Tag: hieroglyphs

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Three Golden Bracelets from the Tomb of Three Wives of Thutmosis III

These are three 𓏼 golden π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ /armlets π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Ž‘π“π“…±π“₯. They were found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of three 𓏼 minor wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣. While some of the inlaid glass is missing, these bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ are in incredible condition. I love how the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯, red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ all looks together!

Inside the bracelets, are the titles and cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣. The engravings were put inside the bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 so his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– would always be close to his wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ. I find this cool because even in modern times, it’s very also popular to have engravings with names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ or initials on the backs of rings or bracelets! It’s incredible to me how certain ideas and styles have persisted through time!

Translation time!

𓅭𓇳(𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣)𓆖 – β€œSon of Ra, Thutmosis III*, For all Eternity (or Everlasting)”

π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓏠𓆣)𓏙𓋹 – β€œThe Great God, Menkheperra, Given Life”

*this cartouche (𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣) is a variant of Thutmosis III’s birth name. The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is usually written as (𓅝𓄠𓋴) but this particular variant was used after Year 21 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ί of his reign. (𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣) translates to β€œThoth is born, beautiful of form” while the regular birth name cartouche (𓅝𓄠𓋴) translates to just β€œThoth is born.” His throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) Menkheperra translates to β€œLasting is the form of Ra.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut

Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of the most abundant items excavated in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and I love them! I think they’re cute, but they also hold a lot of meaning for the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ. Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were symbols of regeneration and rebirth, which was one of the main aspects of the religion.

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ, while at first glance may look very similar but actually mean different things!

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut at the MET

The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left says β€œπ“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œLord of the two lands, Maatkare.” The scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right says β€œπ“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œLady of the two lands, Maatkare.” When a β€œπ“β€ glyph is added to words, it makes the word feminine.

While a very tiny difference, it is interesting because one of the misconceptions about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ I see a lot was that she was β€œtrying to be a man” – she wasn’t trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, she was just traditionally representing herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, as all other pharaohs did. The pharaonic representations just tended to have male characteristics because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were men. Most of her art contains the feminine form of titles in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, which is why I find these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ interesting. It’s not common to see her use the male form of words/titles.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Wooden Plaque with Hieroglyphs

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

This little wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 plaque was once part of a brick that was part of the foundation at the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Mentuhotep II π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€ at Deir el-Bahri. Mentuhotep II π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€ was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during the 11th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom).

Wooden Plaque with Hieroglyphs at the MET

The inscription reads: π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“…†π“‡³π“…†π“ŽŸπ“ˆΉ π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“†₯(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) 𓋹𓆖

Let’s break it down:
π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“…†π“‡³π“…†: Montu-Re
π“ŽŸ: Lord
π“ˆΉ: Thebes (This symbol is a combination of π“Œ€π“ŠΎπ“ˆˆ. π“Œ€= Thebes, π“ŠΎ= a divine status and π“ˆˆ = the determinative of districts)
π“Œ»π“‡Œ: Beloved (can also be written like π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ sometimes)
π“†₯: King of Upper and Lower Egypt
(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) Nebhapetra (Throne Name of Mentuhotep II)
𓋹𓆖: Eternal Life

So all together this inscription reads: β€œBeloved of Montu-Re, Lord of Thebes, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebhapetra, Eternal Life.”

Due to what’s called β€œhonorific transposition,” Montu-Re π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“…†π“‡³π“…† appears first in the inscription since it’s the name of a god π“ŠΉ even though beloved π“Œ»π“‡Œ is read first.

We actually do use honorific transposition in English too! We read $20 as β€œtwenty dollars” and not β€œdollars twenty.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Sketch of Osiris

While this may seem like a simple sketch of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, I actually find it very interesting! This is easily recognizable as the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ because the lord π“ŽŸ of the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… , and wearing the Atef crown π“‹š. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ adorning the sides.

Sketch of Osiris at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are as follows:
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ

It simply says β€œOsiris, the great god.” In this caption, Osiris is written β€œbackwards” and without the determinative π“€­ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ. This was probably due to the fact that the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ would appear neater when written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“Ήβ€ instead of like this β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨.”

Also, β€œgreat god” is written like this β€œπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉβ€ instead of this β€œπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ.” It was either done to take up the appropriate amount of space (aesthetics were everything, and was much more important than proper spelling/grammar πŸ˜‚) or to emphasize Osiris’ greatness. It could’ve even been for both reasons!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin Fragment with Isis

When I saw this piece I really liked it because of how colorful it was! No matter how many times I see artifacts in museums, I’m always shocked by how bright the colors still are on some objects!

