Tag: artifact

Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part II)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 30, 2022
1 Comment on Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part II)

Here is a link to Part I!

The Horus Name is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and it is the oldest way to do so. The purpose of the Horus Name was to identify the king 𓇓 as an earthly representation of the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭.

The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade 𓊁, Horus the Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the palace 𓊁, and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace 𓊁. The palace 𓊁 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is pronounced like “serekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche!

On the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 of Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓, you can see the Horus name, however, the throne name is also in the serekh! This is unusual to see both names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in the serekh!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓆣𓅱 – “Horus, Divine of Form” (Neter-kheperu) (Horus Name)

𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 – “The Souls of Ra have Appeared” (Kha kau ra) (Throne Name)

Something I love about this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭, is that it is made out of gneiss, which is one of my favorite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 which means that it was subjected to such extreme heat and pressure during its formation (probably due to mountain 𓈋𓅳 building or plate tectonics), that the minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦 have separated into bands of light (felsic) and dark (mafic) colored minerals 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙𓏦! This gives gneiss a natural zebra-like appearance!

Gebel el-Asr is the only quarry 𓎛𓏏𓏏𓉐 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 where gneiss can be found, and gneiss was prized from the Predynastic to Middle Kingdoms for statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 making!

The following pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏 show a close up of one of my samples of gneiss, so you can see this banding!

Tags artifact, geology, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, senwosret iii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part I)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 29, 2022
1 Comment on Sphinx of Senwosret III (Part I)

Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were commonly represented as sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 in ancient Egyptian art for many reasons. A sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a mythical creature that has the body of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 and the head of a human. 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.

This magnificent sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is a representation of the 12th Dynasty Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓. Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 has very distinctive facial features, so he is very easy to spot in Middle Kingdom art. Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 is wearing the characteristic nemes head cloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴 and false beard 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸, which are both signs of kingship 𓇓𓇌.

While this is not a professional term, to me, Senwosret III 𓇳𓈍𓂓𓂓𓂓 looks like a “sad and tired old man,” which is how I distinguish him from statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. This depiction of a pharaoh demonstrates how in the Middle Kingdom, some of the art took a more realistic approach, instead of the typical idealistic approach. Usually, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and people were shown at their best, not how they actually looked. However, this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 shows a detachment from idealistic depictions.

This sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭 is in a crouching position, which to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 meant that it was a guardian of a sacred place, such as a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 or an important building. This is why rows or lines of sphinxes have been found at various temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 around Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭, and therefore the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, was using his strength 𓌀 and might to protect these sacred places!

Here is a link to Part II!

Tags artifact, senwosret iii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti and Miniature Coffin

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 28, 2022

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to take a look at this unique ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that was discovered in the mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of the pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret I 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖 (Dynasty 12). This was probably left as some type of offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 are made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and are covered in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf.

The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 contain the name 𓂋𓈖 of Wahneferhotep, who was probably the son 𓅭 of Senwosret I 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖 due to the title “King’s Son 𓇓𓅭” appearing in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. These two 𓏻 objects seen here are the only place where Wahneferhotep’s name 𓂋𓈖appears, so we know nothing about him!

What is so cool about the miniature coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 is that it is so detailed and similar to an actual coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱! The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the miniature coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 is inscribed with the same funerary spells as regular sized coffins would be! The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 (or in this case, the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾) to see outside of it! The ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 was even found covered with linen 𓍱 and laying on its side! This was very typical of Middle Kingdom burial practices 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, and it was something my Nonno would always point out to me when we were in a museum!

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the standard “Shabti Spell. This spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 gives the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 so the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 doesn’t have to do any work in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Tags artifact, Senwosret I, shabti, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 27, 2022
1 Comment on Sandstone Stela of Hatshepsut

I love this picture for two 𓏻 reasons: the first 𓏃 is because my Nonno took this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of me with the Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Musei Vaticani! I almost feel that this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 represents how Nonno saw me, and I’ve never shared it until today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 because I wanted to keep it as “mine.” I wish I could go back to this moment because look at the happiness 𓄫𓄣 and joy 𓄫𓄣 on my face! The second 𓏌𓏻 reason is because this Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is one of my absolute favorite Egyptian artifacts – it was a dream of mine to see this in person, and I’m so lucky I was able to!

