Tag: artifact

Small Statue of Ptah

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Although tiny (only about 5cm in height), this is a striking lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 statuette of the creator god 𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱. Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 is easily recognized, and I always called him the “bald god” as a kid even though he isn’t necessarily bald – he is wearing a cap on his head! Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 has always been a favorite of mine because he is so fascinating!

Lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 is a very hard 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 and is very difficult to work with, so that only makes the very tiny details such as the beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏 (the only god 𓊹 to be consistently depicted with one) and the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 even more impressive! Although it’s hard to see, the staff that Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 is holding in his hands is actually a merging of the Djed Pillar 𓊽 and the Was Scepter 𓌀. The hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for Djed 𓊽 means “stability” while the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for the Was Scepter 𓌀 means “strength.”

Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was not created; he existed before anyone else and anything. In short, he was the creator of the other creator gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, like Atum 𓇋𓏏𓂟𓀭. Due to Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 creativity, he is also the designated god 𓊹 of all forms of craftsman such as carpenters , shipbuilders, potters, metalworkers, and sculptors. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, the famous architect of the Step Pyramid (the first pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 built in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖) is said to be the direct son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 due to his incredible work! There is so much I can say about Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, but Instagram captions can only be so long!

This piece is estimated to be from the Third Intermediate Period – early Dynasty 26 (c. 945–600 B.C.E.). Since it is such a high quality piece, it is most likely that it was meant for use in Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 large temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖(Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was the chief god 𓊹 of Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖). Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 from the Old Kingdom forward.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, ptah, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Ptah in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Here is a zoomed in view of an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with the name 𓂋𓈖 of the god 𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 from a large statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 that originally belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏, however, the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was usurped by Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓.

As we learned yesterday, Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 was the chief god 𓊹 of Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and was considered a great protector of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. In the Book of the Dead, Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 is referred to as “The Master Architect,” and “Framer of Everything in the Universe” due to his role in “speaking” the world 𓇾𓇾 into creation!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Now, these two 𓏻 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 are divided by a line because they are part of a larger text that is read downwards; they are not meant to be read together! However, I really wanted the closeup of Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 name 𓂋𓈖, so we are going to read them this way from my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦!

You probably know the first phrase already:
𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands
(𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖) – Rameses II (throne name Usermaatre)
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 – Ptah
𓉼 – Great (then the inscription continues…)

Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 can be written a couple of different ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, but the phonogram symbols are always the same. Sometimes, the determinative symbol is left out because of spacing issues! Once you can recognize the first three 𓏼 symbols, you are well on your way to finding Ptah’s name 𓂋𓈖 on monuments/artifacts!

Here are the different ways to write his name 𓂋𓈖:
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓀭
𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁰
𓊪𓏏𓎛

The full statue that the inscription is on the back of

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, ptah, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Granodiorite Statue of Amun

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This is a beautiful 𓄤 granodiorite statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭. Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was the most popularly worshipped god 𓊹 during the 18th Dynasty amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and the elite.

This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 is special because it was made during the reign of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 (18th Dynasty, c. 1336–1327 B.C.E.). After Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule, Tutankamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 was responsible for moving the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 back to Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 and reestablishing the traditional Egyptian pantheon. Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 commissioned a lot of statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 to be made, most likely as a way to show that the old religion was once again free to be worshipped. Egyptologists believe that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was specifically sculpted to be placed in the Temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 at Karnak.

Something else that is interesting about the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is that it does still have some Amarna-style features, which suggests that some of the sculptors that worked in the Amarna workshops went to Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 with Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 after Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign. Some of the facial features of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 are also similar to other representations of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 (for example, the full lips, the drooping chin). The braided beard and the crown, however, make it unquestionable that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is meant to represent Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭.

Geology Lesson!!!! Granodiorite is an igneous rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 that is a “in between” granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 and diorite in terms of mineral composition. Granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 contains mostly quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, while diorite contains a lot of plagioclase/potassium feldspars. Granodiorite contains both, hence it is an “in-between” rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙!

Tags amun, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of the Goddess Neith

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

My Nonno loved bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, and would always point them out to us in museums! Bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 became very popular in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period. However, the demand for bronze statues during this period resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality over time.

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 was able to come to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 and clay statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪.

The bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. On this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭, the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 around her neck is still perfectly painted on, along with the design on the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔! Beautiful 𓄤 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 pieces can be seen in museums around the world 𓇾𓇾!

Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 was one of the goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of war and rose to popularity during the 16th Dynasty because her central city of worship, Sais, was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 at the time. She is also the protector of Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, the son 𓅭 of Horus 𓅃𓀭 whose canopic jar contains the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. Due to this, she was seen as a protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, Nephytys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐. She is usually seen wearing the Red Crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔 of Lower Egypt 𓆤 or with a shield and crossed arrows on her head.

Along with Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 was one of my Nonno’s favorite deities! He always made sure to point her out in museums, and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭 are abundant because she was a very popular goddess 𓊹𓏏 during the Bronze Age!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, neith, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Sekhmet and Imhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This setup at the MET reminded me so much of my Nonno because Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 were two of his favorite ancient Egyptian figures! Even better, is they these are both bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪; he loved all of the bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 so much! Seeing the two 𓏻 statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 next to each other made me miss my Nonno so much.

