Tag: the met

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Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Roman Sarcophagus

For my whole life I have called this piece the β€œRoman Anubis Mummy!!!”

As anyone who has followed me for a while knows, I love absolutely anything that has to do with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! He has been my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ since I started learning about mythology at six 𓏿 years old! Since I was a kid who was obsessed with mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ too, it makes sense that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, god π“ŠΉ of mummification and cemeteries would be a favorite of mine!

What is interesting about this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 though is that he is depicted with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή. Thoth π“…€π“€­ is usually represented with the moon (as he is god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή along with hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, wisdom etc.), while Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 connection to the lunar disc π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή is not well understood. One of the earliest images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή actually comes from Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, in the scene that β€œconfirms” that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus she had the divine right to rule. Other scenes connecting Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 to the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή exist, but the relationship between two 𓏻 are not well understood and it is something I wish we knew more about!

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Artemidora who lived in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The text above Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 reads β€œArtemidora, daughter of Harpokras, died untimely, aged 27. Farewell.” The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 taken of her mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 using radiographic techniques confirm this age of death. Big thanks the @metmuseum for the translation, because while I can read and translate hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ I certainly do not know Greek!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Name Panels of Senwosret I

I am standing in front of the Name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Panels for the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ–. These panels were originally part of his pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 complex and were reconstructed from many pieces that were found during excavations.

Senwosret I’s π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– throne name, Kheperkare 𓇳𓆣𓂓, is seen multiple times along with his Horus name β€œπ“‹Ήπ“„Ÿβ€ which means β€œliving in births.”

These large panels represent the world 𓇾𓇾 according to Egyptian religious beliefs. The falcon god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen at the top of all the panels because the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is the realm of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. Beneath the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is the realm of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, or the β€œtwo lands 𓇿𓇿.” Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was always referred to as the two lands 𓇿𓇿 due to the distinction between Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt.

π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

β€œStela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef”

This beautiful π“„€ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is titled by the MET as β€œStela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.”

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is dated to Dynasty 11 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1988 B.C.E.) and we know this because the cartouches of Mentuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (credited with reunifying Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–) appear as a dedication from Intef π“Žπ“ˆ–π“π“†‘, the owner of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. Intef π“Žπ“ˆ–π“π“†‘ was an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ and β€œoverseer of the fortress” – a title that could’ve only been given to him after the reunification of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! While I would love to translate the whole thing for all of you, there is too much text to fit in an Instagram description, and it’s hard to see some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! so I will do as much as I can! Below are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ from the first half of top panel of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! I want to translate the other readable parts for you all too so I will do that soon!

π“…ƒπ“„₯𓇿𓇿 – Horus, Uniter of the Two Lands

π“…’π“„₯𓇿𓇿- Two Ladies, Uniter of the Two Lands

π“…‰ – Horus of Gold

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€) Nebhapetra (throne name)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) Mentuhotep II (given name)

π“‹Ή – Life

𓇳𓏇 -Like Ra

𓆖 – Forever

Here it is all together: π“…ƒπ“„₯𓇿𓇿𓅒π“„₯𓇿𓇿𓅉π“†₯(π“‡³π“ŽŸπ“Š€)𓅭𓇳(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ)𓋹𓇳𓏇𓆖

β€œHorus, “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Two Ladies “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Falcon of Gold, King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebhepetre, Son of Ra, Mentuhotep, alive like Ra forever.”

Nicole (me) with the Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.
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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Dispelling Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, and I want to show why they are misconceptions.

It was always said by historians that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was β€œshowing herself as a male” or β€œtrying/wanting to be a man.” These statements are just not true. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ never portrayed herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€. She portrayed herself as a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, which she was! In fact, she very much referred to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“. How do we know? It’s all in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Let’s take a look at the titles she gives herself.

The inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉπ“π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“‡³π“¦π“‚“π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“ŒΈπ“‡Œπ“‹Ήπ“˜π“†–

π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – β€œPerfect goddess”
π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – β€œLady of the Two Lands”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œMaatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun
π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Thrones
π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Beloved
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!
𓆖 – Eternity

So the inscription reads β€œPerfect goddess, lady of the two lands Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Lord of the Thrones, May She Live, For Eternity.”

If Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was referring to herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ or trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, the inscription would read like this:

π“„€π“ŠΉ π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œPerfect god, lord of the two lands Maatkare.”

