Tag: artifact

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphic Offering Vessel

This is a β€œHieroglyphic Offering Vessel” that is dated to c. 3,000 B.C.E.! For some context, the unification of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β took place c.Β 3,100 B.C.E., and this period was known as the Early Dynastic Period.Β 

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, especially during this time period, the distinction between art and writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ was almost interchangeable – so much so that sometimes it is hard to tell if images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, drawings or even both! 

This Offering Vessel is a combination of two 𓏻 hieroglyphic symbols π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: the ankh π“‹Ή and the ka π“‚“. So, let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

The β€œAnkh,” is a triliteral phonogram that has the sound β€œΛnḫ” which would sound like β€œankh.” Although it can be an ideogram for β€œsandal strap” and β€œmirror,” the β€œsandal strap π“‹Ήβ€ is much more commonly seen as the word for β€œLife.” 

The β€œtwo arms 𓂓” symbol is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound β€œk3,” which would be pronounced like β€œka.” This is the symbol for the word β€œsoul.” The ka π“‚“ was the soul or life force of a person. 

So how do life π“‹Ή, soul π“‚“ and this Offering Vessel all connect to each other? Together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the life π“‹Ή and soul π“‚“ form an essential relationship between the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ and the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱. Even if the person is dead, the ka π“‚“ still requires nourishment in the form of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ and drink. This Offering Vessel allows the ka π“‚“ to receive water π“ˆ—, so it can continue to live on. 

Essentially, the vessel allows for the ka π“‚“ to continue to receive offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 so it can continue to be sustained! It’s always amazing to me how Egyptian funerary beliefs didn’t really change over time, they just continued to evolve, for example, into False Doors and Offering Tables π“‚π“ƒ€π“…‘𓄿𓋃π“ͺ! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hathor – the Beautiful Cow!

Is this a beautiful woman 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 or a cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒?! The answer is both because this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from The Book of the Dead of Imhotep (at the MET) is of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form!

Hathor 𓉑 is one of the most prominent goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ of the Egyptian pantheon, and her roles evolved over time. Along with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, she is regarded as the β€œdivine mother” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of love, joy π“„«π“π“„£, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ (she was often depicted on sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ), and dance – basically the fun things in life π“‹Ή! Hathor is also mentioned as the the wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, and the daughter 𓅭𓏏of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, though through times some of these relations have changed/evolved. 

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œHathor π“‰‘β€œ in Middle Egyptian translates to β€œHouse of Horus” which links Hathor 𓉑 to the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 (because the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is where Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ dwells). Absorbing the roles of pre-dynastic deities, Hathor was associated with both the night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„› sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and the Milky Way Galaxy π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“ˆŽπ“π“ˆŠ. 

Another function that Hathor 𓉑 possessed that  not many are aware of was that she was also a prominent funerary goddess π“ŠΉπ“! One 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“‰. She was referred to as β€œMistress of the West,” and could be found welcoming the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱 with fresh water π“ˆ—. She also earned the title β€œLady of the Sycamore,” and was also seen as a tree π“†­π“…“𓆭 goddess π“ŠΉπ“. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Faience Cosmetic Box

This is a blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ cosmetic box at the MET that is in the shape of a column. While the exact date of the box is unknown, this type of column style was popular during the Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-300 B.C.E.), hence why archaeologists think it is from that time period. The reason why the date of the cosmetic box is undetermined is because finding boxes like this is very rare!Β 

These type of cosmetic boxes (where two 𓏻 pieces are attached by a peg that allows it to swing open and closed) are more commonly found in the shape of spoons or boxes and are usually dated to the New Kingdom. The stains on the inside of this box indicate that it may have contained ointment π“ŒΈπ“Ž›π“π“Ž―π“ƒ‹ at one point! 

While many noble people𓃝𓏀𓀻𓀻𓀻/aristocrats would have had cosmetic boxes, this one is believed to have been used in a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ ritual due to the fact that it looks like a column from a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Life, Stability, and Strength” in Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at a popular inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is on an ostracon, which is basically either a broken piece of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (in this case), pottery π“ π“ˆ–𓇋𓏋, a rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™, etc. that was used for drawing/writing practice π“‹΄π“…“π“„§π“œ. You can definitely tell that this was practice π“‹΄π“…“π“„§π“œ because you can still see the red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ grid lines on the limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰! The grid lines were really important because it allowed the artist to draw out the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ evenly, so everything was the same size!

