Tag: the met

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit

This is the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Harkhebit who lived during Dynasty 26 (c. 595-526 B.C.E.).

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
The Sarcophagus of Harkhebit

Harkhebit was the β€œRoyal Seal Bearer, Sole Companion, Chief Priest of the Shrines of Upper and Lower Egypt, and Overseer of the Cabinet.” The sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ was found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, which was a shaft tomb near Djoser’s 𓂦 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 complex at Saqqara (ancient Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–). 

This sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is striking not just from an artistic point of view, but its massive size is also breathtaking! Other large and plump sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦ have been found in the Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– area that are similar in style to this one! 

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
Me taking a selfie with Anubis and other deities!
Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
A close-up of the sunken relief of the goddess Isis

Let’s take a closer look! The sunken relief hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ are inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ from The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. Many different deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ such as Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the Four Sons of Horus (Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, Imseti π“‡‹π“…“π“Šƒπ“Ώ, Hapi π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺπ“‡Œ and Qebehsenuef π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘) all appear. 

Here is a picture of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– as it appears on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­! This is one of the variants of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, as it is missing the “π“…±” hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ!

Anubis' name in hieroglyphs on the Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
Anubis’ name in hieroglyphs

This sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is considered to be mummiform, meaning it looks like a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The β€œmummy” is wearing a wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 and a false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ. I also love the large broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ that is on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­! If you look closely, you can see two 𓏻 falcons π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„π“ͺ on either end of it! Between the wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸, false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ, and broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹, Harkhebit is dressed for the best in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! 

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
A closeup image of the face of the sarcophagus showing details such as the broad collar, wig, and false beard.

The Sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of Harkhebit is definitely one of the better examples of Late Period ancient Egyptian stonework!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Akhenaten

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at a fragment of a relief that has some gorgeous π“„€ hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on it – the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!! This fragment is from present day Amarna, which during Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule was known as Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š–. Akhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– translates to β€œHorizon of the Aten,” and Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– named it the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during year five 𓏾 of his reign.Β 

Cartouches of Akhenaten
The Cartouches of Akhenaten on a fragment of a relief from the city of Akhetaten (The MET)

This relief is probably from after year five 𓏾 of his reign, just based off of the throne name variant that is used in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

Let’s start from the top row of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We will start reading from the right since that is where the snake points to! This is a very popular phrase that you may recognize: 𓆖𓏙𓋹. This translates to β€œGiven 𓏙 Eternal 𓆖 Life π“‹Ή.” 

Under that, we are also going to start reading from the right since that is where the directional symbols point to! 

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

π“‹Ή – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat (Truth)

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre which means “Beautiful are the Forms/Manifestations of Re, the Unique one of Re” (Akhenaten’s throne name)

On to the next set of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“‹Ή – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat (Truth)

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– – Akhenaten (the β€œbirth name” variant, since Akhenaten’s actual birth name was Amenhotep (IV))

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – Lord of Appearances 

What always gets me is Akhenaten’s throne name of π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–- Neferkheperura-waenre. This particular spelling of the throne name is only seen after he changed his given name from Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–. The original spelling, before the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change was β€œπ“œπ“„€π“†£π“¦π“‡³π“Œ‘π“ˆ–.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is still pronounced the same and has the same meaning, but the falcon glyph π“œ was changed to just the sun disc 𓇳 (both pronounced Re/Ra).  Also, all of Akhenaten’s other names (Horus name, etc) underwent a change, to remove the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, but this one didn’t. 

I wonder why Akhenaten didn’t change the throne name (π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ–) to represent the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, just like how all of his other names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ were changed. He also kept the title β€œSon of Ra 𓅭𓇳,” instead of changing it to an Aten-based title. There are probably some mysteries that we will never fully comprehend about this time period! 

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Book Recommendations Video

Video – “Hatshepsut” Book Review

It’s time for another book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 review!

This book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 on Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is one of my absolute favorites that I have in my collection! My Nonno brought it for me in 2006 when we went to the β€œHatshepsut From Queen to Pharaoh” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! The book not only details the exhibition, but gives a lot of information about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! 

The MET has a beautiful π“„€ collection of artifacts from Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ reign, and this book does an incredible job of highlighting these important objects. 

While the book is out of print, you can get it used online or you can get it as a PDF from the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Publications website! The MET has a great program that provides free PDFs for their out of print books! I have gotten amazing books through their program – you should check it out!

