Tag: brooklyn museum

Roman Mummy Mask

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 5, 2023

One of the features of Egyptian funerary practices that persisted throughout most of the civilization was the use of mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪. Mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 first appeared during the First Intermediate Period (c. 2181 B.C.E.), and were last used during the Roman Period (c. 395 AD). While the styles certainly changed, their purpose of protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 remained the same. While the function of the mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 remained the same throughout Egyptian history, there are many different styles! Let’s take a look at this particular Roman Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum!

Me with a Roman Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum

The function of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 is made explicit by Spell 151 from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. Spell 151 also restores the ability of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to see through the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾. Spell 151 even appears on the back of the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓!

This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is from the Roman Period, and it’s always so interesting to see the merging of the two 𓏻 different styles. The mask is made of cartonnage (kind of like paper mache) and is covered in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf, which is typical of Ptolemaic/Roman masks. The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is wearing a nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 style headdress, and Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 (the winged scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣) can be seen on the head 𓁶𓏺. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭, god 𓊹 of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺, is a symbol of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

Roman Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum

What makes this mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 so beautiful 𓄤 are all of the small details in the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf. The most prominent is the deceased (as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾) standing before 𓐍𓂋 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The protective cobras 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 also adorn the mask. Daisies/Rosettes are seen as decoration along with the Wedjat-eyes 𓂀 on each side. Both of these are also symbols of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱! Symbols of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 were important to place on funerary equipment because the deceased wanted to be reborn in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, just like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was.

During Roman times, masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 were mass produced in workshops so it is unlikely that this mask represents a specific person.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, mummy

Egyptian Artifacts

Ivory Amulet of Thoth

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 2, 2023

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are some of my favorite ancient Egyptian artifacts because I really love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things! It’s incredible how much artistry and detail can be seen even in the smallest 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 of objects! To the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were significant because they were seen as being powerful magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 in miniature form!

Ivory Amulet of Thoth at the Brooklyn Museum.

During the 18th Dynasty, the use of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 both by the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was becoming more and more popular. The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 used by the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 were wrapped within the linen 𓍱 bandages that wrapped mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪, and these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 helped the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 like this ivory 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓌟 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 that is pictured 𓏏𓅱𓏏, was worn by a living person 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪. Sometimes people wore amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 like this one to proclaim their devotion to a specific god 𓊹. Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is represented here as a man with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤, which was a very popular way to see him depicted in Egyptian art.

Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 were also popular to be wrapped within mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 bandages, most likely due to Thoth’s 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 role in the Weighing of the Heart.

My Nonno loved amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 too, and he would always tell me to look out for the intact cord loop. I love how the loop is still intact on this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 – it makes me think of my Nonno! Whenever I see amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, I always make sure to look for it!

The Ivory Amulet of Thoth at the Brooklyn Museum. If you look closely behind his head, you can see the intact cord loop!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags amulet, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, thoth

Egyptian Artifacts

Sedimentary Rocks in Ancient Egypt

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 30, 2023

Let’s have a combination geology and history lesson today! While I always refer to ancient Egyptian history and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 as my “First Love,” my second love is petrology! Most people think geology is solely the study of rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦, however, geology is actually an umbrella term that covers any field that studies the surface and interior of the Earth 𓇾𓇾! Petrology is solely the study of rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦, and within that field, sedimentary rocks are my absolute favorite type of rock to study!

A stone vessel from the pre-dynastic period made from the sedimentary rock breccia (Brooklyn Museum)

Even in the pre-dynastic period, ancient Egyptian artisans mastered the art of taking very hard rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and turning them into something beautiful 𓄤 – as is the case with this Breccia jar dated to c. 3500-3100 B.C.E. Breccia was mainly used to make these stone jars, and rarely is it seen in other statuary.

Breccia is classified as a clastic sedimentary rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙. Sedimentary rocks are rocks that formed from tiny pieces (sediments) of pre-existing rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and are classified based off the size of the fragments in the rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦. Breccia is defined by the fact that is has fragments over two 𓏻 millimeters in diameter, those fragments are angular, and they are suspended in a matrix (natural cement formed by the precipitation of minerals).

Breccia’s “sister rock” (as I like to call it) is called conglomerate, which is also found in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! While the rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are similar (fragments over two 𓏻 millimeters in diameter, fragments in a matrix), their main difference is that conglomerate has rounded fragments! Why do we care about that difference? If the fragments are round, it means they traveled a far distance in water 𓈗 before they formed into the conglomerate! The angular fragments signify that the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 formed quickly after the sediments were deposited!

A piece of the rock conglomerate, which was found by me on the North Shore of Long Island. This is from my personal rock collection.

I included a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a conglomerate from my personal collection (I also found this rock myself) so you can see the difference in the shape of the fragments (scientifically referred to as “clasts”). This conglomerate is one of my favorites because it has a “Hidden Mickey” in it!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, geology

Egyptian Artifacts

Relief of a Nobleman

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 28, 2023

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 “Relief of a Nobleman” on display at the Brooklyn Museum is a beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and detailed example of a sunken relief! Sunken relief is defined as art that is carved directly into the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙, and it is below the rock face.

