Tag: the met

Categories
Video

Video – Funerary Cones

@ancientegyptblog

I love Gallery 117 at the MET so much! The objects in here may not look like much to the average person (they probably just look like a bunch of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦), but to me they are a beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 piece in the story of ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ collections of museums, these β€œfunerary cones” were always something my Nonno pointed out to me! He thought they were so interesting and now every time I go to museums, I actively seek these out as a way to remember my Nonno! He loved this little gallery at the MET solely because of the funerary cones! Funerary cones (a modern name given to these objects) are made of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and usually found at the openings of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (almost exclusively). They were used primarily during the 18th Dynasty (though there are examples that date to the 11th Dynasty or as late as the 19th-20th Dynasties). While the exact usage of the funerary cones is not known, but they are inferred to be architectural decorations, tomb labels, symbolic offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦, or even as passports to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of these cones have been excavated to date! Every museum I have been to has a collection of these funerary cones! The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ with the name of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ occupant as well as a god π“ŠΉ. An example inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that is common on a funerary cone would be something like: β€œVenerated before Osiris, Son of ____, Name of Deceased.” π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œ – Venerated 𓐍𓂋 – Before π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris π“…­ – Son This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egyptiantomb

♬ Γ‰phΓ©mΓ¨re – Tony Anderson

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ collections of museums, these β€œfunerary cones” were always something my Nonno pointed out to me! He thought they were so interesting and now every time I go to museums, I actively seek these out as a way to remember my Nonno! He loved this little gallery (Gallery 117) at the MET solely because of the funerary cones! 

Funerary cones (a modern name given to these objects) are made of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and usually found at the openings of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (almost exclusively). They were used primarily during the 18th Dynasty (though there are examples that date to the 11th Dynasty or as late as the 19th-20th Dynasties).

While the exact usage of the funerary cones is not known, but they are inferred to be architectural decorations, tomb labels, symbolic offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦, or even as passports to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of these cones have been excavated to date! Every museum I have been to has a collection of these funerary cones!

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ with the name of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ occupant as well as a god π“ŠΉ. These objects can also be referred to as β€œfunerary stamps.”

An example inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that is common on a funerary cone would be something like: 

β€œVenerated before Osiris, Son of ____, Name of Deceased.” 

π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œ – Venerated 

𓐍𓂋 – Before

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris

π“…­ – Son

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statue of Anubis

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is one of my favorites! One of the reasons it is so special is because the piece is in such good condition. The black π“†Žπ“…“ paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still clearly visible and the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is so well preserved. Wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is an organic material, and even in the dry heat of the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ it can still break down over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years! My Nonno always pointed out every wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece in a museum and told us how significant it was that the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 was preserved. Now, it is something I always look for.Β 

This particular Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 piece is dated to the Ramesside Period, which was during the 19th-20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. This style of statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicting Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 actually became very popular during the Ptolemaic Period, and there is a piece similar to this in the Brooklyn Museum too! 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in his jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ form. The kneeling position is representative of him guarding the necropolis π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ŠΌ from high above on a hill π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“„Ώπ“ŠŽ or mountain π“ˆ‹π“…³- as was his role as the god π“ŠΉ of cemeteries and mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž. One of his titles which is β€œLord of the Sacred Land π“ŽŸπ“‡Ύπ“‚¦π“ˆŠ,” exemplifies and highlights this role. The β€œsacred land” mentioned in this title is another way to say β€œnecropolis π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ŠΌ!” 

Another one of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles is β€œupon his hill π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘β€ and this hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ phrase usually follows his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 role as protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above! 

I also love this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 because it is very similar to Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 determinative hieroglyph 𓃣 (which is my favorite hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ symbol) and it’s almost identical to the β€˜recumbent jackal 𓃒” sign! Basically, I love anything to do with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! Seeing a well preserved statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of him, or hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ symbols of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ makes me really happy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 and excited. It’s like seeing an old friend π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“€€π“! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Early Dynastic Animal Statuettes

We are going back to the Early Dynastic Period today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³! I love anything to do with Egyptian hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦!!!

This calcite 𓍱 hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― and faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ are dated c. 3100–2649 B.C.E and are from Abydos π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–. The hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― figure was found near a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ and was most likely an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deity π“ŠΉ Khentiamentiu 𓃒𓏃𓏠𓄿. 

Khentiamentiu 𓃒𓏃𓏠𓄿 is an early jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ headed deity π“ŠΉ whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œForemost of the Westerners.” We know that phrase because later on it was commonly used as a title of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 before it then became Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ title! Before the popularity of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 was the chief god π“ŠΉ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, which is why it was his title first! The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abydos π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– which was originally dedicated to Khentiamentiu 𓃒𓏃𓏠𓄿 then solely became dedicated to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ during the First Intermediate Period. 