The addition of the β€œπ“β€ makes the words the feminine version! β€œπ“ŽŸ – Lord” becomes β€œπ“ŽŸπ“ – Lady” and β€œπ“ŠΉ -God” becomes β€œ π“ŠΉπ“ – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here is the other inscription that is on the statue:

The inscription reads:π“…­π“π“‡³π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“‡“π“π“ŠΉπ“₯π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“‹Ήπ“π“†“π“†‘

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra
π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘ – Bodily/Of Her Body
(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³ – Amun-Ra
𓇓𓏏 – King of (feminine form of King)
π“ŠΉπ“₯ – Gods
π“Œ»π“‡Œ – Beloved
𓋹𓏏𓆓𓆑 – She Live Forever (forever is usually written as β€œπ“†–β€)

Put together, the inscription reads: β€œBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved of Amun-Ra, King of the Gods, May She Live Forever.”

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! If she called herself the β€œSon of Ra” the inscription would look like β€œπ“…­π“‡³β€ instead of β€œπ“…­π“π“‡³. ” The word for β€œbodily π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘β€ is also feminized, and would be written as β€œπ“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“†‘β€ if it was referencing a male. The word for β€œking 𓇓” is also written in the feminine form and has the β€œπ“β€ at the end (𓇓𓏏).

There was no word for β€œqueen” in Middle Egyptian, the closest word that exists is β€œπ“‡“π“π“π“ˆž,” which translates to β€œThe King’s Wife.” Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was certainly not the King’s Wife: she was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/king 𓇓𓏏.

This misconception needs to be squashed, because it very much erases Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ identity π“‚‹π“ˆ– and as we know, the name/identity π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a person was essential to Egyptian cultural beliefs. Referring to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ as anything but how she referred to herself is an insult to her.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Inscription – “Before Anubis”

Here is a piece of an inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ at the MET.

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

𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓃣 – β€œAnubis”

A very simple inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–, but something that was important for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 since Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was tasked with the protection of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! In order for ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ to journey through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and eventually reach the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾/body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to remain intact! So a person definitely wanted to be near Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒!

Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“…±
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒
𓃣
𓃀
𓁒

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Ba Bird

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, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

The Ba 𓅑𓏀 is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 can also be thought of as an individual’s personality. When a person died, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the part of the person that lived on after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

This particular Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 B.C.E.). Ba 𓅑𓏀 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±π“¦ or added as an attachment to a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

The details on this Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are absolutely beautiful π“„€. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 has a sun disk 𓇳𓏀 on its head 𓁢𓏀 and is wearing a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III

The MET has a very large collection of objects from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. These women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ were named Menhet π“π“‚Ÿπ“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“‡Ώπ“π“, Menwi π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“Œπ“―π“‡‹π“, and Merti π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“ƒ­π“˜π“‡‹π“ and were buried in an undecorated tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ located near Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. The country of origin of these women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ is unknown.

This gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ has a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head on each end. While this piece is dated to the New Kingdom (18th Dynasty c. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ have been used to adorn mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ since the Old Kingdom (c. 2649 B.C.E.). Broad Collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ were the necklace of choice amongst the elites and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

The Vulture Pectoral is also most likely from the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ as the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ pictured. Vultures are common funerary symbols and are usually associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ. Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ was usually depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 with the head 𓁢𓏀 of a vulture. She is the patron goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt 𓇑 (hence why her name has the β€œπ“‡‘β€ symbol for upper Egypt) and was also tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ royal women 𓀻𓋴𓏏𓁐.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Granite Statue of Hatshepsut and its Hieroglyphs

Since I can’t go too long without talking about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, let’s talk about this granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of her!

She is depicted in female attire, but is also wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄, which is usually reserved only for the reigning pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to wear! Once again, this imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ wanted to be seen as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, not be seen as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€.

Her hands 𓂝𓏦 are flat on her lap, which means that this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was probably put inside the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and meant to receive offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was found in multiple pieces during excavations at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and then pieced back together.

Let’s look at the hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ inscription (only the top part of it can be seen – the other half is too destroyed for me to finish translating):

π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – β€œPerfect goddess”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œMaatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)

So the inscription reads β€œPerfect goddess, Maatkare.”

If Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was referring to herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ or trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, the inscription would read like this:

π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – β€œPerfect god, Maatkare.”

The addition of the β€œπ“β€ makes the word the feminine version – β€œπ“ŠΉ -God” becomes β€œ π“ŠΉπ“ – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! There are too many examples of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ being referred to as a female in writing to make the rash conclusion that she was β€œtrying to be a man.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Sekemhathor

This is a beautiful π“„€ example of a False Door from the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Userkaf π“…±π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚“π“†‘ (5th Dynasty). This False Door was from the west 𓋀𓏏𓏭 wall of a mastaba tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– that belonged to Nikauhor and his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“. Nikauhor was a judge and a priest π“ŠΉπ“› in Userkaf’s π“…±π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚“π“†‘ sun temple while Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“›π“ of Hathor 𓉑 and Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­.

