Tag: the met

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 15, 2023

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 gneiss statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is called “King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure” and is on display at the MET!

King Sahure Accompanied by a Divine Figure

This is the only statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the 5th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 that exists – all other representations are on reliefs. We know that this is 𓇳𓃃𓅱 because his cartouches appear on the right side of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 headcloth and the false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸 which is the usual fashion worn by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The “divine figure” that is standing next to Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 on the left is a personification of the 5th Nome of Upper Egypt 𓇓 (later called the Coptite Nome). During the Old Kingdom, the nomes (or provinces) of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were usually drawn as people! The “divine figure” is offering the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Sahure 𓇳𓃃𓅱 an Ankh 𓋹. The “divine figure” also has the “double falcon emblem 𓈺” carved on his head, which was the nome standard!

Something I love about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Here’s a little geology lesson: Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain 𓈋𓅳 building or plate tectonics), that the minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦 have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance – can you spot the banding on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾?

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry 𓎛𓏏𓏏𓉐 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, sahure, the met

Video

Wooden Models of Meketre – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 13, 2023

This video shows the Wooden Models of Meketre!

@ancientegyptblog
These wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 which was during the Middle Kingdom. Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial. The first wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Porch and Garden 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈” that has a pool 𓈙𓈇 in the center that could have been potentially filled with water 𓈗! The second wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a bakery 𓂝𓅓𓂋𓉐 and brewery 𓂝𓏏𓉐𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏪. The third wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐. The “top” section of the model is of the actual granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐, where the grain 𓈎𓄿𓅱𓏸𓏦 was stored. The “bottom” section is of the accounting area, where scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪 are seen keeping records with supplies such as papyrus rolls 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and wooden boards. The fourth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a slaughterhouse. Cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and geese 𓊃𓂋𓅬𓏦 are being slaughtered by butchers, and dried out meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹 can be seen hanging above them. The fifth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter. There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Meketre. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo! I love the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models so much – as a kid, they looked like dollhouses to me! My sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐 loves these models too and are one of her favorite things to see in museums! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #ancientegyptblog #anticoegitto #egyptology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egitto
♬ sonido original – Vibes by Ley

These wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 which was during the Middle Kingdom. Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial.

The first wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Porch and Garden 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈” that has a pool 𓈙𓈇 in the center that could have been potentially filled with water 𓈗!

Porch and Garden Model from the tomb of Meketre

The second wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a bakery 𓂝𓅓𓂋𓉐 and brewery 𓂝𓏏𓉐𓎛𓈎𓏏𓏊𓏪.

Model of a bakery and brewery from the tomb of Meketre

The third wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a granary 𓊚𓏏𓉐.

Model of a granary from the tomb of Meketre

The fourth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a slaughterhouse. Cows 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and geese 𓊃𓂋𓅬𓏦 are being slaughtered by butchers, and dried out meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹 can be seen hanging above them.

Model of a slaughterhouse from the tomb of Meketre

The fifth wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model is of a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter.

Model of a cattle stable from the tomb of Meketre

There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Meketre. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, the met, video

Egyptian Artifacts

“The Opener of the Ways”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 12, 2023

Whenever people see an Egyptian artifact that looks like a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, they think it’s Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, however, there are other canine deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon! This small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicts the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 who was known as “The Opener of the Ways!”

Small statue of the god Wepwawet at the MET

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was depicted as either a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 or a wolf 𓃹𓈖𓈙𓇋𓏲𓄛 and one of the best ways to distinguish between Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is by looking for their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 since they are artistically very similar looking!

Another way to tell Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 apart is by how the jackal is standing: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is usually shown in the recumbent position (𓃢, 𓃣, 𓃤) while Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is usually shown standing up (𓃧, 𓃨).

Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Opener of the Ways,” which has many meanings. He was associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, clearing the way for the armies in battle, and clearing the path for the deceased to enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 were also carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions for this reason!

Other variants of Wepwawet’s name 𓂋𓈖 include:

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧

𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

𓄋𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐

𓄋𓈐𓈐𓈐𓀭

𓃧

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met, wepwawet

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Wedjat Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 10, 2023

In relation to my post about the wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” from yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, I wanted to talk about these really small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 but cool steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love how detailed the wedjat 𓂀 is! It always amazes me how ancient Egyptian craftsman were able to make such small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! It’s even more incredible that they have lasted in such great condition for thousands of years!

These steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 wedjat 𓂀 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are very similar to the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! They are in the same display case as the steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! Most would miss the fact that these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are not scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪!

Steatite Wedjat Amulets with Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare inscribed on the back

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is a simple but great inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 to read! On the back of this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆, Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is written!

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌻 – Beloved

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

The full inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 reads “Beloved of Amun, Maatkare.”

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wedjat or “Eye of Horus”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 9, 2023

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” was not only one of the most popular amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, but also one of the most popular religious symbols in general!

The wedjat 𓂀 or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤 that Horus 𓅃𓀭 lost when battling Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 restored Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 or healing 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 due to the nature of the myth.

The wedjat 𓂀 was also common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. The Eye of Horus 𓅃𓀭 was an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 used by both the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! The Eye of Horus was also associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹!

Two Wedjat or “Eye of Horus” amulets on display at the MET

These two 𓏻 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 wedjat 𓂀 eye amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 from the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070–664 B.C.E.) are so detailed and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the left has a wing 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃, lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 (it looks like the hieroglyph symbol “𓃭”), and and two 𓏻 Uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗𓏪 on it! All of the inlays are intact too!

