Tag: artifact

Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 20, 2024

This beautiful 𓄤 necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 is linked to his pyramid.

The Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet

Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍢 behind!

The necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 is made out of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, carnelian (stone with a red color), lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧, turquoise 𓅓𓆑𓂓𓏏𓈓, green feldspar, and garnet 𓄑𓏛𓈎𓄿𓌳𓄿𓅓𓏲𓈒𓏦!

Let’s take a look at all of the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 symbolism and imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 that is compressed into this piece!

A closeup of the Necklace of Princess Sithathoryuet highlighting the intricate design.

The necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 is centered around the throne name cartouche of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓇳𓈍𓆣.

Each side is symmetrical, and if we start by looking at the outermost part, the Falcon represents the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and he is is holding a shen 𓍶 symbol. The shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes the completeness and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 of the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

There are two Ankh 𓋹 symbols that are hanging on two cobras 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 who are representative of Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟 and Wadjet 𓇅𓇌𓏏𓆘, two traditional goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 who are protectors of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Underneath the cartouche is the god 𓊹 Heh 𓁨, who is the personification of infinity and eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛. His hieroglyphic symbol is actually the symbol for the number “one million 𓁨,” thus ensuring that the king’s rule is eternal 𓆖.

Underneath the god 𓊹 Heh 𓁨, are stones arranged to look like the “ripple of water 𓈖” hieroglyph, which is representative of the primordial waters that the land came from in the Egyptian creation myth. Much like the water 𓈗 of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 supported Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the primordial waters support this piece!

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Tags artifact, senwosret ii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

A couple of weeks ago I asked on my Instagram if there was an object people wanted to see more of, and someone suggested the Maned Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, so here it is!

I took a selfie with the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut!

Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were commonly represented as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 in ancient Egyptian art for many reasons. A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a mythical creature that has the body of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 and the head of a human. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 have been associated with kingship 𓇓𓇌 since prehistoric times due to their strength 𓌀 and ferocity. The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 was the perfect representation of the strength 𓌀 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself/herself.

A closeup of the hieroglyphs on the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓌺𓏏𓇌 – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given

𓆖 – Eternity

“Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.”

I know this is strange, but “Given Life” is actually written backwards! It should be “𓏙𓋹” not “𓋹𓏙” as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left, because that’s the way the directional symbols are pointing).

There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know!

The hieroglyphs on the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut with their English translation next to them!

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

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Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

This is a fragment of what used to be a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the pharaoh Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖! This (and many others like it) were found during Flinders Petrie and Howard Carter’s excavation at present-day Amarna in 1891, which in ancient times was called Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖.

A Fragment of Akhenaten – many of Akhenaten’s statues were intentionally destroyed after his reign

Many of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 not only have the faces destroyed, but are also in hundreds of pieces. This deliberate destruction of his statuary was an attempt to destroy his image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so he would be forgotten from history. Images/statues of a person, and the name 𓂋𓈖 of a person held immense power in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 so if a name 𓂋𓈖 and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was destroyed, its power was removed!

A Fragment of Akhenaten – a front view of the statue where the extent of the damage to his face can be clearly seen.

Why did Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 successors want his image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 destroyed? Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is infamous for completely changing the Egyptian pantheon from polytheistic worship of the traditional gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 to the monotheistic worship of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and people definitely did not like that! When Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 son, Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 became the pharaoh, he reinstated the old religion and moved the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 back to Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖.

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Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Tyet Knot and Djed Pillar

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 art is from a Roman Period mummy mask of a woman and is dated to 60 – 70 A.D. It’s always incredible to me how art that is just about 2000 years old has paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 and colors that still look brand new! This art shows two Tyet Knots 𓎬 and a Djed Pillar 𓊽 (middle).

Two Tyet Knots (right and left) and a Djed Pillar (middle) on a Roman mummy mask

The origin of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 is most likely from the predynastic times while Tyet Knot 𓎬 is from the First Dynasty/Early Dynastic Period. This means that these symbols were over 3000 years old when this mask was made! It always amazes me how the same religious symbols just persisted through Egyptian history!

The Tyet Knot 𓎬, also known as the Isis knot 𓎬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and came to be associated with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that knots 𓎬 were able to bind and then release magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜.

The Djed Pillar 𓊽 represents the word and concept of Stability in ancient Egypt. The Djed pillar 𓊽 is thought to be the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, hence why it takes on the meaning of “stability.”

The Isis Knots 𓎬 and the Djed Pillar 𓊽 were also mostly used in a funerary context, such as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏦 that were placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 or as part of spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺.

While both the Tyet Knot 𓎬 and Djed Pillar appear in art frequently, they are also both hieroglyphic symbols and appear in inscriptions!

The “reed column 𓊽” more commonly known as the “Djed Pillar” is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound “ḏd” which sounds like “Djed.” It also functions as an ideogram for “Stability.”

