Tag: the met

Head of Akhenaten or Nefertiti?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 16, 2024

The MET has this piece listed as “Head of Akhenaten or Nefertiti” but to me, the head looks more like Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 than Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖! Let me know who you think this piece looks more like in the comments!

This piece is dated to c. 1353–1336 B.C.E., which unsurprisingly is during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The piece was found during the 1891-1892 excavations of Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 (present-day Amarna) by Flinders Petrie and Howard Carter.

The bust was found in one of the sculptor’s 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀 workshops. The sculptor’s 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀 workshops in Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 have been the source of many beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 pieces from this time period. I love the artifacts that are found in an unfinished state because it gives such insight into how these incredible ancient Egyptian artists worked and it shows that even the most grand of pieces started off in humble states! If this piece had been finished, would it have looked like the famous Bust of Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭? Or was the piece just meant to be a trial piece and this was what it was supposed to look like?

One of my favorite things about this account is I get to learn as I am teaching! I did not know the word for “sculptor 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀” off the top of my head so I looked it up! One of the alternative translations for “sculptor 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀“ is “Life Giver” which I find so fascinating – it really gives insight into the Egyptian culture because the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 or statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a person could give 𓏙 life 𓋹 to them after death!

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Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, nefertiti, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Apis Bull

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 16, 2024

These are bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒. The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 can actually be traced back to as early as the First Dynasty!

The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 near the Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 Temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. People would travel from various locations to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 just to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒, and the mother 𓅐𓏏 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒.

While Hathor 𓉡 is probably the most famous of the cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was also very widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 and represented eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 and the harmonious balance of the whole universe. The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 which is probably why a lot of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were referred to with the title of the “strong bull 𓂡𓃒.” This was to represent the strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and vitality of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Usually a live bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 was used to be worshipped, and the bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 needed to have special markings on it such as a triangle shape on its forehead, or patches that represented wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 on its body. When the bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 that was being worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 died, it was embalmed 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and buried elaborately. A new bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 would then take its place.

One of the easiest ways to recognize the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 in statuary is by looking for the sun disc 𓇳 on its head, and the elaborate cloth that is decorating the back of its body. In this picture it’s hard to see the triangle on its forehead that usually represented the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒, but it is there!

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Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Painted Wooden Stela

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 16, 2024

This painted wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is an absolutely beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece from the Third Intermediate Period (22nd Dynasty, c. 825–712 B.C.E.) and one of my favorites to see at the MET.

Painted Wooden Stela at the MET

This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 depicts the god 𓊹 Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 leading the deceased woman, Tjanetiset, to the deity 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤. This imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is very common on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 from this time period. Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is the combination of the deities Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 and he is the god 𓊹 of the morning sun 𓅃𓈌𓏏𓏭𓀭. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and depictions of Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 in funerary art became more prominent during the Late Period.

I love this piece so much because it looks like Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and the woman Tjanetiset are holding hands and he is leading her to Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤! What’s very interesting is what is in Tjanetiset’s other hand! If you look closely, she is holding a heart in her hand 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and it looks like she is holding it in an offering position to Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤.

In ancient Egyptian religion/culture, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not only the center of a person’s life 𓋹, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process, because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

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Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut’s Ovoid Stone

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 28, 2024

This piece is known as an “Ovoid Stone” or a “Hammering Stone” and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction.

A closeup image of the Ovoid Stone and the hieroglyphs on it!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I divided the inscription into two parts, and then translated each of the individual words so you can get a sense of the sentence structure used in the Middle/New Egyptian language!! Here’s the first row:

𓊹𓏏𓄤(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓁹𓈖𓊃𓅓𓏠𓏍𓊃𓏛𓆑𓊃𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺

𓊹𓏏𓄤 – Great Goddess

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare

𓁹𓈖 – to make/to do/born of

𓊃 – she

𓅓 – for

𓏠𓏍𓊃𓏛- monument

𓆑 – father

𓊃 – her

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Re

“The Great Goddess, Maatkare, she made the monument for her father, Amun-Re…”

And here’s the second row:

𓐍𓆑𓏸𓍱𓈙𓁷𓏸𓇋𓏠𓈖𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐𓁹𓊃𓋹𓍘

𓐍𓆑 – in front of/at (a preposition)

𓏸𓍱𓈙 – Stretching of the Cord

𓁷𓏸 – over

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies

𓁹𓊃𓋹𓍘 – May She Live / That They Live

“…at the stretching of the cord over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!”

