Hereβs a closeup of a part of the Hatshepsut π³π¦π Stela ππ ±ππΈ from the Vatican Museum in Rome! My Nonno took this picture on one of his trips to the museum. He knows how much I love this piece (itβs second only to the limestone statue of Hatshepsut π³π¦π at the MET).
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!Β
In the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, you can see the cartouches for the throne names (or prenomen) of both Hatshepsut and Thutmosis III. The prenomen was one of the five royal names of the pharaoh ππ».
Here is a small quartzite Sphinx of Thutmosis III π³π π£. This little statue is interesting for a couple of reasons. One of which is the way that Thutmosis III π³π π£ is commonly sculpted – he usually has a very child-like face. This is significant because it is thought that Thutmosis III π³π π£ was shown in a child-like way to visually justify the fact that Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ was co-ruler and then eventually the sole pharaoh ππ».
Another interesting point is the inscription, which reads: π€πΉ(π³π π£) π»π. βThe great God, Menkhepra, beloved.β
The part of the inscription where Amunβs ππ π name should be, has been erased. The inscription should read: π€πΉ(π³π π£) ππ π π»π βThe great God, Menkhepra, beloved of Amun.β
Why was Amunβs ππ π name erased? Well, we can thank Akhenaten ππππ³π ππ for that! When Akhenaten ππππ³π ππ banned the worship of the traditional pantheon, he tried to have Amunβs ππ π name erased everywhere!
TodayΒ ππππ³, we are going to be looking at an inscriptionΒ ππ ±πΒ that is on a statue ππ ±ππΎ of Thutmosis IIIΒ π³π π£.
This statue ππ ±ππΎ of Thutmosis IIIΒ π π π΄Β depicts him in an offering position. An offering position is when the pharaoh ππ» is depicted as kneeling, with nemset jarsΒ πππΒ in his hands. The only being a pharaoh ππ» would kneel for is another god πΉ, and the god πΉ that Thutmosis IIIΒ π π πΎπΒ is making an offeringΒ π΅ππͺπππ¦Β to is Amun-RaΒ ππ ππ³πΊ. Based on the inscriptionΒ ππ ±π, this statue ππ ±ππΎ was probably intended to be placed in the Temple of Amun-RaΒ ππ ππ³πΊΒ at Karnak.Β
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!Β
Since the directional hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are pointing to the right, we will start reading from the right! Hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are always read from top to bottom, so we will start with the top line too!
πΉ – Life/Living
πΉπ€ – Perfect God
π³π π£ – Menkhepperra (Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra)
π π³ – Son of Ra
π π πΎπ – Thutmosis (Thoth is Born, Ruler of Maat)
Here is the bottom line (we will also start reading from the right):
ππ ππ³πΊπ – Amun-Ra
ππΌπΌπΌπΏπΏ – Lord of the Thrones
πππΉπΉπΉ – King of the Gods
πΈπ – Beloved
πΉ – Life
π – Eternal/Eternity
So here is the full inscription: βLife, the Perfect God, Menkhepperra, Son of Ra, Thutmosis, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones, King of the Gods, Eternal Life.β
This statue ππ ±ππΎ is dated to the reign πΎ of Thutmosis III π π πΎπ (c. 1479β1425 B.C.E.) which was during the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom).
This striking statue ππ ±ππΎ of the great generalΒ ππ¦, PharaohΒ ThutmosisΒ IIIΒ π³π π£Β is hidden away in one of the minor galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I find this piece to be so beautiful π€ because the whiteΒ πππ³Β limestoneΒ ππππ (it honestly looks like marble to me – but marble is metamorphosed limestone)Β contrasts so well with the blackΒ ππ Β paintΒ π¨ππ ±ππΈπ¦Β on the nemesΒ ππ π΄Β head cloth and the eyes πΉπ¦. Some redΒ π§πππ Β paintΒ π¨ππ ±ππΈπ¦Β can even still be seen on the UraeusΒ πππππΒ that is onΒ ThutmosisΒ IIIβsΒ π π π΄Β forehead!