Hippopotamuses π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ and crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦ were both feared and revered along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί because while they were very dangerous animals, little figurines like these (and then later on, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ) could offer protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ to the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 or the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀π“ͺ. This is why hippopotamuses π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ and crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦ are very common to see in early Egyptian art! The hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is also seen as a symbol of fertility. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – The Goddess Hathor in Hieroglyphs!

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! I’m sure you can see this, but Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is unique compared to that of the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! This is because her name is written with a composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! A composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is the combination of many symbols into one symbol! Even with the combination of the symbols, the sounds of the original symbol are still retained! Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is the combination of an enclosure (house) 𓉗 and the falcon π“…ƒ. 𓉗 +π“…ƒ = 𓉑 Het (𓉗) + Heru (π“…ƒ) = 𓉑 If the two 𓏻 symbols were written separately, we would actually read Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– as β€œHouse of Horus” or β€œEstate of Horus” (depending on how you translated the 𓉗 hieroglyph) – so that is the literal translation of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! This is my personal video and original text – DO NOT repost! #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphs #hieroglyphics #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #anticoegitto #egyptology

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

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

This is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! I’m sure you can see this, but Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is unique compared to that of the other deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! This is because her name is written with a composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! A composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is the combination of many symbols into one symbol! Even with the combination of the symbols, the sounds of the original symbol are still retained! 

Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is the combination of an enclosure (house) 𓉗 and the falcon π“…ƒ. 

𓉗 +π“…ƒ = 𓉑 

Het (𓉗) + Heru (π“…ƒ) = 𓉑 

If the two 𓏻 symbols were written separately, we would actually read Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– as β€œHouse of Horus” or β€œEstate of Horus” (depending on how you translated the 𓉗 hieroglyph) – so that is the literal translation of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

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

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Aswan Granite

After limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™, β€œAswan Granite” was the third most used rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ by the ancient Egyptians! β€œAswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– area, even though they aren’t all granitic! Diorite and granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ are other igneous rocks looped into this category, even though granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is a felsic rock (lighter in color and lower in density with more quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™) as opposed to diorite/granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ (intermediate rock, less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, both dark and light in color). 

The most common of the β€œAswan Granite” rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ is known as red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ. Red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦, obelisks 𓉢𓉢𓉢, and for parts of buildings and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ! 

Quarrying of the β€œAswan Granite” started in the Old Kingdom and was even used to build the Pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Giza! During the New Kingdom (particularly 18th Dynasty), red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ became extremely popular again, especially amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ and many of them had their statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ and funerary equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ carved out of this durable stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ! 

One of the best examples of these red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. She had the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ shipped 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί from Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were such master geologists they even distinguished regular β€œgranite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώβ€ from β€œred granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆβ€ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below is a close up of a sample red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ from my collection so you can get a better look at this gorgeous π“„€ rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™!Β 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Let’s read some Hieroglyphs!

@ancientegyptblog

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή. Right Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column: 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance 𓉑 – Hathor π“ŠΉπ“› – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally β€œGod’s Servant”) All together, this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ would read β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” The title β€œKing’s Acquaintance π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“β€œ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Left Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column: π“ŽŸ – Possessor π“Œ³π“π“„ͺ – Reverence π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή – Niankhwadjet β€œPossessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.” Let’s put it all together! π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“π“‰‘π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“Œ³π“π“„ͺπ“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.” This is mh personal video and original text – Do NOT repost! #ancientEgypt #ancientegyptblog #egyptology #hieroglyphics #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #egitto #egyptianhistory #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #hieroglyphs

♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

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

This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ comes from the false door of a man named Mery (4th Dynasty/Old Kingdom), however the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is about his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Niankhwadjet π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή. 

Right Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column:

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – King’s Acquaintance

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŠΉπ“› – Priest [Priestess in this case] (literally β€œGod’s Servant”) 

All together, this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ would read β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor…” The title β€œKing’s Acquaintance π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“β€œ is taken to mean that the person was close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

Left Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ Column: 

π“ŽŸ – Possessor

π“Œ³π“π“„ͺ – Reverence

π“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή – Niankhwadjet

β€œPossessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Let’s put it all together! 

π“‡“π“‚‹π“π“π“‰‘π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“Œ³π“π“„ͺπ“ˆ–π“‡…π“π“‹Ή

β€œThe King’s Acquaintance, Priestess of Hathor, Possessor of Reverence, Niankhwadjet.”

