Tag: rameses ii

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Pylon Shaped Stela of Rameses II

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

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³Β we are going to be looking at a β€œPylon Shaped Stela of Rameses II” (c.Β 1279–1213 B.C.E.) at the MET. This piece is made of limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰Β and describes Rameses IIΒ π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–!Β 

Here is the left two columns:

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (Birth Name)

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŽŸπ“ – Lady 

𓆭𓏏 – Sycamore 

𓇔𓏏 – Southern 

π“ŒΊ – Beloved 

Put all together, this inscription reads: β€œRameses II, Beloved of Hathor, Lady of the Southern Sycamore.” 

Here are the right two columns: 

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Rameses II (Throne Name)

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŽŸπ“ – Lady 

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

π“ŒΊ – Beloved 

Put all together, this inscription reads: β€œRameses II, Beloved of Hathor, Lady of the West.” 

Hathor π“‰‘ has the title β€œLady of the West π“ŽŸπ“π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€ because of her roles was to provide peace and solace to the souls π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ of the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 as they entered the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. Many people obviously associate Hathor π“‰‘ with love, joy π“„«π“π“„£, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ etc, but she was also a prominent funerary goddess π“ŠΉπ“! 

Hathor π“‰‘ has the title β€œLady of the Southern Sycamore π“ŽŸπ“π“†­π“π“‡”𓏏” or just β€œLady of the Sycamore π“ŽŸπ“π“ˆ–𓉔𓏏𓆭” because the sycamore tree π“ˆ–𓉔𓏏𓆭 was one of the native trees in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, and it grew at the edge of the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ! This would put it near necropolises, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ etc, so it was associated with the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱! Hathor π“‰‘ was considered one of the tree goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“, along with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Horus Name of Rameses II

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at the Horus Name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! So far, I have really only spoken about the Throne Name (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) and the Birth Name (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“), so let’s take a closer look at the Horus Name! 

The Horus Name is the oldest way that a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was written/identified and is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 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! 

Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ had a lot of different variations of his Horus Name, so let’s take a look at the two 𓏻 that are pictured! 

π“‚‘π“ƒ’π“›π“ŒΊ – β€œStrong Bull, Beloved of Ra”

π“‚‘π“ƒ’π“§π“ŒΊ – β€œStrong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

β€œStrong Bull π“‚‘π“ƒ’β€œ was a very popular way to start off the Horus Name because bulls 𓃒𓃒𓃒 were a symbol of strength π“Œ€ and fertility, both of which are qualities that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to have!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II

This large piece at the MET is referred to as a β€œDoorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’sΒ π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–Β royal jubilees.Β 

The offering scene that is on the doorjamb is Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“―, who was the patron god π“ŠΉ of the jubilee. Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― is a combination of the deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± (the creator god π“ŠΉ) and Tatanen 𓁯, a lesser known deity who was the personification of the primordial mound that rose during the Egyptian creation myth. Tatanen 𓁯 is often compared to Geb π“…­π“ƒ€π“€­ (the god π“ŠΉ of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ), however Tatanen 𓁯 is often associated with things that come from the interior of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ such as minerals, rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦, and plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

So Geb π“…­π“ƒ€π“€­ is the Earth’s π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ surface (The Upper Earth), while Tatanen 𓁯 is the Earth’s π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ interior (The Lower Earth)! As a geologist, I love how the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were able to make this distinction between the spheres of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ in their mythology! They also recognized the atmosphere (another sphere of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ) as the god π“ŠΉ Shu π“†„π“…±π“€­! It’s all so impressive to me! 

Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is broken down like this: 

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž› – Ptah (spelled out with phonogram symbols)

𓁯 – Tatanen (the determinative/ideogram)

Ptah’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± determinative was basically replaced with the determinative for Tatanen 𓁯 to make the god’s π“ŠΉ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Can you spot Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― in the inscription on the doorjamb???

(Also Rameses III’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“ˆ˜π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Column of Rameses II

From Nonno’s point of view!!

He took a picture of me taking a picture while we were in the British Museum πŸ˜‚ – I love it!!

Anyway, this is a red granite column that was originally inscribed for Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“! Both of his cartouches can be seen throughout -(π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) and (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–). Also his titles such as β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ and β€œLord of Appearances π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯” can be seen on top of his cartouches.

This column was definitely usurped by another pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at some point because some of the cartouches on this column don’t belong to Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–!

In the bottom of this picture you can see the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ for β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ very clearly!

I have always loved seeing the columns in museums because you can get a sense of the grand scale of the Egyptian monuments. Since I have never been to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, it’s nice to see just how grand their building was! I love the design of this column; the top looks like a flower 𓆸!

Cartouche for Rameses II (π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“).
Another side of the column!
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Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“.

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ talk about how Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– there. The stela was a way to commemorate Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ presenting statues to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook π“‹Ύ) from the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. This is meant to represent that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– saw Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ as a legitimate ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–(in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– kind of replaces Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ in popularity as king of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and that they were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is quite large (I’m 5’5”)! It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ names appear on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! This was probably meant to show that while he was a divine figure, he also had very human qualities!

