Tag: artifact

Amulets of Taweret

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Here are some faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗! More people are now familiar with Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 because of Moon Knight, but let’s dive into some history/information about her!

While the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 both feared and revered 𓇋𓌴𓄪 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was a protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 and children 𓐍𓇌𓀕𓏪! The name 𓂋𓈖 Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means “the great (female) one!” That is certainly a name 𓂋𓈖 that suits her!

While many amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were usually placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 on their journey to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife), amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 were usually found in homes because she was a goddess 𓊹𓏏 who was essential to family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 life. The family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 unit was an incredibly important feature not only in daily life 𓋹, but in religious observances as well. The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 would provide protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 in the home, especially during childbirth, which was quite deadly for mothers 𓄿𓏏𓁐𓏪 at the time. For this reason, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was usually worshipped in the home instead of in temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪!

Tags amulet, artifact, gods and goddesses, moon knight, pop culture, taweret, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Nefertem

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Here is a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯!

Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is usually associated with perfumes, but this role is secondary to his role as the god 𓊹 of the lotus flower 𓆸 that rose out of the primeval waters 𓈗 in the Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 creation myth. However, in the Pyramid Texts (from the Old Kingdom), Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is actually described as “The lotus blossom which is before the nose of Ra,” so he was clearly always associated with both lotus flowers 𓆸 and perfumes/scents!

Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is always depicted as a young man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 with a large lotus flower 𓆸 on his head 𓁶𓏺! Less commonly, he can be shown as a human body with a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 head 𓁶𓏺 wearing the lotus 𓆸 headdress.

In Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖, Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was part of the triad with Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, and was often portrayed as their child 𓐍𓇌𓀕. Father 𓇋𓏏𓀀-Mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐-Child 𓐍𓇌𓀕 triads and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 units were extremely important to Egyptian culture! Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 wasn’t commonly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 by the masses because he was usually associated with royal monuments. His association with Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 also made him somewhat feared because she was a strong and ferocious goddess 𓊹𓏏!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, nefertem, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Duamutef – Canopic Jar

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

While Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 may be the most common jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥-headed god 𓊹 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, there are other gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that have the head 𓁶𓏺 of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 as well! This is a faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 canopic jar with the head of the god 𓊹 Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, whose name 𓂋𓈖 can also be written as 𓂧𓍯𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, was one of the four Sons of Horus. Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 job was to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification.

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction. The goddess 𓊹𓏏 Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 was tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑. The name Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 means “He who adores his mother.”

This canopic jar is dated to the Ramesside period (19th Dynasty, c. 1295–1185 B.C.E.).

Tags artifact, Duamutef, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Wepwawet

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is not the only jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥-headed god 𓊹 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and it can be easy to get some of them confused because they look similar! Even in ancient texts Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 can be confused with each other but they are separate deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹! This is a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧! While the head is cut off, the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is in front of Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 on this piece!

This piece was likely used in a royal procession, as Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 was one of the symbols carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during certain rituals/ceremonies. Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “opener of the ways,” and he was even associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! This is probably why he was carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions!

Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 and is likely the oldest god 𓊹 associated with the jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆢𓍋 Palette 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱! Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

There are a couple of different variations of Wepwawet’s 𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:
𓃧
𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓃧
𓄋𓈐𓏥𓏏𓁢

The first way the name 𓂋𓈖 is written is just the determinative symbol, while the other two 𓏻 ways show the name 𓂋𓈖 spelled out the same, but the determinative at the end is different!

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

Tags amulet, artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyphs, the met, wepwawet

Egyptian Artifacts

Khonsu

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Let’s talk about Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯!

The god 𓊹 Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯 is definitely getting some media attention due to Moon Knight! While this gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 pendant may look like Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 at quick glance, this is actually the god 𓊹 Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯! When they are both in their falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 form, they might be mistaken with each other, especially since Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is represented with the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 on his head 𓁶𓏺, while Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯 is represented with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹 on his head 𓁶𓏺 – since both are circles, they do look similar!

Khonsu’s 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯 role in the pantheon has changed throughout time, and he was quite the bloodthirsty god 𓊹 in the Pyramid Texts, however in the New Kingdom he was a more peaceful god 𓊹 of the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹. He was considered to be the son 𓅭 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 and Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, and together the three of them made up the Theban triad.

While Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯 does take the form of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, he is usually represented as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 wrapped in mummy bandages and wearing a crescent 𓇹 shaped necklace! He can also be depicted with his hands/arms 𓂝𓏦 restrained. That representation sounds familiar, doesn’t it?! The anthropomorphic form of Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯 definitely inspired parts of the Moon Knight comics and tv show!

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Khonsu 𓐍𓈖𓇓𓅱𓀯“ is thought to come from the verb “to traverse” and it means “he who traverses (the sky).” This piece is dated to the 19th-20th Dynasties (c. 1295–1070 B.C.E).

