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Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus

These are Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus and are dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c. 400-30 B.C.E.). The Sons of Horus were deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who were charged with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were usually represented as the lids of canopic jars.

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the MET

What’s really cool about these statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 is that they are decorated so beautifully 𓄤! I love how they look like mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 (the proper term is “mummiform”), and how a large broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is painted 𓏞𓏜 on their chests. Also, each statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 has a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the middle of the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! The details are exquisite!

While each Son of Horus was associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏. Let’s take a look at each deity (starting from the left):

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, was associated with the East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭, and was protected by Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and was protected by Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, was associated with the North 𓎔𓏏, and was protected by Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, was associated with the South 𓇔𓅱𓏏 and was protected by Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

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Egyptian Artifacts

More Scarabs of Hatshepsut

The MET was an integral part of the excavations of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. During the 1926-1927 dig season, 299 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and stamp seals were discovered near the eastern wall of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were symbols of regeneration and rebirth.

On the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, are various inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with every title/name 𓂋𓈖 Hatshepsut has ever held. These three 𓏼 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 have her birth name 𓂋𓈖 inscribed 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪. Her birth name 𓂋𓈖 cartouche translates to “United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.”

If we were to only write the part that translates only to “Hatshepsut,” her cartouche would look like this: (𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪). Why is Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 mentioned in her name 𓂋𓈖? By adding Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 to her name, she directly linked herself to the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖. She claimed that Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus justifying her right to rule.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela (Cippus)

This is known as a Magical Stela, or a cippus. It depicts Horus 𓅃𓀭(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus 𓅃𓀭) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏥 and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 and scorpions 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫𓏪 in each hand. The god Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 also appears above Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 head 𓁶𓏺. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 was known to ward off evil and bad luck.

Magical Stela (Cippus) at the MET

Normally, stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 were used to commemorate the dead so this is almost like a protective amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the form of a stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. This cippus was used by the living for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus 𓅃𓀭 was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. Cippus stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺.

However, cippus pieces have also been found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the living, but the dead too.

Fun fact! The Middle Egyptian word for scorpion is 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 which can be pronounced like “Serket.” Serket 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was represented by a scorpion and she was associated with healing, protection, and magic. Serket 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 could also be written like this: 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut

Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are some of the most abundant items excavated in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and I love them! I think they’re cute, but they also hold a lot of meaning for the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪. Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were symbols of regeneration and rebirth, which was one of the main aspects of the religion.

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪, while at first glance may look very similar but actually mean different things!

Scarab Amulets of Hatshepsut at the MET

The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the left says “𓎟𓇿𓇿 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to “Lord of the two lands, Maatkare.” The scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the right says “𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to “Lady of the two lands, Maatkare.” When a “𓏏” glyph is added to words, it makes the word feminine.

While a very tiny difference, it is interesting because one of the misconceptions about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 I see a lot was that she was “trying to be a man” – she wasn’t trying to be a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤, she was just traditionally representing herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, as all other pharaohs did. The pharaonic representations just tended to have male characteristics because most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were men. Most of her art contains the feminine form of titles in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, which is why I find these two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 interesting. It’s not common to see her use the male form of words/titles.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Wooden Plaque with Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!

This little wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 plaque was once part of a brick that was part of the foundation at the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Mentuhotep II 𓇳𓎟𓊤 at Deir el-Bahri. Mentuhotep II 𓇳𓎟𓊤 was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during the 11th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom).

Wooden Plaque with Hieroglyphs at the MET

The inscription reads: 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓅆𓇳𓅆𓎟𓈹 𓌻𓇌𓆥(𓇳𓎟𓊤) 𓋹𓆖

Let’s break it down:
𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓅆𓇳𓅆: Montu-Re
𓎟: Lord
𓈹: Thebes (This symbol is a combination of 𓌀𓊾𓈈. 𓌀= Thebes, 𓊾= a divine status and 𓈈 = the determinative of districts)
𓌻𓇌: Beloved (can also be written like 𓌻𓂋𓇌 sometimes)
𓆥: King of Upper and Lower Egypt
(𓇳𓎟𓊤) Nebhapetra (Throne Name of Mentuhotep II)
𓋹𓆖: Eternal Life

So all together this inscription reads: “Beloved of Montu-Re, Lord of Thebes, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebhapetra, Eternal Life.”

Due to what’s called “honorific transposition,” Montu-Re 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓅆𓇳𓅆 appears first in the inscription since it’s the name of a god 𓊹 even though beloved 𓌻𓇌 is read first.

We actually do use honorific transposition in English too! We read $20 as “twenty dollars” and not “dollars twenty.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer

This mask is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom c. 1492-1473 B.C.E). It is also made of catonnage, which is the ancient Egyptian version of paper-mache – cartonnage is usually made of up linen. Just like the Roman mask I posted yesterday, this mask is also overlaid with gold foil 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉. Gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 is a metallic element, and one of the properties of metallic elements is that they are malleable. This means that they can be hammered into very thin sheets. This made gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 very easy to work with!