This specific false door pictured belonged to Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ and images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the couple are seen on either opening of the false door (Nikauhor had his own false door). These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are expertly carved in raised relief and I wish I could have gotten more detailed photos 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 but the glass and reflection from the lights makes it hard to do that. We know this particular false door belonged to Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ specifically because her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written on the arch above the opening to the door. It is common practice to have the deceased’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– above the door!

False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. 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. The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the soul π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could travel between the two lands 𓇿𓇿 through the False Door. They are also known as β€œka π“‚“ doors” or β€œsoul π“‚“ doors.”

False Doors were usually located on the western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 walls of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ because the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – when Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 makes his daily journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, sunset 𓇋𓐍𓐍𓅱𓇢 is representative of his death.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

False Door of Neferiu

This is another beautiful π“„€ example of a False Door from the Old Kingdom or First Intermediate Period (8th-11th Dynasty). This False Door belonged to the Royal Sealer 𓅓𓂋𓋩𓏏 Neferiu π“„€π“‚»π“…±. A Royal Sealer 𓅓𓂋𓋩𓏏 had a job similar to that of a treasurer 𓋨𓅱!

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

This is the top line of text:
π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ŽŸπ“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š–π“‰“π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“π“„ͺπ“…±π“„€π“‚»π“…±

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – an offering the king gives
π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris
π“ŽŸπ“Š½π“‚§π“…±π“Š– – Lord of Djedu
𓉓 – a voice offering
π“‚‹ – before
π“ˆ– – to/for
𓐍π“„ͺπ“…± – the revered
π“„€π“‚»π“…±- Neferiu

All together the inscription reads: β€œAn offering the King gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, a voice offering before and to the revered Neferiu.”

This is the second line of text:
π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“ƒ£π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘π“Άπ“…±π“π“ π“‰“π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“„€π“‚»π“…±

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – an offering the king gives
𓃣 – Anubis
π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘ – upon his mountain
𓏢𓅱𓏏𓐏 – in the mummy wrappings
𓉓 – a voice offering
π“‚‹ – before
π“ˆ– – to/for
π“„€π“‚»π“…± – Neferiu

All together the inscription reads: β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, Upon His Mountain, in the mummy wrappings, a voice offering before and to Neferiu.”

These two 𓏻 inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ are very common and are the standard β€œoffering formula” (with some minor variations) that are used in many False Doors and Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. In the second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I zoomed in on the part with Anubis 𓃣 because he is my favorite and I always get excited when I see his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! Just the determinative symbol for Anubis 𓃣 instead of his full name (π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣) was used in this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ probably due to a lack of space!

Now let’s read the text that is in the middle panel of the false door! These two 𓏻 pieces of text basically say what a great person Neferiu π“„€π“‚»π“…± was and it also lists all of the wonderful things he did in his life! I did not write out all of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ this time because it was too long! Please enjoy the translation though!

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This is the translation of the inscription on the left side: β€œI gave bread 𓏏𓏐 to the hungry π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“…©π“€ and clothes π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“…±π“‹³π“¦ to the π“ˆ– naked π“„Ώπ“Ž›π“‡Œπ“‹³π“€. I drove the boatless in my boat. I gave property to someone I knew as well as to the one I did not. The seal-bearer 𓋨𓅱 of the King of Lower Egypt 𓆀, the sole companion, the revered π“„ͺ𓐍 Neferiu π“„€π“‚»π“…±.”

This is the text on the right side: β€œO the living π“‡‹π“€žπ“‹Ή, those who are upon the Earth 𓇾, who love life π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“, I gave assistance to those in the year π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“†³π“π“€ of hardship. I acted mightily with my strong arm in order to endure among my children. It is Iqer* who did it that I might become greater than the great π“…©π“‚‹ ones and the noblemen…of my entire town, who bore witness to me.”
*Iqer is a local deity or the name of a place near Dendera

On the bottom, next to Neferiu π“„€π“‚»π“…± and his wife π“ˆŸπ“ on both sides the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ say:
π“ˆŸπ“π“ŒΈπ“‚‹π“π“†‘π“Œ‰π“ƒ€π“†“π“ or β€œHis 𓆑 beloved π“ŒΈπ“‚‹ wife π“ˆŸπ“ Wedjbet π“ˆŸπ“.”