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Egyptian Artifacts

Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II

This large piece at the MET is referred to as a “Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 royal jubilees. 

The offering scene that is on the doorjamb is Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 making an offering to the god 𓊹 Ptah-Tatanen 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁯, who was the patron god 𓊹 of the jubilee. Ptah-Tatanen 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁯 is a combination of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 (the creator god 𓊹) and Tatanen 𓁯, a lesser known deity who was the personification of the primordial mound that rose during the Egyptian creation myth. Tatanen 𓁯 is often compared to Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭 (the god 𓊹 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾), however Tatanen 𓁯 is often associated with things that come from the interior of the Earth 𓇾𓇾 such as minerals, rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦, and plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰! 

So Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭 is the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface (The Upper Earth), while Tatanen 𓁯 is the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 interior (The Lower Earth)! As a geologist, I love how the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were able to make this distinction between the spheres of the Earth 𓇾𓇾 in their mythology! They also recognized the atmosphere (another sphere of the Earth 𓇾𓇾) as the god 𓊹 Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭! It’s all so impressive to me! 

Ptah-Tatanen 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁯 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is broken down like this: 

𓊪𓏏𓎛 – Ptah (spelled out with phonogram symbols)

𓁯 – Tatanen (the determinative/ideogram)

Ptah’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 determinative was basically replaced with the determinative for Tatanen 𓁯 to make the god’s 𓊹 name 𓂋𓈖! 

Can you spot Ptah-Tatanen 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁯 in the inscription on the doorjamb???

(Also Rameses III’s 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖 cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!)

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Mislabeled Canopic Jars

These canopic jars are very famous pieces from the British Museum! Any time you read a book on mummification or Egyptian funerary practices, these canopic jars will make an appearance! The first book on Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 my Nonno ever gave me was Carol Andrews’ book on the mummies at the British Museum, and of course these canopic jars were in the book! It was so exciting to see them in person! However, these are “dummy” canopic jars; they aren’t even totally hollow inside so they definitely weren’t used during the mummification process. 

But that’s not what is the most interesting here; what’s most interesting is in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Each canopic jar has a lid that represents one of the Four Sons of Horus. Each one has the task of protecting a specific organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹 of the deceased! 

From the left: 

-Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 (falcon head) held the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼

-Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 (human head) held the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸

-Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 (baboon head) held the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺

-Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 (jackal head) held the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻

Now, if you take a closer look at the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the jars – Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 is labeled with Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 and vice versa! 

I’m not sure if it is an ancient mistake or a mistake by the museum! I’m always so amused when I come across stuff like this!

The inscription above the names is a common one that we have gone over before:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓁹𓊨𓊹 – Osiris (the symbol for “god 𓊹” is used as the determinative here instead of the usual “𓀭” – I love seeing variation)!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

This is the large granite statue of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 in comparison to me! This statue is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous to look at! Hateshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 really does look regal in it!

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, because I don’t think I have ever discussed it much on this page: Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the only child of her father, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 Ahmose.

After the death of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 married her half brother, Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 lesser wives.

Thutmosis II died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child, so Hatsheput 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This large granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is not in the “Hatshepsut Gallery” (as I like to call it) at the MET – in fact, she is right next to the Temple of Dendur! I find it an interesting placement in the museum because the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 and the Sphinx are from two very different time periods in Egyptian history. The temple of Dendur was built by Augustus while Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 ruled during the New Kingdom.

The Sphinx was one of six large sphinxes that would line her temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. It is made of granite, which was mined at Aswan and then transported ~500 miles up the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Granite is a super dense rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 so this was no easy task!

This is a large and absolutely beautiful 𓄤 piece in real life. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is depicted wearing the nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 head cloth and the false beard – typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis I

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (or 𓅝𓄟𓋴) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. His name 𓅝𓄟𓋴 means “Born of Thoth.” Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

This statue is in the British Museum! I dream of going back to the British Museum one day – I was lucky enough to be able to go there twice on my trip to London, and even luckier that I got to explore the museum with my Nonno💜.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Column of Rameses II

From Nonno’s point of view!!

He took a picture of me taking a picture while we were in the British Museum 😂 – I love it!!

Anyway, this is a red granite column that was originally inscribed for Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓! Both of his cartouches can be seen throughout -(𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) and (𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖). Also his titles such as “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” and “Lord of Appearances 𓎟𓈍𓏥” can be seen on top of his cartouches.

This column was definitely usurped by another pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 at some point because some of the cartouches on this column don’t belong to Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖!