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, khonsu, moon knight, pop culture, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Winged Scarab

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

The Winged Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 is a large faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 that consists of three 𓏼 separate pieces; the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 itself and the two 𓏻 wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 that go on either side. These amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were placed usually on the chest of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, and sometimes were even sewn into the beaded shrouds that would cover the wrapped mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 in the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. There are even holes in the amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 to allow for them to be attached securely! Most of the time, the pieces were integrated right into the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 bandages just like the other funerary amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪. I love this type of amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 so much!

The wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 are not those fo a beetle, but are actually the wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 of a bird! 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!

Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is the god 𓊹 that is associated with scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 and he is the god 𓊹 of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺 in the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭. The name “ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛” is pronounced pretty much the same as “scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣” even though they are spelled differently!

In this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are also the four Sons of Horus amulets, which I have posted about previously! The four Sons of Horus were usually placed below the winged scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like in this display!

The Winged Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 also showed up in the Marvel show Moon Knight a lot! What did you think of Layla’s outfit in the last episode?!?! I loved it! If I was a superhero I would want that to be my costume!!!

Tags amulet, artifact, gods and goddesses, khepri, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Faience Foundation Brick of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

“The Great God, Menkheperra, Beloved of Osiris.”

This faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 piece is most likely a foundation deposit brick of a building that was built during the reign 𓋾 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴.

Foundation deposit bricks were ceremonial offerings that were placed at the corners of buildings, courts, temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 , tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦, and pretty much the foundation of any building. They can almost be thought of as the ancient version of a ground-breaking ceremony. The foundation deposit bricks usually contained the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that the building was constructed under on it!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!

𓊹𓄤 – [The] Great God
(𓇳𓏠𓆣) – Menkheperra [Throne name of Thutmosis III]
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓌹𓇌 – Beloved

So the full inscription reads: “The Great God, Menkheperra, Beloved of Osiris.”

“Beloved 𓌹𓇌” is a word that pops up a lot in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 so it is a good one to know! It is also popular as the first part of a person’s name 𓂋𓈖. For example the name 𓂋𓈖 “Meryamun” or “Beloved of Amun” was a very popular name 𓂋𓈖 in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

“Small Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Here I am with a small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 “Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut.” This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is in the “Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Room” at the MET – aka Gallery 115, which is my absolute favorite room in any museum I have ever been to! I love the details on this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 – especially the black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 around the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦!

Small State of Hatshepsut that shows the painted details around the eyes

This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of black/pink granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 (also called red granite by geologists)! The black 𓆎𓅓 and pink granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 is traditionally found in Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 (Upper Egypt 𓇓). In the USA, black 𓆎𓅓 and pink granite is commonly found in Nevada and other western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 states!

While not as grand as some of her other statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 that adorned her temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, this one makes quite an impression. There are at least eight of these statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and many of them are in the MET. They were most likely used to line the upper court at her temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐, and are thought to be intended for her Heb Sed festival (a festival used to celebrate 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 years of rule, and then celebrated every three 𓏼 years after the initial 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆). Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, ever the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to break from tradition, instead celebrated hers in the 16th 𓎆𓏿 year of her rule!

In this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is kneeling and is seen holding the nemset jar 𓏌. The jar 𓏌 has the djed pillar 𓊽 adorning the front. The djed pillar 𓊽 is thought to be the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, and it represents stability and endurance – both are attributes a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 needed in order to be a successful ruler 𓋾!

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Cartouche of Seti I

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

These are pieces that contain the cartouche of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠! There is a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 and a bunch of scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 – some of my favorite types of artifacts!

One of my favorite things to see in museums are the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠. While only about 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 of these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures remain, it is estimated that Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had over 1000 𓆼 of them. What happened to the ones that are missing? They were used for firewood when Belzoni was excavating the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐!

My Nonno frequently told me about this – he was not happy that artifacts were destroyed! Anytime Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 came up in conversation (which was often because he was one of my Nonno’s favorite pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦) my Nonno would say “can you believe some idiots used his ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 as torches??!!”

Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 remaining ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 are in museums throughout the world 𓇾𓇾 and I have always been on the lookout for them whenever I go to a museum! Originally, my Nonno and I would always point them out to each other. Now whenever I see them, they are a reminder of my Nonno.

Tags artifact, scarab, seti i, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Imhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 20, 2022

Seeing the small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 are one of my favorite parts of going to the museum! My Nonno loved Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 and always pointed him out to us! We even played a game as to who could find Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 first! I had to get a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, whose name 𓂋𓈖 means “he who comes in peace,” was a high official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 (“overseer of the works” and a priest 𓊹𓍛 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱) during the reign 𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦 during the 3rd Dynasty. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is most famous for constructing the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (modern day Saqqara). In addition to being a priest 𓊹𓍛 and architect, he is also connected with medicine, even though no written evidence of his achievements in medicine has been found.

Even though Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 lived during the Old Kingdom and reached demigod status (he is thought to be the son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱) within a century of his death, it wasn’t until the Late Period/Ptolemaic Period that the worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 reached its peak. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is one of the few commoners to ever reach godly status and cult centers dedicated to his worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 were located at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖, Philae, and Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖. His tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 has never been found, though if I had to guess, I would think it would be at Saqqara – near the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴!

Tags artifact, imhotep, the met

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