Tag: the met

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs or the X-Men?

Over on my Instagram, a lot of people commented how much they loved my X-Men shirt! I’m going to be honest, there’s a reason I wore it to the MET – it looks like the β€œarea with an intersection π“Š–β€ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! I love it when my interests collide (I’m a huge Marvel comics fan)!

The β€œπ“Š–β€ is used as both an ideogram and a determinative! More commonly, β€œπ“Š–β€ functions as the determinative, or the last symbol in the word that almost acts as punctuation to let the reader know the general meaning of the word. β€œπ“Š–β€ is the determinative for town (π“Š–π“Ί – njwt), city, settlement, and even the country of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! β€œπ“Š–β€ seems to be used for towns/cities in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, while most foreign lands used the determinative of β€œπ“ˆŠ.”

Personified Estates
Me (in my X-Men shirt) at the MET standing with the Personified Estates relief from the tomb of Akhithotep

This relief I am standing with shows β€œPersonified Estates” from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of a man named Akhithotep. The β€œpeople” in this relief aren’t actually meant to show people – they are personifications of the farms and estates that belonged to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Each of the figures is also carrying food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ – those are offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 that the estates will continue to provide to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱!Β Personified Estates do appear frequently in Old Kingdom tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ art, and it’s a really interesting concept!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Above the first 𓏃 figure on the left, you can see: 

π“Š–π“Š–π“Š–π“‡Ώπ“Ž”π“‡‰ – Domains of Lower Egypt

π“ƒ€π“‚§π“†“π“π“Š– – Bedjet (the estate) 

𓏑𓋴𓂋𓆑 – Warm Bread

This inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– means that the Bedjet π“ƒ€π“‚§π“†“π“π“Š– estate of Lower Egypt will provide warm bread 𓏑𓋴𓂋𓆑 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! 

This raised relief is dated to the 4th Dynasty (c. 2575–2551 B.C.E) and is carved in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰.Β The relief is also quite high off of the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, which is typical of Old Kingdom (especially 4th Dynasty) art.

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Name Stones of Senemut

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

I’m sure doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone that my favorite time period of Egyptian history is the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! These stones are dated to the 18th Dynasty reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and are inscribed π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– with the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό. Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was a non-royal man who rose to become the most important official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ during Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“.Β 

While these pieces may seem like some random limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ blocks, they are actually what archaeologists refer to as β€œName Stones.” The Name Stones were built into Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€½ tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 and were not meant to be seen – they were just meant to indicate that Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό took ownership of his tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐. 

I’ve seen Senemut’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–appear a couple of different ways in hieroglyphs and here are the variations: π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€½, and π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…. It’s the determinative that’s changing, not the symbols that influence pronunciation!

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphs on each of the stones!Β 

Name Stones
A name stone with the text “Overseer, Senemut” inscribed on it.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– states:Β 

𓄓𓉐𓏀 – Overseer 

π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€½ – SenemutΒ 

Name Stone
A name stone with the text “Senemut, True of Voice” inscribed on it.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– states:

π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€½ – Senemut 

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice

Name Stone
A name stone with the text “Overseer of the Garden of Amun, Senemut” inscribed on it.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– states:

π“ˆ™π“€π“Šͺπ“ˆ™π“ˆ– Overseer of the Garden

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€½ – Senemut 

β€œOverseer of the Garden of Amun, Senemut”

These are my personal photographs and original text. DO NOT repost without explicit permission.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Pharaoh Rameses I

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…±! Rameses I 𓇳𓄇𓏠 was of non-Royal birth and was already quite old when the previous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, chose him as his successor. Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± had a very brief reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of about two 𓏻 years! 

Before he was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Rameses I 𓇳𓄇𓏠 served as the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– and was a High Priest of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. This means that Rameses I 𓇳𓄇𓏠 probably played an important role in the restoration of the old religion! Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 (his 𓆑 son π“…­) succeeded him on the throne and this was the first direct father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 to son π“…­ succession since Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

Rameses I
The throne name (left) and birth name (left) cartouches of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh Rameses I

Let’s break down each of the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦! We are going to start with the throne name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· (prenomen) on the left!Β This is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that the person took when they became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

𓇳𓄇𓏠 – Men Pehty Ra (β€œEternal is the Strength of Ra”) 

Let’s break down the symbols/phrases in the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· to gain a better understanding of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–:Β 

𓇳 – Ra 

𓄇 – Strength/Strong

𓏠 – Eternal 

Now let’s look at the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right!Β The birth name is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that the person was born with!

