Tag: hatshepsut

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Senemut and Neferure

This is a beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… and Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 – and I love these types of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ because they were seemingly invented by Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… himself and also give some insight into this time period!

Senemut and Neferure
A statue of Senemut holding Neferure (The Louvre)

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓. Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her. But honestly, no one really knows how Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… climbed the social ranks so dramatically and we probably never will! 

This is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… holding Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and many of these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ exist, however, this one is a tiny bit different than some of the other similar statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ I have seen. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 wrapped in a blanket and being held tight by Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…. Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on her head (like royalty) and also at her feet. Was this Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on her head to show that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ intended for Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 to rule as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 after her? 

There are many differing theories on Senemut’s relationship with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓. Many believe (including myself) that they were having an affair. There’s even graffiti from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ builders in some unfinished tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that show that they too believed that Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 and Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… were romantically involved. Gossiping about relationships seems to have always been something that people have done! 

It has even been speculated by some, based off of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ such as the one I have pictured, that Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“… was actually Neferure’s 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut and International Women’s Day

Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was International Womens Day and I didn’t get a chance to post, so I am going to post today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is ten years π“Ž† old (it’s from 2013) and of course it’s me and Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ at the MET! This gallery looks a little bit different now and the Maned Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is no longer with 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! Not going to lie, but I love seeing these two 𓏻 together π“ˆ–π“Š— and I miss the old Gallery 115 setup!Β 

Hatshepsut and International Women's Day
Me and the Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut (left) and the White Limestone Statue of Hatshepsut (right)

Let’s learn a bit more about my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the legendary Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!Β Not only was she the most successful female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian history, she was just one of the most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯ ever!

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to state her divine conception and birth π“„Ÿ through images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and text π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ at her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ story shows that the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ was her father, and this reinforced her right to rule π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ. These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 were not available to the public, but only to a select few such as priests π“ŠΉπ“›π“ͺ and officials π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€π“ͺ so it probably wasn’t propaganda. 

What caused Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ to want to claim herself as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? We will probably never know the events that caused this to happen, so anything written by Egyptologists is mostly speculative. Whatever the reasoning, I’m glad that she did become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ has been my inspiration ever since I was a little girl and my Nonno taught me about her for the first 𓏃 time! I’ll never forget learning that a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Seeing these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ in the museum give me joy each time! 

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Reading Hieroglyphs Video

Video – Maned Sphinx of Hatshepsut

Here’s a video on the Maned Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓!

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

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“ŒΊπ“π“‡Œ – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given

𓆖 – Eternity (Forever)

β€œMaatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.”

I know this is strange, but β€œGiven Life” is written backwards! It should be β€œπ“™π“‹Ήβ€ not β€œπ“‹Ήπ“™β€ as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left). 

There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know! 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Horus Name of Pharaoh Hatshepsut

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

While the throne name and birth name are the two 𓏻 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ that appear most often in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the Horus Name of my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! The Horus Name is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and it is the oldest way to do so. The purpose of the Horus Name was to identify the king 𓇓 as an earthly representation of the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. This helped to legitimize their rule π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ, especially if the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 wasn’t necessarily β€œin line” for the throne. 

Usually the Horus Name will appear in a Serekh, however that’s not the case here! The Falcon Horus π“…ƒ is usually standing on top of a palace facade π“Š which enclosed the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– but that is missing here probably due to spacing issues! The ancient Egyptians will always put aesthetics before grammar! Instead, π“‹Ήπ“…ƒ or β€œLiving Horus” is written to indicate the Horus Name! Again, β€œπ“‹Ήπ“…ƒ Living Horus” really tells everyone that Hatshepsut herself is the god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, just here on Earth 𓇾𓇾.Β 

Hatshepsut’s Horus Name, Wosretkau, in hieroglyphs.

Let’s take a look at Hatshepsut’s Horus Name! 

π“„Šπ“‹΄π“π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ – Wosretkau or Useretkau 

Let’s break down the meaning of the name:

π“„Šπ“‹΄π“ – Powerful, Mighty, Strong (this is the female version; male version is π“„Šπ“‹΄). 

