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Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut – A Brief Family History

The large red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ in comparison to me! This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous π“„€ to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in it!

Nicole (me) with the large red granite statue of Hatshepsut at the MET

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the only child π“π“‡Œπ“€• of her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž Ahmose.

After the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ married her half brother, Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– lesser wives.

Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child π“π“‡Œπ“€•, so Hatsheput π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her large military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Anubis

Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles is, π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–, β€œHe who is in the mummy wrappings” – which reminds me of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were quite abundant during the Late – Ptolemaic Period (664–31 B.C.E.). These are made of faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, which was a popular material to make amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ out of because faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό is both easy to work with and very cheap. It was very easy to mass produce these types of amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ!

Funerary amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ such as these were often made in the form of deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ who had various roles in protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ would be woven into the wrappings of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, and placed in specific locations in the wrappings depending on its function. Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ items whose main role was protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ!

While some amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were worn by the living, an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 would have been worn only by the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. As Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the god π“ŠΉ of embalming/mummification and tombs/cemeteries, he was tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Since the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to be preserved in order for them to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 had a significant role in the deceased’s journey – which is where amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ in his likeness came into play! Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ commonly took the form of the power that they represented!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Ointment Jar Translation

This is an ointment jar that was found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰! In Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ time, the temple was referred to as 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 or the β€œHoliest of Holies” (or djeser-djeseru). There are many different hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ variations of the word as well!

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

π“π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great Goddess
π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lady of the Two Lands
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun
π“…“ – In
𓂦𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies
π“ŒΊπ“π“‡Œ – Beloved

So all together, the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads: β€œThe Great Goddess, Lady of the Two Lands, Maatkare, May She Live! Beloved of Amun who is in the Holiest of Holies.”

Fun fact about the word β€œπ“…“!” This one symbol, usually associated with the modern letter β€œm,” can have many meanings such as: in, as, by, with, from, when, through, and what!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Senemut

This is a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£. A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ usually had Hathor’s 𓉑 head 𓁢𓏀 (complete with her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle. It’s interesting to see a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό holding something other than Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, because he is usually depicted with her.

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό 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-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her.

There are many differing theories on Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό relationship with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Many believe (including myself) that they were having an affair. There’s even graffiti from the tomb builders in some unfinished tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that show that they too believed that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό were romantically involved.

Gossiping about relationships seems to have always been something that people have done!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Foundation Deposits at Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple

When the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 any type of structure or building 𓉐, they would put objects in the foundation as a ceremonial practice. Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 had at least fourteen π“Ž†π“½ foundation deposits, and eight 𓏿 of them were found by the MET when the team from the museum was excavating the temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐.

Inside the foundation deposits, ointment jars (like from my post earlier this week), pottery containing food, linen 𓍱 cloth, reed mats, model tools, and meat offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 were found. The offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 were placed at significant points around the perimeter of the building. The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you are looking at is a reconstruction of the foundation deposit as it was found when it was being excavated at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐.

It’s so cool to have a glance as to how some of these objects were found by archaeologists!

Foundation deposits are so interesting because they contain every-day type objects (usually with royal cartouches inscribed on them) that give Egyptologists a glance into the life of the β€œregular” ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Red Bowl with Feet

This red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ bowl with feet 𓂋𓂧𓂾π“ͺ amuses me so much! I think it’s adorable!!

During the Predynastic Period (c. 3700–3450 B.C.E.) , ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ potters made many different types of stone and clay vessels that had various purposes, however, this bowl with feet is definitely one of the more unique ones! One interesting thing about the bowl is that it is tipped forward almost like it’s ready to pour water π“ˆ— out of it! I wonder if this specific design has anything to do with its purpose?!

Egyptologists do not know the context of this bowl as there is no specific writings π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that mention its purpose. However, Egyptologists speculate that it could have been used as an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ placed above a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, or placed at a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ of a deity π“ŠΉ.

What I like about this bowl is that it looks like this hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ: π“Ž. This specific hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ of a bowl with feet π“Ž means β€œto bring” and is a phonogram for the sound β€œjnj.”

It also reminds me of 𓃂, which is the ideogram for β€œclean” or β€œpure.” Based on the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, and the fact that the bowl is tipped forward as if it’s pouring water π“ˆ—, could this little bowl have been part of some religious purification ritual?! The word for purification is is even β€œ π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ—.”

There are other hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that are everyday objects with feet 𓂋𓂧𓂾π“ͺ attached, such as this knife with feet π“Œ¬, the door bolt with feet π“Š„ (ideogram for β€œgo away”), beaded collar with feet π“‹Ÿ, and the depression with feet π“ˆ (frequently used as β€œgo”). The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ seemed to have liked this design/symbolism!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Cones

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ collections of museums, these funerary cones were always something my Nonno pointed out to me! He thought they were so interesting and now every time I go to museums, I actively seek these out as a way to remember my Nonno!

Nicole (me) with funerary cones at The Met!

Funerary cones are made of clay and usually found at the openings of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. They were used primarily during the 18th Dynasty (though there are examples that date to the 11th Dynasty or as late as the 19th-20th Dynasties).

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ with the name of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ occupant as well as a god π“ŠΉ. These objects can also be referred to as β€œfunerary stamps.”

An example inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that is common on a funerary cone would be something like:

β€œVenerated before Osiris, Son of X, Name of Deceased.”

π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œ – Venerated
𓐍𓂋 – Before
π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Taweret

Here are some faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗! More people are now familiar with Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 because of Moon Knight, but let’s dive into some history/information about her!

While the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ! The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means β€œthe great (female) one!” That is certainly a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that suits her!

While many amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were usually placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ to help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 on their journey to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife), amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 were usually found in homes because she was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was essential to family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 life. The family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 unit was an incredibly important feature not only in daily life π“‹Ή, but in religious observances as well. The amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 would provide protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ in the home, especially during childbirth, which was quite deadly for mothers 𓄿𓏏𓁐π“ͺ at the time. For this reason, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was usually worshipped in the home instead of in temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Nefertem

Here is a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the god π“ŠΉ Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯!

Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is usually associated with perfumes, but this role is secondary to his role as the god π“ŠΉ of the lotus flower 𓆸 that rose out of the primeval waters π“ˆ— in the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ creation myth. However, in the Pyramid Texts (from the Old Kingdom), Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is actually described as β€œThe lotus blossom which is before the nose of Ra,” so he was clearly always associated with both lotus flowers 𓆸 and perfumes/scents!

Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is always depicted as a young man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ with a large lotus flower 𓆸 on his head 𓁢𓏺! Less commonly, he can be shown as a human body with a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› head 𓁢𓏺 wearing the lotus 𓆸 headdress.

In Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–, Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was part of the triad with Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and was often portrayed as their child π“π“‡Œπ“€•. Father 𓇋𓏏𓀀-Mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐-Child π“π“‡Œπ“€• triads and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 units were extremely important to Egyptian culture! Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 wasn’t commonly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 by the masses because he was usually associated with royal monuments. His association with Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ also made him somewhat feared because she was a strong and ferocious goddess π“ŠΉπ“!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Duamutef – Canopic Jar

While Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 may be the most common jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯-headed god π“ŠΉ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, there are other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that have the head 𓁢𓏺 of a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ as well! This is a faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό canopic jar with the head of the god π“ŠΉ Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– can also be written as 𓂧𓍯𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, was one of the four Sons of Horus. Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 job was to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification.

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction. The goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ was tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑. The name Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 means β€œHe who adores his mother.”

This canopic jar is dated to the Ramesside period (19th Dynasty, c. 1295–1185 B.C.E.).