I hope you enjoy and love this book as much as I do!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Beads

I love ancient Egyptian jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍒 – especially the beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦! One of the reasons I love it so much are the bright and beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 colors! It always amazes me how these beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 colors are probably just as bright today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ as they were thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years ago!Β 

Ancient Egyptian Beads
An ancient Egyptian necklace that is displayed how it was found – just the beads, no string! These beads are dated to the reign of Amenhotep III (18th Dynasty) and are at the MET.

Fun fact: most of the necklaces π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹π“¦ that are displayed in museums have been re-strung because over time, the fine threading used to actually string the beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 together decomposes or disintegrates, and just leaves the beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 behind until they are found by archaeologists! 

These beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 have not been restrung into a necklace π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹, instead they are displayed as they were found. I honestly don’t know which way I like better; the reconstructed necklaces π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹π“¦ that are restrung, or the necklaces π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“…±π“‹π“¦ displayed such as these! 

These beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 were found at Amenhotep III’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† palace at Malqata and are dated to his reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“.  The House of Rejoicing (the name of his palace) and the surrounding villages at Malqata were preserved really well, and it is considered to be one of the most best town sites preserved in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! See if you can spot this on the tiles/inlays on the top of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! 

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (throne name for Amenhotep III)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

Do you like ancient Egyptian jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍒? Let me know your favorite type!!Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai

This beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 raised relief is part of a much larger tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 that is on display at the MET. This tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 belonged to a man named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Raemkai, however, it was originally built for someone else! This was originally built for an official named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Neferiretnes, and he either fell out of favor or his family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 could no longer care for the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ so it was then repurposed for Raemkai! 

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai
These two women are personifications of various cities, as indicated by the hieroglyphs which accompany the images. This raised relief is from the tomb chapel of Raemkai at the MET.

The tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 is where family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 members of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would leave offerings for their loved ones. This tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 also typically contains a False Door. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

This particular relief is from the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭 wall of the tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 which shows a total of twenty-two π“Ž†π“Ž†π“» women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ carrying baskets of various goods on their heads. These woman are not servants, which can be inferred by the sophisticated types of jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍒 they are wearing: broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦, bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ, anklets, and even very fancy wigs 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸𓏦! 

These twenty-two π“Ž†π“Ž†π“» women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ are actually personifications of various places; both Egyptian and foreign. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ next to each woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ names the village or estates that they represent! We know that these are names of locations/villages due to the β€œπ“Š–β€ determinative hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ that appears at the end of each word! The β€œπ“Š–β€ is the determinative for village/city! 

I love this tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐, but it is so hard to take good pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 due to the lightning!

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Video

Video – Egyptian Amulets and Molds

@ancientegyptblog

This video reveals the β€œsecret” to how the ancient Egyptians were able to make so many amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that were so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© and detailed – they used molds! These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, but also make the amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ small and detailed! The amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that you see in the video are grapes, daisy/rosette, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ, the Eye of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, various types of plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰, scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ, and then some rings π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“‹ͺ𓏦! I didn’t point them out in the video, but see if you can spot the frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦!! Lets’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! See if you can spot these in the video!! π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (throne name for Amenhotep III) π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† – Amenhotep III (birth name) π“‡“π“ˆžπ“ – King’s Great Wife π“˜π“‡Œπ“­- Tiye Tjis is my personal video and original text DO NOT repost! #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ancientegyptblog #egyptology #anticoegitto #hieroglyphs #hieroglyphics

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

This video reveals the β€œsecret” to how the ancient Egyptians were able to make so many amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that were so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© and detailed – they used molds! These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, but also make the amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ small and detailed! 

The amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that you see in the video  are grapes, daisy/rosette, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ, the Eye of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, the Eye of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, various types of plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰, scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ, and then some rings π“‚π“ˆ–π“π“‹ͺ𓏦! I didn’t point them out in the video, but see if you can spot the frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦!!

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! See if you can spot these in the video!!

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (throne name for Amenhotep III)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† – Amenhotep III (birth name)

π“‡“π“ˆžπ“ – King’s Great Wife

π“˜π“‡Œπ“­- Tiye 

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and most importantly, my Nonno!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Vulture Hieroglyph

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at a symbol that is used a lot in hieroglyphic writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ and inscriptions π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–. There are multiple uses for the β€œvulture 𓅐,” hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ, so let’s get started!Β 

Vulture Hieroglyph
The Vulture Hieroglyph in sunken relief, from a sarcophagus at the MET

The β€œvulture 𓅐” hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is usually a triliteral phonogram and represents the sounds β€œmjt/mwt.” In modern times, we infer that this would be pronounced like β€œmut.” However, the β€œvulture 𓅐” can also represent the sounds β€œmt” or β€œmjjwt” as well.