The “tie 𓎬” is an ideogram for “Tyet Knot 𓎬” or “Isis Knot 𓎬” and is a triliteral phonogram associated with the sound “tjt” which would be pronounced like “tyet.”

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Tags artifact, roman, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sistrums with Hathor

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 7, 2024

Music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 and musicians were highly regarded in ancient Egyptian culture. I love music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, and music 𓇋𓎛𓇌 is something that I cannot live without! This is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a musical instrument from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that is similar to a modern rattle or tambourine.

A faience sistrum with Hathor from the Ptolemaic Period

Since Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓇋𓎛𓇌, she was portrayed on most sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 in her human form! However, even though Hathor 𓉡 is represented as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐, she is recognized easily because of her characteristic cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears!

A closeup view of the sistrum with Hathor’s face! See if you can spot her cow ears!

I love these two sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 pictured below because while they are both from the Ptolemaic Period, they look so different! One of the sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 is made of blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 while the other is made of silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉.

A blue faience sistrum (front) and a silver sistrum (back) both with Hathor’s face on it from the Ptolemaic Period.

Fun fact: in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was actually considered to be more valuable because it was harder to obtain through trade! Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 does not naturally have a lot of silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉!

The silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 has hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the handle, however they are very hard to read due to cracks and natural wear. The blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 one has hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are much easier to read!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓎟𓈍𓈍𓈍 – Lord of Appearances

𓊪𓏏𓍯𓃭𓐝𓇌𓋴 – Ptolemaios (Ptolemy I)

𓋹 – Life

𓏇 – Like

𓇳𓏺 – Ra

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

𓆖 – Eternity

When 𓎛𓇳𓎛 and 𓆖 are used in the same phrase, it’s usually translated as “Everlasting Eternity” instead of “Eternity Eternity.”

Another way to write “Lord of Appearances” is like this – 𓎟𓈍𓏥 – using three strokes “𓏥” instead of repeating the “sun over the horizon 𓎟𓈍𓈍𓈍” hieroglyph three times! Both of these ways are the correct way to write the phrase, however the three strokes “𓏥” is usually used more because it takes up less space!

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Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hathor, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Model Boat

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 7, 2024

This is my favorite wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 model that I have seen in any museum!

Wooden Model Boat of Ukhotep at the MET

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 is from the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of a man named 𓂋𓈖 Ukhhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪. Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 was the chief treasurer 𓋨𓅱, which is why he probably received such gorgeous 𓄤 funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭.

This is one of two 𓏻 funerary boats that were found in his tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 – most Middle Kingdom tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 that had wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models always contained two 𓏻 boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏦. In the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, one boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 was oriented to the north 𓎔𓏏 and the other towards the south 𓇔𓅱𓏏.

During the actual funeral, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would take one last journey across the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Models of boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏦 (usually funerary boats), were usually found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 as a way to symbolically bring the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Wooden Model Boat of Ukhotep at the MET showing the mummy and the two women on either side representing Isis and Nephthys.

I really love this model because of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 that you can see underneath the canopy! As a kid I always loved that! The canopy also has a leopard 𓍋𓃀𓇌𓃮 skin on the top, and the details on the leopard 𓍋𓃀𓇌𓃮 are just gorgeous!

Wooden Model Boat of Ukhotep at the MET showing the priests wearing leopard skins.

The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is accompanied by two 𓏻 women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 mourners – they are probably meant to represent Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇. There is also a priest 𓊹𓍛 (dressed in the leopard 𓍋𓃀𓇌𓃮 skin) who holds a scroll 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 with a funerary offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 on it. There is a second priest 𓊹𓍛, also dressed in leopard 𓍋𓃀𓇌𓃮 skin with his arm 𓂝𓏺 extended outward in a mourning gesture.

Wooden Model Boat of Ukhotep at the MET highlighting the detailed leopard on the canopy.

Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were very popular amongst Middle Kingdom tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦. This particular boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 is dated to the 12th Dynasty (c. 1981–1802 B.C.E.)

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Tags artifact, the met, wooden models

Egyptian Artifacts

Clay Donkey

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 7, 2024

This little 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 donkey 𓃘𓏺 is easy to miss in the display cabinets of the galleries at the MET, but he is just so cute!

This piece was is very rudimentary but I love how it shows a different level of ancient Egyptian artistry. There are four little sticks in the donkey 𓃘𓏺 which are used to hold the little clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 balls which are probably representing sacks of grain 𓈎𓄿𓅱𓏸𓏦. This little 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 donkey 𓃘𓏺 was actually found by Howard Carter when he was excavating near Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple!

While horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏪 weren’t introduced into Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 until the Second Intermediate Period (around 1600 B.C.E.), donkeys 𓃘𓃘𓃘 seem to have been in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 since around 4500 B.C.E. (based on bone evidence). However, the first artistic representation of a donkey 𓆄𓅱𓃘 is from a palette dated to 3100 B.C.E., which is around the end of the Predynastic Period and the start of the Archaic Period (1st and 2nd Dynasties).

Another distinction between donkeys 𓃘𓃘𓃘 and horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏪 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were that donkeys 𓃘𓏪 were used mainly for work and for hauling goods/materials in carts (as seen in this clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 representation) while horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏪 were only used for pulling chariots 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝𓏦 and were reserved solely for the military and pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥.

This piece is dated to the Second Intermediate Period – Early New Kingdom (13th-18th Dynasties, 1991–1450 B.C.E.).

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Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Mosaic

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 7, 2024

While this beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 Roman mosaic is not Egyptian, it is inspired by ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! The global fascination and love of ancient Egyptian art didn’t start in modern times; in fact, the Romans were enamored with ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 too! The Romans saw Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as a “land of wealth and antiquity.”

An Egyptian inspired Roman Mosaic at the MET

Mosaics are a Roman art form, but if you look at the center you will see Egyptian figures! The figure on the left has blue skin and the sun/horn headdress that is typical of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 during this time period, while the seared figure on the right is wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth which is typical dress for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The scene is definitely strange because a goddess 𓊹𓏏 would never be making an offering to a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 – the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would always be making an offering to a god 𓊹 or goddess 𓊹𓏏! This scene was clearly meant to convey what the Roman’s felt as an Egyptian atmosphere and it’s interesting to see the Roman interpretation of Egyptian culture despite its inaccuracies.

Fun Fact: Roman Emperors liked Egyptian art, and some (like Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 and Hadrian 𓉔𓏏𓂋𓂝𓈖𓊃𓈎𓊃𓂋) had pieces from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 brought to Rome to adorn their gardens 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈𓏥 or estates.

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Tags artifact, roman, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus of Rameses III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 17, 2024

This striking red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺. Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 20th Dynasty and he ruled for 32 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓏻 turbulent years. His reign was marked by political, economic, and military issues.

The most interesting part about Rameses III’s 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺 reign for me is what is known as the “Harem Conspiracy” – Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 secondary wife, Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁐, plotted to have Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 killed so her son 𓅭 Pentawer 𓊪𓈖𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏹 could become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 instead of the chosen heir, Rameses IV 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃. While Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁐 and her conspirators (other high officials) succeeded in killing Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺, they did not succeed in establishing Pentawer 𓊪𓈖𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏹 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. All of the conspirators were caught and put to death and Rameses IV 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃 succeeded Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺 as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The Sarcophagus of Rameses III showing details of the goddess Isis.

Here, on the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of Rameses III 𓁛𓄟𓋴𓋴𓋾𓉺, Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is depicted where the feet of the deceased would be placed. Isis’ 𓊨𓏏𓁥 sister Nepthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is usually located where the deceased’s head would be located. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is easily recognized in Egyptian art because she is normally shown with the headdress of a throne, 𓊨, which is also one of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in her name 𓂋𓈖. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is shown with wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 and sitting on the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for “gold 𓋞.”

Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 is known as a devoted wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 and mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, but was also associated with resurrection 𓄟𓍿𓅱 due to her role in piecing her brother/husband Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 back together after he was dismembered by their brother Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣. She is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, who was magically conceived after Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 brought Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 back to life 𓋹.

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

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Tags artifact, louvre, rameses iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Imhotep and Khereduankh

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 17, 2024

Today, let’s talk about some of the stories that surround Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 – including his mother! Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was a real man that lived during Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 third dynasty (around 2700 B.C.E.) during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦𓂋. While Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is best known for being the architect of Djoser’s Step Pyramid (and Egypt’s first ever pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴), he was also a high priest 𓊹𓍛 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! After his death, Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 became one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified.

Imhotep and Khereduankh on display at the MET

There is not much that is known about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 as a person while he was alive; most of what we know about Imhotep was written at the earliest 1,200 years after his death! Referred to as “Sebayt 𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓇌𓏏𓏛” in Middle Egyptian, these “instructions” or “teachings” refer to Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 as a great physician and a writer! One text from the 20th Dynasty called “Eulogy of Dead Writers” even states “Is there another like Imhotep?”

Most statues of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 are made of bronze and are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, because that was when Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was widely worshipped. Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 mother, Khereduankh, even had statues made of her (she is on the right in my picture). Khereduankh is usually depicted as a seated woman wearing a short wig and the feathered crown with two Uraei 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗𓏪.

Imhotep and Khereduankh on display at the MET

There are even stories written about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, Khereduankh, Renpetneferet (his sister or wife depending on the story), and Djoser 𓂦𓂋! This story was written in Demotic on papyrus, and even includes Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 battling an Assyrian sorceress! Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 really could do everything!

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

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!

Tags artifact, imhotep, the met

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