Tag: the met

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Cartouches of Montuhotep II – Video

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to learn about the Cartouches of Montuhotep II!

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ birth name and throne name (both with titles). 

π“†₯(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!

Cartouches of Montuhotep II
The Throne Name cartouche of the pharaoh Montuhotep II

𓇳 – Ra

π“ŽŸ – β€œNeb” (nb)

π“Š€ – β€œHapet” (αΈ«rw or αΈ₯jpt)

Cartouches of Montuhotep II
The Birth Name cartouche of the pharaoh Montuhotep II

Montuhotep π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ is his birth name/given name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Let’s look even closer at the individual glyphs!

π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – Montu (𓏠 – mn) (π“ˆ– – n) (𓍿- t) (π“…± – u/w)

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Hotep (π“Š΅ – htp) (𓏏 – t) (π“Šͺ – p) 

This raised relief is originally from Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign π“‹Ύ. This dates the relief to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Cartouches of Montuhotep II
Relief of Montuhotep II at the MET. Can you see the Cartouches of Montuhotep II on the full relief?

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hounds and Jackals Game

The ancient Egyptians loved playing games π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦, and many of examples of ancient games π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦Β  such as senet π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  and Mehen π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†“/π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†— exist both as actual artifacts and as depictions in art!

Hounds and Jackals Game
The Hounds and Jackals Game was named after the Hounds and Jackals that appear on the top of the pegs! This is the most complete version of the game that’s ever been found!

The game π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦ in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is one that was named β€œHounds and Jackals” by Howard Carter! Carter named the game after the hounds π“Ώπ“Šƒπ“…“π“„›π“ͺ and the jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 that are at the tops of the pegs. This particular piece is the only game of β€œHounds and Jackals” that has been found with the pegs! The game has also been referred to as β€œ59 Holes” due to the holes that are on each side of the palm tree!Β 

No one knows the rules to this game, but it is thought to be symbolic of the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and that the hounds π“Ώπ“Šƒπ“…“π“„›π“ͺ and the jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 were used as pieces because they could be related to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, the god π“ŠΉ of mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž and protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Other less-complete versions of this game have been found in other tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦. 

Unlike senet π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  and Mehen π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†“/π“Ž”π“ˆ–π“†—, games π“‡‹π“²π“π“Š‘π“„›π“¦ which seem to have persisted throughout Egyptian history, β€œHounds and Jackals” seems to be a Middle Kingdom exclusive! This piece is made of the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 from a sycamore tree π“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“†­ and ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ. 

This piece was discovered in 1910 by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon – I find this to be so cool because this was about twelve years before they discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom, reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of Amenemhat IV π“‡³π“ŒΆπ“‚π“Š€π“…± (12th Dynasty). 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 also shows a shabti coffin! The shabti coffin allowed for the ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ to take the place of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in case the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was destroyed! I like to think of this as a call back to the original β€œwax ushabtis” of the Middle Kingdom, which served the same purpose.Β 

Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 was the eighth pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty and he was actually not supposed to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! His brother π“Œ’π“ˆ– was chosen successor by their father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 Amenhotep II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, but Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 usurped the throne and made himself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!Β 

Ushabti of Thutmosis IV
A Ushabti of Thutmosis IV (left) and a shabti coffin that also belonged to Thutmosis IV (right) on display at the MET

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!Β Let’s take a closer look at the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– on the ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ:Β 

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Menkheperura β€œEstablished Manifestations of Ra” (Throne name of Thutmosis IV)

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

π“Ήπ“Š¨ – Osiris (Osiris’ name is written without the determinative symbol here (π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­))

π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Beloved

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š— the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– says: β€œThe Perfect God, Lord of the Two Lands, Menkheperura, True of Voice, Beloved of Osiris.” 

The tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 in the Valley of the Kings was excavated by Theodore Davis and Howard Carter in 1903, which is where these objects were found! Many blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό pieces were found during this excavation! I love how bright the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ color still is; it’s really striking in person! 

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken By” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!Β 

Words Spoken By
A raised relief showing the phrase “Words Spoken By” in hieroglyphs

Here we see an inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– with the symbols β€œ π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–.” This is a really popular introduction to an inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– and it translates to β€œWords spoken by… π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–.” β€œπ“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–β€ is usually followed by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a god π“ŠΉ or goddess π“ŠΉπ“. 

The β€œcobra 𓆓” is a phonogram, which means that it is a symbol that represents sounds, and is usually part of a larger word! The cobra 𓆓 is a uniliteral sign, so it represents just one consonant. It represents the sound β€œαΈβ€ which would almost sound like a β€œj” when pronounced. 

The β€œstaff or walking stick π“Œƒβ€ functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word β€œ staff π“Œƒπ“Ίβ€). π“Œƒ is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound β€œmdw.”

The β€œreed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

When put together, π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– reads like β€œαΈd mdw Δ±Ν—n.” The word π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–, means β€œwords spoken by…” or β€œspeech by…”

What are some other words that are related to these? Let’s take a look! 

