Tag: artifact

Three Golden Bracelets from the Tomb of Three Wives of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

These are three 𓏼 golden 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 /armlets 𓄟𓋴𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏥. They were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of three 𓏼 minor wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣. While some of the inlaid glass is missing, these bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 are in incredible condition. I love how the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 all looks together!

Inside the bracelets, are the titles and cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣. The engravings were put inside the bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 so his name 𓂋𓈖 would always be close to his wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪. I find this cool because even in modern times, it’s very also popular to have engravings with names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 or initials on the backs of rings or bracelets! It’s incredible to me how certain ideas and styles have persisted through time!

Translation time!

𓅭𓇳(𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣)𓆖 – “Son of Ra, Thutmosis III*, For all Eternity (or Everlasting)”

𓄤𓊹(𓇳𓏠𓆣)𓏙𓋹 – “The Great God, Menkheperra, Given Life”

*this cartouche (𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣) is a variant of Thutmosis III’s birth name. The name 𓂋𓈖 is usually written as (𓅝𓄠𓋴) but this particular variant was used after Year 21 𓎆𓎆𓏺 of his reign. (𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣) translates to “Thoth is born, beautiful of form” while the regular birth name cartouche (𓅝𓄠𓋴) translates to just “Thoth is born.” His throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) Menkheperra translates to “Lasting is the form of Ra.”

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, jewelry, the met, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Another Cat Mummy!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

While this may look like a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐, it’s actually a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummy!

There are many different ways that animal mummies have been found. Some are wrapped in linen 𓍱 while others are found in these elaborate statue-like coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. These types of mummy-wrappings were popular during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods.

Cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 were sacred animals in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 because they were thought to represent the soul 𓂓 of Bastet 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 or Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐. Much like today, cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 were also pets in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummies have been found in human tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 as well. The thought is that the cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 and the owner would be able to stay together 𓈖𓊗 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 if they were buried together 𓈖𓊗.

Tags artifact, mummy, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Broad Collars

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 loved jewelry! In Egyptian art, the wealthy and upper class people were always depicted wearing elaborate jewelry as a way to show their status. The gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 are also often depicted wearing a lot of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry.

One of the most popular types of jewelry amongst the elite – including the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and royal family is known as the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 (pronounced “wesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝 could be used for the whole word.

Broad Collars at the MET

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and it reached peak popularity during the 18th Dynasty. The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was also given to people of high rank or officials 𓋴𓂋𓀀𓏪 as a mark of honor. Broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 could be made of many different types of materials, including gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, but the ones shown in this picture are made of faience beads.

Many mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 have also been found buried wearing the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! You gotta look good in the afterlife too 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!!

Tags artifact, jewelry, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

These are Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus and are dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c. 400-30 B.C.E.). The Sons of Horus were deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who were charged with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were usually represented as the lids of canopic jars.

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the MET

What’s really cool about these statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 is that they are decorated so beautifully 𓄤! I love how they look like mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 (the proper term is “mummiform”), and how a large broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is painted 𓏞𓏜 on their chests. Also, each statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 has a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the middle of the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! The details are exquisite!

While each Son of Horus was associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏. Let’s take a look at each deity (starting from the left):

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, was associated with the East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭, and was protected by Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and was protected by Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, was associated with the North 𓎔𓏏, and was protected by Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, was associated with the South 𓇔𓅱𓏏 and was protected by Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer is one of my absolute favorite artifacts, and seeing it in the British Museum was a dream come true for me!

On the top panel, Hunefer (the deceased) stands before the 42 divine judges and pleads their lifetime of truth and moral doings. The Book of the Dead provided the deceased with the words to say so they would pass this trial!

On the bottom panel: This is the Weighing of the Heart ceremony! Let’s start from the left! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is leading Hunefer (the deceased) to the scales (not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous they are holding hands 😂). Here, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓌴𓐙𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather (Maat is sitting on top of the scales). If Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two 𓏻, that means that the deceased lived a truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and just 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 life 𓋹.

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 (the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is there waiting to see if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 didn’t live a truthful 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 life! If the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 weighs more than the feather, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 would eat the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and the deceased would “die a second time” and not live in eternal paradise. Thoth 𓅤𓀭 records the findings of the ceremony.

If the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 passed the Weigning of the Heart, they would be presented to Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 by Horus 𓅃𓀭 and would then enter the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖 and live in eternal paradise!