The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt. “Holiest of Holies” is the name for Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri.

A larger view of the display that contains the Ovoid Stone

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

Reading Hieroglyphs Ushabti Friends

Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 28, 2024

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This display combines two of my favorite things: Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs! This ushabti belonged to a woman named Isis and is on display at the MET.

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and was made for a woman named Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 who was ironically a singer for the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 !

This ushabti 𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because they undergo much development during this time period. It’s very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabti’s 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue!

Here’s the full inscription on the ushabti: 𓇓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓅮𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤

Let’s break down the inscription by each individual word:

𓇓𓂝𓏏 – Singer

𓈖 – of

𓅮 – (indicates past tense)

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten

𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 – Isis

𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 – True of Voice/justified

While limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is not the most common material for ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to be made out of, it’s not unheard of to have ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 like this during the 18th Dynasty period.

It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, remained.

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Tags akhenaten, artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, shabti, the met, ushabti, ushabti friends

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Tomb Chapel of Raemkai

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 28, 2024

The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏥 in this post are from the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 of Raemkai. The West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is significant in ancient Egypt because the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is the realm of the dead. In a typical tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 built during the Old Kingdom, the West Wall would have a False Door and then scenes that would be typical of offering rituals.

In the ancient Egyptian religion/culture, it was thought that the carvings on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 could come to life. If people were depicted providing food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, then it was thought that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would have enough sustenance for the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this first image shows a butchering scene

This first image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which shows a butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴 scene. Meat 𓆑𓄹 was one of the most important offerings 𓂠𓏍 that could be given to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why this type of scene would be included in a tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐.

While you can probably tell that the people in this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪 cattle 𓃒𓏦, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

In the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see the word “𓂋𓐍𓋴” which means “to slaughter” or “to butcher.” This word can also be written as “𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪” which is the same word but with the determinative at the end! I prefer it when the words have determinatives because it makes everything easier to read!

If you look closely, the 𓋴 symbol is actually carved backwards which confused me at first because if you read the word the opposite way, it becomes “𓋴𓂋𓐍” which translates as “to know/to learn” which does not make sense in the context of the scene!

So here are some new vocabulary words for you:

𓂋𓐍𓋴 to slaughter/to butcher

𓋴𓂋𓐍 to know/to learn

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai -this image shows a butchering scene

This second image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is also a closeup of the wall to the right of the False Door, which also shows a butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴 scene. Meat 𓆑𓄹 was one of the most important offerings 𓂠𓏍 that could be given to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱!

While you can probably tell that the people in this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are butchering 𓂋𓐍𓋴𓌪 cattle 𓃒𓏦, in case you did not know, the ancient Egyptians put it in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I love these ancient Egyptian “captions” because there aren’t a lot of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 so it’s not too overwhelming to translate if you’re just starting out!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is a breakdown of the inscription 𓊮𓇋𓆑𓏏𓆑𓄹:

𓊮 – to cook/to bake

𓇋𓆑𓏏 – bone marrow

𓆑𓄹 – meat

This tomb chapel 𓀻𓋴𓉐 is on display at the MET and is absolutely beautiful to go in and explore! Here’s a tip for your next visit: it is kind of hidden and located directly across from the Blue Faience Tiles from Saqqara and it’s not very crowded so you can really enjoy it!

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Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, old kingdom, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Small Animal Statues

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 3, 2024

I love this display at the MET because not only do I love tiny things, but these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 animal statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have a lot of significance!

Small Animal Statues on display at the MET! In the front is the jasper hippo, then the amethyst monkey holding its baby, and behind that is the three jerboas.

Let’s first talk about the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 jasper hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! Instead of the usual standing position, this hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is laying down and might have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 because there is actually a hole going through it! In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅 because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨, which is what this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 would have done for the wearer! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom.

The amethyst figure behind the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is of a monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 holding its baby! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom but it is very similar in style to some Old Kingdom pieces that are also at the MET! Monkeys 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛𓏪 are not native to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were actually pets for the very wealthy. This figure also has a loophole in it and would have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆. Usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother and child is associated with fertility and rebirth.