π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ – Kas (Souls) 

β€œWosretkau” translates to β€œThe Mighty of the Kas” or β€œThe Mighty of the Souls.”

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic symbols π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ:

The β€œhead and neck of a jackal π“„Šβ€ symbol is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œwsr” or β€œusr.” 

The β€œfolded cloth 𓋴” is a uniliteral phonogram for β€œs.”

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The β€œπ“‚“ two arms” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œka,” and also functions as an ideogram for the same. The word β€œka” has been translated into our modern languages as β€œsoul.” 

I think that is such a cool name π“‚‹π“ˆ– to have! This name π“‚‹π“ˆ– has only been recorded in a couple of places, including the Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ at the Vatican (pictured), the Obelisk 𓉢 at Karnak, and on a couple of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ from Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 (one of these is at the MET). 

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Birth Name

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Throne Name

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Birth Name of Pharaoh Hatshepsut

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Can you spot Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“„‚π“€Ό birth name in the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below?

Can you see Hatshepsut’s cartouche?

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the birth name (also called the given name) cartouche 𓍷 of my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! Like with most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“₯, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ had many different ways to write her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and these different spellings are called variants. A variant of Hatshepsut’s cartouche 𓍷 is what appears on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ! 

But first 𓏃, let’s break down the full cartouche 𓍷 (aka the one that appears on most monuments) because it is the more β€œgrammatically proper” spelling!

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“ŽΉπ“- United with (Khnemet)

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

π“€Όπ“ͺ -Noble Women (Shepsut)

So Hatshepsut’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– translates to β€œUnited with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.” 

Hatshepsut’s Birth Name Cartouche

Now that we know her most popular variant, let’s take a look at the less common variant of the cartouche 𓍷, which is the variant that appears on the stela: π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“„‚π“€Ό

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“ŽΉ – United with (Khnemet)

π“„‚ – Foremost (Hat)

π“€Ό – Noble Women (Shepsut)

So as you can see, even though there are less hieroglyphic symbols π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (aka the words are abbreviated), the cartouche still retains the original meaning/pronunciation! Abbreviations can be difficult for beginners, but it just comes with practice! 

There’s also a third variant of Hatshepsut’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that I rarely see and it is simply: 𓄂𓏏𓀼π“ͺ which actually spells just β€œHatshepsut”!

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

π“€Όπ“ͺ -Noble Women (Shepsut)

This cartouche 𓍷/inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is from the Stela of Hatshepsut, which is at the Vatican Museum, which is the same stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ as the previous post about Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 Throne Name!

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Throne Name

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Horus Name

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Throne Name of Pharaoh Hatshepsut

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the throne name (also called the prenomen) cartouche 𓍷 of my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and one of the first 𓏃 β€œphrases” that I learned how to read when I was first learning hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 always distinguished their names in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ by wrapping them in a cartouche 𓍷, which is an oval shape with a straight line closing the oval at one end. The oval shape was meant to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– from evil π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“π“…¨ in both life π“‹Ή and death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

With the three 𓏼 symbol cartouche, especially when Re 𓇳𓏺 is involved, the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– read middle-right-left. So why is Re 𓇳𓏺 written first but said last!? Honorific transposition! As a sign of respect, Re 𓇳𓏺 (or another god π“ŠΉ) is always written first 𓏃 but said last! 

Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ throne name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓, which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” I love π“ˆ˜π“ this name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and the meaning behind it – to me, it just screams β€œpowerful!” Let’s take a closer look at the symbols that are a part of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

“Maatkare” in a cartouche – this is the throne name of the Pharaoh Hatshepsut

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun 𓆄𓅱𓇳, today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, and for words associated with time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.”

The β€œπ“¦ goddess with a feather” symbol is used commonly as a determinative in the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦, but is also commonly used as an ideogram for the word β€œmaat.” 

The β€œπ“‚“ two arms” symbol is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œka,” and also functions as an ideogram for the same. The word β€œka” has been translated into our modern languages as β€œsoul,” since the person’s ka π“‚“ was the part of the person that interacted with others and was considered one part of a person’s soul. 

