Tag: the met

Unfinished Stela

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Look at this unfinished stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 – there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!!! I love when museums have unfinished pieces of Egyptian art because it’s so cool to see various steps in the artistic process! The empty boxes above the deceased (right) and Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 (left) are where the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 should be!

On the top of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸, there are two Wedjat 𓂀 symbols. The Wedjat 𓂀 is a very common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. In between the Wedjats 𓂀𓂀 is the Shen 𓍶 symbol! The Shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛, and is also a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. Both of these symbols could be worn by both the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓅱𓏦 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) is making an offering to the god 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 (left). This image is a very popular one to appear on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪.

Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 because he is wearing the sun-disc 𓇳𓏤 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front. Also, Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is holding a crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 and which is another common way to depict him. Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is also sometimes shown holding a scepter 𓌀 along with a flail 𓌅.

Based on the styling and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸, I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 22nd-25th Dynasties. There are many stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪 like this in other museums too (except they are mostly finished, not unfinished)!

Tags gods and goddesses, ra horakhty, stelae, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Sarcophagus of Artemidora

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the details on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 that belonged to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named 𓂋𓈖 Artemidora who lived in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, glass, stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪, and painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 details on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 are stunning 𓄤!

One of my favorite pieces of imagery from Egyptian art is the Winged Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣! The wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 allowed the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 to join the rising and setting of the sun 𓇳𓏺 each day – which to the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religion! As a god 𓊹 who was constantly reborn, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was associated with resurrection! On this sarcophagus, we can see the sun 𓇳𓏺 represented above the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣; this was because Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 used to carry the sun 𓇳𓏺 across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯!

Below the winged 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, we can see the shen 𓍶 symbol! The shen 𓍶 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛, and is also a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. The shen 𓍶 was first seen during the Old Kingdom, and was a very popular symbol throughout Egyptian history; Nekhbet 𓇑𓃀𓏏𓅐𓎟 and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 are frequently seen holding them!

Cool Fact: the wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 are not those of a beetle, but are actually the wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 of a bird! Also, I just love the painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 details on these wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦; it’s stunning 𓄤!

(from Left) Nephthys, Anubis, Horus, and Isis on the Sarcophagus of Artemidora at The MET

I really like this scene because you can see Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 standing with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the deceased who is laying on a bed with a lion design. Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 arms are raised, and Horus 𓅃𓀭 is holding the traditional crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, and Horus 𓅃𓀭 is my sister’s 𓌢𓈖𓏏 favorite! I always like seeing Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 together 𓈖𓊗 for that reason – it reminds me of me and my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏!

To the left of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and to the right of Horus 𓅃𓀭 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥. Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are the actual sisters 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓏦 in Egyptian mythology and in funerary scenes are usually depicted together!

You can tell which goddess 𓊹𓏏 is which based off of the crowns on their head 𓁶𓏺! The crown on Nephthys’ head is 𓉠 which is the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 that’s part of her name 𓂋𓈖, and the crown on Isis’ head is 𓊨 which also corresponds with her name 𓂋𓈖! If you also look at the text that is next to each of them, their names are also written – it’s almost like a caption!

See if you can spot Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyphs, horus, isis, nephthys, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Canopic Jar Chest – Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!! These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that we will be looking at are from a Canopic Jar Case, which was put in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐! It’s function was to hold all four 𓏽 of the Canopic Jars together in one place! This case is gorgeous 𓄤 – I mean, look at those stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦!!! The star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design is a favorite of mine; it’s even my phone case!

Since the directional symbols are pointing towards the right, we will start reading from the right! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the top line of the case say:

𓇋𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated/Revered
𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓏌𓏏𓇯 – Nut
𓋂𓊵 – Ukhotep
𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice (Justified)

Nut can also be written as “𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭” – in the inscription above, the determinative is missing! “𓏌𓏏𓇯” could also be translated as “sky,” but in the case of this inscription, translating “ 𓏌𓏏𓇯” as the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 makes more sense. Also, considering the star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 decorations, mentioning the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky 𓏌𓏏𓇯 also makes perfect sense!