I know I have posted about this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸a lot, however, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳we are going to examine a different aspect of it! If you search “Hatshepsut” or “Vatican Museum,” you will be able to see my previous posts on this beautiful stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

This sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 depicts Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during their joint reign. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is wearing the blue (khepresh) crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and is making an offering of nemset jars 𓏌𓏌𓏌 to the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺. Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is wearing the White Crown 𓄤𓋑 of Upper Egypt 𓇓!

The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was meant to commemorate restoration works in West Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖! Many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 would restore the work of previous rulers 𓈎𓏏𓋾𓏪 to demonstrate their own power and to honor the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, not to honor the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

Another reason why restoring previous works and building lots of new buildings (which Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 did early in her reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾), was so significant was because it meant the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (in this case, Hatshepsut) would live on since the names were part of the buildings’ inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. All of these new projects also impressed upon the common people the economic prosperity of the Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 regime. This was important for her to demonstrate immediately because she was not only a female 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 ruler 𓈎𓏏𓋾, but she kind of pushed Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 to the side and named herself the legitimate pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, thutmosis iii, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

The Five-Pointed Egyptian Star

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 24, 2022

The star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design is one of my absolute favorites to see. As someone who has always been fascinated by space and astronomy, I love how the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 incorporated astronomical concepts not just into their language and religion, but into their art as well. I even have this star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design as my phone case!

This design appears on the ceilings of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 (Seti I’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 comes to mind), temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 (Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐) and even on funerary objects 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭 like canopic jar cases! The star hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol 𓇼 was used very frequently in words as well and there are different variations of star symbols (𓇻, 𓇽).

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 I chose to highlight the star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 design because a five 𓏾 pointed star 𓇼, just like the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 symbol, appeared over the manger in Bethlehem when Jesus was born and guided the Wise Men to his birthplace. Known as the “Christmas Star” or the “Star of Bethlehem,” this star 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼 was seen as a sign that the Messiah had been born. I have always loved Nativity scenes, and the symbolism behind the star 𓇼 shining above the Nativity. The star is even mentioned in The Bible:

Matthew 2:9-10 : …and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

I love this verse because I too feel overjoyed when I see stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 – whether it’s the stars in the sky 𓆼𓅡𓋴𓇼𓇼𓇼, stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 on top of Christmas Trees, stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 on Egyptian art or in hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥. Stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏪 are the light in the darkness – and I hope your holidays are filled with light and love.

Merry Christmas Everyone / Buon Natale a Tutti!

🎄⭐️🎄

Tags artifact, bible, merry christmas, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Rameses II at the Museo Egizio

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 23, 2022

Today’s 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are from Nonno’s point of view! While I have never been to the Museo Egizio in Torino, my Nonno had been there many times and always spoke so highly of it. He took these photos 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on one of his trips there. He spoke about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 a lot because he thought it was just stunning 𓄤. It is one of my dreams to go to the Museo Egizio one day – I just wish Nonno and I could have gone there together 𓈖𓊗.

This granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 is one of the most majestic pieces in the museum’s collection and one of the most lifelike statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 there is of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖. This may just be mine (and Nonno’s) opinion, but I think it is one of the most majestic of all of the pharaonic statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 (Besides Hatshepsut’s of course)!!!

Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 is depicted here wearing the khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (also known as the blue crown) and he is holding a scepter 𓋾 in his hand. On his feet he is wearing sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏪, but under those sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏪 are nine bows 𓉺𓏏𓌔𓏦 which represent the enemies 𓐍𓆑𓏏𓀏𓏪 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

On either side of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 legs, there are two 𓏻 smaller figures. On the right side is Queen Nefertari 𓏏𓅑𓄤𓏏𓇋𓏮𓈖𓈘𓏏 and on the left is Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 and Nefertari’s 𓏏𓅑𓄤𓏏𓇋𓏮𓈖𓈘𓏏 first 𓏃 born son 𓅭 Amunherkhepeshef 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓁷𓏺𓄘𓀼.

While it may be difficult to see in the photographs, a special symbol appears on both sides of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. This symbol, called the sema-tawy 𓋍, is a combination of many different symbols all combined into one! Most prominently, it is thought to be representative of the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 and the windpipe 𓄥. The lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 are a symbol of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the windpipe 𓄥 was a symbol of Lower Egypt 𓆤. Due to this, the sema-tawy 𓋍 is thought to be the symbol of a unified Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was always referred to as the “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt 𓆥” because Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt, although united, were in fact very different from each other. They each had their own natural resources, cultures and local gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. The lung 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 and windpipe 𓄥 design 𓋍 was usually found on objects that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. In this case, it is on the side of one of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 most beautiful 𓄤 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪!

Some Egyptologists think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks like Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖, and that Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 usurped it from his own father 𓇋𓏏𓀀. However, there are no signs of reworking on the cartouche or on the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 as a whole, so the two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 probably just resembled each other!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the first 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 years of the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, because Nefertari 𓏏𓅑𓄤𓏏𓇋𓏮𓈖𓈘𓏏 died during Year 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏.

Tags artifact, museo egizio, rameses ii

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 22, 2022

While this may just seem like the broken fragment of a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 (and I guess it is), I love this piece at the MET because it contains the cartouches of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓇍𓍘𓏻𓁗!

The Amarna Period, and the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 has always fascinated me, ever since I was a child 𓐍𓇌𓀔. Professional Egyptologists have tried to piece together the series of events that shaped this tumultuous time period of Egyptian history, mostly by looking at the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 themselves.

Fragmented statue containing the cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Let’s start at the right column, since the directional symbols point that way!

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓋹 – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖- Neferkheperura-waenre which means “Beautiful are the Forms/Manifestations of Re, the Unique one of Re” (Akhenaten’s throne name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

Now on to the left column! This first part is cut off, but it’s probably a variant Nefertiti’s title of “King’s Great Wife, as you can see the ending of the word “ great 𓅩𓂋𓏏”

𓈘𓏏𓆑 – His Beloved

𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓇍𓍘𓏻𓁗 – Nefertiti (Neferneferuaten Nefertiti)

𓋹𓏏 – May She Live/The Living

𓆖 – Everlasting/Eternal/Eternity

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

What always gets me is Akhenaten’s throne name of 𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖- Neferkheperura-waenre. This particular spelling of the throne name is only seen after he changed his given name from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The original spelling, before the name 𓂋𓈖 change was “𓁜𓄤𓆣𓏦𓇳𓌡𓈖.” The name 𓂋𓈖 is still pronounced the same and has the same meaning, but the falcon glyph 𓁜 was changed to just the sun disc 𓇳 (both pronounced Re/Ra). Also, all of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 other names (Horus name, etc) underwent a change, to remove the other deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, but this one didn’t.

I wonder why Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 didn’t change the throne name (𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖) to represent the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳, just like how all of his other names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 were changed. Nefertiti’s name also underwent a change; her name 𓂋𓈖 went from just Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 to Neferneferuaten Nefertiti 𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓇍𓍘𓏻𓁗 around year 5 of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 reign. Year 5 in the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 is significant, because that is when we see most of the changes to Atenism begin to take place. Year 5 is when Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 became the supreme and only god 𓊹, and the other deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 could not be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢.

Since this piece contains the “updated” version of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 throne name and the longer version of Nefertiti’s 𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓇍𓍘𓏻𓁗 name 𓂋𓈖, we can assume that this piece was made during or after year 5 of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏.

Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, nefertiti, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Shrine or Pylon Stela

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 21, 2022

While this piece doesn’t look like a regular stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 (stone, rounded top), it is still considered to be one! This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 has taken the shape of a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 or pylon 𓃀𓐍𓈖𓏏𓉐 and that’s what makes this wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece very unique! I also love this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 because it shows the two 𓏻 sisters 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐𓏪 Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥!

On the left, we see an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and on the right we see an image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇. Part of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 recited by the two 𓏻 sisters 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐𓏪 are located in the middle of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. I love how symmetrical ancient Egyptian art is!

The crowns on their heads is one of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that is used in their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 (𓉠and 𓊨), which makes both Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify in Egyptian art.