This cartouche 𓍷/inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is from the Stela of Hatshepsut, which is at the Vatican Museum. When I saw this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ (one of my most favorite artifacts) I made sure to try and close up pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ because I love π“ˆ˜π“ it so much!

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Birth Name

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Horus Name

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Egyptian Artifacts

Aswan Granite

After limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™, β€œAswan Granite” was the third most used rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ by the ancient Egyptians! β€œAswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– area, even though they aren’t all granitic! Diorite and granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ are other igneous rocks looped into this category, even though granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is a felsic rock (lighter in color and lower in density with more quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™) as opposed to diorite/granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ (intermediate rock, less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, both dark and light in color). 

The most common of the β€œAswan Granite” rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ is known as red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ. Red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦, obelisks 𓉢𓉢𓉢, and for parts of buildings and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ! 

Quarrying of the β€œAswan Granite” started in the Old Kingdom and was even used to build the Pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Giza! During the New Kingdom (particularly 18th Dynasty), red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ became extremely popular again, especially amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ and many of them had their statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ and funerary equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ carved out of this durable stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ! 

One of the best examples of these red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. She had the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ shipped 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί from Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were such master geologists they even distinguished regular β€œgranite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώβ€ from β€œred granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆβ€ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below is a close up of a sample red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ from my collection so you can get a better look at this gorgeous π“„€ rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™!Β 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Board Game “Senet”

If an object has Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on it, I am going to get excited about it – no matter what the artifact is!

This piece is a type of ancient Egyptian board game called Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“ ! Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.). 

During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka π“‚“ (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word β€œSenet” π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  actually means passage or gateway (though there are other ways to write these words as well)! If you look really closely, you can see details of the β€œAnkh π“‹Ή,” which is the symbol that means β€œLife” along with the β€œDjed Pillar π“Š½β€ which means β€œStability” painted on the side of the game! On both the left and right sides, you can also see the word π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€ which means β€œHealth!” Such lovely messages on the side of a board game!

Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things an about humanity have not changed!Β 

The version of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that appears on the side of the Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  board is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is β€œMaatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

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Blog Video

Video – Stela of Hatshepsut Replica

This is a replica of the Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ at the Musei Vaticani that my Nonno gave to me over fifteen years ago. I love this piece so much because the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on it are so accurate compared to the original stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

This is one of my most prized possessions because my Nonno have it to me. He brought this for me before we got to see the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ together, because he knew I would absolutely love it, and I do! 

Let me know if you guys enjoy seeing my little collection of Egyptian replica pieces that my Nonno has given me!

Here is one of my posts about this beautiful π“„€ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

I love this picture for two 𓏻 reasons: the first 𓏃 is because my Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ at the Musei Vaticani! I almost feel that this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 represents how Nonno saw me, and I’ve never shared it until today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ because I wanted to keep it as β€œmine.” I wish I could go back to this moment because look at the happiness π“„«π“„£ and joy π“„«π“„£ on my face! The second π“Œπ“» reason is because this Stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is one of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts – it was a dream of mine to see this in person, and I’m so lucky I was able to!

I know I have posted about this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έa lot, however, today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³we are going to examine a different aspect of it! If you search “Hatshepsut” or “Vatican Museum,” you will be able to see my previous posts on this beautiful stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

This sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ depicts Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is wearing the blue (khepresh) crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ and is making an offering of nemset jars π“Œπ“Œπ“Œ to the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί. Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is wearing the White Crown π“„€π“‹‘ of Upper Egypt 𓇓! 

The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was meant to commemorate restoration works in West Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–! Many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 would restore the work of previous rulers π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύπ“ͺ to demonstrate their own power and to honor the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, not to honor the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! 

Another reason why restoring previous works and building lots of new buildings (which Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ did early in her reign π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ), was so significant was because it meant the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (in this case, Hatshepsut) would live on since the names were part of the buildings’ inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. All of these new projects also impressed upon the common people the economic prosperity of the Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ regime. This was important for her to demonstrate immediately because she was not only a female π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ ruler π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ, but she kind of pushed Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 to the side and named herself the legitimate pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.