Tag: osiris

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Osiris Cartouche

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a man named Amenemopet who lived during the early part of the 22nd Dynasty (c. 975–909 B.C.E.). This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 has what I like to call “The Osiris Cartouche” painted inside!

The Osiris Cartouche
The Osiris Cartouche is located on the bottom panel of this coffin at the MET.

If you look closely at the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 artwork inside this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 there’s a lot of different things going on! The uppermost row of artwork in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 purifying 𓋴𓃂𓈗 the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, whose is surrounded by offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 covered in food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥! 

Above Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 there are some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 

𓎟 – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (the ancient Egyptian word for “Netherworld”)

Is it Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 being referred to as the “Lord of the Duat,” or is it Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭? Usually this epithet was used with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! 

One of the cool things you can see on the bottom panel is Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 and since this coffin does not belong to a pharaoh, a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is not expected! But Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was believed to be the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, so I guess a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is fitting! 

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛. Let’s break down the symbols! 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.”

The cartouche is flanked by the Golden Horus symbol 𓅉 on either side which is a Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the symbol for gold 𓋞. The common symbols of protection, the Eye of Horus and Eye of Ra also appear above the Golden Horus 𓅉, along with the shen ring in between the Falcon’s wings. The Shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛. 

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

@ancientegyptblog 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows some of the details (Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus) on the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a man named Kharrushere who lived during the Third Intermediate Period/22nd Dynasty (c. 825–712 B.C.E.). These elaborately decorated coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 are very typical of this time period, and they’re some of my favorite things to just sit and look at because the art is just exquisite! 

Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus
Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus depicted on a mummiform coffin at the MET.

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, we can see the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 sitting in a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐. If you look closely, the pillars that are holding up the shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 are actually “Djed Pillars 𓊽𓊽𓊽” which is significant because not only does “Djed 𓊽” mean “stability” in Middle Egyptian, but the Djed Pillar is also thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

While Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is not explicitly labeled with his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, we know it’s him for a couple of reasons! He is depicted holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅, which is very typical! In the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 thought, we can see the title “Lord of Eternity 𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛” which is always associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! It’s basically his nickname!

𓎟 – Lord 

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

In front 𓏃 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 on the table, we can see the Four Sons of Horus! Not only are they usually shown together like this, but each one of them is labeled with their name 𓂋𓈖! However, due to spacing, the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 are a little abbreviated/shortened from their usual forms! 

Let’s start reading from the right since that’s the way the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in this section point: 

𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍿 – Imseti (not shortened)

𓎛𓐍𓐑- Hapi (𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌) 

𓇼𓅐𓆑 – Duamutef (𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑)

𓏁𓌢 – Qebehsenuef (𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑)

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 seem to be switched because Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 appears before Qebehsenuef’s 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 but after him in the lineup! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The God Osiris Inside A Sarcophagus

This depiction of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓊩𓁹 is on the inside of a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. Osiris 𓊩𓁹 is the lord of the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐  and it was the goal to be “reborn” like Osiris 𓊩𓁹 was after death. Much like Osiris 𓊩𓁹 in the myth, the deceased would not return to the world of the living, but instead live on in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

The God Osiris

Osiris 𓊩𓁹 is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 , and wearing the Atef crown 𓋚. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt 𓌉𓏏𓋑 with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 adorning the sides. Above Osiris 𓊩𓁹 is Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛, who is the god 𓊹 of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺. 

I love how Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is drawn in the “Horizon 𓈌” hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃. The ancient Egyptians used to use hieroglyphic symbols 𓊹𓌃𓏪 as artistic depictions for a lot of the natural happenings! Another example is how the “sky 𓇯” and “star 𓇼” hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 were often also used to depict these object in art. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to start near Osiris’ head!

𓊩𓁹 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (ancient Egyptian word for Afterlife/Netherworld)

𓎟 – Lord

𓂦𓈊 – Sacred Land/Necropolis

Next to the flail: 

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

Osiris 𓊩𓁹 is often referred to as “Foremost of the West 𓏅𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊” because in ancient Egypt, the “west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊” was referred to as the Land of the Dead since the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊.

Now beneath “west” is where I don’t know what the glyphs say! It looks like “𓊹𓌃” which is “divine writing” (aka hieroglyphs” but “Great God 𓊹𓉼” would make more sense! Sometimes the way the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are drawn/painted can make it difficult to read and interpret!

There are many different ways to write Osiris’ name in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. Much like any language, Middle Egyptian changed and evolved over time. The way that Osiris is written on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭, “𓊩𓁹,” is a popular spelling from the Third Intermediate Period – Late Period, which is when this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is dated to. The most common way that Osiris was written before then was “𓁹𓊨𓀭,” which is the spelling that most are familiar with. Other ways to write Osiris are: 𓁹𓇓𓀴 and 𓁹𓊨𓂋𓀴, but these are less common.

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

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at an incomplete piece of a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief! This piece at the Brooklyn Museum is so beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 because even though it is just a fragment, the colors are so striking and I just love looking at it! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 has always been my favorite color, and the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on this relief is still so bright even after thousands of years! 

Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs
Partial Relief with Hieroglyphs at the Brooklyn Museum

Since the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the left, we are going to start reading the symbols from the left! 

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is a super common symbol that you will see in a lot of inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram sign, which means it has the sound of a single consonant. The “𓅱” is representative of the sound “w” or “u.” This symbol is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram! The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” The “𓈖” has many grammatical functions on its own, and it can mean “to,” “of,” “for,” “we/us/our,” “in,” “because,” “through,” and some others! How do we know which word it is? Context clues! In the case of this inscription, too much is missing for us to know what the word is! 

The “tall loaf of bread 𓏑” symbol is an ideogram for “bread 𓏑,” which usually appears in offering formulas. Surprisingly, it can also be used as an ideogram for “Thoth” as well! 

The “hobble for cattle 𓎂” symbol is a biliteral phonogram which means it is associated with the sound of two consonants. The “𓎂” is associated with the sound “z3” (pronounced like “zah”) and is usually used in words such as “protection 𓎂𓏦/𓎂𓏛” and other related phrases.

The “forepart of lion 𓄂” symbol is an ideogram for the word “front” and “foremost.” It is associated with the sound “h3t” which would be pronounced like “hat.” 

The last word all the way on the right I can actually see in full – this is the name 𓂋𓈖of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Djed Pillar

The “Djed Pillar 𓊽” is one of the most common symbols seen in Egyptian art and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This particular Djed Pillar 𓊽 is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 is in the Predynastic Period!

Djed Pillar

The Djed Pillar 𓊽 can be seen in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 as a hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃, as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 for mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 or the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪,  in tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 art, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, and so much more! This is a wonderful symbol to understand the meaning of because it is everywhere! 

In terms of religious symbolism, The Djed Pillar 𓊽 is thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. When a person died 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and became “The Osiris,” The Djed Pillar 𓊽 was then thought to represent their spine! The spine was thought to keep Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 upright and able to function as the primary god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is even referenced in the The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.” 

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! The “reed column 𓊽” more commonly known as the “Djed Pillar” is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound “ḏd” which sounds like “Djed.” It also functions as an ideogram for “Stability.” 

There are many common words and phrases that have the Djed Pillar 𓊽 in it: 

𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀 – Given Life, Stability, and Strength

𓊽𓊽𓈋𓅱𓊖 / 𓊽𓊽𓅱𓊖 – Djedu 

𓊽 / 𓊽𓏏 – Stability, Endure

𓋴𓊽𓊽 – Make Permanent

𓊽𓂧𓏛 – To Be Stable

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris’ Name in a Cartouche

Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷? Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! While this doesn’t happen often, there are instances where the name 𓂋𓈖 of a god 𓊹 will appear in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

This is a fragment of a beautifully 𓄤 painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. I would estimate its from around the later New Kingdom period or later because that’s when painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 such as these became popular! 

Osiris' Name in a Cartouche
Osiris’ name in a cartouche on a sarcophagus fragment

I love this piece because of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but also because there is so much other stuff going on even though it’s small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are: 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛 which translates to “Osiris, Lord of Eternity.” Let’s break down the symbols! 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

I haven’t seen that many pieces like this, so I just found this one so cool! Usually the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is what appears in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, but in this case it’s Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and his title! The top of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 also has the Atef Crown 𓋚 on it, which is the crown that is associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

The ancient Egyptians talked about “eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛” a lot and were actually the civilization to derive the concept of “eternity 𓆖.” There were two 𓏻 very common ways they expressed the word for “eternity” in hieroglyphic symbols: 

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity/Everlasting

There are some other popular hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that appear on this piece!! See if you can spot them! 

𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 – Edfu

𓊹𓉼 – Great God

Both of the phrases appear symmetrically on either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 which is something that is common on these types of pieces! 

Let’s take a look at some of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that appear! If you look in the lower left, you can see part of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 with a large table of offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 in front of him. On the top left, below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 sun disk 𓇳𓏺 is a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. On the top right, there is an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 which is representative of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. 

On either side of the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷, the god 𓊹 Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 (god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺/flooding of the Nile) is shown. There are two 𓏻 of him because if you look closely, you can see both symbolically tying up papyrus 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 and lotus 𓆸 plants together. This was meant to represent the union of Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt! You can easily recognize Hapi 𓎛𓂝𓊪𓏭𓈘 because of the papyrus flowers 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓆰 on his head! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Nauny

The Weighing of the Heart (sometimes called the Judgement of Osiris 𓊩𓁹) is my absolute favorite part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. I love how each version is unique and not a single one is the same! I find this particular papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 to be absolutely stunning. 

The Book of the Dead of Nauny

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the Book of the Dead was actually called “Coming Forth By Day 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺,” and it was a collection of magic spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. 

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story.  The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 that are written! 

This particular Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are also at the MET! 