The β€œvulture 𓅐” is also used as a determinative in the word for β€œvulture π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“…,” and any words that have a root of β€œnr.” 

One of the more popular uses for the β€œvulture 𓅐” is in the word for β€œmother.” There are multiple variants for β€œmother” in Middle Egyptian/hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, so let’s take a look:

𓅐𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏

𓅐𓅆𓆇

π“…π“π“Ž

𓅐𓏏𓁐𓅆

All of these words would be pronounced like “mut,” despite the fact that some have differing symbols! However, even with spelling differences, all of the symbols will still write out “mut!”

The word for β€œmother” also appears in royal titles: 

𓇓𓅐 – King’s Mother 

π“…π“π“ŠΉ – God’s Mother (can be in reference to the mother of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, or to the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯)

The word for β€œmother” also appears in names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦: 

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef (jackal headed Son of Horus that guarded the stomach. His name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œHe Who Worships His Mother.”)

π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… / π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό – Senemut (Hatshepsut’s most trusted advisor. His name means β€œMother’s Brother.”) 

For some reason when I am writing hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ myself, I sometimes get the β€œvulture 𓅐” and the β€œEgyptian vulture 𓄿” mixed up! A lot of the bird symbols look similar, which I why I think that happens to me! 

Categories
Video

Video – Statues of Isis and Horus

@ancientegyptblog

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms – especially my mom who is my director/camerawoman! Anytime you see me on camera or a picture of me, my mom is the one who probably took it! In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s take a look at Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­! The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦, stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, and even as small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time. While my Nonno loved Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ like this in museums whenever I visit! Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and a user of magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ. As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 holding a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby. Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptology #mothersday #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #anticoegitto #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ancientegyptblog #horus

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  This video examines the significance of the statues of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­!

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦, stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, and even as small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time. 

While my Nonno loved Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ like this in museums whenever I visit! 

Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and a user of magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ.  As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans.  Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 holding a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut and International Women’s Day

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was International Womens Day and I didn’t get a chance to post, so I am going to post today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is ten years π“Ž† old (it’s from 2013) and of course it’s me and Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ at the MET! This gallery looks a little bit different now and the Maned Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is no longer with the White Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! Not going to lie, but I love seeing these two 𓏻 together π“ˆ–π“Š— and I miss the old Gallery 115 setup!Β 

Hatshepsut and International Women's Day
Me and the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut (left) and the White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut (right)

Let’s learn a bit more about my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the legendary Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!Β Not only was she the most successful female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian history, she was just one of the most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ ever!

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to state her divine conception and birth π“„Ÿ through images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and text π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ at her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ story shows that the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ was her father, and this reinforced her right to rule π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ. These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 were not available to the public, but only to a select few such as priests π“ŠΉπ“›π“ͺ and officials π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€π“ͺ so it probably wasn’t propaganda. 

What caused Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ to want to claim herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? We will probably never know the events that caused this to happen, so anything written by Egyptologists is mostly speculative. Whatever the reasoning, I’m glad that she did become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ has been my inspiration ever since I was a little girl and my Nonno taught me about her for the first 𓏃 time! I’ll never forget learning that a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Seeing these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ in the museum give me joy each time! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Reconstruction from the Palace at Malqata

In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  built a new palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 which was referred to as β€œThe House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. The Heb Sed Festival π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, also known as the β€œ30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“. Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† threw himself three separate Heb Sed Festivals π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, even though he did not rule π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ for ninety years!Β 

Reconstruction using blue tiles from the Palace at Malqata
The blue faience tiles were found at Malqata, but this design is a reconstruction of what it might have looked like (the MET)

This beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 decoration is a reconstruction using the tiles that were found during the excavation of Amenhotep III’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† palace at Malqata. These strikingly blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό tiles were found on the floor of ruins of a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ dedicated to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­. 

After the death of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž , his palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 and the surrounding villages (used by the people serving the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻) at Malqata were abandoned and the site was never used again during ancient Egyptian times. This caused the site to fall into ruin and get covered by the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ sand. This allowed The House of Rejoicing and surrounding villages at Malqata to be preserved decently well, and it is considered to be one of the most extensive town sites to be preserved in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. 

Many examples of these blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό tiles have been found at Malqata, along with other beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 artwork that decorated the palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐! It must have been such a beautiful sight to see!