π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± – Ramessu (β€œRa has Bore Him” or β€œRa has Fashioned Him”)

Let’s break down the symbols/phrases in the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· to gain a better understanding of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–:Β 

𓇳 – Raπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a really cool display at the MET, which shows the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“!

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Me with some of the artifacts from the Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž was an extremely important aspect of their religion because the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process was long (about 70 days) and it took the work of special priests and many different supplies in order to embalm the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.Β 

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Beautifully decorated vases from Tutankhamun’s Embalming Cahce

An embalming cache is a collection of the supplies and materials that were used during the mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process. The embalming cache was usually kept separate from the actual tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ itself, though sometimes these supplies were found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the person.Β 

The embalming cache that I am with is actually the supplies used to mummify the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ embalming ache was found in 1907, which was 15 years before the discovery of his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰! The embalming cache was actually only about 360 feet away from the entrance to his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰! 

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Broad Collars and Linens from Tutankhamun’s Embalming Cache
Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
Vases and Pottery from Tutankhamun’s Embalming Cache

Some of the items that were found in Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ embalming cache are linens 𓍱𓍱𓍱, natron 𓃀𓂧𓇨, animal bones, vases π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“¦, and most impressively, three 𓏼 floral broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦! The floral broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ are thought to have been used during the funeral of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“.Β 

Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun
An exquisitely preserved broad collar made of flowers, which was used during Tutankhamun’s funeral. This was found in his embalming cache.

I’m just so amazed that the broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ stayed preserved for thousands of years – it’s absolutely incredible! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Hieroglyphs on Sarcophagus

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

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This very simple limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ from the Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 11, c. 2051–2030 B.C.E.) is one of my absolute favorite pieces and it belonged to a priestess π“ŠΉπ“› of Hathor 𓉑 named Henhenet π“‰”π“ˆ–π“‰”π“ˆ–π“. Here is the full inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“ƒ£π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“Œ π“‹΄π“€π“‰¬π“„€π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“π“…“π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ŠΌπ“‰“π“π“‚‹π“ƒ£π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰±π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Œ³π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œπ“π“‡“π“π“†­π“Œ‘π“π“π“‰‘π“ŠΉπ“›π“‰”π“ˆ–π“‰”π“ˆ–π“π“™π“…±π“π“Š€ Here is the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– broken down by word/phrase: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ An Offering the King Gives π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 – Anubis π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘ – Upon his Hill/Mountain π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Ž- He Who is in the Mummy Wrappings π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦ – Lord of the Sacred Land π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“Œ π“‹΄π“€π“‰¬ – Burial 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏- Good π“…“ – In Her π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – Tomb π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ŠΌ – Necropolis 𓉓 – A Voice Offering 𓐍𓂋 – Before 𓃣 – Anubis 𓏅 – In Front At π“ŠΉπ“‰± – God’s Booth (Shrine for Anubis) π“ˆ–π“‡‹- For The/By The π“Œ³π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œπ“ – Venerated/Revered 𓇓 – King π“π“†­π“Œ‘π“π“ – Sole Ornament 𓉑 – Hathor π“ŠΉπ“› – High Priestess π“‰”π“ˆ–π“‰”π“ˆ–π“ – Henhenet π“™π“…±π“π“Š€ – True of Voice Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphics #metropolitanmuseumofart #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #hieroglyphs #egyptology #anubis #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #middlekingdom

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

This very simple limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ from the Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 11, c. 2051–2030 B.C.E.) is one of my absolute favorite pieces! This sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ belonged to a priestess π“ŠΉπ“› of Hathor 𓉑 named Henhenet π“‰”π“ˆ–π“‰”π“ˆ–π“. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ are incredibly well preserved!