The wedjat 𓂀 eye on the right is missing some of the white inlay on the eye but it has the details of what looks like the bottom part of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 (the tail and the legs), another eye 𓁹𓏏𓏤, and an arm 𓂝𓏺!

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

@ancientegyptblog

Tags amulet, artifact, eye of horus, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statue of Anubis

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is one of my favorites because the piece is in such good condition! The black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still clearly visible and the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is so well preserved. Wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is an organic material, and even in the dry heat of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊 it can still break down over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years! My Nonno always pointed out every wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece in a museum and told us how significant it was that the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 was preserved.

Wooden Statue of Anubis at the MET

This particular Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 piece is dated to the Ramesside Period, which was during the 19th-20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. This style of statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicting Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 actually became very popular during the Ptolemaic Period, and there is a piece similar to this in the Brooklyn Museum too!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎. One of his titles which is “Lord of the Sacred Land 𓎟𓂦𓈊,” exemplifies and highlights this role. The “sacred land” mentioned in this title is another way to say “necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼!”

Wooden Statue of Anubis at the MET

Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill/mountain 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above!

An inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 would look like this: “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑𓎟𓂦𓈊” which translates to “Anubis, Upon His Hill, Lord of the Sacred Land.”

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

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

To Be and To Exist

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 2, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the Middle Egyptian word for “To Be” and “To Exist.” This simple yet important phrase appears a lot in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

One of the most important phrases you will learn in any language is the verb “to be.” I remember when I first started learning Italian as a small kid, “essere” was one of the first verbs we learned!

To Be and To Exist written in raised relief on the wall of a chapel from the 19th Dynasty currently on display at the MET.

The word “To Be,” and “To Exist” is written in Middle Egyptian as “𓃹𓈖𓈖,” which is what is shown in the relief pictured. The word can also be commonly written as just “𓃹𓈖” or “𓃹” if spacing becomes an issue! The word would be transliterated as “wnn 𓃹𓈖𓈖” or “wn 𓃹𓈖/𓃹.” It was most likely pronounced the same no matter how many “𓈖” appeared or didn’t appear at the end of the word (remember, pronunciation is just inferred).

Let’s break down each of the symbols individually!

The “hare 𓃹” is normally used as a biliteral phonogram. The 𓃹 represents the sounds “wn.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” In this case, the 𓈖 is acting as the phonetic complement, meaning that the sounds are written twice but pronounced once! This is a very common occurrence in Middle Egyptian and is something that you need to just practice and get used to when you’re learning!

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

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Horus as a Falcon

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 30, 2023

The god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭 was one of the most important gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. One of Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 many roles was as a mythological representation of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/heir to the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. In this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭 is depicted as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 wearing the combined crown 𓋖 which represents both the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤! Horus 𓅃𓀭 as a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 was one of the most common ways he is represented in Egyptian art.

Horus as a Falcon on display at the MET

The Uraeus on the front 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 of the crown is in amazing condition! A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – all characteristics usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and also the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭!

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was also a sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 god 𓊹. Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 means “The Distant One,” due to him residing in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯!

Horus 𓅃𓀭 was the son 𓅭 of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 and Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and will often be introduced in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 as such! For example, you could see “𓅃𓀭𓅭𓊨𓏏𓆇𓅭𓁹𓊨𓀭” on objects such as sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏦!

Here are some variants of Horus’ name 𓂋𓈖:

𓅃𓀭 (the most common way to write his name)

𓅃

𓄑𓂋𓅆

𓅃𓅆

𓈐𓅃

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

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Doorjamb of Rameses II – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

@ancientegyptblog
Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This large piece is referred to as a “Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 royal jubilees. 𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”) 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra 𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Thrones 𓌺 – Beloved 𓏙𓋹- Given Life So all together the inscription reads “King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones, Given Life.” Also Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #ancientegyptblog #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #hieroglyphs #hieroglyphics #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #anticoegitto #egyptology
♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

This large piece is referred to as a “Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 royal jubilees.

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra (Throne Name of Rameses II which translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Thrones

𓌺 – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all together the inscription reads “King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones, Given Life.”

Also Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!

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

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met, video

Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part II)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 27, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at two 𓏻 more steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! Just like the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 we looked at yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳, these are also on display at the MET!

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

Alright so let’s get to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

These two 𓏻 steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are interesting because while at first glance the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 look similar (and they are) they are also quite different! On them Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 is referred to as both “Lord of the Two Lands” and “Lady of the Two Lands.” Her throne name “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” appears on both scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪.

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left!

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

𓎟 – Lord

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

Let’s look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right!

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare (Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳)

𓎟𓏏 – Lady

𓇾𓇾 – Two Lands

In order to make nouns feminine in Middle Egyptian, a “𓏏” is added to the end of the word so “Lord 𓎟” becomes “Lady 𓎟𓏏.” This is significant in this case because on these scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪, there’s a mix of both when it comes to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! From the early to mid part of her reign, Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary contained inscriptions more commonly with the feminine form of the words. Towards the end of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 she started using the masculine form of words.

You can also see the two 𓏻 different variants used for “two lands” (𓇿𓇿 vs. 𓇾𓇾 )on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪! These two 𓏻 variants were pretty much used interchangeably so not much to analyze in this case!

Read Part I Here!

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

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

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