Tag: british museum

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis I

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (or π“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. His name π“…π“„Ÿπ“‹΄ means β€œBorn of Thoth.” Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

This statue is in the British Museum! I dream of going back to the British Museum one day – I was lucky enough to be able to go there twice on my trip to London, and even luckier that I got to explore the museum with my NonnoπŸ’œ.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Column of Rameses II

From Nonno’s point of view!!

He took a picture of me taking a picture while we were in the British Museum πŸ˜‚ – I love it!!

Anyway, this is a red granite column that was originally inscribed for Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“! Both of his cartouches can be seen throughout -(π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) and (π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–). Also his titles such as β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ and β€œLord of Appearances π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯” can be seen on top of his cartouches.

This column was definitely usurped by another pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at some point because some of the cartouches on this column don’t belong to Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–!

In the bottom of this picture you can see the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ for β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ very clearly!

I have always loved seeing the columns in museums because you can get a sense of the grand scale of the Egyptian monuments. Since I have never been to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, it’s nice to see just how grand their building was! I love the design of this column; the top looks like a flower 𓆸!

Cartouche for Rameses II (π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“).
Another side of the column!
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Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum King’s List

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List.

There are two surviving King Lists from temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. One temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Abydos, while Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…žπ“π“ˆ–, Smenkhare π“‡³π“Šƒπ“‰»π“‚“π“‚¦π“†£, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ were considered gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

In this picture, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name should be, but is missing due to the fact that she was purposefully left off the list!

You can see Thutmosis III’s the one name 𓇳𓏠𓆣, and then I’m pointing to the space next to his name. Why next to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Even though Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was technically named as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 first, and since he was too young to rule (he came to the throne at as young as two years old according to some historians), Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was his co-regent until she named herself the sole pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Here is a closer look at the King’s List – how stunning are these hieroglyphs?! I’m always so amazed that even after thousands of years, the colors on the monuments are still there!

On the left hand side, you can see the inscription π“†₯(π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–). This is his prenomen, or Throne Name:

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt
π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre Setepenre, which means Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Chosen by Ra.

Next to that inscription, you can see the following: 𓅭𓇳 (π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ).

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ – Rameses, Beloved of Amun.

Here’s an even further breakdown of Rameses II’s Nomen:
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜ – Beloved of Amun
π“œπ“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Šƒ – can be translated multiple ways β€œBorn of Ra,” β€œRa bore him,” etc.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Gilded Sarcophagi


Here are some gilded sarcophagi 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ at the British Museum!

TheΒ British MuseumΒ has so many different sarcophagi 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ in their collection that it was almost overwhelming trying to see everything!!! Sarcophagi 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ such as these are usually made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 with a gold leaf overlay – it makes it look like the sarcophagus 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is made of pure gold when it is not! These are decorated beautifully π“„€ with many of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ of the Egyptian pantheon! The sarcophagus 𓅱𓇋𓀾 on the left contains a dedication to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, which runs down the center of the lid!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Sobekhotep

This is the stelaΒ π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰ΈΒ of a man named Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ who was a scribe that worked at a wine cellar! This stelaΒ π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰ΈΒ is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and the reign of Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β (c. 1390-1352 B.C.E.).Β This stela is at the British museum.

The stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸 is divided into three 𓏼 different sections. On the top, Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 are worshipping Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (right) and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 (left). Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 have their arms raised, which is how it is interpreted that they are worshipping π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ those gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are the two 𓏻 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are generally worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ on funerary stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸π“ͺ because they are the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ most associated with death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. 

In the middle section, Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, his wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 and one daughter 𓅭𓏏 are receiving offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 presented by four 𓏽 of their sons π“…­π“¦. More sons π“…­π“¦ and daughters π“…­π“π“¦ appear in the scene on the bottom of the stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸. The family π“…•π“‰”𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ life π“‹Ή and culture, as was religion, which is why funerary stelae π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸π“ͺ usually represented both. 

As a side note, I really love Sobekhotep’s π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

𓆋 – Sobek

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – Hotep (peace, satisfied, etc)

So the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can be translated to β€œSobek is satisfied.” Can you find Sobekhotep’s π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on the stela π“Ž—𓅱𓆓𓉸? (Hint: the name usually appears next to the person)!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum Funerary Display

There’s a lot going on in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, but I really like this display at the British Museum! This display contains statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ that all have to do with funerary practices.Β 

On the bottom left, there are multiple figures of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris. Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures connect three gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are connected to rebirth/resurrection into a single statue π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾. These statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ became popular during the Late Period and they seemed to have evolved from the figures of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ that became popular in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during the 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom). These figures are always a mummiform figure on a wooden π“†±π“π“Ί base. 