The “Relief of a Nobleman” piece is on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

This piece is dated to the 19-20th Dynasties (c. 1295-1070 B.C.E.). According to the information from the Brooklyn Museum, the original location of the relief (and the rest of it) is unknown, however, based off the intricacy of the artistry, Egyptologists believe it was possibly originally from a Ramesside-era tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (modern-day Saqqara).

While this was carved way after the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (and his artistic revolution), some remnants of Amarna-era inspiration remain. For example, the fact that the face is more rounded than flat is Amarna-inspired, as well as the deep carving into the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 near the back of the head as compared to the face. This creates a really cool dimension, and was really first seen in the Amarna-era!

The wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 that this man is wearing is intricately carved, and I feel like every little detail is seen! The wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 almost looks real! My favorite aspect is the headband with the lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸 on it!

On the left side of the relief, a hand 𓂝𓏺 is holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 and a flower 𓆼𓅱𓆰. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Hathor’s 𓉡 face usually appears on the stem of the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, right below the “rattles.” The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had a big connection with music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, and sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 appeared in art (and as actual artifacts) often.

Music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 is something I love and cannot live without. I think it’s fascinating that a love of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 is something that has not changed in thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years or across civilizations/cultures. I love that I share that connection with ancient Egyptian culture!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, sistrum

Video

Soul of Pe Statue – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 25, 2023

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 kneeling statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deity 𓊹 is referred to as the “Soul of Pe” and it is actually another way to depict the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Also known as “Horus of Pe,” these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 became popular during the Late Period, after 600 B.C.E.

The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and are referred to as the ancestors of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were thought of as very powerful deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that not only aided the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, but also the current living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭/Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is shown in a characteristic kneeling position with one arm raised, with the other resting on his chest. This is known as a “jubilation position,” which is meant to show the Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 celebrating the rising of the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶. The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is usually represented as Horus 𓅃𓀭 the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, while the Soul of Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 is usually represented as a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥.

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, horus, soul of pe

Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Earth Day!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 23, 2023

Yesterday was Earth Day and I forgot about it but I have a good excuse I promise – I’m an Earth Science teacher and for me, everyday is Earth Day!!

It’s incredible to me how much the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 knew about our beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 planet, and how that knowledge was reflected in their intricate mythology. The Earth 𓇾𓇾 itself is differentiated (interior is divided into layers), has an atmosphere, and that atmosphere fades and thins away until space is reached. We can see all of these different “layers” in this art from a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 which is showing part of the creation myth! Let’s take a closer look!

A close-up image of a sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicts (from top): Nut, Shu, Khnum and Geb!

The goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the cosmos, Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭, is depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 arched over the rest of the figures, because as the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the cosmos, she surrounds the Earth 𓇾𓇾 – just like space actually does! Directly underneath Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 is Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the atmosphere. Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is seen holding up the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 (which is depicted as the sky 𓇯 hieroglyph). Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is responsible for raising the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface!

Underneath Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, which the ancient Egyptians called the Upper Earth. Tantanen (not pictured) is the god 𓊹 of the Lower Earth (aka Earth’s interior). I still think it’s amazing that the ancient Egyptians knew there was an interior to the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and the mythology is how they conceptualized that.

Khnum 𓎸𓀭/𓎸𓏏𓀭, the ram headed creator god, is also pictured. Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is one of the oldest deities; he is the god 𓊹 of the source of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺, fertility and was thought to have made humans out of clay from his potters wheel!

Take a closer look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 and see if you can see the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of all of these gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

So in this beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, we have a representation of Space (Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭), the atmosphere (Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭), the Earth’s surface (Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭) and the source of the Nile (Khnum 𓎸𓀭). This is how the Egyptians saw Earth 𓇾𓇾 and I think it’s incredible!!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, geb, gods and goddesses, Khnum, nut, shu

Egyptian Artifacts

Late Period Mummy Mask

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 17, 2023

I love mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪! Funerary Masks (also called Burial Masks or Mummy Masks) were an important part of a person’s burial equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 because the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 could either serve as protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, or take the place of the body if the head was destroyed or lost. In the Egyptian religion, the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be transported to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This was the purpose of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 – the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 just served as extra protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜!

Me at the Brooklyn Museum with a Late Period Mummy Mask

This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 is dated to the Late Period (1st Century B.C.E). This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is made of cartonnage, which was a very popular type of material to use because it was easy to work with and the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 could be made relatively quickly. The colors on this mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 are so bright and well preserved – especially on the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. I love how the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 used red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and the blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color together 𓈖𓊗 a lot.

A beautiful example of a Late Period Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum. The goddess Isis is on the left and her sister Nephthys is on the right.

The art on the wig shows the goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇(right). Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 were sisters and were both prominent funerary goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 who appeared a lot together 𓈖𓊗 on funerary objects such as masks and sarcophagi.