I have definitely spoken about this phrase before, but let’s take a closer look! 

π“‹Ή – Life 

π“Š½ – Stability 

π“Œ€ – Strength 

The β€œsandal strap π“‹Ήβ€ more commonly known as the β€œAnkh,” is a triliteral phonogram that has the sound β€œΛnḫ” which would sound like β€œankh.” Should it can be an ideogram for β€œsandal strap” and β€œmirror,” the β€œsandal strap π“‹Ήβ€ is much more commonly seen as the word for β€œLife.” 

The β€œreed column π“Š½β€ more commonly known as the β€œDjed Pillar” is a biliteral phonogram that has the sound β€œαΈd” which sounds like β€œDjed.” It also functions as an ideogram for β€œStability,” like in the inscription above. The Djed Pillar π“Š½ is thought to represent the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. 

The β€œanimal headed staff π“Œ€β€ is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sounds β€œw3s,” which would probably be pronounced like β€œwas.” The symbol functions as an ideogram for the word β€œstaff,” but most of the time, you will see it represent the word β€œStrength.” 

This common phrase β€œπ“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€β€ is seen everywhere, and a lot of the times appears as β€œπ“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€ – Given Life, Stability and Strength” or β€œπ“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“†– – Given Life, Stability and Strength for Eternity.” This phrase was so popular because it held a lot of meaning in ancient Egyptian culture/religion! This phrase is almost like a blessing, ensuring that the person being spoken about in the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is all of these qualities! This phrase can be used with both the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–𓐍 and the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Two Baboons

This is a sunken limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c.Β 400–200 B.C.E.). There’s a lot going on here in such a small space! Let’s take a look!Β 

Two 𓏻 baboons are offering Wedjat Eyes π“‚€π“‚€ to the god π“ŠΉ Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“›, who is depicted as the scarab π“π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣. Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“› represents the β€œnewborn sun” (sun at dawn). On the relief, Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“› is holding the star β€œπ“‡½,” which is the sign for the Duat π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰ (Underworld/Afterlife), and beneath him is a sun disc 𓇳𓏺 with sun rays π“†„𓅱𓇢 extending downward. 

The baboons in this relief are most likely associated with the god π“ŠΉ Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­, who was often depicted as a baboon. The reason why they seem to be associated with Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­ is because of the Wedjat Eyes π“‚€π“‚€ they are holding and also by the shen rings 𓍢𓍢 they are wearing on their heads. The shen rings π“Άπ“Ά are thought to represent the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, and since Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­ is god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, he is commonly associated with this symbol!

The wedjat π“‚€ or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏀 that Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ lost when battling Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Thoth π“…€π“€­ restored Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth or healing π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€π“œ.

The Shen ring 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sekhmet and Ptah – the Unlikely Pair!

This piece at the MET is from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c.Β 664–30 B.C.E.)Β is tinyΒ π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©Β so of course I love it!!

This smallΒ π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©Β piece of metal depicts the deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ PtahΒ π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±Β and SekhmetΒ π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“.Β PtahΒ π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±Β and SekhmetΒ π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“Β are super interesting mythological figures in ancient EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β because they were some of the oldest deitiesΒ π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉΒ that were worshipped for thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years!Β 

Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was known as the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of war, the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺 (such as the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ heat), could bring on plagues, and was associated with kingship. In the Book of the Dead, Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± is referred to as β€œThe Master Architect,” and β€œFramer of Everything in the Universe” due to his role in β€œspeaking” the world 𓇾𓇾 into creation! 

If Sekhmet’s π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 power was uncontrolled, she could pose major problems for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. For example, when Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was sent by her father Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 to punish the human race for rebelling against him, she lost control and had to be stopped by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 before she eradicated all of humanity! Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 tricked her into thinking that pomegranate juice was blood and Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 drank so much she fell asleep! In one version of the myth, when she wakes up, the first thing she sees is Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and instantly falls in love with him! 