Tags anubis, artifact, book of the dead, british museum, gods and goddesses, horus, maat, osiris, thoth

Egyptian Artifacts

More Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

The MET was an integral part of the excavations of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri. During the 1926-1927 dig season, 299 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 and stamp seals were discovered near the eastern wall of the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were symbols of regeneration and rebirth.

On the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, are various inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 with every title/name 𓂋𓈖 Hatshepsut has ever held. These three 𓏼 scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 have her birth name 𓂋𓈖 inscribed 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪. Her birth name 𓂋𓈖 cartouche translates to “United with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women.”

If we were to only write the part that translates only to “Hatshepsut,” her cartouche would look like this: (𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪). Why is Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 mentioned in her name 𓂋𓈖? By adding Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 to her name, she directly linked herself to the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖. She claimed that Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓀭 was her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus justifying her right to rule.

Tags artifact, hatshepsut, scarab, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

Much like the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪, I too love jewelry! I mostly wear bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 and two 𓏻 snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 rings 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪𓏦 from my Nonno and Nonna. I also wear a necklace with an ankh 𓋹 that my Nonno and Nonna got for me!

Ancient Egyptian Jewelry at the Brooklyn Museum

This blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 necklace is different from the wesekh collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 that I posted yesterday! For one, necklaces if this style were much easier to make (and cheaper to acquire) and while they did not appear as often in Egyptian art, they were definitely more popular amongst the masses. The gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 is also fashioned in a similar style!

These simpler necklaces or bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 could be have beads or amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 that were made of materials such as lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧, malachite, gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, amethyst, and faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼. Rarely, silver was used.

For the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 necklace, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 can be seen amongst other less specific beads. For the gold bracelet, the fly of valor 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 is the amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 that is used. The fly of valor 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 was given to military leaders who showed courage in battle.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, jewelry

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue for a Man Named Kaiemwaset

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

This is a really interesting statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Statue for a Man Named Kaiemwaset at the Brooklyn Museum

It was made for a man named Kaiemwaset. Although the part that shows Kaiemwaset’s head 𓁶𓏺 is now missing, it used to be part of the statue. This statue was placed in a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐, and it would have allowed Kaiemwaset to participate in temple rituals when deceased since the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the dead could inhabit statues. Kaiemwaset was connected to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖, and this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to the reign of Thutmosis IV 𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼(18th Dynasty, New Kingdom).

The best preserved part of this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is what Kaiemwaset is holding. It is a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, which is a rattle-like musical instrument that usually portrays the head 𓁶𓏺 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 and all of the fun things in life, and sound of the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was thought to be beloved by Hathor 𓉡. Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏺 is resting on top of the Isis-knot 𓎬 (aka tyet knot). On top of Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏺 is a temple entrance/gateway with a cobra 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 in between. The cobra 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘 could invoke the protective aspects of the goddess 𓊹𓏏!

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabtis of Paser

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

While my favorite non-royal has always been Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 due to his prominence and importance during Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 reign, my Nonno’s favorite has always been Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽. These are some of Paser’s 𓅮𓀙𓀽 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾. The ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 served as substitutes for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and would perform labor or jobs for them in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. They are usually inscribed with spells which are specific to a certain task!

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was one of the most prominent men of his time and he served under two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 – Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and then Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖.

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 served many different roles over twenty-five 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years! He was vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 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, judicial, financial, and many other things. Honestly that sounds exhausting 😂!

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 had many different titles, including “High Preist of Amun,” “superintendent of every work of the king,” and “chief of secrets of the hieroglyphs.”

Tags artifact, louvre, paser, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 28, 2022

I’m going to post another British Museum picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because I’m nostalgic and I like remembering how amazing that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 was!

This red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is definitely an interesting one because it actually has the cartouches of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 carved into the chest! This is what Egyptologists call usurping – meaning that Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 took statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 and monuments from his predecessors, erased their name 𓂋𓈖, and put his own!

Egyptologists don’t think this was done out of disrespect for the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, instead it was just Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 promoting his own rule.

Fun fact! Much like modern geologists, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 differentiated between granite and red granite rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦! How do we know?! The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are different:

Granite – 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿
Red Granite – 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶

I love rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏦 and geology so much! I actually got interested in geology as a kid because I wanted to know what all of the statues were made out of!

Tags artifact, british museum, thutmosis iii

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