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Egyptian Artifacts

What’s in a Name?

What’s in a name π“‚‹π“ˆ–?! To the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ, a person’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was everything!

In order to exist, a human needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 (impression an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body), the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. A name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was considered the essential part of the person because the other four 𓏽 elements could not exist without the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. I find this entire concept absolutely fascinating and I’m not going to lie, it has made me appreciate my own name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

If a person wanted to survive after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, not only was mummification essential, but even more so was preserving the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. This is why pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and others who could afford to do so had their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– carved everywhere – they wanted to survive after they died 𓅓𓏏𓏱. If a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was hacked away or forgotten, it meant that the person was deprived of their entire existence. This is why the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 like Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ were either left off of official King’s lists or removed from their monuments.

Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ has his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– literally everywhere and his cartouche is the most commonly found one! He really wanted to ensure that he survived after he died 𓅓𓏏𓏱! This cartouche from the British Museum is one of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ and I think it is so beautifully π“„€ carved!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Frog Figures

These frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† figures are dated to the 1st and 2nd Dynasties, which is grouped as part of the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3000-2675 B.C.E.) so these are quite old! This is about the time that Egyptologists think that writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ was first developed in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! However, this form of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ consisted of very rudimentary symbols and don’t really represent Middle Egyptian or hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, which is the form of the language that persisted throughout Egyptian history (and the one that I know).

Frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ were not really written about at all during these predynastic times, and these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ predate a lot of religious writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ and iconography so all Egyptologists can do is make educated guesses on their significance!

So what inferences can we make about these cute frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† figures? Scientifically speaking, frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ would appear after the flooding of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, so they were associated with the life π“‹Ή/the regenerative qualities of water π“ˆ—. Not only is water π“ˆ— necessary for humans, but also for irrigating land for agriculture.

The frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† is also associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† who is represented as a woman with a frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† head. Also, the frog determinative 𓆏 appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– so she was clearly associated with frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦. Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of birth and rebirth. She also protected π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ during the childbirth process so it is possible these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ could be symbols of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for childbirth.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Fish Dish

Today I’m going to talk about fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ because fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ were an incredibly important part of life 𓋹𓏀 along the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί! Also, I love fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ and watching fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ swim π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ƒ€π“ˆ— is something I find so relaxing!

So why fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ on New Year’s Eve?! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ were seen as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration! Since the ancient Egyptian religion was primarily based on these ideas, symbols that represented them were considered important and very powerful in Egyptian culture.

One of the most common fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ you would find in the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί was tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†Ÿ, which is the type of fish π“‚‹π“…“π“†Ÿ that this Fish Dish (18th Dynasty c. 1479-1400 B.C.E.) depicts. Nile tilapia π“‡‹π“†›π“ˆ–π“π“†Ÿ are easily identified by their very long dorsal fin! The tilapia even has its own hieroglyphic symbol – β€œπ“†›,” and it definitely looks like the dish in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

The first Fish Dishes have been dated to the pre-dynastic period, and they are one of the types of every day objects that have persisted throughout the Egyptian civilization. It always amazes me how such ideas and objects were able to persist for thousands of years!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis Engraving on a Sarcophagus

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has been my favorite god π“ŠΉ since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€•. Why is he my favorite? Here are some fun facts about Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 so you can see why!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the god of mummification, graveyards/cemeteries, funerals, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ and a bunch of other things associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even as a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€•, I was fascinated by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ and the process of mummification, so by default Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ–β€œAnubis” is actually the Hellenistic version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– – the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called him Inpw.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is usually represented by the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ or having the head 𓁢𓏀 of a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ because these canines were often found in cemeteries.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has no temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ dedicated to him because every tomb/cemetery was considered a β€œtemple” to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs: π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒, π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, 𓃣.

Here are some titles that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with. His name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears with these a lot in hieroglyphic inscriptions:
π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹ 𓆑 – β€œUpon his hill”
𓏅 π“ŠΉ 𓉱 – β€œIn front at the God’s booth” (shrine)
π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š– – β€œHe who is in the mummy wrappings”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Ba Bird

In order to exist, a human needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

The Ba 𓅑𓏀 is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 can also be thought of as an individual’s personality. When a person died, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the part of the person that lived on after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

This particular Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 B.C.E.). Ba 𓅑𓏀 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±π“¦ or added as an attachment to a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

The details on this Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are absolutely beautiful π“„€. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 has a sun disk 𓇳𓏀 on its head 𓁢𓏀 and is wearing a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Tutankhamun

As a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• (and even now) I love the story about the discovery of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“! The gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ funerary mask and all of the other artifacts found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ completely fascinated me and still fascinate me to this day!

Better known to the public as King Tut, Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ wasn’t that significant of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but the discovery is his pretty much intact tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ helped to popularize him in the modern day. He is the son π“…­ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, and is credited with restoring the traditional Egyptian pantheon after Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed the entire Egyptian religion to the monotheistic worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ during his rule.