The love affair between Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 us very interesting in a mythological sense because Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± represents creation while Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 can represent total destruction! Their son π“…­, Nefertem π“„€π“†‘𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯, is the god π“ŠΉ of healing. The union of creation and destruction created healing and thus re-established β€œMa’at” (truth π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„/justice π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ) in the world π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery (Part 3)

I have written about these small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© β€œKneeling Statues of Hatshepsut” in the past, but I have never posted a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 with all four 𓏽 of them togetherΒ π“ˆ–π“Š—! Usually due to crowds at the MET, it is so hard to get all four 𓏽 in a single picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Since I wrote about the big statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ yesterday, let’s look at the smallΒ π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ todayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³! I was so happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 to get some fun pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 in the HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ Gallery!Β 

In these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is kneeling and is seen holding the nemset jar π“Œ.  The jar π“Œ has the djed pillar π“Š½ adorning the front.  The djed pillar π“Š½ is thought to be the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, and it represents stability and endurance – both are attributes a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 needed in order to be a successful ruler π“‹Ύ!

While tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©, these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ adorned her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. At least eight of these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were found on the joint expedition between the MET and the Egyptian government during the excavation of Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Four 𓏽 of these are in the MET, and are in varying conditions. 

They were most likely used to line the upper court at her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, and are thought to be intended for her Heb Sed festival (a festival used to celebrate 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† years of rule, and then celebrated every three 𓏼 years after the initial 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†). Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, ever the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to break from tradition, instead celebrated hers in the 16th π“Ž†π“Ώ year of her rule! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery (Part 2)

Thanks to my mom 𓄿𓏏𓁐, who was at the museum with me, I was able to get such great pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 in the HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ Gallery!

Here I am in between the two 𓏻 large red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! These statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ are tremendous in size and so gorgeous π“„€ to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in them! 

In both statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar π“Œπ“Ί in each hand π“‚§π“π“Ί. In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, kneeling is considered a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, and hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ at the base of one of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ say that she is offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†° to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­. 

The main difference between the two 𓏻 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ is that one has a false beard and one does not! In statuary, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were usually depicted wearing a false beard as it was a sign of royalty π“‹Ύ. Since most of these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were found in pieces at Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐 during excavations, it’s possible that the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ on the right was supposed to have a false beard but it wasn’t found, or that it was never supposed to have one!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery (Part 1)

I had HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ all to myself at the MET!!

Anyone who has been following me for a while knows that the β€œHatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ Gallery” at the MET is my favorite gallery out of any museum I have been too! HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ has been my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 since I was a child; pretty much ever since my Nonno told me that there was a womanΒ π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“Β who was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!Β 

Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ cartouche means β€œUnited with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” however just the given name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œHatshepsut π“π“„‚𓏏𓀼π“ͺ” alone just means β€œForemost of the Noble Women,” and I feel that name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is totally appropriate for her! Her throne name, β€œMaatkare π“‡³π“¦π“‚“” means β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

Most of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ that are in this gallery are from the MET’s joint expedition with the Egyptian government in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during 1928-1929. This excavation focused on Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐, which is the location of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple. Most of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ you can see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 were found in pieces, and were put back together. 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ ruled π“‹Ύ for about 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years, and the earlier years were a joint rein π“‹Ύ with her nephew Thutmosis III π“‡³π“ π“†£. She commissioned many building projects (her mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐 being the most magnificent) and sent an expedition to the land of Punt π“Šͺπ“ƒΊπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆ‰.

About twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† years after her death π“…“𓏏𓏱, around the end of Thutmosis III’s π“‡³π“ π“†£ reign π“‹Ύ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 were erased from monuments and she was not included on the Ramesside King’s Lists. The theory is that this was Thutmosis III’s π“‡³π“ π“†£ doing, however, that is a theory and there isn’t really sound archaeological evidence for it. We will probably never know for sure!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

“Soul Houses”

These clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ model houses 𓉐π“₯ are called β€œSoul Houses” and they were given this name by Flinders Petrie due to them being found at the entrance to or very close to tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ or burials. 

These Soul π“‚“ Houses 𓉐π“₯ are usually found in or near Middle Kingdom burials. These clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ models ensured that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 had access to shelter and food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔π“₯ in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. They are thought to take the place of offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃π“ͺΒ – since offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃π“ͺΒ were usually for the wealthy, the Soul House 𓉐𓏀 was a more affordable option.Β 

I have always been a person who likes tiny π“ˆ–𓆓𓋴𓅩 things, and the Soul Houses are no exception! I used to call them β€œEgyptian Dollhouses” when I was a kid, which is why I liked them so much despite their rough appearance. I am not going to lie, I still refer to them as dollhouses!!