Tag: artifact

The Throne Name of Pharaoh Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 26, 2023
1 Comment on The Throne Name of Pharaoh Hatshepsut

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 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 “phrases” that I learned how to read when I was first learning hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 always distinguished their names in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 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 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and their name 𓂋𓈖 from evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨 in both life 𓋹 and death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

With the three 𓏼 symbol cartouche, especially when Re 𓇳𓏺 is involved, the name 𓂋𓈖 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 𓊹) is always written first 𓏃 but said last!

Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 throne name 𓂋𓈖 is Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓, which translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.” I love 𓈘𓏏 this name 𓂋𓈖, and the meaning behind it – to me, it just screams “powerful!” Let’s take a closer look at the symbols that are a part of her name 𓂋𓈖!

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

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun 𓆄𓅱𓇳, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, and for words associated with time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like “ra” or “re.”

The “𓁦 goddess with a feather” symbol is used commonly as a determinative in the name 𓂋𓈖 for the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦, but is also commonly used as an ideogram for the word “maat.”

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

This cartouche 𓍷/inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is from the Stela of Hatshepsut, which is at the Vatican Museum. When I saw this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 (one of my most favorite artifacts) I made sure to try and close up pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 because I love 𓈘𓏏 it so much!

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Birth Name

Here’s a post about Hatshepsut’s Horus Name

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Statue of Queen Tiye

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 25, 2023

This large granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 has quite the story and journey through history! It’s amazing how some pieces can start off in one place, but end up in a completely different location! Let’s take a closer look at this striking piece that is currently at the Vatican Museum, and follow her journey from Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 to Rome!

Queen Tiye at the Vatican Museum

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 definitely resembles other works of Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 – from the characteristic wig to the distinct face shape and design. In my opinion, there is no doubt that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was originally Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗. Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was married to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 and possessed the title of “King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏,” which pretty much meant that she was his favorite wife. Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grandmother!

After some time had passed, the great usurper, Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, recognized the beauty 𓄤𓆑𓂋 of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and brought it to his mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 where he had it dedicated to his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 (and wife of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠), Tuya 𓏏𓅱𓇋𓄿𓁗. “Usurping” was a popular practice where pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 would take old statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 𓏪 from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and put their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 on it. Think of it as ancient plagiarism!

Then, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 made its way out of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and to Rome! For a long time, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 adorned the “Gardens of Sallust,” which belonged to the Emperor Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 at the time. Many Roman Emperors liked Egyptian art, and some (like Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 and Hadrian 𓉔𓏏𓂋𓂝𓈖𓊃𓈎𓊃𓂋) had pieces from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 brought to Rome to adorn their gardens 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈𓏥 or estates. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was then re-discovered in 1714 and was brought to the Vatican Museums in 1839.

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, rameses ii, roman, seti i, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

The Soul of Pe Statue at the Vatican

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 24, 2023

The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖

The Soul of Pe statue at the Vatican Museum

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 kneeling statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deity 𓊹 is referred to as the “Soul of Pe” and it is actually another way to depict the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Also known as “Horus of Pe,” these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 became popular during the Late Period, after 600 B.C.E.

The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and refer to the ancestors of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 symbolized the predynastic rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were thought of as very powerful deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that not only aided the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, but also the current living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 and Pe 𓊪𓊖 were both cities in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were around as early as the predynastic period. Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 was originally the cult center for the god 𓊹 Horus in Upper Egypt 𓇓, however, Pe a town in Lower Egypt 𓆤, was awarded to Horus 𓅃𓀭 by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 after his eye was injured during his battle with Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 for the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭/Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is shown in a characteristic kneeling position with one arm raised, with the other resting on his chest. This is known as a “jubilation position,” which is meant to show the Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 celebrating the rising of the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶. The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is usually represented as Horus the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, while the Soul of Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 is usually represented as a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, horus, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Nefertiti’s Name and Titles in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 23, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

On this relief from the remains of the Central Palace at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 (present day Tel el-Amarna), you can see Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, and their daughter 𓅭𓏏 Meriaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓈘𓏏𓁐 praising the sun god, Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. The rays of the sun are depicted as hands giving the symbol of life, the ankh 𓋹, to the royal family.

Nefertiti’s cartouche appears twice on this relief. Let’s look at the inscription on the left! Some of it is missing, but I am going to infer the missing pieces:

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓈘𓏏𓁐 – Meriaten (the last two symbols of her name are seen in the inscription 𓏏𓁐) (this is my guess)

𓌺 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓈖 – Born of

𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 – King’s Great Wife

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 – Neferneferuaten Nefertiti

𓋹𓍘 – May She Live!

𓆖 – Everlasting (eternity)

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

So all together, the inscription reads: “Meriaten, born of the beloved King’s Great Wife Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, May she live for everlasting eternity.”

Nefertiti’s cartouche reads “Neferneferuaten Nefertiti” which pretty much translates to “Beauty is the Beauties of Aten, the beautiful one has come.” “𓄤” is a triliteral phonogram and translates to “nfr” (pronounced nefer) which means beauty or beautiful. This is actually the shorthand way to write “beautiful,” and the other way it appears in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is fully spelled out as “𓄤𓆑𓂋” – it’s still pronounced the same though as “𓆑 = f” and “𓂋 = r.”

Above her cartouche on the left side of the relief you can see her title “King’s Great Wife” 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 – (ancient Egyptians had no word for queen). Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 also usually had multiple wives, so this title denoted the “favorite” wife.

While both of the following words – 𓆖 and 𓎛𓇳𓎛 mean the word “eternity,” a lot of times they are seen together on inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! It would be silly to say “eternity eternity,” so Egyptologists translate this phrase as “𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛 Everlasting Eternity.”

This relief is presently located at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL, London.

Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, nefertiti, petrie museum

Video

Video – Funerary Cones

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 22, 2023

While not as artistically decorated as most of the artifacts in the Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 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! He loved this little gallery (Gallery 117) at the MET solely because of the funerary cones!

Funerary cones (a modern name given to these objects) are made of clay 𓊪𓈖𓋴𓈇 and usually found at the openings of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 (almost exclusively). 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).

While the exact usage of the funerary cones is not known, but they are inferred to be architectural decorations, tomb labels, symbolic offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦, or even as passports to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! Thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of these cones have been excavated to date! Every museum I have been to has a collection of these funerary cones!

The end of the funerary cone is usually circular in shape and usually contains an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with the name of the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 occupant as well as a god 𓊹. These objects can also be referred to as “funerary stamps.”

An example inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 that is common on a funerary cone would be something like:

“Venerated before Osiris, Son of ____, Name of Deceased.”

𓄪𓐍𓇌 – Venerated

𓐍𓂋 – Before

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓅭 – Son

Tags artifact, the met, video

Egyptian Artifacts

Imhotep Statues at the Louvre

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 21, 2023

I love 𓈘𓏏 seeing Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 in museums, and I am so lucky to have been able to see so many beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 in museums around the world with my Nonno! Due to my Nonno’s enthusiasm, it’s not just me that loves Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, but the whole family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 loves 𓈘𓏏 these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 too and can point them out immediately! Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is always depicted as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 seated in a chair, usually with a piece of papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 in his lap, so he is quite easy to spot once you know what to look for!

These Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are at the Louvre, and 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. During his lifetime (two thousand 𓆼𓆼 years before the Ptolemaic Period), Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is credited with designing the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid (the first ever pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴) at Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖.

The larger of these statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 is interesting because it is made of graywacke 𓁷𓂋𓃀𓐍𓈖 stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 instead of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦! Most Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are made out of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦, so it was so cool to see Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 depicted in a different medium (plus I love rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦). There is also some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the papyrus scroll 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 on Imhotep’s 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 lap, and while I can’t read them all because it’s hard to see, one part says “For the Soul of Imhotep 𓈖𓂓𓈖𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪.”

What I love 𓈘𓏏 about the smaller 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that there is an inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the base! It’s a little hard to see, but Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 – Imhotep (his name 𓂋𓈖translates to “He Who Comes in Peace.”)

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓅱𓍑 – Prosperity/Wellbeing

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyphs, imhotep, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statue of Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 21, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is one of my favorites! One of the reasons it is so special is because the piece is in such good condition. The black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still clearly visible and the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is so well preserved. Wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is an organic material, and even in the dry heat of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊 it can still break down over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years! My Nonno always pointed out every wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece in a museum and told us how significant it was that the wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 was preserved. Now, it is something I always look for.

This particular Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 piece is dated to the Ramesside Period, which was during the 19th-20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. This style of statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 depicting Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 actually became very popular during the Ptolemaic Period, and there is a piece similar to this in the Brooklyn Museum too!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The kneeling position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎. One of his titles which is “Lord of the Sacred Land 𓎟𓇾𓂦𓈊,” exemplifies and highlights this role. The “sacred land” mentioned in this title is another way to say “necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼!”

Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above!

I also love this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 because it is very similar to Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determinative hieroglyph 𓃣 (which is my favorite hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbol) and it’s almost identical to the ‘recumbent jackal 𓃢” sign! Basically, I love anything to do with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! Seeing a well preserved statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of him, or hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols of his name 𓂋𓈖 in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 makes me really happy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 and excited. It’s like seeing an old friend 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐!

