Tag: artifact

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of the Scribe and Architect Kha

I was inspired by a video that @egyptologylessons posted on TikTok to write about this piece! This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is called “The Sculpted Statue of the Scribe and Architect Kha 𓈍𓂡𓀼” and it is currently on display at the @museoegizio in Torino, Italy. My Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 during one of his trips to the Museo Egizio! 

Statue of the Scribe and Architect Kha
A display at the Museo Egizio showing the Statue of the Scribe and Architect Kha

Kha 𓈍𓂡𓀼 was a scribe 𓏟𓀀 and the royal architect under the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 (18th Dynasty) and he lived in Deir el-Medina. Kha’s titles included “Head of the Great Place 𓄿𓏏𓊨𓏏𓉐𓉻𓏏𓏛,” “Overseer of the Works 𓅓𓂋𓂓𓏏𓀋 in the Great House 𓉐𓉻” and “Royal Scribe 𓇓𓏞.” 

Fun Fact!!! Did you know that the “Great Place 𓄿𓏏𓊨𓏏𓉐𓉻𓏏𓏛” is how the ancient Egyptians referred to the Valley of the Kings?

Kha’s 𓈍𓂡𓀼 high rank as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 allowed for him to have an elaborate burial for himself – most Egyptians would not have been able to afford something like this! 

What strikes me most about Kha’s 𓈍𓂡𓀼 tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 is how these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 objects (the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and the chair 𓎛𓊨𓏏𓆱) are so well preserved! Wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is organic and can decay very quickly even Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! The flower 𓁷𓂋𓂋𓏏𓆰 collar 𓃀𓏲𓃀𓏲 around the neck of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is even still there – that’s so remarkable!

I also love how the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures are included in this display! The ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures are made out of steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 which is a very durable type of stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blade With Hatshepsut’s Name

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name!

Bronze Blade With Hatshepsut's Name
Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s name in the hieroglyphic inscription at the Petrie Museum

While it doesn’t look like much, this piece is actually a bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 that was once attached to a handle. This was one of my favorite objects that I saw at the Petrie Museum because it has Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name on it!

I also think this piece is unpublished, so it was a total surprise for me to see that it even existed! Since her name 𓂋𓈖appears on the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴, it means that it was most certainly made during Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 time as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Let’s take a closer look at the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

𓄤𓊹 – Great God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name which translates to “Truth 𓁦 is the Soul 𓂓 of Re 𓇳.”)

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓏃 – Foremost 

𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (the name given to Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri. It can also be written as 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐). 

𓌺𓇌 – Beloved 

Put together, the inscription reads: 𓄤𓊹(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐𓌺𓇌 “The Great God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Foremost of the Holiest of Holies.” 

Interestingly, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is referred to as “The Great God 𓄤𓊹” instead of the “Great Goddess 𓄤𓊹𓏏” as she usually is in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. Certain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 towards the later part of her reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 did sometimes omit the feminine ending of the word, so this might mean the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 is from the late part of her rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏. Or this could just be a spacing issue – the blade 𓅓𓂧𓈖𓐍𓋴 is small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 so maybe not all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 could fit! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Video

Mummy Case of Nespanetjerenpere – Video

There are so many beautiful 𓄤 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! Who are some of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 you can see?! Let me know in the comments! 

This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen 𓍱 or papyrus 𓍯𓇅 mixed with plaster! This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties. 

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 may seem like random pictures of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and and ensure rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. 

Watch my previous video for a better look at the front! 

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Video

Large Granite Statue of Hatshepsut – Video

This large red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is large and majestic and one of the most beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! 

The most striking aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 besides the size is the fact that Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 face, which displays feminine features, remained pretty much intact! Many of Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have the faces destroyed, possibly in an attempt to destroy her image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so she would be forgotten from history.

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar 𓏌𓏺 in each hand 𓂧𓏏𓏺. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, kneeling is considered a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢/offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 position. A pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 only kneels to another god 𓊹, who in this case is probably Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the false beard which was typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the back of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 show her throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓. 