Thutmosis III π π π΄ is one of Egyptβs ππ ππ most successful pharaohs ππ»π¦. He was only three πΌ years old when his father Thutmosis II π³π»π£π passed away, and was a co-regent with Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ before she completely took over the throne. During her rule πΎ, Thutmosis III π³π π£ was a member of the military and gained valuable experience that allowed him to be such a successful pharaoh ππ». He ruled πΎ Egypt ππ ππ for 54 ππππππ½ years, and was a very accomplished general ππ¦, having led troops into battle himself. Thutmosis III π π π΄ has been rumored to have never lost a battle!
This statue ππ ±ππΎ was found during excavations of Montuhotep IIβs π ππΏπ ±π΅ππͺ temple πππ at Deir el-Bahri. The face of this statue ππ ±ππΎ 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 ππ ±ππΎ, and that is now at the Egyptian Museum as well! So each museum has a real part of the statue ππ ±ππΎ, and a cast of the statue ππ ±ππΎ! The face and torso of the statue ππ ±ππΎ were not found at the same time, hence why they ended up in different places!
This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty, c. 1479β1425 B.C.E. (New Kingdom).
π€πππ ±πππ – How beautiful this is! Look at thisΒ beautiful π€ broad collarΒ π ±π΄ππΊπ!Β
The broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ was the necklace of choice by both the gods πΉπΉπΉ, the pharaohs ππ»π¦, and the nobility/wealthy! This broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ is unique because traditionally they were made with faience π£πππΈπΌ beads while this particular broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ is made of gold ππππ and glass π£πππΈπΌ! Fun fact: glass and faience are the same word in hieroglyphs πΉππͺ: π£πππΈπΌ!
If you look closely at this broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ, you will see a familiar hieroglyphic πΉππͺ symbol: π€! The βheart and windpipe π€β symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound βnfrβ which in modern times we pronounce like βnefer.β The word βnfr π€β translates to βbeautifulβ or βgoodβ and is a very popular symbol not only in hieroglyphic πΉππͺ phrases such as titles, but also in names πππ¦!
So basically, this broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ is just saying βbeautiful π€β over and over and over again! Maybe the broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ was supposed to bring good π€ wishes to the wearer, or just make them even more beautiful π€! Isnβt that what nice jewelry is all about, even in modern times?!
The MET has this piece titled βBroad Collar of Nefer Amuletsβ and it belonged to one of the foreign wives of pharaoh ππ» Thutmosis III π³π π£, as that is the tomb ππ«ππ the piece was found in. This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1504β1450 B.C.E.).
I am the type of person that loves jewelry, and a lot of the jewelry that I wear is inspired by ancient Egypt ππ ππ! Rings are my absolute favorite type of jewelry to wear, and I love looking at the jewelry of the ancient Egyptians πππππͺ in museums! I may be biased, but I think that Egyptian jewelry is the most beautiful type of jewelry! The pharaohs ππ»π¦ sure knew how to accessorize!
These scarab π£ rings bear the cartouche of the pharaoh ππ» Thutmosis III π³π π£. Scarab π£ rings like these were extremely popular during the New Kingdom. I love how the different colors of the scarab π£ pair so beautifully with the gold ππππ. Also these are swivel rings, meaning they spin! How cool is that??!!
Here are some of the scarabs that have both the names of Hatshepsut π³π¦π and Thutmosis III π³π π£.
The three πΌ scarabs at the top are inscribed with the cartouche of Thutmosis III, π³π π£ while the scarab at the bottom has both of their cartouches. Itβs very interesting to see objects with both of their cartouches on it, and these would most likely date from their joint rule before Hatshepsut π³π¦π declared herself as the pharaoh ππ».
Something that has always been crazy to me is how detailed and beautiful π€ the inscriptions on such small objects can be! I know that the Egyptians πππππͺ used molds to make small objects a lot of the time, but the craftsmanship is incredibly impressive! Iβm such a bad artist and have zero artistic talent, so I have so much respect πππ for the people who created all of these beautiful works of art that I get to study and admire.
