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Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Oil Lamps

While my Nonno loved ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, he also absolutely loved Ancient Rome and the Roman Emperors. This is why he loved the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– so much. Even though the Ptolemaic Period was technically Hellenistic Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, there was still a heavy Roman influence because Rome was still very powerful at the time! 

When Cleopatra VII π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 committed suicide in 31 B.C.E., that was seen as the end of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and the beginning of Roman Egypt. This makes Cleopatra π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of Egypt! Nonno often told me stories about Mark Antony, Cleopatra π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀, Julius Caesar – he loved that whole part of history so much.Β 

These are ancient oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢! These oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 are made of clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ and can be found throughout countries that were ruled by the Roman Empire! Many are found in present-day Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Turkey, Syria, and many others! My Nonno absolutely adored these – he loved that you could still see where the oil π“‚π“†“π“–π“Šπ“¦ had burned on some of them (that’s the black π“†Žπ“…“ discoloration at the opening). Nonno always made sure to point these out in museums and now of course I always look for them. I love seeing the different designs on them! Each lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 is unique which I love!

Isis and Horus design on the oil lamp, along with the black discoloration on the opening!

Due to Roman influence in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, oil lamps 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 from Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were sometimes made with the Egyptian Gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on them! The oil lamp 𓆼𓄿𓃀𓏲𓐠𓏀𓇢 all the way on the right depicts Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ nursing Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ grew in popularity, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans.  Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby π“ˆ–π“π“ˆ–π“€• has even appeared on the back of Roman coins. Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ were also made in abundance during this time period. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Kohl Tube of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a Kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€ Tube! Kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€ was a type of eye paint (makeup) that was very popular amongst the ancient Egyptians! This tube would have contained the kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€, and then a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 or faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό stick would have been used to apply it! The kohl π“†“π“‚π“Œ π“ƒ€ tube itself is also made of faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό, hence the gorgeous blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ color! This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.).

For me, the most interesting part of an artifact is always going to be the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– on the object! Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s Throne Name)

π“‡“π“ˆžπ“ – King’s Great Wife

π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— – Tiye

π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!

Some of you may notice when looking at this inscription that Queen Tiye’s π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is in a cartouche too! Sometimes, the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the queens who held the title of the β€œKing’s Great Wife π“‡“π“ˆžπ“β€ also appeared in cartouches to demonstrate their importance to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ grandmother! Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“— and Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  seem to have been married by the second year of his reign. The reign of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  was an extremely prosperous and successful one, because it was at this time that Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– had reached its peak artistic and international power (even though Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  only participated in one military battle himself). His success had been set up by the works of the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, such as Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and then Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  own father, Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼.Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Aswan Granite

After limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™, β€œAswan Granite” was the third most used rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ by the ancient Egyptians! β€œAswan Granite” is actually a collective term used to describe all of the intrusive igneous rocks in the Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– area, even though they aren’t all granitic! Diorite and granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ are other igneous rocks looped into this category, even though granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is a felsic rock (lighter in color and lower in density with more quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™) as opposed to diorite/granodiorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ (intermediate rock, less quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, both dark and light in color). 

The most common of the β€œAswan Granite” rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ is known as red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ. Red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ was used for many different types of things such as vases, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦, obelisks 𓉢𓉢𓉢, and for parts of buildings and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ! 

Quarrying of the β€œAswan Granite” started in the Old Kingdom and was even used to build the Pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 at Giza! During the New Kingdom (particularly 18th Dynasty), red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ became extremely popular again, especially amongst the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ and many of them had their statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ and funerary equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ carved out of this durable stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ! 

One of the best examples of these red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are the ones that used to line Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. She had the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ shipped 500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί from Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were such master geologists they even distinguished regular β€œgranite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώβ€ from β€œred granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆβ€ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below is a close up of a sample red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ from my collection so you can get a better look at this gorgeous π“„€ rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™!Β 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Alexander the Great in Hieroglyphs

In 332 BCE, Alexander the Great π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ conquered Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! This was the beginning of the Hellenistic Period of Egyptian history. 

So why was Alexander π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ recognized as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻? The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ saw him as the person who liberated them from the Persians! Alexander π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ also restored many of the Egyptian temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ and even built new monuments 𓏠𓏍 dedicated to the Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! Some of these monuments 𓏠𓏍 show him worshipping Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, who basically would’ve been the Egyptian version of Zeus. After Alexander’s π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in Babylon, Ptolemy I π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄ became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and founded the Ptolemaic Dynasty.

Since Alexander π“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒ was Macedonian and not native Egyptian, his cartouche is very phonetic – all of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ used are uniliteral signs, which means that they correspond to a single sound, just like a letter in the alphabet. Let’s take a closer look! 

π“„Ώ – The β€œEgyptian Vulture 𓄿” represents the sound β€œ3” which would be pronounced like β€œah.” 