𓆓𓂧 – Say, Tell, Speak

π“†“π“Œƒ – Recitation 

𓆓𓂧𓏏𓏦 – Sayings

𓆓𓋴 – Self/Own

These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are from the Chapel of Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…±. This chapel was originally located in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–. Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± was old when he took the throne, and most of his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were either finished by or made by his 𓆑 son π“…­, Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–.Β 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Menat Necklace

This is a picture of a special type of necklace called a menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§. The menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace is unique because it consists of a keyhole shaped piece and a lot of beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦. The beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 on this menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό and there are some glass π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 near the keyhole piece!Β Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ is my favorite color, so I really love how blue was such a popular color in ancient Egyptian art!

Menat Necklace
A beautiful example of a menat necklace on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace not only appears a lot in Egyptian art, but it was clearly used by real people too! The menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace was often carried or worn by women during religious ceremonies. Similar to a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, the menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace was shaken like a rattle. The person would hold the keyhole piece and then shake the menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ to create the rattle-like sound!

The sound produced was meant to appease gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ or goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“. Similar to the sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, the menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace was often associated with Hathor 𓉑, who was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ (amongst other fun things).Β Hathor 𓉑 is often seen in art giving the menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ to a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian art.

This particular menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ necklace was found at Malqata and is dated to the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (c. 1390 – 1352 BCE). In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  built a new palace π“‚π“Ž›π“π“‰₯𓉐 which was referred to as β€œThe House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. It would be interesting to know if this menat π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ was specifically used during his Heb Sed Festival π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“Ž±π“‡³π“ͺ!

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

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Video

White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut – Video

Can you tell how excited/happy 𓄫𓄣𓏏 I am in this video? 

It’s no secret π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“†Ÿπ“› that the White Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my absolute favorite artifact that has ever been found in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! This is the piece that captured my imagination and I’ll never forget the first 𓏃 time I saw this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 with my Nonno! 

Nonno was always so excited to tell me about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, because she was the most successful female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Her twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† year rule π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ was marked by big building projects (her mortuary temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐), economic prosperity (the expedition to Punt π“Šͺπ“ƒΊπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆ‰) and peace! 

Not only is this White Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ just absolutely stunning π“„€, I love the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on it because Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ refers to herself using the female form of words in the inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! These were also some of the first inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ I learned how to read, so they are very special to me!Β 

White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut
White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut at the MET

Check out this post for a more in-depth look at this beautiful π“„€ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! No matter how many times I see it, I am still in awe of its beauty π“„€!

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Birthdays in Ancient Egypt

My birthday is soon, so let’s talk about birthdays in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

Birthdays in Ancient Egypt
Me hanging out at the Temple of Dendur at the MET!

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from my last trip to the MET, when I just got to sit and hang out in one of my absolute favorite places – The Temple of Dendur! The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was actually commissioned by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 (first emperor of Rome) and the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was primarily used to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯.

The ancient Egyptians didn’t celebrate the birthdays of regular people – they celebrated the birthdays of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“! The 365-day calendar which is one of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to the world! Egyptian astronomers even adjusted the year to be exactly 365.25 days when their calculations got more accurate! 

The Egyptian calendar consisted of 12 π“Ž†π“» months that were each 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† days long. The extra five 𓏾 days left over at the end of the year were festival days – each day dedicated to celebrating the birthday of a different deity π“ŠΉ! 

Day 1 was the Birthday of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­

Day 2 was the Birthday of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­

Day 3 was the Birthday of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£

Day 4 was the Birthday of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯

Day 5 was the Birthday of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇

So how do we write β€œbirthday” in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ? Let’s use Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ as an example: π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“Ž± or π“„Ÿπ“π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“Ž±. 

Let’s break it down: π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“/π“„Ÿπ“ is the word for β€œbirth” and both are pronounced β€œmswt.” In the case of  β€œπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“,” this is what we call a β€œphonetic complement” – the sounds are written twice but pronounced once!

The β€œalabaster basin π“Ž±β€ symbol is a determinative for β€œfeast” or β€œfestival” but can also be an ideogram for β€œheb” (feast). 