Here is the full inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–: 

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“ƒ£π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“Œ π“‹΄π“€π“‰¬π“„€π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“π“…“π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ŠΌπ“‰“π“π“‚‹π“ƒ£π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰±π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Œ³π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œπ“π“‡“π“π“†­π“Œ‘π“π“π“‰‘π“ŠΉπ“›π“‰”π“ˆ–π“‰”π“ˆ–π“π“™π“…±π“π“Š€

Here is the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– broken down by word/phrase:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ An Offering the King Gives 

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 – Anubis

π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘ – Upon his Hill/Mountain

π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Ž- He Who is in the Mummy Wrappings

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦ – Lord of the Sacred Land

π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“Œ π“‹΄π“€π“‰¬ – Burial

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏- Good 

π“…“ – In Her

π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – Tomb 

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ŠΌ – Necropolis

𓉓 – A Voice Offering 

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓃣 – Anubis 

𓏅 – In Front At 

π“ŠΉπ“‰± – God’s Booth (Shrine for Anubis)

π“ˆ–π“‡‹- For The/By The

π“Œ³π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œπ“ – Venerated/Revered

𓇓 – King 

π“π“†­π“Œ‘π“π“ – Sole Ornament 

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŠΉπ“› – High Priestess

π“‰”π“ˆ–π“‰”π“ˆ–π“ – Henhenet

π“™π“…±π“π“Š€ – True of Voice

β€œAn Offering the King Gives Anubis, Upon his Hill, He Who is in the Mummy Wrappings, Lord of the Sacred Land, A Good Burial In Her Tomb of the Necropolis, A Voice Offering Before Anubis In Front At the God’s Booth, For the Venerated Sole Ornament of the King, High Priestess of Hathor, Henhenet, True of Voice.”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Corn Mummies in Ancient Egypt

Corn Mummies are an interesting part of Egyptian religious practices. While millions of animal mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ made of grains π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“…±π“Έπ“¦ like wheat and barley have also been found – these have been nicknamed β€œcorn mummies” by Egyptologists.Β 

Corn Mummies
A corn mummy with an outer “sarcophagus” made of wood with the head of a falcon. This is dated to the Late Period-Ptolemaic Period.

Corn mummies are found in cemeteries that are usually dated from the Third Intermediate Period through Roman times though they first 𓏃 appeared during the Middle Kingdom. This particular corn mummy is (in the first picture) from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (400 – 200 B.C.E.). 

Corn Mummies are meant to be a representation of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Egyptologists came to this conclusion because the β€œcoffins” that contain the corn mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name and his titles/epithets in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, but also a β€œmummy” stuffed with grain that has a head of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. 

Another reason Egyptologists made the connection to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the cyclic nature of growing grains π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“…±π“Έπ“¦- in Egyptian religion, anything that was cyclical was related to the birth π“„Ÿ, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± cycle of the human experience/Egyptian religion.

Corn Mummies
Three corn mummies on display at the MET. This picture shows the variation in the designs of the “sarcophagus,” however, they all have the head of a falcon.

Even though the corn mummies are dedicated to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, they are almost always found in cases with a falcon head. The falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head is representative of the god π“ŠΉ Sokar π“Šƒπ“Ž‘π“‚‹π“…‹, who is often connected to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. Their connection goes all the way back to the Old Kingdom, and The Pyramid Texts are the one of the first instances in which they are shown to have a connection. This particular corn mummy contains hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that mention the combination god π“ŠΉ Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, who was popularly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a funerary god π“ŠΉ during this time period.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Beautiful, Good, and Perfect in Hieroglyphs

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

Beautiful, Good, and Perfect in Hieroglyphs

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a very popular word that appears a lot in ancient Egyptian writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! The word β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹/𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏” translates to β€œbeautiful,” β€œperfect,” or β€œgood” and can be used not only in titles such as β€œπ“ŠΉπ“„€ Perfect God” or names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ such as β€œNefertiti π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“„€π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“„€π“‡π“˜π“»π“—,” but also in various words or phrases too! 

In Middle Egyptian there are a couple of ways to write β€œbeautiful,” β€œperfect,” or β€œgood:” 

π“„€ – the hieroglyphic symbol β€œnfr” (nefer) can be used on its own to represent the word. 

𓄀𓆑𓂋 – this would also be pronounced as β€œnfr” (nefer) as the sounds by the uniliteral phonograms would not be repeated. 

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏 – this would be pronounced as β€œnfrt,” (neferet) as this is the female form of the word! This is the one that is in my picture! 

