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Egyptian Artifacts

Magical Stela (Cippus)

This is known as a Magical Stela, or a cippus. It depicts Horus π“…ƒπ“€­(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­) standing on two 𓏻 crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“₯ and holding other dangerous animals such as snakes π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ and scorpions π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†«π“ͺ in each hand. The god Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also appears above Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ head 𓁢𓏺. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was known to ward off evil and bad luck.

Magical Stela (Cippus) at the MET

Normally, stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ were used to commemorate the dead so this is almost like a protective amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† in the form of a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. This cippus was used by the living for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Since the Old Kingdom, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was called upon as a defender against snake or scorpion bites. Placing the cippus on a wound would evoke its magical and healing powers. Cippus stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ like this were usually kept in homes 𓉐𓏺.

However, cippus pieces have also been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ, so we can assume that the Egyptians thought it not only would help protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the living, but the dead too.

Fun fact! The Middle Egyptian word for scorpion is π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« which can be pronounced like β€œSerket.” Serket π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was represented by a scorpion and she was associated with healing, protection, and magic. Serket π“‹΄π“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“†« could also be written like this: π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ˆŽπ“π“.

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Blog Egyptian Artifacts

Look at all the Hippos!

Look at all the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦!!! So I have a story: The first time I ever went to Disney World, I went with my Nonno and Nonna and I think I was four years old at the time! When we went on β€œIt’s a Small World,” I fell in love with the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― that winks at you! The hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― became my favorite part of the ride, and even to this day, I look forward to seeing the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―! And yes I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion but I LOVE going on β€œIt’s a Small World!” It’s one of my favorites!!!

The winking hippo in “It’s a Small World”

So when I started studying ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– with my Nonno, I always loved the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues because they reminded me of the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― on β€œIt’s a Small World!” I have included a picture of the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― in Disney World so you guys can also see the similarities!

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil!

Hippo artifacts at the MET

A lot of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ have lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over them to associate them with rejuvenation! The hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are most likely painted blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and rebirth. What’s really cool is that the β€œIt’s a Small World” hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― also has flowers painted on it!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Sketch of Osiris

While this may seem like a simple sketch of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, I actually find it very interesting! This is easily recognizable as the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ because the lord π“ŽŸ of the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… , and wearing the Atef crown π“‹š. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ adorning the sides.

Sketch of Osiris at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are as follows:
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ

It simply says β€œOsiris, the great god.” In this caption, Osiris is written β€œbackwards” and without the determinative π“€­ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ. This was probably due to the fact that the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ would appear neater when written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“Ήβ€ instead of like this β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨.”

Also, β€œgreat god” is written like this β€œπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉβ€ instead of this β€œπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ.” It was either done to take up the appropriate amount of space (aesthetics were everything, and was much more important than proper spelling/grammar πŸ˜‚) or to emphasize Osiris’ greatness. It could’ve even been for both reasons!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer

This mask is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom c. 1492-1473 B.C.E). It is also made of catonnage, which is the ancient Egyptian version of paper-mache – cartonnage is usually made of up linen. Just like the Roman mask I posted yesterday, this mask is also overlaid with gold foil π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰. Gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ is a metallic element, and one of the properties of metallic elements is that they are malleable. This means that they can be hammered into very thin sheets. This made gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ very easy to work with!

Mummy Mask of Hatnefer at the MET

I love the eyes 𓁹𓏏π“₯ of this mask! The eyes 𓁹𓏏π“₯ are made of two different types of stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. The white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³ part is alabaster π“±π“ˆ™π“Šƒ, which is usually a form of the minerals calcite or gypsum. The black π“†Žπ“…“ part is made of obsidian. Obsidian is an extrusive igneous rock which form when lava from a volcano cools instantaneously. This rapid cooling gives obsidian a glass-like appearance which is why obsidian is often referred to as volcanic glass.

This mask belonged to a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Hatnefer who died in her 70s. Hatnefer was able to get such a mask because her son π“…­ was Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, aka Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ most trusted advisor! Due to Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό rise in status, he was able to provide a nice burial and tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ for his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐. Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό also used his mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 death as an opportunity move his father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 from his original burial place into this tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰.

Hatnefer’s tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ was discovered in 1936, during the MET’s Egyptian Expedition.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask (Late Period)

Mummy Mask (Late Period) at the Brooklyn Museum

Another mummy mask?! Why not!! This mask of a woman is dated to the Late Period (1st Century B.C.E). It is also a cartonnage mask, which was a very popular type of material to use because it was easy to work with and the mask could be made relatively quickly. The colors on this mask are so bright and well preserved – especially the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. I love how the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and the blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color together π“ˆ–π“Š— a lot. I love that color combination!

I have also provided a close-up of the art on the wig that shows the goddesses Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇(right). Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 were sisters (which means their brothers are Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£). While Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ were also married, so were Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are shown together quite frequently, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ are rarely shown together in art because Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 was considered to be a positive figure instead of negative. She is usually depicted with either just Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, or with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.

You can easily tell Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 apart from each other in Egyptian art based off of the crowns that they are wearing. The crowns correspond to the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that make up their names!

