Did you know that more statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 have survived compared to any other 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? One of the more interesting ones is this statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠!
This is a very interesting statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠! Amenhotep the III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of the infamous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was originally named Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀, until he changed his name 𓂋𓈖 to reflect the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and his change to the Egyptian religion.
The first thing that struck me about this statuette was the artistic style. It seems to be very grounded in realism, which is odd because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be depicted as being in peak physical condition. It also illustrates some aspects of Amarna-style art, such as the previously mentioned realism and the sagging/exaggerated belly.
This piece almost seems to be a precursor to the Amarna-style. I find these transition-type pieces so interesting because it seems like the Amarna-style art came out of nowhere, however, pieces like this show us that was not the case.
The statuette of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is made of ebony wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and has glass inlaid eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 and eyebrows. It consists of the pharaoh standing on a base, and the base contains hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.
The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base are thought to refer to one of Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 Heb Sed 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪 festivals (he ruled for 38 years). The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and then subsequent years afterwards. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the base also contain errors, which means it is probably of non-royal production.
The exact purpose of the statuette is unknown, but it is thought that it could have been used in a household shrine 𓉐𓏺 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Household 𓉐𓏺 statues/shrines actually became popular during the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This would also support the idea that this was of non-royal production.
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Here is Week 8 𓏿𓏻 of my Hieroglyphic Word of the Day stories all compiled into a video! Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult!
May He/She Live 𓋹𓍘
Every day 𓇳𓏺𓎟
Like Ra 𓏇𓇳𓏺
In, On, At, By, With, As 𓅓
To, Of, For, We/Us/Our, In, Because, Through 𓈖
Treasury 𓉒, 𓏺𓉐𓌉𓏺𓉐
Overseer 𓅓𓂋, 𓄓𓉐𓏤
God’s Booth 𓊹𓉱
These are all words/phrases that you will come across in inscriptions! Next time you’re at a museum, see if you can spot these ancient Egyptian words!
You can also watch the video on TikTok!
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Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room! These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖.
The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.
Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the video 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box!
Normally a person was buried with 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year, however, there were also overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 who would make sure the “regular ushabtis” (which are actually known as “worker ushabtis”) we’re doing their jobs!
You can also watch the video on TikTok!
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One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).
This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐!
The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 as well.
The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 contained instructions/spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, the end of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or the names 𓂋𓈖𓏥 of certain mythological figures.
This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.
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Here is Week 7 𓐀 of my Hieroglyphic Word of the Day stories all compiled into a video! Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult!
God 𓊹, 𓀭
Goddess 𓊹𓏏
To Be/To Exist 𓃹𓈖𓈖, 𓃹𓈖
God’s Mother 𓊹𓏏𓅐, 𓊹𓅐
Given Life Like Ra 𓏙𓋹𓇳𓏺𓏇
Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿
True of Voice 𓐙𓊤, 𓐙𓅱𓏏𓊤
These are all words/phrases that you will come across in inscriptions! Next time you’re at a museum, see if you can spot these ancient Egyptian words!
This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.
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Nonno and I are co-presidents of the Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 fan club! As much as I also love the Temple of Dendur at the MET, nothing beats seeing all of the different types of ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures on display! Seeing the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 makes me so happy!
Fun Facts about Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures:
The ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 served as substitutes for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and would perform labor or jobs for them in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.
Ushabtis are usually inscribed with specific spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 which assigned each ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 to a certain task! The most popular one is the “Shabti Spell.”
Ushabtis can be made of many different types of materials such as faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and rarely even bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦!
People who could afford it were buried with over 400 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪! Usually there were 365 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏾 worker ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 (one for each day of the year) and then overseer ushabtis!
My Nonno loved ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 so much and would tell my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐 and I stories about them! I love these statues so much and I may be among their biggest fans – I cannot get enough of them!
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These small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 blocks are called “Talatat” and were used solely during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! These were used in the construction of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀) and the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖.
These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 blocks were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 a single worker could carry them and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, and were never used again.
Even though originally from Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, these Talatat were actually found at Hermopolis because after Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!
These Talatat at the MET were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. A lot of the colors you see on these blocks are restored and not necessarily the original colors.
Tens of thousands of Talatat have been found across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.
This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.
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Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! In ancient Egypt many pharaohs had five names, so let’s learn the Royal Titularly of Hatshepsut!
This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is one of my absolute favorite pieces because depicts Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and making an offering of nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 to Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺. The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was meant to commemorate restoration works in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖!
The most interesting parts about this stela is that it is one of two pieces (that I know of) that contains Hatshepsut’s entire titulary in one place! The only other place I know that has all of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 is the Obelisk at Karnak.
Let’s take a closer look at all of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦! The names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 can be found on the top two rows of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the bottom of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!
Horus Name: 𓄊𓋴𓏏𓂓𓂓𓂓 – “Wosretkau” translates to “The Mighty of the Kas” or “The Mighty of the Souls.”
Nebty Name: 𓅒𓇅𓏏𓆳𓆳𓆳 – “Wadjet renput” translates to “Flourishing of Years.”
Golden Horus Name: 𓅉𓊹𓏏𓈍𓏦 – “Netjeret khau” translates to “Divine of Appearances.”
Throne Name: 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – “Maatkare” translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.”
Birth Name: 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓄂𓀼 – “Khnemet Amun Hatshepsut” translates to “United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.” This version of the Birth Name that appears on this stela is a variant of 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪. A “variant” is just a different way to spell out a person’s name 𓂋𓈖!
If you watch the video on TikTok below, there is music accompanying the images! I hope you enjoyed learning about The Royal Titularly of Hatshepsut!
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This stunningly painted piece is the Inner Cartonnage of a person named Gautseshenu. This piece would have been placed inside a larger coffin and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 and it’s amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are.
The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 was the central god 𓊹 in the scene, and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹 . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it.
For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather. If Anubis determines there’s balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭. The simplified version of the scene represented on this cartonnage is missing Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏.
If you’re looking at the inner cartonnage/coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 from the front, you can see Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts of it in a very small amount of space!
You can also watch this video (with music) on TikTok!
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Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is Week 4 of my Hieroglyphic Vocabulary Word of the Day stories from Instagram all compiled into a video! This week we focused on some of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 whose names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 you will commonly see in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥!
Here are the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 we learned this week:
Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 (Hatshepsut Throne Name)
Hatshepsut (Foremost of the Noble Women) 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 (Birth Name)
Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (Thutmosis III Throne Name)
Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 (Throne Name)
Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 (Birth Name)
Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (Throne Name)
Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (Birth Name Variant)
Learning any language – including hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪/Middle Egyptian doesn’t have to be difficult! Learning how to read the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 in their cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 is a great place to start because not only do their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 appear frequently, but it’s a great way to practice the meaning of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
You can also watch the video on TikTok!
This is my personal photographs/video and original text. DO NOT repost.