On the bottom right is a corn mummy in a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. While millions of animal mummies have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies made of grains like wheat and barley have also been found. Corn Mummies are meant to be a representation of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Egyptologists came to this conclusion because the β€œcoffins” that contain the corn mummies almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and his titles/epithets.

The middle-right shows wooden π“†±π“π“Ί funerary figures of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys π“‰ π“π“†‡ which were also popular figures to find in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ from the Late Period and onward. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys π“‰ π“π“†‡ were sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ and both funerary goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“. Similar statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ can be seen in museums around the world!

The top left shows various figures and representations of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, who was the main funerary god π“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Β The Book of the Dead of Hunefer is one of my absolute favorite artifacts, and seeing it in the British Museum was a dream come true for me!

On the top panel, Hunefer (the deceased) stands before the 42 divine judges and pleads their lifetime of truth and moral doings. The Book of the Dead provided the deceased with the words to say so they would pass this trial!

On the bottom panel: This is the Weighing of the Heart ceremony! Let’s start from the left! Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is leading Hunefer (the deceased) to the scales (not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous they are holding hands πŸ˜‚). Here, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s π“Œ΄π“™π“‚£π“π“¦ feather (Maat is sitting on top of the scales). If Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two 𓏻, that means that the deceased lived a truthful π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ and just π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ life π“‹Ή.

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 (the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is there waiting to see if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 didn’t live a truthful π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ life! If the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 weighs more than the feather, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 would eat the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and the deceased would β€œdie a second time” and not live in eternal paradise. Thoth π“…€π“€­ records the findings of the ceremony.

If the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 passed the Weigning of the Heart, they would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and would then enter the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š– and live in eternal paradise!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Thutmosis III

I’m going to post another British Museum picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because I’m nostalgic and I like remembering how amazing that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 was!

This red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is definitely an interesting one because it actually has the cartouches of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ carved into the chest! This is what Egyptologists call usurping – meaning that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ took statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and monuments from his predecessors, erased their name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and put his own!

Egyptologists don’t think this was done out of disrespect for the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, instead it was just Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ promoting his own rule.

Fun fact! Much like modern geologists, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ differentiated between granite and red granite rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! How do we know?! The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are different:

Granite – π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ
Red Granite – π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ

I love rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ and geology so much! I actually got interested in geology as a kid because I wanted to know what all of the statues were made out of!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses II at the British Museum

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is one of the largest Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum. The piece is definitely grand, and is even more beautiful π“„€ in person.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was cut from pink/gray granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ. Granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is an extremely strong rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ and resistant to weathering due to its high quartz content (hence why it is used to make countertops), so that is why the details on this are so well preserved. This piece was excavated by Belzoni and was originally from Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ mortuary temple at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (aka the Ramesseum).

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ came to the throne after the death of his father Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and ruled Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 for about 67 years. He was the third pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, and is often referred to as β€œRameses The Great” because he built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 more monuments than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and ruled longer than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The monuments attributed to Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ are some of the best preserved – it seems that he got his wish to be remembered even so long after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 as much as he could so he could ensure that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– lived on.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Realistic Lion Statue of Amenhotep III or IV

This lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was originally meant to represent the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž . The Egyptians believed that lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ represented strength and might, which is why pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be represented as lions π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ (and why the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was so popular). While being represented as a sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was considered the β€œnormal” in Egyptian art, being represented as a full lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› was very rare. Also, sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are usually represented in a β€œhead-on” type style, while this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ represents the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›π“¦ in a more realistic fashion.

To me, this piece showcases the incredible skills that Egyptian artists possessed – not only could they make idealized/traditional statues like sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦, but they were also masters at making realistic statues too.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ has gone through many changes and was recycled by many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! It was originally made for Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž , however, an inscription was added to the chest by Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€ (better known as Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– change).

The inscription reads β€œLion of rulers, wild when he sees his enemies tread his path.” The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below shows a close up of this inscription, however it is hard to read – I got some help from the British Museum website for the translation because when hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are faded, especially when looking at them from my photographs, they can be extremely difficult for me to read!