The Book of the Dead of Nauny
Isis (left) and Nauny (right)

Starting from the left: the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown next to Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, who is shown holding her eyes 𓁹𓁹 and mouth 𓂋 in her hands. Nauny’s 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is weighed by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 against Maat 𓁦. Usually, Maat’s 𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 is used, but this time Maat 𓁦 herself is shown on the scale, and is represented by the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that is used in her name 𓂋𓈖! Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is shown on top of the scale, and his job is to record the findings. Osiris 𓊩𓁹 presides over the scene. 

The Book of the Dead of Nauny
Anubis

Luckily for Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐, the scales are in balance which means that she lead a true 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹 and is worthy enough to enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and enjoy eternal 𓆖 life 𓋹 with Osiris 𓊩𓁹! Above the Weighing of the Heart scene, Nauny 𓈖𓄿𓈖𓇌𓁐 is seen standing by her own tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 and worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Horus 𓅃𓀭. 

The Book of the Dead of Nauny
Osiris
Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Deities Maat and Osiris-Iah

These two 𓏻 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces at the Petrie Museum are both such nice representations of Egyptian deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹! Bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were popular during the later period of Egyptian history, and there are so many of them for two 𓏻 reasons! The first 𓏃 is that bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 preserves really well so the pieces aren’t as subject to breakdown and the second is because bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces were mass produced! Both of these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are dated to the 26th Dynasty. 

Osiris-Iah (left) and Maat (right)

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the forefront of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦. Not only was Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄, fact, law, order and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜, “maat” was also a concept and a way of life in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 was also the balance and order in the whole universe. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is usually shown as a woman with a feather 𓆄 on her head.  Her most important role was in the judgement of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 fun! The words for “Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦,” “truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄,” and “justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜” are super similar! 

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in the back of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is of the combination god 𓊹 Osiris-Iah. I know the description says “Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭,” but the crown on the head of the deity 𓊹, which shows the moon and a crescent underneath, leads me to believe this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is Osiris-Iah. 

While Iah 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 is the god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹, he seems to be the adult version of the god 𓊹 Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯(another lunar god 𓊹), and over time seemed to take over the lunar aspect of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭. So why was Iah 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 assimilated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭? This is most likely due to the monthly lunar cycle, which seems to follow a birth 𓄟 – death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 – rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 cycle. This cycle was the backbone to the Egyptian religion, and was always linked back to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. 

Some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 fun! The words for the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 “Iah” and “moon” are the same – 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Reading Hieroglyphs – Stela of Irethoreru

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 for a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Irethoreru and it is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period, c. 775-663 B.C.E.). I have posted about the full stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 in the past, but today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to take a closer look at some of the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on it! I like to highlight the titles/epithets associated with Gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and Goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏, because they are inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that you can easily recognize a lot! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are starting right underneath the solar disc! 

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓉼𓊹 – Great God (this is actually written backwards and should be “𓊹𓉼”)

𓎟 – Lord

𓇯 – Sky

𓋾 – Ruler

𓆖 – Eternity

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this reads: “Osiris, the Great God, Lord of the Sky, Ruler of Eternity.” “Lord of the Sky 𓎟𓇯” is usually Amun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 title, so it’s interesting to see it associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 here! Also, “𓇯” can mean the word “above,” as “sky” is more commonly written as “𓊪𓏏𓇯.” 

Here’s the next inscription: 

𓊨𓏏𓆇 – Isis

𓅨𓂋 – Great One

𓊹𓅐 – God’s Mother/Goddess

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, this reads: “Isis, the Great One, the God’s Mother.” 

Next to each Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗, the name 𓂋𓈖 of the city “Behdet 𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖” (modern day Edfu) is written. Behdet 𓄑𓂧𓏏𓊖 is an Egyptian city 𓊖𓏺 in Upper Egypt 𓇓. Horus of the Winged Disc or “Behdetite” was the chief god 𓊹 of the city 𓊖𓏺. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“King with a White Crown and Flail” Hieroglyph

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the “King with a White Crown and Flail 𓀴” symbol! This symbol can act as both a determinative and an ideogram! It can be used as a determinative in the word for “King 𓇓𓀴” and also as a determinative for “Osiris 𓁹𓇓𓀴.”

The “King with a White Crown and Flail 𓀴” symbol is also one the many symbols that can be used as an ideogram to solely represent the word for “King 𓀴” in both titles and phrases. 

The “King with a White Crown and Flail 𓀴” symbol is a variant of the symbol “King With a White Crown 𓀲” and the two symbols can usually be used interchangeably with each other in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! 

Here are some ways we can use “𓀴” in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! 

𓇓𓏏𓀴 – King of Upper Egypt/King

𓆤𓏏𓀴/𓆤𓏏𓀴𓏥 – King of Lower Egypt/King

𓀴 – King

𓁹𓇓𓀴 – Osiris/The Osiris King

𓁹𓊨𓂋𓀴 – Osiris

So if you see the “King with a White Crown and Flail 𓀴” symbol in an inscription, you are probably looking at a word that has to do with either a King or Osiris!