The symbol “𓊵” has many uses and meanings; it can be used alone to represent words/ideas, part of names, but it can also be combined with other symbols to also represent those same words/ideas. For example, the more complete way to write “ Satisfied, Content, At Peace, Offering” is “𓊵𓏏𓊪.“

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead – The Field of Reeds

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

“The Field of Reeds” from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (MET)

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. Fun fact: Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 version of the Book of the Dead is mostly complete, and is over 70 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 feet long!

This page illustrates Spell 110, which gives Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 the ability to enjoy various earthly activities. This takes place in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. Spell 110 states “…being in control there, being a blessed one there, plowing and harvesting there, eating and drinking there, and doing everything that one was used to do on earth.”

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is actually seen doing work in the field 𓇏𓏏𓈇 – he can be seen using a scythe to harvest grain (just like Spell 110 states)! So the things he used to do on earth, he could also accomplish in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. This is where ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures came into play – instead of the deceased doing all of the work, the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures would have taken care of it all!

The Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 was mentioned a lot on Marvel’s show Moon Knight! In the show, Marc and Steven traveled through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 on a boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞, but in reality, this mode of transport was typically reserved just for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

On the show, the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 was literally depicted as just a field 𓇏𓏏𓈇, while in Egyptian culture it was meant to be a better version of life 𓋹 on earth. There were many different depictions; a lush land with waterfalls, islands that could be traveled amongst by boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏦, farmland, and lots of parties! Access to the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and the ability to farm were considered to be the ultimate reward for a good and truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 life 𓋹!

Tags book of the dead, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis and his Common Title

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Here is a close up of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 from a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET! While this is only part of the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥, it is my favorite part! It’s my favorite because this is the part of the inscription that is the dedication to Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! Whenever I see Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 in the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 I get really excited – as if I’m seeing a celebrity!

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣 – Anubis
𓁶𓊪𓈋𓏺𓆑 Upon His Hill

This inscription can also be written as: 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑. If you notice, on the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭, Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 is missing the “𓅱” hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 might have been pronounced “Inpw,” but here it’s written just as “Inp!”

Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢
𓃣
𓃤
𓁢

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

“Upon His Hill 𓁶𓊪𓈋𓏺𓆑” refers to Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as the protector of the tombs and cemeteries. Most of the time, tombs/cemeteries we’re surrounded by cliffs, hence the title! It could also be translated as “Upon His Mountain.”

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

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Emperor Augustus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 19, 2022

The Emperor Augustus depicted on the Temple of Dendur at the MET

Here is the Emperor Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋! He doesn’t look like an Emperor though – he looks like a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Augustus is seen wearing the Atef crown 𓋚, a false beard, a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, armlets 𓄟𓋴𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏦, and bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏦. These are all features that are associated with Egyptian pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, even though Augustus was Roman.

In this sunken relief, Augustus 𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 is making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 of Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 to another god 𓊹. Augustus had many temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 constructed that adhered to Egyptian religion and culture instead of the Roman/Hellenistic ways. This was a strategy that Augustus used to legitimize himself as the ruler of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and gain the respect 𓈙𓆑𓄅 of the local population. This particular image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Temple of Dendur, which is at the MET.

To me, what is most interesting though are the cartouches of Augustus! Unlike the Greek rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that spelled out their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 using phonogram symbols, Augustus went a different route when having his name 𓂋𓈖 represented in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can see two 𓏻 (of his three 𓏼) cartouches:

𓄿𓏲𓏏𓈎𓂋𓏏𓂋 Augustus (Autokrator)
𓈎𓇌𓊃𓂋𓊃𓋹𓆖 Augustus (Kaisaros)

“Autokrator” is the Greek word for “Emperor,” while “Kaisaros” is the Greek word for “Caesar.”