Sandstone Stela of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum (and me)!
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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Rameses II

There are two 𓏻 different types of reliefs; raised and sunken reliefs. In a raised relief, the images project upward from the rock, while in a sunken relief, the images are carved within the rock.

Most of the time, especially for temple and royal inscriptions, the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ chose to to raised reliefs because it was less likely to be completely washed out by the sun 𓇳𓏺! Sunken reliefs were mainly used when time was of the essence, because sunken reliefs took less time to carve or when the rock was too hard/dense. Sunken reliefs actually became more popular starting with the 18th Dynasty.

Full Relief of Rameses II at the Brooklyn Museum.

This relief shows Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. What is interesting is the hieroglyphs are sunken reliefs, while the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 are raised reliefs.

Usually reliefs were either one or the other, however, this relief has both sunken and raised aspects to it! Many of his titles/cartouches are used in this relief.

Close-Up of the Hieroglyphs.

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ β€œlord of the two lands”
π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– Rameses II (Usermaatre – throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ β€œlord of appearances”
π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name)

π“ŒΊπ“©π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (Ramessu mery-Amun – birth name variant)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses II at the British Museum

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is one of the largest Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum. The piece is definitely grand, and is even more beautiful π“„€ in person.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was cut from pink/gray granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ. Granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is an extremely strong rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ and resistant to weathering due to its high quartz content (hence why it is used to make countertops), so that is why the details on this are so well preserved. This piece was excavated by Belzoni and was originally from Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ mortuary temple at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (aka the Ramesseum).

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ came to the throne after the death of his father Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and ruled Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 for about 67 years. He was the third pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, and is often referred to as β€œRameses The Great” because he built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 more monuments than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and ruled longer than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The monuments attributed to Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ are some of the best preserved – it seems that he got his wish to be remembered even so long after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 as much as he could so he could ensure that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– lived on.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Columns of Rameses II at the Louvre

Here I am in the Louvre!

The Louvre had such a large Egyptian collection (even compared to the MET) that I was honestly a little overwhelmed trying to see everything!! My Nonno and I spent the whole time practically running around because we didn’t want to miss anything!

One of the first cartouches I learned to read were for Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. I always felt so proud as a little girl when I could recognize the names of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 on the artifacts! Rameses II’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is always a good one to know because he put his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– everywhere! He usurped a lot of monuments from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and replaced their names with his own. Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– also had a lot of variations of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and depending when in his reign the monument was made and the amount of space available could determine which cartouche was used.

Here are some examples:

(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“), (π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“), and (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ) are all different variations of Rameses II’s birth name! While β€œspelled” with different hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, they actually all mean the same thing! For example, 𓇳𓏺, 𓁛, and π“œ are all used to designate β€œRa” while π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– and 𓁩 are used for Amun! (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–) which is seen on the column in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is his throne name!
What’s really cool is that a very similar column also belonging to Rameses II can be found in the British Museum too!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses II

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is one of the largest Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum. The piece is definitely grand, and is even more beautiful π“„€ in person. Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– most prolific builder, so it makes sense that objects made in his likeness are also grand!

Nicole (me) with the Statue of Rameses II at the British Museum

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ came to the throne after the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of his father Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and ruled Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 for about 67 years. He was the third pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, and is often referred to as β€œRameses The Great” because he built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 more monuments than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and ruled longer than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The monuments attributed to Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ are some of the best preserved in all of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– – it seems that he got his wish to be remembered even so long after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 as much as he could so he could ensure that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– lived on. He also usurped a lot of other previous pharaohs’ 𓉐𓉻𓏦 monuments too!

Geology time!!!! This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was cut from pink/gray granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ. Granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is an extremely strong rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ and resistant to weathering due to its high quartz content (hence why it is used to make countertops in modern times), so that is why the details on this are so well preserved.

This piece was excavated by Belzoni and was originally from Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (aka the Ramesseum).

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Egyptian Artifacts

What’s in a Name?

What’s in a name π“‚‹π“ˆ–?! To the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ, a person’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was everything!

In order to exist, a human needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 (impression an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body), the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. A name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was considered the essential part of the person because the other four 𓏽 elements could not exist without the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. I find this entire concept absolutely fascinating and I’m not going to lie, it has made me appreciate my own name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

If a person wanted to survive after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, not only was mummification essential, but even more so was preserving the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. This is why pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and others who could afford to do so had their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– carved everywhere – they wanted to survive after they died 𓅓𓏏𓏱. If a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was hacked away or forgotten, it meant that the person was deprived of their entire existence. This is why the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 like Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ were either left off of official King’s lists or removed from their monuments.

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ has his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– literally everywhere and his cartouche is the most commonly found one! He really wanted to ensure that he survived after he died 𓅓𓏏𓏱! This cartouche from the British Museum is one of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ and I think it is so beautifully π“„€ carved!