Here is my past post (with photographs) on this beautiful piece!

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

The “King’s Acquaintance”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at a Title that appears π“ˆ on statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ and in funerary inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. The title of β€œπ“‡“π“‚‹π“π“ – King’s Acquaintance” is used to denote people who were close to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and can be written in two ways: 

𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 – if the person was female

𓇓𓏏𓂋𓐍 – if the person was male

In the case of this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, which was for a female, King’s Acquaintance 𓇓𓂋𓐍𓏏 is written in the female form of the word! The Title has also been translated as β€œGentlewoman,” and β€œCourt Lady,” while the male version (𓇓𓏏𓂋𓐍) can also be translated as β€œCustodian of the King’s Property.” 

Let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that make up this title! 

The β€œSedge 𓇓” symbol is one of the most common hieroglyphs you will see in inscriptions! It functions as a biliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œsw.” Most commonly, the symbol is used as an ideogram for the word β€œKing,” which is associated with the sound β€œnswt.” In this case of this title, the sedge is functioning as an ideogram!

The β€œplacenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound β€œαΈ«.” This symbol is actually considered β€œunclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

The β€œmouth 𓂋” symbol functions most commonly as a uniliteral phonogram and is used to represent the sound β€œr.” It can also be used as 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 when placed at the end of the word! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

First Dynasty Lion Cub

How cute is this lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub?! Whenever I am at the MET, I always make sure to stop by and see him!Β 

When I was a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€”, I absolutely loved this quartzite statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub because it reminded me of Simba from The Lion King! Only the main features of the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub are seen, and none of the features are β€œsharply defined π“‹΄π“Šͺπ“‚§π“šπ“Ίπ“›,” however, it is clear that this is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› and it is one of my favorite examples of early Egyptian art!

This cute little lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› is from the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 B.C.E.)! During the Pre-Dynastic through Early Dynastic periods, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of animals were usually smaller in size (amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† size or just a little larger – look above the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 to see examples) This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 thought is almost like a transition piece towards the larger and grander statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the later dynasties. This little lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› was originally found in southern 𓇔𓏏 Upper Egypt 𓇓. I love being able to see the changes in Egyptian art through time! 

Geology Time!!! Since quartzite is a very hard stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, the Egyptians had to learn how to work with and sculpt these types of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! Quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, the mineral π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™ quartzite is mostly composed of has a hardness of 7 out of 10 on Moh’s Hardness Scale, which means it is very resistant to being scratched! Quartzite is a metamorphic rock, which means it was originally sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ before it was subjected to intense heat and pressure, which recrystallized it into quartzite. Quartzite is a much stronger and durable rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ than the original sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Aafenmut

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 924–889 B.C.E., 22nd Dynasty) which belonged to a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡. This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows a typical funerary stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 scene, and this style of stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was very popular during this time period. I love this particular style because it is so colorful!Β This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

The Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is shown at the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ and the Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž represents Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey is supposed to be representative of his birth/resurrection (sunrise), growth (day) and then death (sunset). In between Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a table filled with offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of bread 𓏏𓏐, fruit, and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦.Β 

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

π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ – Ra-Horakhty

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“‚ž – Give

𓆑 – He

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓐍𓏛- Offerings

𓐝 – To

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

𓐝 – To

π“ž – Scribe

π“Ίπ“‰π“Œ‰π“Ίπ“‰ – Treasury

π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ – Aafenmut

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œRa-Horakhty, the Great God, Lord of the Sky/Heaven, may he give offerings to Osiris, to the scribe of the treasury, Aafenmut, True of Voice.” 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part II)

Here is a link to Part I!

The Horus Name is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and it is the oldest way to do so. The purpose of the Horus Name was to identify the king 𓇓 as an earthly representation of the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­.Β 

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade π“Š, Horus the Falcon π“…ƒ standing on top of the palace π“Š, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace π“Š. The palace π“Š hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ is pronounced like β€œserekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche! 

On the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­ of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“, you can see the Horus name, however, the throne name is also in the serekh! This is unusual to see both names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ in the serekh! 

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

π“ŠΉπ“†£π“…± – β€œHorus, Divine of Form” (Neter-kheperu) (Horus Name)

π“‡³π“ˆπ“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ – β€œThe Souls of Ra have Appeared” (Kha kau ra) (Throne Name)

Something I love about this sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­, is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain π“ˆ‹π“…³ building or plate tectonics), that the minerals π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™π“¦ have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™π“¦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance! 

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry π“Ž›π“π“π“‰ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

The following pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏 show a close up of one of my samples of gneiss, so you can see this banding!