You can easily tell Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 apart from each other in Egyptian art based off of the crowns that they are wearing. The crowns correspond to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that make up their names: Isis (𓊨𓏏𓁥) wears “𓊨” as a crown while Nephthys (𓉠𓏏𓆇) wears “𓉠” as a crown!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, isis, nephthys

Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Kohl Tube

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 8, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a Kohl 𓆓𓂝𓌠𓃀 Tube! Kohl 𓆓𓂝𓌠𓃀 was a type of eye paint (makeup) that was very popular amongst the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪! This tube would have contained the kohl 𓆓𓂝𓌠𓃀, and then a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 or faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 stick would have been used to apply it! The kohl 𓆓𓂝𓌠𓃀 tube itself is also made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, hence the gorgeous blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 color! This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.).

For me, the most interesting part of an artifact is always going to be the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 on the object!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s Throne Name)

𓇓𓈞𓏏 – King’s Great Wife

𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 – Tiye

𓋹𓍘 – May She Live!

Some of you may notice when looking at this inscription that Queen Tiye’s 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 name 𓂋𓈖 is in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 too! Sometimes, the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of the queens who held the title of the “King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏” also appeared in cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 to demonstrate their importance to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Fun Fact: Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grandmother!

A closeup image of the Kohl Tube of Amenhotep III, which is featured in the above video!

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, video

Egyptian Artifacts

The Goddess Seshat

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 7, 2023

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 I am going to speak about a goddess 𓊹𓏏 I have never written about before and her name 𓂋𓈖 is Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐! The reason I never wrote about Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is because I never had a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of her! I was so excited to finally “meet” Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 at the Brooklyn Museum!

Me at the Brooklyn Museum with a limestone relief of the goddess Seshat! You can always tell that it’s Seshat pictured due to the “𓋇” crown on her head which is associated with her!

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of writing, wisdom and knowledge. Her name 𓂋𓈖 literally translates to “female scribe,” and she is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪! In this relief, she is depicted as a scribe 𓏟𓀀 because she is holding writing with a stylus on a board. You can easily pick Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 out in Egyptian art because of the seven pointed emblem 𓋇 that she wears on her head (I call it a star). This symbol is also part of her name, which makes it easy!

Limestone relief of Seshat at the Brooklyn Museum.

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is also the goddess of architecture, accounting, mathematics, and surveying. This is what made her an essential part of a building ceremony called the “Stretching of the Cord.” The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. It involved nailing four 𓏽 stakes into the ground at the four 𓏼 corners of the building and then linking them with a cord.

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is definitely related to and shares some of the same functions as the god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 (or Djehuty to the ancient Egyptians), who was also considered to be the god 𓊹 of writing, knowledge and wisdom. Usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is credited with inventing writing/hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (hence his title “Lord of the Divine Words/Writing 𓎟𓊹𓌃𓂂𓂂𓂂𓏟”), however, some mythology credits Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 with inventing writing/hieroglyphs, while Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was the one who taught writing to man!

Here are some ways to write Seshat’s name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

Seshat 𓋇

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐

Seshat 𓋴𓈙𓄿𓏏𓅆

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, seshat

Reading Hieroglyphs

Is it Ushabti or Shabti?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date April 6, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be taking a closer look at the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that is on the Ushabti of Sati, which is the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 that I posted about yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳!

The word “shabti 𓆷𓄿𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾” in hieroglyphs on the Ushabti of the Lady Sati (Dynasty 18)

I was so excited when I saw the variant for the word “shabti 𓆷𓄿𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾” going across the front of the hieroglyphic text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 (it’s in the middle row of this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏) and it was clear to read! I don’t know why spotting a single word 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 makes me so excited, but it did! I guess I just love 𓈘𓏏 ushabtis that much!

I have seen people debate if the correct word for my favorite funerary figures is “shabti” or “ushabti,” when in reality, both pronunciations would be correct! So why would both “shabti” and “ushabti” be correct? Its because the word appears both ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 too! The word “𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 usbty” is where “ushabti” comes from and the word “𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 sawabti” is where “shabti” comes from!

The variant of “𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 sawabti” is what appears on this ushabti figure – it is missing the “𓍯” symbol, most likely for spacing reasons, so it is spelled like this: 𓆷𓄿𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾. It would still be pronounced as “sawabti” though!

The word for “stick 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓄿𓃀𓏲𓍘𓇋𓆱” is pronounced like “swbt,” and many Egyptologists think that this was the word that “𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 sawabti” was originally derived from. The term ““𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 sawabti” was used mostly during the New Kingdom Period, which is the time period this ushabti pictured is from.

It has also been proposed that the word “Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾” (which became more popular from the 21st Dynasty and onward), is derived from the verb “to answer 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓀁,” which would be pronounced like “wsb.” This makes sense too because ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 answered the call of the deceased to perform manual labor in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

My Nonno always said “Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾” so that is what I tend to say as well! Which term to you usually use?

Tags brooklyn museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, shabti, ushabti

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories