Tag: artifact

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut (Part I)

Here is another example of steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era of the 18th Dynasty! These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art! 

Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut
Steatite Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Before we read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s “read” the geology! I always tell my students that rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 are the language of our planet! 

Most scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 from this time period are made of a metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 called steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 which is also commonly known as soapstone. Simply put, steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 is made when the mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 talc is exposed to tremendous amounts of heat and pressure at subduction zones (areas where oceanic crust sinks beneath continental crust). Steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 has been used by ancient civilizations all over the world for carving because it is both durable and easy to work with! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 contain the shorter variant of Hatshepsut’s birth name cartouche. Hatshepsut’s full name is “𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” but that’s not what appears on the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 because it’s too long! Let’s take a look:

𓄂𓏏 – Foremost (Hat)

𓀼𓏏𓏪 – Noble Women (Shepsut)

So Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 variant on the scarab translates to “Foremost of the Noble Women.” 

The Egyptians were very clever with spacing too – if you look at the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 at the bottom of the picture, the “𓏏” is shared between the 𓄂 and 𓀼 glyphs! I will forever be impressed by. the ingenuity of the Egyptian artists!

Read Part II Here!

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree! 

Steatite Scarab Ring
Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣! 

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣. 

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌. 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Animal Mummies

I have mentioned in many previous posts that I have loved mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 ever since my Nonno introduced me to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 when I was a little girl! Although animal mummies are the most common form of Egyptian artifact (seven million dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummies have been found in Saqqara alone), they are among the least understood of all objects.

Animal Mummies
A dog (left) and a cat (right) mummy on display at the Brooklyn Museum

At the Brooklyn Museum, they have a couple of animal mummies which are in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 here! On the left is a dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummy, and on the right is a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummy. The level of preservation of these mummies is exquisite!

It is well documented that the ancient Egyptians kept dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 as pets. In tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥, many times dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 have been found buried with their owners! Dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 have also been mentioned on funerary stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 along with other family members! The thought is that the pet and the owner would be able to stay together 𓈖𓊗 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 if they were buried together 𓈖𓊗.

One of the possible explanations of the significance of animal mummies can be tied to the Egyptian cultural aspect surrounding animals. Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for “animal” – there was the word 𓌚𓅓𓄛 but it translates more accurately to “beast” then all animals in general. The Egyptians didn’t think of animals as “less” than humans – Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅡𓏺 (part of the soul 𓂓 that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 through death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 just like humans. 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Akhenaten and Me!

I’ve never shared this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because of the glare, but not every picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 needs to be perfect 𓄤! My Nonno took this photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and me at the Louvre in what I call the “Amarna Gallery!”   You can tell by my smile how happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 I was! Seeing a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in real life that I have only seen in books feels like meeting a celebrity!

Akhenaten and Me
Akhenaten and Me at the Louvre!

The Louvre has an impressive collection of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and I was so excited to be able to see them – this was probably the gallery I spent the most time in at the Louvre! After Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

This particular limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 surprised me when I saw it in person for the first time! I thought it was going to be a lot smaller, so I was shocked to see just how big it was! The piece is also incredibly well preserved – the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 forehead is still somewhat intact, and the design details on the skirt are clearly defined. Also, Akhenaten is holding both the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 in one hand 𓂝𓏺 instead of one in each hand 𓂝𓏺! 

The Louvre has this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 named “Statue of an Amarna King.” To me, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks like it is from the early part of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 because there are both traditional Egyptian elements and Amarna-era elements (elongated face and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) present in the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. If I were to guess, this was probably made before year 5 𓏾 of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, when he still had the name 𓂋𓈖 Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀. However, there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to confirm this, I am basing this inference just on the artistic style alone! 

This piece really is just stunning to see in person! 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Professional Mourners

While preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was an essential part of life on Earth 𓇾𓇾 for the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪, it doesn’t mean that they weren’t upset by the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of a loved one. Wealthier Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were able to hire professional mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀠𓏪/𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 for their funerals and those mourners could be men (𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀠𓏪) or women (𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪). 

Professional Mourners
A limestone relief from a tomb which shows Professional Mourners outside the entrance to a tomb.

In the case of this sunken limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief, there are three 𓏼 female mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 present – two 𓏻 are sitting and one 𓏺 is standing. Only one of the female figures is fully preserved. At funerals, the professional mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 were hired to sing and cry. 

The three 𓏼 mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 are in front of a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 entrance, which looks like the “shrine facade 𓉱” hieroglyphic symbol. 

The entrance to the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 has plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in front of it. I also like the column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅 that is added to this relief. 

Reliefs such as these served the purpose of ensuring perpetual mourning for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. If there was mourning present on the reliefs within a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐, it meant that the mourning would go on for all 𓎟 eternity 𓆖. 

On a personal note, this relief really speaks to me because this account on the most basic level is a manifestation of my grief. I started this account as a way to try and cope with my Nonno’s death, and over three years later it’s still helping me to do that. I see the three people in this relief as me, my sister and my brother. It’s incredible how I can deeply relate to a tomb relief from ancient Egypt. 

This piece is from Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (present day Saqqara) and is dated to Dynasty 19 (c. 1295-1190 B.C.E.). 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Defaced Hatshepsut

There’s a lot going on in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 and I’m going to do my best to talk about it all! This is a red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a defaced Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 which was found during the excavation of her temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. This excavation was a joint effort between the MET and the Egyptian government. 

Defaced Hatshepsut
A closeup of a Defaced Hatshepsut statue on display at the MET

I love that the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and yellow paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still retained on the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth. The nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth is a traditional striped piece of linen 𓍱 or fabric that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 wore on their heads. There was usually a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on the forehead, but on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is missing. On a lot of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 would just get broken off in antiquity, however, this one seems to have been deliberately destroyed. 

Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 can also still be seen on the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing around her neck. The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 of choice for royals and the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹.

The most prominent feature on this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is the fact that the face has been seemingly hacked away in antiquity. About 25 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 went on a campaign to have her statuary destroyed and her name 𓂋𓈖 taken off of monuments 𓏠𓏍. No one knows why this occurred or the events that lead up to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 doing this! 

Usually pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 would just usurp the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of previous rulers, but Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 didn’t do this with Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 statuary, it was just destroyed and then buried. The running theory is that the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 were too “Hatshepsut-like” and thus could not be reused! 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sphinx of Amenhotep II

This is a sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪! Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 18th Dynasty and was the son 𓅭 of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. He ruled 𓋾𓈎𓏏 Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 for about 26 𓎆𓎆𓏿 years and the first two 𓏻 years of his rule might have been a co-reign with his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀. 

Sphinx of Amenhotep II
A small sandstone Sphinx of Amenhotep II

Why do so many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 represent themselves as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦? A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 is a mythical creature and is the combination of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 (the body) and a human (the head 𓁶𓏺).  In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏪 have been associated with kingship 𓇓𓇌 since prehistoric times due to their strength 𓌀 and ferocity. The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 was the perfect representation of the strength 𓌀 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 due to its lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 body, while the face still preserved the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the king 𓇓 himself. 

Sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 loved to portray himself as powerful (as all pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 did), but Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 is actually most known for his athletic abilities! Many depictions show him as an accomplished archer!

Amenhotep II’s birth name is actually the same as Amenhotep I, which is 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪. Let’s break down the meaning of the name:

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Satisfied

So the name translates to “Amun is Satisfied.”

We can tell pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 with the same name apart based on their throne name! Amenhotep II’s throne name is “Aakheperura 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓏦!” Let’s break down the meaning of the name:

𓇳 – Ra

𓉻 – Great 

𓆣𓏦 – Manifestations

The name translates to “The Great Manifestations of Ra.” 

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

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to take a virtual trip to the Petrie Museum!

This is a calcite 𓍱 (alabaster) vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it! 

Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III
Alabaster Vase of Thutmosis III

Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was one of the longest reigning pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 in Egyptian history! He co-ruled with Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 for about 21 𓎆𓎆𓏺 years, and then he ruled on his own for another 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 years! 

This alabaster 𓍱 vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 was found in a foundation deposit. Both the Petrie Museum and the MET have very similar alabaster 𓍱 vases 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 with Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 on them! I have done previous posts on the vases with Hatshepsut’s name 𓂋𓈖 – a translation and a post on foundation deposits!

These vases  𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋𓏪 usually contained incense or ointment. Sometimes, traces of the incense or ointment can still be seen within the vase 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 which is so cool!

Let’s break down the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbols! 

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God 

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkhepperra

𓋊𓊾 – Min

𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 – Koptos

𓌸 – Beloved

All 𓎟 together 𓈖𓊗, the full translation is: “The Perfect God, Menkhepperra, Beloved of Min of Koptos.”

Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian town of “Gbtyw 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖,” and the modern Arabic name for the town is Qift. Since the Early Dynastic period, Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 was an important place of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 for the god 𓊹 Min 𓋊𓊾, but it was also a key trading/economic location due to its proximity to the Red Sea. Koptos 𓎤𓃀𓄿𓊖 remained an important town through the Ptolemaic and Roman periods too!

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part II)

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named 𓂋𓈖 Nespanetjerenpere and is on display at the Brooklyn Museum. Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 we looked at the front, and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the back!

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
Me with the back of the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Museum

On the back, the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭 and Thoth 𓅤𓀭 are depicted. On the left, the ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 headed god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅤𓀭, and the god 𓊹 of writing is shown. On the right is Horus 𓅃𓀭, who is the falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 and the embodiment of divine kingship. He was considered to be the god 𓊹 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and the “Lord of the Sky 𓎟𓊪𓏏𓇯.”

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 are seen holding a Djed pillar 𓊽, which is the symbol of stability. The Djed pillar 𓊽 is thought to be the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The Djed pillar 𓊽, shown here is even wearing the Atef crown 𓋚, which is the crown that Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 wears. 

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
The back of the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere, showing Thoth (left), the djed pillar (center) and Horus (right)

It is very symbolic that this image 𓅱𓏏𓅱 appears where the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of the mummy 𓅱𓇋𓀾 would be. It can be interpreted that Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭are supporting the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of the deceased person. 

When a person died 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and became “The Osiris,” The Djed Pillar 𓊽 was then thought to represent their spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦! The spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 was thought to keep Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 upright and able to function as the primary god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is even referenced in the The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.” 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part I)

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 but that’s only because the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere is such an incredible piece (as many objects from the Late Period are)!

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
Me with the gorgeous Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Museum

I spent so long just trying to take in all of the beautiful 𓄤 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that are on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen or papyrus mixed with plaster! This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties. 

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
A view of the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Muesum

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 associate him with and ensure rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. 

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
The Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere with a view of the ram headed pendant and the central hieroglyphs with offering forumla

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. 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.”

Look forward to a Part 𓏻 about the back of this piece! 

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