𓃭 – the β€œrecumbent lion 𓃭” was traditionally a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œrw,” however, during the Hellenistic Period it adopted the sound of β€œL.” 

π“Ž‘ – The β€œBasket with a Handle π“Ž‘β€ symbol has the sound of β€œk.”

π“Šƒ – The β€œdoorbolt π“Šƒβ€ symbol represents the sound β€œz” or β€œs.” It’s also the ideogram for the word β€œdoorbolt.” 

𓇋 – The β€œreed 𓇋” represents the sound of β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

π“ˆ– – The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

𓂧 – The β€œhand 𓂧” represents the sound β€œd” and is also the ideogram for the word β€œhand.” 

π“‚‹ – The β€œmouth 𓂋” symbol is used to represent the sound β€œr.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the word β€œmouth 𓂋𓏺.” 

π“Šƒ – see above! 

The hieroglyphs of β€œπ“„Ώπ“ƒ­π“Ž‘π“Šƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚§π“‚‹π“Šƒβ€ basically spell out β€œAlksindrs.” It’s pretty cool to see the versatility of the hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ symbols with examples of foreign names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Tutankhamun and Amun

This diorite π“ π“ˆ–π“π“π“ŠŒ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 portrays Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ and the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is credited with restoring the Cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, after it was eradicated by his father Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– in order to solely worship the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.Β 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is very interesting because it displays Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– very large, while Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is very small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©. Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was considered a god π“ŠΉ on Earth 𓇾𓇾, they were usually depicted as large, intimidating, and regal figures. However, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ were second to the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ themselves – especially Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– who was the king 𓇓 of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. So in the presence of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 is very small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©. 

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 has sustained damage, most notable is the fact that Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ head is missing. This is because this era of the 18th Dynasty was supposed to be β€˜forgotten’ by history. The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻π“ͺ that came after Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ tried to erase all evidence of the Amarna era. Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ fell victim to this as well, even though he restored the traditional Egyptian pantheon. It was due to his familial relation to Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– that he was also subjected to having his images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 destroyed.Β 

A lot of Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏦 were usurped by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, who was not only Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ general π“€Žπ“¦, but was the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Trial Piece of Two Hands

For some reason, this very simple relief of two 𓏻 hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 was one of my favorite things that I saw at the Petrie Museum in London! 

Flinders Petrie was one of the main excavators at present-day Tel el-Amarna, the site of Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– new capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β  Amarna as it is commonly referred to as, is the modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for β€œAkhetaten π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– – Horizon of the Aten,” which replaced Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– as the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.Β 

During excavations at Amarna π“ˆŒπ“π“‰π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“Š– the workshops 𓄯𓏏𓉐𓏦 of artists were found, which contained a lot of unfinished reliefs. These “trial pieces” are though to have been made by young artists who were learning their craft. Even though this is such a simple relief of hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 with many cracks, I find it to be so beautiful π“„€. The art of the Amarna period fascinates me because it is so different stylistically from other Egyptian art! I love seeing all of the unfinished pieces that were found at Amarna – it’s kind of like getting a behind the scenes view of the art! 

A lot of reliefs in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were made on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰. From a geological perspective, limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (due to its composition of the mineral calcite 𓍱 – which comes from dead marine organisms), is a very easy rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ to sculpt and work with because calcite 𓍱 is a softer mineral π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™. Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– used to be completely under water π“ˆ— hundreds 𓏲𓏲𓏲 of millions 𓁨𓁨𓁨 of years ago, hence why limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (and sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™) are so abundant – both of these rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ are classified as sedimentary rocks, which are primarily formed under large bodies of water π“ˆ—!

Limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is composed of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 marine organisms, which I find correlates with ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as a whole – their entire life π“‹Ή/religion focused on preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and they basically built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 their civilization out of dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 things! 

It’s so fascinating how geology and Egyptian history are so closely interrelated! Did you know that Petrie was a geologist and that he was the first to apply stratigraphy (studying rock layers) to the field of archaeology?! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

“Rameses II Adoring the Sphinx at Giza”

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief is called β€œRameses II adoring the Sphinx at Giza” and it is such a beautiful π“„€ piece! Let’s take a closer look!

By the time Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ at Giza was already ancient (~1200 years old) – which is almost mind blowing to think about!!! During the 18th Dynasty (the dynasty before Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“) the cult of the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ began to reach its peak in terms of religious importance. 

During the first 𓏃 year of their reign π“ˆŽπ“π“‹Ύ, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take a trip to the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ as almost a right of passage. They would then build monuments 𓏠𓏍 to document the occasion. This relief is representative of that trip that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ took! 