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Imhotep Statue at the Vatican Museum

It’s been a while since I shared a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of an Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! I love this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 so much – look at those ears! It’s so cute!! This Imhotep statue is on display at the Vatican Museum!

Imhotep Statue
Bronze Statue of Imhotep on display at the Vatican Museum

The Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are always fashioned the same so they are very easy to pick out in museums! Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is always depicted as a scribe 𓏟𓀀 sitting with a papyrus roll 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 across his lap.

Even though Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 lived during the 3rd Dynasty, most of his statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, which is when Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a god 𓊹, especially by the Greeks. Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified. 

The name 𓂋𓈖 Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 actually translates to “He Who Comes in Peace.” Let’s break down the name 𓂋𓈖 to see what each of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 mean! 

𓇍 – Come, Arrive, Return

𓅓 – Who Is/Who Is In

𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Peace

I love translating the names of ancient Egyptian people! Much like names today, their names meant something too! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Anubis in Hieroglyphs
Anubis in Hieroglyphs on a sarcophagus at the MET

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to look at my favorite word to spot in inscriptions: Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god 𓊹, so I love spotting the different variants of his name 𓂋𓈖! His name 𓂋𓈖 turns up a lot because Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is one of the main funerary gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and a large part of Egyptian artifacts that are in museums happen to be funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭! 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols! 

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

The “stool 𓊪” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound “p.” 

The “recumbent jackal on shrine 𓃣” is used as both an ideogram and a determinative. 𓃣 is the determinative in the word “Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣” and also an ideogram for “Anubis 𓃣. When 𓃣 functions as an ideogram, the “𓃣” would be pronounced the same as “𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣,” which is the full way to write the name. This is my absolute favorite hieroglyphic symbol!

The proper way to say Anubis in Middle Egyptian is “ı͗npw” (pronounced like “Inpu” or “Anpu”). Even though the quail chick is missing in this variant, the determinative of Anubis 𓃣 just implies the full spelling! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Anubis” is actually the Greek version of his name, not the Middle Egyptian name 𓂋𓈖, so that is why the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 don’t match up with how we are so used to saying Anubis/Inpu/Anpu’s name 𓂋𓈖! 

Here are some common variants of Anubis’ name: 

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣 (the one pictured)

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 

𓇋𓈖𓊪

𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Amduat (Part II)

This is Part 𓏻 of my posts on the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Please check out Post I first!

Here are some close up pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 of a woman named Gautsoshen who lived during the 21st Dynasty. Sorry the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are a little blurry – it is difficult to get good pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 because of the way the display is! 

The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 illustrate the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, which Gautsoshen (and other deceased people) would travel through with Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 over the twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours of the night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛. 

The Amduat
Picture 1: Gautsoshen standing before Osiris and Selket

The first picture (above) shows Gautsoshen standing before Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐. Selket 𓋴𓂋𓈎𓏏𓆫 is one of the four 𓏽 goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 tasked with protecting the mummy. 

The Amduat
Picture 2: Ra descending into the Duat

The second picture (above) shows Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 (and by default, Gautsoshen) descending into the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, which is symbolically the sun 𓇳𓏺 setting in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊. Many of the characters that dwell in the Duat are depicted, such as the two 𓏻 lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 who represent the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭 and the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊. 

Can you spot the variant for “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓇼𓏏𓉐” in this picture?!

The Amduat
Picture 3: This image shows various deities, the most prominent being the hare-headed deities on the right.

The third picture (above) is a continuation of the second, and it shows two hare-headed deities. The female hare-headed deity is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Wenet/Unut 𓃹𓈖𓏏𓁐, who had the titles “Lady of the Hour” and “The Swift One.” Her companion, the male hare god 𓊹 is actually one of the late-period depictions of Osiris 𓊩𓁹. As a hare, he took the name Un-nefer/Wennefer 𓃹𓄤𓀭. While not a super popular goddess 𓊹𓏏, 𓃹𓈖𓏏𓁐 is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, as well as the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓇼𓏏𓉐. 