Coffin Fragment with Isis at the Brooklyn Museum

This is a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 fragment (Late Period, Dynasties 26-31 c. 664-332 B.C.E.) that shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— in mourning. Since in Egyptian mythology Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ assisted in the resurrection of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, it was believed that she would be instrumental in the rebirth of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is why she was always seen on coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ or sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The inscription I have translated is on the right column: β€œπ“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†—π“…¨π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“…β€

π“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By
π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – the Great (greatness)
π“ŠΉπ“… – Goddess (can also be written as π“ŠΉπ“)

Put together, the inscription reads:

β€œWords spoken by Isis, the great goddess…” The rest of the inscription is cut off.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Relief of Montuhotep II

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (11th Dynasty) is gorgeous π“„€ because the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are so beautifully π“„€ carved! It’s amazing how pieces that are so old can be in such amazing condition!

This piece is interesting because the direction that you read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from keeps changing! The two 𓏻 lines I’m going to translate are actually from different inscriptions!!

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

π“†₯𓅭𓇳(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ)π“…’π“„₯π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€ – β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt, Son of Ra, Montuhotep II, Uniter of the Two Lands, Given Life, Stability and Strength”

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – β€œWords Spoken By Montu”

The phrase π“…’π“„₯𓇿𓇿 β€œUniter of the Two Lands” is a variant of Mentuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Nebty Name. The Nebty Name is honestly more of a title than a name. It means β€œtwo ladies” and that refers to the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ and Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜, who can both be represented by the hieroglyph β€œ π“…’.” Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt and is represented by the vulture while Wadjet π“‡…π“‡Œπ“π“†˜ is a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Lower Egypt and is represented by the cobra. Showing the two 𓏻 goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ together represented a unified Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Seti I and the Goddess Hathor

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Hathor 𓉑 was known as the Lady of the West (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west! Here, she is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him her menat necklace 𓋧, a symbol of protection. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺! This relief was originally from Seti I’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ– tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, which is actually the biggest tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in the Valley of the Kings!

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

π“‰‘π“Άπ“·π“π“π“Š–π“‹† – β€œHathor, Chief one of Thebes”

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – β€œLord of the Two Lands, Maatmenra” (Maatmenra is the throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–) – β€œLord of the Two Lands Seti, Beloved of Ptah” (Seti is the birth name)

𓏙𓋹 𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – β€œGiven Eternal Life, Like Ra”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Hetepsi

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 who was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“› of Hathor 𓉑 during the Old Kingdom (6th-8th Dynasty, c. 2323-2100 B.C.E.). Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 is seen holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in her hand, which is a musical instrument which is associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ– – β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering of…” (Anubis’ name is shortened here, most likely for spacing reasons because Anubis is usually always written as π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒).

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺ𓏏𓏏 – β€œA royal offering” (π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can mean β€œpeace” or β€œoffering”)

π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ – β€œPriestess of Hathor, Mistress of…” (β€œMistress” can also be translated as β€œLady”)

π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 – β€œDendera, who is revered…”

π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 – β€œ…before the great god lord of the sky, Hetepsi”

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺπ“π“π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋

β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering for the royal offering, Priestess of Hathor, Mistress of Dendera, who is revered before the great god, lord of the sky, Hetepsi.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela for Irethoreru

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Irethoreru and it is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period, c. 775-663 B.C.E.). This stela is composed of the igneous rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ syenite, which is very similar to granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ except for the fact that it contains much less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™. This property is what allows such beautiful π“„€ color contrast between the rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ itself versus the sunken relief. The contrast between the two 𓏻 makes this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ particularly stunning in my opinion.

On the right side, we can see Irethoreru making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. All three 𓏼 figures are standing underneath Horus the Behdetite (the winged solar disc with uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗), which is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that was popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ and temple decorations throughout many Egyptian time periods.

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

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)
π“…¨π“‚‹ – Great One
π“ŠΉπ“… – God’s Mother/Goddess

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – β€œOsiris”
π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – β€œGreat God”
π“ŽŸπ“‡― – β€œLord of the Sky” (𓇯 by itself usually means β€œabove,” but for this translation it’s just the word sky/heaven which is usually written as π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. This is usually Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ title so it’s a little strange to see it associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!)
π“‹Ύ – Ruler
𓆖 – Eternity

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief from the Tomb of Dagi

This beautiful π“„€ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief is from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Dagi, who served as vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 and treasurer 𓋨𓅱 during the reign of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (Dynasty 11, c. 2010–2000 B.C.E.). It is unclear if the two 𓏻 men π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ shown in this relief are Dagi’s sons, or if they are other officials 𓋴𓂋𓀀𓏦. The two 𓏻 men π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ are wearing blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ armlets π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Ž‘π“π“…±π“ͺ and broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. This type of jewelry, while expensive to obtain in real life, was very common to see in reliefs.

While very simple, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this relief show the name β€œπ“Š¨π“π“…­β€, which is pronounced as β€œSaiset” and translates to β€œSon of Isis.” This is actually one of the earliest examples of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ actually being used as part of a name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

I am always a big fan of the simple reliefs that have a ton of color. It’s amazing how artifacts that are so old are still able to retain their color and beauty after thousands of years. No matter how many times I see stuff like this, it always amazes me!