In the bottom of this picture you can see the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 for “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” very clearly!

I have always loved seeing the columns in museums because you can get a sense of the grand scale of the Egyptian monuments. Since I have never been to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, it’s nice to see just how grand their building was! I love the design of this column; the top looks like a flower 𓆸!

Cartouche for Rameses II (𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓).
Another side of the column!
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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III

Not going to lie, I have had a love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 my whole life 😂 – I know that sounds weird to say about a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who I clearly have never met, but it’s the only way I can describe it!! This piece is in the MET, and the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are inscribed so beautifully on it! Definitely very eye-catching!

When I first started learning about Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 as a kid, I was (and still am!) so completely fascinated by her and how she became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Since Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a child when Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 died, Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 became the co-regent, until she named herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and pretty much “took the throne.” Since females were never in line for the throne, even though Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was the daughter of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his main queen 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞, she was never in line to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

So why my love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Well, for the longest time it was thought that after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, when he relcaimed the throne, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 had Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 monuments destroyed and her name erased from as many things as possible. Did he actually do this? Scholars aren’t sure it happened to the extent that it was once thought. But I don’t think we will ever have an answer.

What were some of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 accomplishments? He was a great military leader and conquered all of Syria. This is in great contrast to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, who focused more on trade and economic endeavors than military campaigns.

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Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum King’s List

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List.

There are two surviving King Lists from temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. One temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos, while Rameses II’s 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, Smenkhare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣, Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this picture, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name should be, but is missing due to the fact that she was purposefully left off the list!

You can see Thutmosis III’s the one name 𓇳𓏠𓆣, and then I’m pointing to the space next to his name. Why next to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Even though Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was technically named as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 first, and since he was too young to rule (he came to the throne at as young as two years old according to some historians), Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was his co-regent until she named herself the sole pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Here is a closer look at the King’s List – how stunning are these hieroglyphs?! I’m always so amazed that even after thousands of years, the colors on the monuments are still there!

On the left hand side, you can see the inscription 𓆥(𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖). This is his prenomen, or Throne Name:

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt
𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre Setepenre, which means Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Chosen by Ra.

Next to that inscription, you can see the following: 𓅭𓇳 (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃).

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – Rameses, Beloved of Amun.

Here’s an even further breakdown of Rameses II’s Nomen:
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘 – Beloved of Amun
𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – can be translated multiple ways “Born of Ra,” “Ra bore him,” etc.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bastet vs. Sekhmet

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows bronze statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of the beloved 𓌻𓂋𓇌 Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐. Here are some fun facts about Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐!!

The goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 were both depicted as cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪, however, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 usually had the body of a woman while Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 usually had the body of a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠.

However, when Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was depicted with the body of a woman, she was usually holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 in one hand! Since Hathor 𓉡 was usually seen with sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪, this shows a link between the two 𓏻 goddesses!

Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 and Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 were believed to be the two unpredictable personalities of the same goddess 𓊹𓏏. While Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 represented the destructive and unpredictable side, Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was the gentler and calmer side.

Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of pregnancy and childbirth and was considered to be the protective form of the goddess 𓊹𓏏.

Bastet’s 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 father was Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! Which is why her alter ego Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 can be associated with the sun.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Late Period Faience Amulets

These are some Late Period faience amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were protective symbols that could be used by either the living 𓋹𓈖𓐍 or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and each amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 had its own power based on the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 it represented. 

The first amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 on the left is Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭, the god 𓊹 of the air and atmosphere. In the Egyptian creation myth, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 raised the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, separating the two 𓏻. Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was often worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 by sailors, who were looking for favorable winds 𓇋𓇬𓈖𓅱𓊡𓏦! 

The next two 𓏻 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are different representations of the god 𓊹 Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭. Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is usually represented as a ram and is one of the oldest Egyptian deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 – evidence of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 dates back to the First Dynasty!! Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is the god 𓊹 of the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and fertility. In the creation myth, Khnum 𓎸𓏏𓀭 is said to have created all of the world’s people on his potter’s wheel. He is associated with Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, who created the heavens 𓊪𓏏𓇯 and Earth 𓇾𓇾 on a potter’s wheel. 

The next two 𓏻 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are a hare 𓃹𓏺 and an Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒. The hare 𓃹𓏺 amulet was thought to have regenerative powers, and in a funerary context, would help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be reborn 𓄟𓍿𓅱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖. 

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess 𓊹𓏏 who is associated with childbirth. Women who were pregnant would wear amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 for protection. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯 and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 dedicated to her specifically.