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer at the MET

I love the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏥 of this mask! The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏥 are made of two different types of stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙. The white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 part is alabaster 𓍱𓈙𓊃, which is usually a form of the minerals calcite or gypsum. The black 𓆎𓅓 part is made of obsidian. Obsidian is an extrusive igneous rock which form when lava from a volcano cools instantaneously. This rapid cooling gives obsidian a glass-like appearance which is why obsidian is often referred to as volcanic glass.

This mask belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Hatnefer who died in her 70s. Hatnefer was able to get such a mask because her son 𓅭 was Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, aka Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 most trusted advisor! Due to Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 rise in status, he was able to provide a nice burial and tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 for his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐. Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 also used his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 death as an opportunity move his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 from his original burial place into this tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐.

Hatnefer’s tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 was discovered in 1936, during the MET’s Egyptian Expedition.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Here are some more scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 from the MET! The MET has so many of these beautiful 𓄤 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 and I honestly love looking at them! I really like tiny things, so scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 and other amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are some of my favorite pieces to see in museums!

These two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 both show Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 in between the Red Crown of Lower Egypt 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔. The name 𓂋𓈖 Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 translates to “Truth is the Soul of Ra.”

The Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 is also known as the Deshret, which can also translate to “red land 𓅠𓂋𓏏𓈊.” The word Deshret 𓅠𓂋𓏏𓈊 referred to both the crown (𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔) and the desert (𓅠𓂋𓏏𓈊) on either side of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. While the words are written differently in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, they are pronounced the same.

The fertile soil along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 was referred to as Kemet 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, or “black land.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Chair of Hatnefer

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 chair 𓎛𓊨𓏏𓆱 is from the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Hatnefer. Hatnefer was Senemut’s 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 and due to his status as Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 most trusted advisor, he was able to give his mother𓅐𓏏𓁐 a proper burial. I am always so amazed when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 pieces are still in such great condition – wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is organic and it can break down very quickly as compared to a material like rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙.

Wooden Chair of Hatnefer at the MET

The linen 𓍱 that makes up the seat of the chair 𓎛𓊨𓏏𓆱 is the original linen 𓍱 and has not been restored at all! The back of the chair 𓎛𓊨𓏏𓆱 contains a design alternating between the tyet 𓎬 (Isis Knot) and the Djed pillar 𓊽. The tyet 𓎬 symbol invokes the protection of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, while the Djed pillar 𓊽 symbolizes stability. It is thought that the Djed pillar 𓊽 is actually the spine of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭.

In the middle of the tyet 𓎬 and Djed pillars 𓊽 is the god Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 had many functions as a god 𓊹 and one of them was the protector of the home 𓉐𓏺.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thoth Amulets

The god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭(or Djehuty to the ancient Egyptians) was originally god 𓊹 of the moon, but then became associated with writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 and knowledge. He was also the god 𓊹 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪. The moon could be thought of as a “night sun,” which kind of places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god 𓊹 Re 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar!

Thoth Amulets at the MET

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and was thus the god 𓊹 of all record keeping. Due to his vast knowledge, Thoth 𓁟 was thought to know magic and secrets that were unknown to the rest of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. In the Book of the Dead, Thoth 𓅤𓀭 is at the extremely important Weighing of the Heart – which is the judgement of the deceased’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 against Ma’at’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather. His job was to record the results of the ceremony.

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was usually represented as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 with an ibis head (𓁟), an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 or a baboon. In this photograph, there are many faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 statues of Thoth 𓅤𓀭 as a baboon. These were very popular amongst scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪, and amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 were worn by the living to invoke wisdom!

Thoth can be written as: 𓅤𓀭, 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, 𓁟. He also had various titles such as “Lord of the Divine Words,” “Three Times Great,” and “Lord of Ma’at” amongst many others!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Partial Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This is another amazing piece from Gallery 115 at the MET – aka The Hatshepsut Room (as I call it). This granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is from the joint reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 It is titled “Head and Shoulders of a Sphinx of Hatshepsut” because it used to be part of a large Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤.

Six 𓏿 large sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 were found at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 during the excavations done by the MET. Though it is hard to see in the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏, the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 does actually have some remainders of the original paint on it! I can’t even imagine how beautiful 𓄤 it must have looked after it was just carved and painted!

Much like your typical Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is seen wearing the false beard and the nemes headcloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴, which was the normal style for how pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were depicted.

A lot of Hatshepsut’s statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 that are from her temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 are made of either granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 or red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶, which is a very hard rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 (aka very resistant to weathering/breakdown). Granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 was mined is Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 and then shipped up the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺- definitely an incredible journey!