The New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓐆 knew the Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ as Hor-em-Akhet π“…ƒπ“π“ˆŒ which translates to β€œHorus in the Horizon.” The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– most likely came from the fact that the Sphinx’s π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ head is seen in between Khufu 𓐍𓆑𓅱 and Khafre’s π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴π“ͺ, and can appear like the sun disc 𓇳 when approached from a certain direction. It’s definitely a creative name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Let’s read some simple hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Here’s a breakdown of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Horus in the Horizon π“…ƒπ“π“ˆŒ! Can you spot this on the relief?

π“…ƒ – Horus

𓐝 – em = in the

π“ˆŒ – akhet = horizon

There are actually two 𓏻 different versions of this relief! If you look at the pictures above versus the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 below, the reliefs are facing two 𓏻 different directions!

For a closer hieroglyphic study, we are going to be looking at the relief facing the left because I was able to get better pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on this one! Both reliefs are pretty much identical except for the direction that they face!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below. Some of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are missing, but I was able to infer what was being written:

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – Lord of Appearances 

π“‡³π“©π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“ŒΈ – Rameses II (Birth Name Variant) (this cartouche is too damaged for me to know which variant, so I made my best guess)

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Usermaatre (Rameses II throne name)

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Perfect God 

π“ŽΈπ“…“(𓏲𓅆)(π“€­) – Khnum (these hieroglyphs are cut off, but my best guess is this is the start of the name of the god Khnum)

Here’s the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ translation for the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below:

π“…ƒ – Horus

𓐝 – in the

π“ˆŒ  – Horizon

𓏙 – Given

π“‹Ή – Life

𓆑 – His

π“ŽŸ – All

π“Š½ – Stability

π“Œ€ – Strength

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€π“œ – Health

𓄫𓄣𓏏 – Joy

π“ŽŸ – All

𓇳𓏇 – Like Ra

π“‡³π“ŽŸ – Every day

This beautiful π“„€ and unique relief is located at the Louvre in France!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Board Game “Senet”

If an object has Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on it, I am going to get excited about it – no matter what the artifact is!

This piece is a type of ancient Egyptian board game called Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“ ! Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.). 

During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka π“‚“ (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word β€œSenet” π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  actually means passage or gateway (though there are other ways to write these words as well)! If you look really closely, you can see details of the β€œAnkh π“‹Ή,” which is the symbol that means β€œLife” along with the β€œDjed Pillar π“Š½β€ which means β€œStability” painted on the side of the game! On both the left and right sides, you can also see the word π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€ which means β€œHealth!” Such lovely messages on the side of a board game!

Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things an about humanity have not changed!Β 

The version of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that appears on the side of the Senet π“Šƒπ“ˆ–π“π“  board is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is β€œMaatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

First Dynasty Lion Cub

How cute is this lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub?! Whenever I am at the MET, I always make sure to stop by and see him!Β 

When I was a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€”, I absolutely loved this quartzite statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub because it reminded me of Simba from The Lion King! Only the main features of the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› cub are seen, and none of the features are β€œsharply defined π“‹΄π“Šͺπ“‚§π“šπ“Ίπ“›,” however, it is clear that this is a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› and it is one of my favorite examples of early Egyptian art!

This cute little lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› is from the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2900 B.C.E.)! During the Pre-Dynastic through Early Dynastic periods, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of animals were usually smaller in size (amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† size or just a little larger – look above the lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 to see examples) This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 thought is almost like a transition piece towards the larger and grander statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the later dynasties. This little lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› was originally found in southern 𓇔𓏏 Upper Egypt 𓇓. I love being able to see the changes in Egyptian art through time! 

Geology Time!!! Since quartzite is a very hard stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, the Egyptians had to learn how to work with and sculpt these types of rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! Quartz π“ π“ˆ–π“Œπ“ˆ™, the mineral π“‡‹π“Œ»π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ™ quartzite is mostly composed of has a hardness of 7 out of 10 on Moh’s Hardness Scale, which means it is very resistant to being scratched! Quartzite is a metamorphic rock, which means it was originally sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ before it was subjected to intense heat and pressure, which recrystallized it into quartzite. Quartzite is a much stronger and durable rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ than the original sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Aafenmut

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 924–889 B.C.E., 22nd Dynasty) which belonged to a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡. This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows a typical funerary stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 scene, and this style of stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was very popular during this time period. I love this particular style because it is so colorful!Β This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

The Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is shown at the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ and the Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž represents Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey is supposed to be representative of his birth/resurrection (sunrise), growth (day) and then death (sunset). In between Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a table filled with offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of bread 𓏏𓏐, fruit, and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦.Β 

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

π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ – Ra-Horakhty

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“‚ž – Give

𓆑 – He

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓐍𓏛- Offerings

𓐝 – To

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

𓐝 – To

π“ž – Scribe

π“Ίπ“‰π“Œ‰π“Ίπ“‰ – Treasury

π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ – Aafenmut

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œRa-Horakhty, the Great God, Lord of the Sky/Heaven, may he give offerings to Osiris, to the scribe of the treasury, Aafenmut, True of Voice.”