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, meaning “He who comes in peace,” was a non-royal man who became deified. This is a very rare occurrence, as it was thought by the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 that the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was the only god 𓊹 on the Earth 𓇾𓇾. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was not deified in his lifetime – it was 2,000 years after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 that he began to be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a god 𓊹. Not much is known about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 from his lifetime – much information about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is from Demotic texts or stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪 that were written thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was regarded as the Son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, who was the creator god 𓊹 of craftsmen and architects. He was also part of the “Memphis Triad,” which consisted of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓀭, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪.

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓏏𓁐 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of war, but she is usually pictured with the sun disc 𓇳𓏤 on her head 𓁶𓏤 because she was also associated with the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏤 – such as the extreme heat of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊! Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓏏𓁐 was one powerful lady, and the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 had many festivals dedicated to her in order to keep her happy!

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, imhotep, sekhmet, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Canopic Jars

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Here are some very plain, but very cool canopic jars! While the Sons of Horus were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, after the 18th Dynasty, the Four Sons of Horus were associated with being the heads 𓁶𓏦 on canopic jars which would guard the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. During the mummification process, certain organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 were removed, dried out with natron salt, and then placed in these canopic jars. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed their heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 to be weighed by Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

While each Son of Horus was associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏.

Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human, protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, was associated with the South 𓇔𓅱𓏏 and was protected by Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal, protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, was associated with the East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭, and was protected by Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon, protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and was protected by Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon, protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, was associated with the North 𓎔𓏏, and was protected by Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Stick Ushabtis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

Whenever I am in a museum, I take so many pictures of the different ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that are on display! There are so many different types, and each type is beautiful 𓄤 in its own way!

These particular ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that are are called “stick ushabtis” by archaeologists. Stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺, have a roughly mummiform shape, no artistic details, and have an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the front. Most stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are dated to the end of the 17th Dynasty to the beginning of the 18th Dynasty.

The function of these stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 also seem to be different than that of the regular ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that are found in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 whose function was to perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 have only been found in Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖, in the above ground chapels that were found near tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦.

Instead of being a worker for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 represented the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 members of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were placed in the above ground chapel as a way to symbolize family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 members being close to their dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 loved one.

The stick ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 were usually placed in their own model coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦, just like in the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! I always liked the model coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦, because I love tiny things! As a kid, the ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 reminded me of dolls, and how cool is it to have a doll-sized ancient Egyptian coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱!!!

Tags artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Miniature Broad Collar

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

“𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How Beautiful This Is!” – I feel like this is the only appropriate phrase to describe this piece!

At the MET, this is named the “Miniature Broad Collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝.” It’s hard to tell from the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, but this piece is actually small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! It was probably not meant to be worn by a person – instead, this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was most likely ceremonial and was probably placed on a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 (pronounced “wesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝 could be used for the whole word. This particular broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was made during the early Ptolemaic Period (332–246 B.C.E.), though broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 became very popular during the 18th Dynasty!

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. Broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 could be made of many different types of materials, including gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and inlaid stones 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦. In this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 and turquoise were the stones of choice! I love how the colors of the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and the different blues 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 counteract each other – it truly makes this a stunning 𓄤 piece! Though small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, this piece truly stands out!

Tags artifact, jewelry, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Turtle Bowl

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

I don’t know why, but I think this piece is so cute! It’s a bowl 𓂧𓈖𓇋𓏏𓏸 in the shape of a turtle 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉 that was made during the Predynastic Period (c. 3900–3500 B.C.E). The turtle 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉 bowl 𓂧𓈖𓇋𓏏𓏸 is made of red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 clay!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, turtles 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉𓏦 were seen as an ambiguous force because they were creatures of both land 𓇾 and water 𓈗. Turtles 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉𓏦 were also seen as the enemy of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and in chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead, it is stated that “May Ra live, and may the turtle die.” The turtles 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉𓏦 that lived in the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 were mostly nocturnal, which is probably why they were considered to be Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 enemy. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 was the sun 𓇳 god 𓊹, and was responsible for the rising of the sun 𓇳, while the night represented Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

While not as popular as some iconography, throughout Egyptian history, turtles 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉𓏦 took the form of vessels, palettes 𓐝𓊃𓏏𓆱𓏦, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, and images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on objects such as stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸𓏪.

Turtle 𓈙𓏏𓄿𓆉 can also be written in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 like this: 𓆉𓏺.

Tags artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Djed Pillar Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

I absolutely love amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 because I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things! The MET has an incredible collection of amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪, and I feel like most people just walk by them because they’re so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩! But even small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 objects can tell incredible stories about history!

In ancient Egyptian religion and culture, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were thought to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers and bestow them upon its wearer. Worn by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, different amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 served various religious and protective functions. Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were usually made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, which is a cheap and easy material to work with. Most faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces have a green/blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color. This is because these colors were thought to represent life 𓋹 and regeneration.

The djed pillar 𓊽 was associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and his regenerative powers and is thus considered an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of power. The djed pillars 𓊽 are usually blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 or green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 in color to represent the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. These amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 date back to the Old Kingdom, and were used throughout Egyptian history. In the New Kingdom, they were strung around the neck of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. In hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, the djed 𓊽 symbol means “stability” or “enduring.”

The djed pillar 𓊽 has also been thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, as referenced in The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.”

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

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