So if I wanted to write out my own birthday, it would look like this: π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­π“π“Ž±. You can do the same with your own – just replace my name π“‚‹π“ˆ– with your name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

A big thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 to the UCL website for the list of the festival days!!Β Check out their website for incredible information about ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of the Goddess Isis

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looked at a raised relief of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ from the West Wall of a Chapel of Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…±. This chapel was originally located in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–. Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± was old when he took the throne, and most of his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were either finished by or made by his 𓆑 son π“…­, Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–.Β 

In ancient Egyptian art, one of the ways to distinguish deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ from each other are either looking at the crowns on their head, or the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that appear next to them. The crowns stayed pretty standard for most deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, however, Isis’ π“Š¨π“π“†‡ crown changed a lot! Most commonly she is depicted with the throne hieroglyph π“Š¨ on her head because it’s part of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! She can also be represented with the solar disk 𓇳 and cow horns π“„‹, or as she is here, with the solar disc 𓇳, cow horns π“„‹, and feathers 𓆄π“ͺ. The solar disk 𓇳 and cow horns π“„‹ makes her look similar to Hathor 𓉑, so it’s a good idea to read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this case!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Relief of the Goddess Isis
Relief of the Goddess Isis from the Chapel of Rameses I in the temple of Seti I at the MET

We are going to start reading from the right because the directional symbols (aka the birds π“…¨ 𓅐) point to the right! As usual, we are also going to read the columns from top to bottom!Β 

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis

𓅨𓂋𓏏 – Great One

π“ŠΉπ“π“… – God’s Mother

π“ŽŸπ“ – Lady/Mistress

π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“ŽΊπ“ – Lady/Mistress

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

The most common way to write Lady/Mistress is β€œπ“ŽŸπ“,” however, β€œπ“ŽΊπ“β€ is also a variant of that same word! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The God Osiris Inside A Sarcophagus

This depiction of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is on the inside of a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is the lord of the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐  and it was the goal to be β€œreborn” like Osiris π“Š©π“Ή was after death. Much like Osiris π“Š©π“Ή in the myth, the deceased would not return to the world of the living, but instead live on in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.Β 

The God Osiris

Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… , and wearing the Atef crown π“‹š. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ adorning the sides. Above Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛, who is the god π“ŠΉ of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺. 

I love how Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is drawn in the β€œHorizon π“ˆŒβ€ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ. The ancient Egyptians used to use hieroglyphic symbols π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ as artistic depictions for a lot of the natural happenings! Another example is how the β€œsky 𓇯” and β€œstar 𓇼” hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ were often also used to depict these object in art. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to start near Osiris’ head!

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (ancient Egyptian word for Afterlife/Netherworld)

π“ŽŸ – Lord

π“‚¦π“ˆŠ – Sacred Land/Necropolis

Next to the flail: 

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is often referred to as “Foremost of the West π“…π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ” because in ancient Egypt, the “west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ” was referred to as the Land of the Dead since the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ.

Now beneath β€œwest” is where I don’t know what the glyphs say! It looks like β€œπ“ŠΉπ“Œƒβ€ which is β€œdivine writing” (aka hieroglyphs” but β€œGreat God π“ŠΉπ“‰Όβ€ would make more sense! Sometimes the way the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are drawn/painted can make it difficult to read and interpret!

There are many different ways to write Osiris’ name in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Much like any language, Middle Egyptian changed and evolved over time. The way that Osiris is written on this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­, “π“Š©π“Ή,” is a popular spelling from the Third Intermediate Period – Late Period, which is when this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is dated to. The most common way that Osiris was written before then was “π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­,” which is the spelling that most are familiar with. Other ways to write Osiris are: 𓁹𓇓𓀴 and π“Ήπ“Š¨π“‚‹π“€΄, but these are less common.

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of the Aten

Usually, a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· enclosed the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The oval surrounding the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was meant to be protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ from evil π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“π“…¨ both in life π“‹Ή and in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. During the 18th Dynasty, the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the King’s Great Wife π“‡“π“ˆžπ“ would also sometimes appear in a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·. 

Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– was not a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that followed tradition! Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“, which archaeologists sometimes refer to as the β€œAmarna Revolution” is a period of less than 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years which showed big changes not only to the traditional Egyptian religion, but also changes to the traditional Egyptian art. 

This fragment does not contain the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Instead, the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are very long way to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, the sole sun 𓇳𓏺 deity π“ŠΉ in Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– new religion.Β 

Cartouches of the Aten
The Cartouches of the Aten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! These are two 𓏻 of the β€œearly” cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, as there were variations during the later part of the Amarna period. The two 𓏻 cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are incomplete, but since we know what the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are supposed to say, I will translate both! 

Here is the first two cartouches at the top of the fragment:  π“‹Ήπ“…Šπ“ˆŒπ“ˆŒπ“Ž›π“‚π“»π“›π“π“ˆŒπ“ 

π“‹Ή – Living 

π“…Šπ“ˆŒπ“ˆŒ – Ra-Horakhty

π“Ž›π“‚π“»π“› – Rejoicing 

𓐝 – in

π“ˆŒπ“ – Horizon

This translates to β€œThe Living Ra-Horakhty, Rejoicing in the Horizon.” 

This second cartouche got cut off (you can only see the first two symbols), but here it is: π“π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“†‘π“π“†„π“…±π“‡³π“ˆ–π“π“»π“π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³

𓐝 – In 

π“ˆ–π“‚‹ – Name

𓆑 – His 

𓐝 – As 

π“†„π“…±π“‡³π“ˆ–π“π“» – Light

𓐝 – In 

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ – Aten

This translates to β€œIn His Name As the Light Which is In the Aten.” 

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