Tags anubis, artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Small Stela of the Vizier Paser

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 19, 2023

This tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 and unassuming stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Louvre is really important to me and my Nonno because it depicts Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽, who was my Nonno’s favorite non-royal Egyptian! Nonno and I would always make it a point to try and find something related to Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 in every museum we went to!

Though he wasn’t a royal, Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was one of the most prominent men of his time and he was vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 under two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 – Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and then Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖. Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 served many different roles over twenty-five 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years! Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was also an architect and one of his most famous works is the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 in the Valley of the Kings!

A vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was the highest ranking official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 and was the most powerful position in the government, besides the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Not only was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 the most trusted advisor to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but he also saw to the day-to-day operations of the government. The vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was in charge of architecture, taxation, agriculture, military, the judiciary, finances, and many other things. Honestly that sounds exhausting, however, his hard work got Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 a nice tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 for himself, so that’s how we know so much about him! I guess wanting to preserve his name 𓂋𓈖 for eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 was a success!

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 had many different titles, including “High Preist of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳 ,” “superintendent of every work of the king,” “prophet of Maat,” “mouth of Nekhen” and “chief of secrets of the hieroglyphs.” This last title is probably why he is depicted with the god Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 on this small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

I wish I could see the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 more clearly, but I can see Paser’s 𓅮𓀙𓀽 name 𓂋𓈖 on the bottom part of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

Sorry the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a bit blurry – I wanted to get as close as I could! The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows how small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is in relation to other objects!

Tags artifact, louvre, paser, rameses ii, seti i

Egyptian Artifacts

Early Dynastic Animal Statuettes

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 19, 2023

We are going back to the Early Dynastic Period today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳! I love anything to do with Egyptian hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦!!!

This calcite 𓍱 hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 and faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 crocodile 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌 are dated c. 3100–2649 B.C.E and are from Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖. The hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 figure was found near a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 and was most likely an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deity 𓊹 Khentiamentiu 𓃢𓏃𓏠𓄿.

Khentiamentiu 𓃢𓏃𓏠𓄿 is an early jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 headed deity 𓊹 whose name 𓂋𓈖 means “Foremost of the Westerners.” We know that phrase because later on it was commonly used as a title of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 before it then became Osiris’ 𓁹𓊨𓀭 title! Before the popularity of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 was the chief god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, which is why it was his title first! The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos 𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 which was originally dedicated to Khentiamentiu 𓃢𓏃𓏠𓄿 then solely became dedicated to Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 during the First Intermediate Period.

Hippopotamuses 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 and crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 were both feared and revered along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 because while they were very dangerous animals, little figurines like these (and then later on, amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪) could offer protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 to the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 or the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪. This is why hippopotamuses 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 and crocodiles 𓅓𓋴𓎛𓆌𓏦 are very common to see in early Egyptian art! The hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is also seen as a symbol of fertility.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Sarcophagus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 19, 2023

Even though Rome was the dominant power in the Mediterranean at the time, Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 was determined to keep Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 independent of Rome. However, with the defeat of Mac Antony by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 in battle, and the death of Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 (the last Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, died by suicide c. 31 B.C.E.), Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was conquered by the Romans. This made Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 the first Roman Emperor.

Traditionally, the Romans burned their dead and put their ashes in urns. However, in Roman Egypt, traditional Egyptian funerary practices persisted but adopted some Roman style! Nonno always pointed out the Roman influenced sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏪 in museums because he thought it was so interesting that an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was on the coffin, instead of the traditional Egyptian “mask.” The painting of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 still functioned like a traditional Egyptian mask, however it was just more “Roman” in style.

The mask could either serve as protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, or take the place of the body if the head was destroyed or lost. In the Egyptian religion, the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be transported to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐/Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖. This was the purpose of mummification – to preserve the body so both the Ka 𓂓 (soul) and the Ba 𓅡𓏺(life force) would be able to recognize the body!

I think this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 (from the second century AD) in particular is very interesting because it demonstrates a marriage of the two 𓏻 cultures. The Roman influence is clearly seen, with the painted portrait of the deceased (and his name 𓂋𓈖, Artemidorus below the portrait).

However, the Egyptian gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are present in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 on the body of the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭. Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦, Thoth 𓅤𓀭 , and Horus 𓅃𓀭 are depicted. Iconic Egyptian imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 such as the winged sun disk is located above the feet, while a traditional broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 around the neck of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

Tags artifact, british museum, gods and goddesses, roman

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