My Nonno took this picture ππ ±π of the StelaΒ ππ ±ππΈΒ of HatshepsutΒ ππ ππΉππππΌπͺΒ and Thutmosis IIIΒ π³π π£Β for me! While we did see it at the Vatican Museum together, he always made sure to take a different pictureΒ ππ ±πΒ for me each time he saw it because he knew how much I love it!Β
This stela ππ ±ππΈ depicts Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ and Thutmosis III π³π π£ during their joint reign. Hatshepsut ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ is wearing the blue crown π£πππ and making an offering of nemset jars πππ to Amun-Ra ππ ππ³πΊ. The stela ππ ±ππΈ was meant to commemorate restoration works in Thebes πππ!
The most interesting parts about this stela is that it is one of two pieces (that I know of) that contains Hatshepsutβs entire titulary in one place! The only other place I know that has all of Hatshepsutβs ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ names πππ¦ is the Obelisk at Karnak.
Letβs take a closer look at all of Hatshepsutβs ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ names πππ¦! The names πππ¦ can be found on the top two rows of hieroglyphs πΉππͺ on the bottom of the stela ππ ±ππΈ!
Horus Name: ππ΄ππππ – βWosretkauβ translates to βThe Mighty of the Kasβ or βThe Mighty of the Souls.β
Nebty Name: π π ππ³π³π³ – βWadjet renputβ translates to βFlourishing of Years.β
Golden Horus Name: π πΉπππ¦ – βNetjeret khauβ translates to βDivine of Appearances.β
Throne Name: π³π¦π – βMaatkareβ translates to βTruth is the Soul of Re.β
Birth Name: ππ ππΉππΌ – βKhnemet Amun Hatshepsutβ translates to βUnited with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.β This version of the Birth Name that appears on this stela is a variant of ππ ππΉππππΌπͺ. A βvariantβ is just a different way to spell out a personβs name ππ!
Not going to lie, I have had a love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III π³π π£ my whole life π – I know that sounds weird to say about a pharaoh ππ» who I clearly have never met, but itβs the only way I can describe it!! This piece is in the MET, and the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are inscribed so beautifully on it! Definitely very eye-catching!
When I first started learning about Hatshepsut π³π¦π as a kid, I was (and still am!) so completely fascinated by her and how she became the pharaoh ππ». Since Thutmosis III π³π π£ was a child when Thutmosis II π³π»π£π died, Hatshepsut π³π¦π became the co-regent, until she named herself the pharaoh ππ» and pretty much βtook the throne.β Since females were never in line for the throne, even though Hatshepsut π³π¦π was the daughter of Thutmosis I π³π»π£π and his main queen ππππ, she was never in line to be pharaoh ππ».
So why my love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III π³π π£? Well, for the longest time it was thought that after Hatshepsutβs π³π¦π death, when he relcaimed the throne, Thutmosis III π³π π£ had Hatshepsutβs π³π¦π monuments destroyed and her name erased from as many things as possible. Did he actually do this? Scholars arenβt sure it happened to the extent that it was once thought. But I donβt think we will ever have an answer.
What were some of Thutmosis IIIβs π³π π£ accomplishments? He was a great military leader and conquered all of Syria. This is in great contrast to Hatshepsut π³π¦π, who focused more on trade and economic endeavors than military campaigns.
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! Today we are going to look at one of the many cartouches of Thutmosis III!Β
Like many pharaohs, Thutmosis III had many different cartouches, and then different variants of those cartouches! Today we are going to be looking more closely at the cartouche of his Throne Name: π³π π£. This is a great cartouche to be able to recognize, because I see it more than his birth name cartouche!
Letβs break down each of the symbols!
The βπ³ sun discβ symbol is an ideogram for βraβ or βre,β 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 βraβ or βre.β
The βπ game board and piecesβ is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The β π β is associated with the sound βmnβ which could be pronounced like βmen,β βmun,β βmon,β etc.
The βscarab beetle π£β is a phonogram sign. It is a triliteral sign, which means it represents three consonants. The βπ£β is associated with the sound βαΈ«prβ which could have been pronounced like βkheper.β The β scarab beetle π£β is also both an ideogram and determinative for the word βscarab beetle ππͺπππ£.β
So all together, the Throne Name cartouche of Thutmosis III π³π π£ would be pronounced like βMenkheperra.β