One of the things I love about Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ is his cartouche!! Here is a breakdown of its meaning:
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– Amun
𓏏𓅱𓏏 Tut (image)
π“‹Ή Ankh (life)
𓋾𓉺𓇓 Ruler of Heliopolis/Upper Egypt

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œTutankhamun” in Middle Egyptian translates to β€œLiving Image of Amun.” However, this wasn’t his original name π“‚‹π“ˆ–; Tutankhaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“‡³ or β€œLiving Image of the Aten” was his actual birth name! When Tutankhamun brought back the old religion, he changed his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– to reflect the old religion!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III

The MET has a very large collection of objects from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. These women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ were named Menhet π“π“‚Ÿπ“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“‡Ώπ“π“, Menwi π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“Œπ“―π“‡‹π“, and Merti π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“ƒ­π“˜π“‡‹π“ and were buried in an undecorated tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ located near Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. The country of origin of these women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ is unknown.

This gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ has a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head on each end. While this piece is dated to the New Kingdom (18th Dynasty c. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ have been used to adorn mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ since the Old Kingdom (c. 2649 B.C.E.). Broad Collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ were the necklace of choice amongst the elites and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

The Vulture Pectoral is also most likely from the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ as the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ pictured. Vultures are common funerary symbols and are usually associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ. Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ was usually depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 with the head 𓁢𓏀 of a vulture. She is the patron goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt 𓇑 (hence why her name has the β€œπ“‡‘β€ symbol for upper Egypt) and was also tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ royal women 𓀻𓋴𓏏𓁐.

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Egyptian Artifacts

β€œProcessional Way of the Sphinxes”

This display of sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ at the Louvre is referred to as the β€œProcessional Way of the Sphinxes” and it contains six 𓏿 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ dated to the later period of Egyptian history (no exact date is known but inferences have been made and will be mentioned as you read further).

It is thought that these limestone sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ lined the processional way to the Serapis Temple at Saqqara (also known as the β€œSerapeum of Saqqara”). This temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was originally the burial place for sacred bulls (it was believed that the bulls were representations of the god π“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±). Fun fact: Saqqara is the modern name π“‚‹π“ˆ– for the area, but the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called it Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–!

This area has quite a history because construction started in c. 1400 B.C.E. (New Kingdom), and continued through to the end of the Ptolemaic Period/end of Cleopatra VII’s π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇 rule (c. 31 B.C.E.). The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, during Ptolemaic rule, then was dedicated to the cult of Serapis (the Greco-Egyptian deity of the sun 𓇳𓏀).

So who built 𓐍𓂀𓅱𓋴𓀧 these magnificent sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦? There are two theories: it’s possible that the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanbo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓 of the 30th Dynasty had over 600 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ built to line the processional way to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. However, some historians think that the sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ were built by Ptolemy I π“Šͺπ“π“―π“ƒ­π“π“‡Œπ“‹΄ as he changed the area to be dedicated to Serapis. The reasoning for this is that the sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ share artistic features of the Ptolemaic Period, and they also don’t have inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on them, which is also typical of Ptolemaic objects. We will probably never know!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Husband and Wife

This is a beautiful π“„€ limestone statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of husband π“‰”π“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“‚Ίπ“€€ and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 that is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). The names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the people depicted are not preserved in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that adorn the back of the statue, π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ but the funerary prayers are preserved.

It is assumed that these types of statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ are of husband π“‰”π“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“‚Ίπ“€€ and wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐, even though it’s not explicitly stated in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ because the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was held in such high regard in Egyptian culture. This is why entire families π“‚§π“ˆ–π“Œπ“π“…±π“€€π“Έπ“Έπ“Έ can be found buried in the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – the family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 was to stay together π“ˆ–π“Š— forever 𓆖!!

Here are some fun facts about marriage in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Marriages were not arranged/forced in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–; it was a personal choice between the couple! Also, there seems to be no official marriage ceremony; the couple decided they wanted to be together π“ˆ–π“Š— and let their friends and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 know! The marriage seems to become β€œofficial” with a contract that allowed for the transfer of property. Divorce was a very common occurrence as was having four 𓏽 to seven 𓐀 children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ!

Though the symbol β€œ 𓏦” is usually used to denote plural words, it is used in the singular term family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 because there are multiple members in a single family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 group! Instead, the Egyptians had a different word to represent multiple family groups (in English, families β€œπ“‚§π“ˆ–π“Œπ“π“…±π“€€π“Έπ“Έπ“Έβ€) and β€œπ“Έπ“Έπ“Έβ€ is used the pluralize it!

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Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Sekemhathor

This is a beautiful π“„€ example of a False Door from the reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Userkaf π“…±π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚“π“†‘ (5th Dynasty). This False Door was from the west 𓋀𓏏𓏭 wall of a mastaba tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– that belonged to Nikauhor and his wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“. Nikauhor was a judge and a priest π“ŠΉπ“› in Userkaf’s π“…±π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚“π“†‘ sun temple while Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“›π“ of Hathor 𓉑 and Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­.

This specific false door pictured belonged to Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ and images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the couple are seen on either opening of the false door (Nikauhor had his own false door). These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are expertly carved in raised relief and I wish I could have gotten more detailed photos 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 but the glass and reflection from the lights makes it hard to do that. We know this particular false door belonged to Sekemhathor π“‰‘π“‹΄π“Œ‚π“π“…“ specifically because her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written on the arch above the opening to the door. It is common practice to have the deceased’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– above the door!

False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that the soul π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could travel between the two lands 𓇿𓇿 through the False Door. They are also known as β€œka π“‚“ doors” or β€œsoul π“‚“ doors.”

False Doors were usually located on the western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 walls of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ because the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – when Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 makes his daily journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, sunset 𓇋𓐍𓐍𓅱𓇢 is representative of his death.