Augustus chose to have various words for “ruler” as his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule!

A close-up of Augustus’ cartouche on the Temple of Dendur at the MET

Here is another variant of Augustus’ cartouche:
𓉐𓉻𓀀

This cartouche I have always found so fascinating because it is literally the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Middle Egyptian plus the determinative sign 𓀀. Most names (even when spelled out with phonograms) are followed by a determinative for a male 𓀀 person or female 𓁐 person. By choosing to have his name depicted in this way, Augustus was literally calling himself the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

In Middle Egyptian the word for pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 literally translates to “Great House. “ this is a direct reference to the palace where the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 resided during his/her rule.

𓉐 – House
𓉻 – Great

Augustus chose to have various synonyms for “ruler 𓋾” as his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (Emperor, Caesar, Pharaoh). Again, this was probably a way to assert his power as the first Emperor of the Roman Empire. He didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule!

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Lord of the Two Lands”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 19, 2022

𓎟𓇿𓇿 “Lord of the Two Lands,” is an extremely common title that is seen across many different types of monuments across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and museums around the world. A title is a phrase that appears before a cartouche, which is the oval that encloses the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. I have been highlighting various titles seen commonly because they are a great way to practice reading hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

𓎟𓇿𓇿 “Lord of the Two Lands” is in reference to Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt and the unification of both by Narmer 𓆢𓍋 who is regarded as the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of a fully united Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The current pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 always wanted to be associated with the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 of the past (most of the time not so much Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖) because that association would legitimize their own rule 𓋾.

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:
𓎟 – Lord
𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

The title can also be written as 𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿 or “Lady of the Two Lands” if the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was female! This was the case for Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪!

“𓎟 Lord” becomes “𓎟𓏏 Lady” with the addition of the 𓏏!

Soon you will be able to read a full inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥! This is very exciting!!

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

“The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 18, 2022

“The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light” at the MET

I absolutely love this piece and I have been very excited to write about it! The relief that I am highlighting is part of a larger display at the MET called “The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light,” and they were originally from the palace 𓇓𓏏𓈖𓉐𓏺 walls at Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖.

Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is obviously my first favorite) and I love to see statues, reliefs, or anything from the Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 Period! I find everything to do with Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 so interesting because he was the “troublemaker” pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who completely changed everything about the Egyptian religion (polytheistic to monotheistic), moved the capital to Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, and generally was very much disliked by the Egyptian people 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪.

On this relief, we can see a large boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞 on the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. At the front of the boat is a central structure that houses Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 and one of the princesses (who is very small and difficult to see). Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 can be seen striking down an enemy. The Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 is shining above Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and sending light rays down to him.

“The Two Lands are in a Festival of Light” at the MET – closeup of Akhenaten (right) and Nefertiti (left)

Since these were on the palace 𓇓𓏏𓈖𓉐𓏺 walls, it makes sense that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 would want himself portrayed as very strong and striking down enemies. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is usually always depicted with his family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦, so enemy smiting was clearly a royal family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 affair! The depiction of the royal family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 from this time period is fascinating because usually pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were depicted alone, however in reliefs, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, and the princesses are always shown together 𓈖𓊗.

Tags akhenaten, artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 30, 2022

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is my favorite Egyptian Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 as not only the most successful female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but in my opinion, is one of the most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 in all of Egyptian history. She ruled for 20 𓎆𓎆 years, commissioned many building projects (her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐 being the most magnificent) and sent an expedition to the land of Punt 𓊪𓃺𓈖𓏏𓈉 .

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is her given name and means “Foremost of the Noble Women.” Her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 which translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.” Most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had five 𓏾 names, but the given name and throne name are the most popular to find in inscriptions!

Ever since my Nonno told me that a woman once ruled 𓋾 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, I have been obsessed with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪!

Tags hatshepsut, the met

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