Isis (π“Š¨π“π“₯) wears β€œπ“Š¨β€ as a crown!
Nephthys (𓉠𓏏𓆇) wears β€œπ“‰ β€ as a crown!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Mummy Mask (Roman Period)

One of the features of Egyptian funerary practices that persisted throughout time was the mummy masks. Mummy masks first appeared during the First Intermediate Period (~2181 BCE), and were last used during the Roman Period (~395 AD). While the styles certainly changed, their purpose of protecting the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 remained the same. The function of protection is made explicit by Spell 151 from the Book of the Dead. Spell 151 also restores the ability of the dead to see through the mask. Spell 151 even appears on the back of the mask of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“!

Mummy Mask (Roman Period) at the Brooklyn Museum

This mask is from the Roman Period, and it’s always so interesting to see the merging of the two 𓏻 different styles. The mask is made of cartonnage (kind of like paper mache) and is covered in gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf, which is typical of Ptolemaic/Roman masks. The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is wearing a nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ style headdress, and Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 (the winged scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣) can be seen on the head 𓁢𓏺. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭 is a symbol of rebirth.

What makes this mask so beautiful π“„€ are all of the small details in the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf. The most prominent is the deceased (as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾) standing before 𓐍𓂋 Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The protective cobras π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†˜π“ͺ also adorn the mask. Daisies/Rosettes are seen as decoration along with the Wedjat-eyes π“‚€ on each side. Both of these are also symbols of rebirth!

During Roman times, masks were mass produced in workshops so it is unlikely that this mask represents a specific person.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Hatshepsut

Here are some more scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ from the MET! The MET has so many of these beautiful π“„€ scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and I honestly love looking at them! I really like tiny things, so scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and other amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are some of my favorite pieces to see in museums!

These two 𓏻 scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ both show Hatshepsut’s throne name Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 in between the Red Crown of Lower Egypt π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”. The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓 translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Ra.”

The Red Crown π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹” is also known as the Deshret, which can also translate to β€œred land π“… π“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ.” The word Deshret π“… π“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ referred to both the crown (π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“π“‹”) and the desert (π“… π“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ) on either side of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. While the words are written differently in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, they are pronounced the same.

The fertile soil along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί was referred to as Kemet π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, or β€œblack land.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Chair of Hatnefer

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± is from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Hatnefer. Hatnefer was Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 and due to his status as Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ most trusted advisor, he was able to give his mother𓅐𓏏𓁐 a proper burial. I am always so amazed when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 pieces are still in such great condition – wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 is organic and it can break down very quickly as compared to a material like rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™.

Wooden Chair of Hatnefer at the MET

The linen 𓍱 that makes up the seat of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± is the original linen 𓍱 and has not been restored at all! The back of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± contains a design alternating between the tyet π“Ž¬ (Isis Knot) and the Djed pillar π“Š½. The tyet π“Ž¬ symbol invokes the protection of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, while the Djed pillar π“Š½ symbolizes stability. It is thought that the Djed pillar π“Š½ is actually the spine of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.

In the middle of the tyet π“Ž¬ and Djed pillars π“Š½ is the god Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ had many functions as a god π“ŠΉ and one of them was the protector of the home 𓉐𓏺.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses II at the British Museum

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is one of the largest Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum. The piece is definitely grand, and is even more beautiful π“„€ in person.

This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was cut from pink/gray granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ. Granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ is an extremely strong rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™ and resistant to weathering due to its high quartz content (hence why it is used to make countertops), so that is why the details on this are so well preserved. This piece was excavated by Belzoni and was originally from Rameses II’s π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ mortuary temple at Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– (aka the Ramesseum).

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ came to the throne after the death of his father Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and ruled Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 for about 67 years. He was the third pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, and is often referred to as β€œRameses The Great” because he built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 more monuments than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and ruled longer than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The monuments attributed to Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ are some of the best preserved – it seems that he got his wish to be remembered even so long after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 as much as he could so he could ensure that his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– lived on.

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Egyptian Artifacts

“Model of a Temple Gateway”

This is definitely a unique piece! I had never seen one like it in another museum which is why I was so interested in it!

The Brooklyn Museum has it listed as a β€œModel of a Temple Gateway.” The actual function of the model is unclear because it is not a model that was used by an architect! It is listed as being β€œceremonial” – which is archaeology speak for β€œwe have no idea what this is for”!

The sunken reliefs around the base of the model show Pharaoh Seti I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“£π“ˆ– in a kneeling position making offerings to several forms of the sun-god. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 (the rising sun), Ra-Horkathy π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (sun at the highest point in the sky – known as the zenith), and Atum π“‡‹π“π“‚Ÿπ“€­ (the setting sun and one of the creation gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) can all be seen.

The cartouche shown is one of the variations of Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 throne name. Usually it’s just written as 𓇳𓁦𓏠 (Eternal is the Truth of Ra) but here it’s shown as 𓇳𓏠𓁧𓂇𓇳 (Eternal is the Truth of Ra, the image of Ra).