You can also identity Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇 and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 by reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Starting on the left:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓉠𓏏𓆇 – Nephthys

Now on the right:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓊨𓏏𓆇 – Isis

𓅨𓂋𓏏 – Great One

The Middle:

𓆓𓌃𓏏𓏥𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓅒 – The Two Ladies (Nekhbet and Wadjet)

𓇅𓏏𓏭𓇅𓁐𓁐 – The Two Crowns (𓇅𓇅𓏏𓏭𓁐𓁐 and 𓇅𓇅𓏏𓏭𓆘𓆘 is another way to write this)

𓎟𓏲𓏦 – Lords/Master

𓉐𓏺 – House

𓆖 – Eternity

This piece is dated to the Ramesside Period (19th-20th Dynasties, c. 1295–1070 B.C.E.).

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, isis, nephthys, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

“Wide Heart” or “Happiness”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 19, 2022

𓄫𓄣 – “Be Happy, “Happiness,” “Be Cheerful,” “Joy,” – or in Middle Egyptian, “Wide Heart.”

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful is this piece!? While this piece of jewelry may be unassuming to most who walk past it in the galleries as it is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it carries such a universal message that has permeated for thousands of years – Happiness 𓄫𓄣! I LOVE how the actual Middle Egyptian version of the word is “Wide Heart” – I think it carries so much meaning in such a little phrase. “Ancient Egypt makes my heart wide” sounds cooler than “Ancient Egypt brings me joy/happiness”

I always love seeing Happiness/Joy 𓄫𓄣 written on objects because that is exactly how I felt when I was in a museum and looking at Egyptian artifacts with my Nonno. The only emotion I could feel at the time was joy 𓄫𓄣 and I was so lucky. I would do anything to go to a museum with my Nonno and experience those emotions again. While I do feel immense joy 𓄫𓄣 in museums now, there’s always a sadness to it as well because I truly miss my Nonno more than anything. I would love a piece like this as a necklace – sometimes we all need a reminder to find joy 𓄫𓄣!

𓄫𓄣𓏏, 𓄫𓏏𓄣𓏺, and 𓄫𓄣𓏺 are all common variants of the word, that I have seen many times in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 too!

This beautiful 𓄤 clasp belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 is linked to his. Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry behind! The clasp is made out of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and carnelian, which is a stone with a red color. I will speak more about the jewelry in future posts, it is is so beautiful 𓄤 and I love jewelry!

Since I shared what makes me happy 𓄫𓄣, I’d love to hear from all 𓎟 of you! Share something that makes you happy/your heart wide 𓄫𓄣!

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, jewelry, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti or Shabti?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 18, 2022

Seeing ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures in museums will always bring me back to seeing them with my Nonno as a kid. Just like with the Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪, he was always so excited to show my sister 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓁐 and I the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures and tell us all about them. I wish I could hear Nonno tell his ushabti stories again. I miss listening to him speak about ancient Egypt and ancient history more than anyone can even realize. He was always so passionate when he spoke about these things, and I think I get that from him because other people tell me that I am the same way.

Many people debate if the word is “shabti” or “ushabti,” when in reality, both pronunciations would be correct because it appears both ways in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 too! “𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 usbty” is where “ushabti” comes from and “𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 sawabti” is where “shabti” comes from! My Nonno always said “Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾” so that is what I tend to use as well!

Here are some other variations for “ushabti” in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that aren’t used as much as the ones I have listed above. These variants are basically shortened versions of 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 or just use a different determinative!

𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮

𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾

𓆷𓄿𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀭

𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀭

𓆷𓄿𓍯𓄿𓃀𓏲𓍘𓇋𓆱 (the 𓆱 symbol as a determinative is interesting – probably because wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis were popular in the 19th Dynasty).

The text 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 is a version of the “Shabti Spell” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. This spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 gives the ushabti 𓆷𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 the power to complete tasks (farming, manual labor, etc) for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖.

The “Shabti Spell” usually starts off with the following phrase:

𓋴𓌉𓆓𓇶 – The Illuminated One

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – The Osiris

Then the “Shabti Spell” will usually list the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 job/titles:

𓏟 – Scribe

𓉒 – Treasury

So this specific ushabti’s spell starts off with “The Illuminated One, The Osiris, The Scribe of the Treasury…”

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, nonno, the met, ushabti

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