A bunch of the variants for the word “Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐” appear on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛! Can you spot them?

𓇽𓏏𓉐

𓇽𓉐

𓇼𓏏𓉐

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Amduat (Part 1)

Believe it or not, not every funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is actually a copy of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺! These two 𓏻 papyrus scrolls 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which belonged to a woman named Gautsoshen are actually a copy of the “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.”

The Amduat
A copy of the Amduat, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The word “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐” is Middle Egyptian for “That Which is in the Netherworld.” In modern times this text is known as “The Book of the Hidden Chamber” and is a separate entity from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

Until the 21st Dynasty, the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 was reserved exclusively for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and usually appeared on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪. The oldest version of the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 in the Valley of the Kings. The walls of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 also contain the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

The Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is the journey that Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 takes from the time the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 and then rises in the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭. The story takes place over the twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours of the night, and each hour represents different deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹  (both friends and enemies) that the deceased person/Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 will encounter. 

Let’s break down the word “Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.” 

𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭 – “Being In” or “That Which is In” 

𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 – Duat (Netherworld/Afterlife) 

Why is the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 referred to as the Netherworld and not the more popular term “Underworld?” The Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is not underneath the current plane of living (like in Greek mythology or Christian faith) according to the Egyptian religion. The Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 exists in an in-between plane that doesn’t have a designated place.

This papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is dated to the 21st Dynasty (c. 1000–945 B.C.E.), which is right when the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 started being written on papyrus instead of on the walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪.

Please read Part II of my post on the Amduat 𓇋𓏶𓅓𓏭𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

False Door of Metjetji

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to be looking at a section of a False Door from the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 named Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋. Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 lived during the Fifth or Sixth Dynasties (Old Kingdom) during the reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Unas 𓃹𓈖𓇋𓋴 or slightly later. 

False Door of Metjetji
The False Door of Metjetji which contains a list of offerings for his use in the afterlife.

On the False Door, we see Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 on the left sitting in front of an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃. The offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 seems to have a lot of jars on it! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that we see are a part of the offering formula! 

Fun fact: usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the person is facing the same way as the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!  Since the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 (and also Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋) are pointing to the right, we will start reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 from the right! Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are always read from top to bottom, so we will read that way as well!  

This is a list of all of the things that Metjetji 𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 needs in order to sustain him in the afterlife! 

𓇓𓏏𓀻 – King’s Nobleman/King’s Gentleman

𓅓𓍿𓍿𓇋 – Metjetji

𓆼𓏐- A thousand bread

𓆼𓃾 – A thousand ox 

𓆼𓅿 – A thousand fowl 

𓆼𓍲 – A thousand alabaster (I think this is a mistake – it should be “𓍱” and not “𓍲”)

𓆼𓋲 – A thousand linen 

𓆼𓏖 – A thousand round loafs of bread

𓆼𓏊 – A thousand beer

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

Categories
Video

Mummy Case of Nespanetjerenpere – Video

Only here on ancientegyptblog will you hear someone say “Look at how gorgeous this is 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑” about a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 or other type of funerary object! Be sure to watch the video to see all of the details on the front of this wonderful coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾!

There are so many beautiful 𓄤 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen 𓍱 or papyrus 𓍯𓇅 mixed with plaster! 

This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties. 

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 may seem like random pictures of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and and ensure rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. 

Nespanetjerenpere
Mummy case of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Museum

The ram headed pendant on his chest is meant to represent the sun 𓇳 god 𓊹 Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 – and through the netherworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛. The images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 can almost be thought of as the picture-book version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

While the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are so delicately drawn, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 going down the middle of the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 seem to be unfinished and roughly done. 

Nespanetjerenpere
Mummy case of Nespanetjerenpere showing the hieroglyphs and images of the gods.

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 show the very standard offering formula:

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives 

𓊩𓁹 – Osiris

𓏅 – Foremost 

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

The inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West.”

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

@ancientegyptblog