When determinatives are used, the meaning of this word can change so be careful! β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“π“β€ with the woman determinative means β€œbeautiful woman” while β€œπ“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“π“ƒ’β€ with the cow determinative means cow! Determinatives can totally change the meaning of the word! 

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Since the horned viper 𓆑 is pointing to the right, we will start reading from the right! 

The β€œheart and windpipe 𓄀” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound β€œnfr” which in modern times we pronounce like β€œnefer.”

The β€œhorned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œf.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. As a stand-alone symbol, it can also mean he/his. 

The β€œ mouth – 𓂋” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œr” and can be an ideogram for the word β€œmouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of a Statue of Pharaoh Khafre

This is a fragment of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 that once depicted the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘. Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ ruled during the 4th Dynasty and was the son π“…­ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱. Most people think that Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ directly succeeded Khufu 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱, but actually Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ brother, Rajedef π“‡³π“Š½π“†‘ ruled π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ for about eight years in between the two.Β 

Khafre

Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ is most famous for building one of the pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏦 at Giza, and he built it just south 𓇔𓅱𓏏 of his father’s 𓇋𓏏𓀀 Great Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴. Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ also commissioned the construction of the Great Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ and a large temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ complex.Β Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 is the second largest, his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 Khufu’s 𓐍𓅱𓆑𓅱 being the larger pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴.

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 fragment was found at Giza near Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ complex. Egyptologists have identified this fragment as belonging to Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ not just due to the location in which it was found, but also it’s similarities to other statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.Β Other statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ contain his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·, so it is pretty easy to know that those statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ depict him!

Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– translates to β€œHe appears as Re.” However, sometimes in the Old Kingdom, β€œRe 𓇳” was both pronounced and written first 𓏃, so his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– might have been β€œRakhaf” which translates to β€œRa is his Appearance,” which also makes sense!Β I guess we will never know which way was correct!

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

𓇳 – Re 

π“ˆ – Appears

𓆑 – He/His

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Base of a Hatshepsut Statue

If an object has Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– or face on it, I am going to get excited about it – no matter what the artifact is! I was so excited to see this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 base on my most recent trip to the MET because it has not been on display for a while!

Base of Hatshepsut Statue
Me with the base of a Hatshepsut statue at the MET

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 base shows Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ throne name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the left, and an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of her as a sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ on the right. It may be difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, but some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 has been retained on the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰.Β 

Base of Hatshepsut Statue
A closeup of the base of the Hatshepsut statue.

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 that stood on top of this base is most likely long gone. Most of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ from her temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 were found in pieces, as they were intentionally destroyed after her death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

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

Base of Hatshepsut Statue
Hatshepsut’s throne name cartouche, Maatkare on the statue base

This piece contains Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ throne name or prenomen, which is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– she took when she became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Let’s take a closer look at this beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare 

Let’s break down each of the symbols! 

𓇳 – Re

𓁦 – Truth (Maat)

π“‚“ – Soul (Ka)

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.”

Base of Hatshepsut Statue
Hatshepsut represented as a sphinx on the statue base
Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Great God Ptah”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that is part of the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel of Kaemsenu. This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is a little bit tricky to read at first because one of the symbols is actually upside down!! Not going to lie, at quick glance I thought this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ said β€œHigh Priest π“ŠΉπ“›!” 

Great God Ptah
“Great God Ptah” in hieroglyphs! Since the “cloth on a pole π“ŠΉ” symbol is pointing to the left, that’s the direction we start reading from!

So let’s take a look at what it actually says: 

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž› – Ptah

All π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads “Great God Ptah.”

Let’s take a closer look at each of the symbols: 

The β€œcloth on a pole π“ŠΉβ€œ hieroglyph is an ideogram for the word god. π“ŠΉ is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters β€œntr” which may have been pronounced like β€œneter.” π“ŠΉ Is also a determinative for β€œgod.” So the β€œcloth on a pole π“ŠΉβ€œ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ!

The β€œwooden column 𓉼” hieroglyph is a biliteral phonogram which represents the sound β€œΛ3.” This symbol does have a variant, 𓉻, which means the same, it’s just oriented at a different angle! But I’ve never seen it upside down before! 

The β€œstool π“Šͺ” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œp.” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The β€œwick π“Ž›β€ is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œh.”