image below, I have highlighted one of my favorite ancient Egyptian phrases, π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“†– β€œGiven eternal life, stability and strength.”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Pair Statue

This type of statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is referred to as a Pair Statue.

The front of a Pair Statue at the Brooklyn Museum

Pair Statues first appeared in the Third Dynasty during the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦, however, this example is from the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom – either the reign of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 or Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž ).

The purpose of the Pair Statue was to show closeness between two 𓏻 individuals. This pair statue represents a husband and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐! The man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ is named Nebsen and he was a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ in the treasury, while the woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 is named Nebet-ta, and she was a singer in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. Both scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and singers were held in high regard and were of high status, which is probably how they had the means to procure such a beautiful π“„€ pair statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ!

What I love about this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is how beautiful π“„€ the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are!

The word β€œwoman” can be written multiple ways, either π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ or 𓂑𓏏𓁐. The latter can also mean β€œwife.”

There is also a dedication to the god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ (right column on the back):

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II

There are two 𓏻 different types of reliefs; raised and sunken reliefs. In a raised relief, the images project upward from the rock, while in a sunken relief, the images are carved within the rock.

Most of the time, especially for temple and royal inscriptions, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ chose to to raised reliefs because it was less likely to be completely washed out by the sun 𓇳𓏺! Sunken reliefs were mainly used when time was of the essence, because sunken reliefs took less time to carve or when the rock was too hard/dense. Sunken reliefs actually became more popular starting with the 18th Dynasty.

Full Relief of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum.

This relief shows Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. What is interesting is the hieroglyphs are sunken reliefs, while the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 are raised reliefs.

Usually reliefs were either one or the other, however, this relief has both sunken and raised aspects to it! Many of his titles/cartouches are used in this relief.

Close-Up of the Hieroglyphs.

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ β€œlord of the two lands”
π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– Rameses II (Usermaatre – throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ β€œlord of appearances”
π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name)

π“ŒΊπ“©π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name variant)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Colorful Hieroglyphs

A lot of the time, the pieces that catch my eye in the museums are the limestone fragments that contain colorful hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ.

Colorful Hieroglyphs at the Brooklyn Museum

I don’t know why I like these seemingly unassuming pieces so much, but I do. It’s probably because they’re so colorful! Once upon a time, most Egyptian reliefs were as colorful as this piece, however with the passage of time, most of the colors faded. It’s so cool to almost catch a glimpse of what the colors were like thousands of years ago!

This limestone raised relief came from the wall of a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. It is dated to the 18th-19th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. I love how detailed the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are!

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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.