The three little figures behind the amethyst monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 are little desert rodents called “jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛. I thought they were mice 𓊪𓈖𓏌𓄛 at first and had to look up jerboa in both English and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – I love learning new things! The symbolic meaning of these Middle Kingdom statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are unknown, but they were buried with someone! The jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛 is a small desert rodent and these animals first show up as statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 during this time period; none have been found dated to the Old Kingdom!

Small Animal Statues on display at the MET

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Tags amulets, artifact, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Uncommon Variant of Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 3, 2024

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, at an uncommon variant of Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭! As you may know, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite word to spot (no matter the variant) in inscriptions!

This particular ‘spelling’ of Anubis’ name 𓂋𓈖 is a not-as- common variant of the common way to write his name which is “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣.” However, even though some of the symbols are different, his name 𓂋𓈖 would still be pronounced the same! The proper way to say Anubis in Middle/New/Late Egyptian is “ı͗npw” (pronounced like “Inpu” or “Anpu”).

Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, so I love spotting the different variants of his name 𓂋𓈖! His name turns up a lot because Anubis 𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 is one of the main funerary gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and a large part of Egyptian artifacts that are in museums happen to be funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭!

Can you spot the uncommon variant of Anubis “𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭” in the inscription above?

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols!

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

The “red crown 𓋔” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓋔” is associated with the sound of “n,” just like the “ripple of water 𓈖.” This symbol can also act as a determinative for “red crown.”

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.”

The “Quail Chick 𓅱” is one of the hieroglyphs that appears the most in inscriptions! It is a uniliteral phonogram that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word “chick 𓅱𓏺.”

The “seated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as “punctuation” at the end of the name of a male god!

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Anubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name 𓂋𓈖, so that is why the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu/Anpu’s name 𓂋𓈖!

Here are some common variants of Anubis’ name:

𓇋𓋔𓊪𓅱𓀭 (the one pictured)

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢

𓇋𓈖𓊪

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱

Which variant do you prefer? My favorite is 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣!

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Tags anubis, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Owl Hieroglyph

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 19, 2024

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the most common and recognizable uniliteral phonogram hieroglyphic symbols: the owl 𓅓! The owl hieroglyph is very unique because it is viewed head-on instead of in a profile view!

The Owl Hieroglyph from a Middle Kingdom coffin at the MET

I personally love the “owl 𓅓” hieroglyph because it reminds me of Hedwig from Harry Potter! I’ve been a huge Harry Potter fan since 2001 and whenever I see an owl it reminds me of my favorite books – especially when the hieroglyph is painted to look like a snowy owl! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, owls were seen as protective/guardian figures, which is exactly what Hedwig was to Harry! I love it when ancient Egyptian mythological themes persist through time!

A uniliteral sign is a hieroglyphic symbol that corresponds to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. The “owl 𓅓” symbol represents the sound of “m” and it has many different uses!

The “owl 𓅓” symbol is one that appears in inscriptions all the time and is most commonly seen as part of other words! Some words that use the “owl 𓅓” symbol are:

𓅓𓂋 – Overseer

𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – Kemet (Egypt)

𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 – Papyrus Roll

𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Imhotep

Of course these are not all the words that contain the “owl 𓅓” symbol!

But what happens if the “owl 𓅓” symbol appears by itself in an inscription and isn’t part of another word? The “owl 𓅓” symbol has its own meaning when it appears alone! I guess you can say it functions as the all-around preposition! For example, the “owl 𓅓” hieroglyph can mean: In, On, At, By, With, and As! This symbol has so many meanings/uses!

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 hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Statues of Imhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 30, 2024

When it comes to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, I’m obsessed with a couple of different things in particular: Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪! I love going to see the statues of Imhotep at the museum and my Nonno always made it into a game – #IFoundImhotep

Me (and William) with the Statues of Imhotep on display at the MET

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.

The Statues of Imhotep showing the quartzite one on the left and the bronze one on the right. The middle statue is a seated scribe and is not Imhotep.

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?”

The bronze Imhotep statue. Most statues of Imhotep look like this one!

Most statues of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 are made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 (like you can see on the right side of this display) and are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, because that was when Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was widely worshipped.

The quartzite statue of Imhotep. It is not common to see Imhotep in stone, so this piece is a treat to see on display at the MET.

The statue of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 on the left is so interesting because it is not made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 – it is made of the metamorphic rock quartzite!

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, ifoundimhotep, imhotep, the met

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