Tag: hatshepsut

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blades of Hatshepsut

Believe it or not, these two 𓏻 pieces were probably my favorite objects that I saw in the Petrie Museum.

I was so excited when I saw them, because Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 throne name appears on it! Since I absolutely love anything to do with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, I was incredibly excited to see something with her name on it. These two 𓏻 pieces are actually bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ blades that were once attached to a handle.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“„€π“ŠΉ – Perfect God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name – translates to β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.”)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐- Holiest of Holies (Deir el-Bahri temple)

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

Put together, the inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ƒπ“‚¦π“‚¦π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ β€œThe Perfect God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Holiest of Holies.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery

The room is known as Gallery 115, but I have always called it β€œThe Hatshepsut Room” simply because it is the gallery in the MET where all of her statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ are. The MET was instrumental in excavating Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and all of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ in this gallery are from that excavation.

While Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was not the only female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian history, she was without a doubt the most successful (if not one of the most successful pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to ever live). During her rule, any Hyksos influence was now erased, and this time was kind of the β€œgolden age” for New Kingdom art. Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– also had good relationships with neighboring peoples and trade flowed freely. This allowed Egypt to prosper in ways that it hadn’t before π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Dispelling Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, and I want to show why they are misconceptions.

It was always said by historians that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was β€œshowing herself as a male” or β€œtrying/wanting to be a man.” These statements are just not true. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ never portrayed herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€. She portrayed herself as a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, which she was! In fact, she very much referred to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“. How do we know? It’s all in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Let’s take a look at the titles she gives herself.

The inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉπ“π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“‡³π“¦π“‚“π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“ŒΈπ“‡Œπ“‹Ήπ“˜π“†–

π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – β€œPerfect goddess”
π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – β€œLady of the Two Lands”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œMaatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun
π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Thrones
π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Beloved
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!
𓆖 – Eternity

So the inscription reads β€œPerfect goddess, lady of the two lands Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Lord of the Thrones, May She Live, For Eternity.”

If Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was referring to herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ or trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, the inscription would read like this:

π“„€π“ŠΉ π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œPerfect god, lord of the two lands Maatkare.”

The addition of the β€œπ“β€ makes the words the feminine version! β€œπ“ŽŸ – Lord” becomes β€œπ“ŽŸπ“ – Lady” and β€œπ“ŠΉ -God” becomes β€œ π“ŠΉπ“ – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here is the other inscription that is on the statue:

The inscription reads:π“…­π“π“‡³π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“‡“π“π“ŠΉπ“₯π“Œ»π“‡Œπ“‹Ήπ“π“†“π“†‘

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra
π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘ – Bodily/Of Her Body
(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³ – Amun-Ra
𓇓𓏏 – King of (feminine form of King)
π“ŠΉπ“₯ – Gods
π“Œ»π“‡Œ – Beloved
𓋹𓏏𓆓𓆑 – She Live Forever (forever is usually written as β€œπ“†–β€)

Put together, the inscription reads: β€œBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved of Amun-Ra, King of the Gods, May She Live Forever.”

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! If she called herself the β€œSon of Ra” the inscription would look like β€œπ“…­π“‡³β€ instead of β€œπ“…­π“π“‡³. ” The word for β€œbodily π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘β€ is also feminized, and would be written as β€œπ“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“†‘β€ if it was referencing a male. The word for β€œking 𓇓” is also written in the feminine form and has the β€œπ“β€ at the end (𓇓𓏏).

There was no word for β€œqueen” in Middle Egyptian, the closest word that exists is β€œπ“‡“π“π“π“ˆž,” which translates to β€œThe King’s Wife.” Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was certainly not the King’s Wife: she was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/king 𓇓𓏏.

This misconception needs to be squashed, because it very much erases Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ identity π“‚‹π“ˆ– and as we know, the name/identity π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a person was essential to Egyptian cultural beliefs. Referring to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ as anything but how she referred to herself is an insult to her.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Granite Statue of Hatshepsut and its Hieroglyphs

Since I can’t go too long without talking about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, let’s talk about this granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of her!

She is depicted in female attire, but is also wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄, which is usually reserved only for the reigning pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to wear! Once again, this imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ wanted to be seen as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, not be seen as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€.

Her hands 𓂝𓏦 are flat on her lap, which means that this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was probably put inside the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and meant to receive offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was found in multiple pieces during excavations at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, and then pieced back together.

Let’s look at the hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ inscription (only the top part of it can be seen – the other half is too destroyed for me to finish translating):

π“„€π“ŠΉπ“ – β€œPerfect goddess”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – β€œMaatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)

So the inscription reads β€œPerfect goddess, Maatkare.”

If Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was referring to herself as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ or trying to be a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, the inscription would read like this:

π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – β€œPerfect god, Maatkare.”

The addition of the β€œπ“β€ makes the word the feminine version – β€œπ“ŠΉ -God” becomes β€œ π“ŠΉπ“ – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! There are too many examples of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ being referred to as a female in writing to make the rash conclusion that she was β€œtrying to be a man.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Bronze Blade with Hatshepsut’s Cartouche

Believe it or not, this seemingly plain piece was probably one of my favorite objects that I saw in the Petrie Museum. I was so excited when I saw it, because Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 throne name appears on it! Since I absolutely love anything to do with Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, I was incredibly excited to see something with her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– on it. I also think this piece is unpublished, so it was a total surprise for me to see that it even existed! Since her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–appears on the blade, it means that it was most certainly made during her time as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

While it doesn’t look like much, this piece is actually a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ blade that was once attached to a handle.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“„€π“ŠΉ – Great God

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare (Hatshepsut’s Throne Name – translates to β€œTruth 𓁦 is the Soul π“‚“ of Re 𓇳.”)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

𓏃𓂦𓂦- Holiest of Holies (the name given to Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri. It can also be written as 𓏃𓂦𓂦𓉐 or most commonly as 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐).

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

Put together, the inscription reads: π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓁦𓂓)π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ƒπ“‚¦π“‚¦π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ β€œThe Great God Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Holiest of Holies.”

Interestingly, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is referred to as β€œThe Great God π“„€π“ŠΉβ€ instead of the β€œGreat Goddess π“„€π“ŠΉπ“β€ as she usually is in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. I honestly think this is a spacing issue because the blade is so small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©. A lot of the words on this blade are the shortened version. For example, Amun is written as π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– instead of π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­, and Holiest of Holies is very shortened to the point of almost being unrecognizable (𓏃𓂦𓂦 instead of 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐). There are also many variations of Beloved π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ, but this shortened version of the word is very commonly seen in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Symbolism on Hatshepsut’s Statue

No surprise here, but I am back speaking about the white π“Œ‰π“†“π“‡³ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! I want to highlight a detail on the side of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ that I have not spoken about yet on this account!

𓋍 – this symbol on the side of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is a combination of many different things! Most prominently, it is thought to be representative of the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯. The lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί are a symbol of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the windpipe π“„₯ was a symbol of Lower Egypt 𓆀. The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was always referred to as the β€œLord of the Two Lands π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ or β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt π“†₯” because Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆀 Egypt, although united, were in fact very different from each other. They each had their own natural resources, cultures and local gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

Just like how the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯ need to work together in order for a person to survive, Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆀 Egypt needed to be unified in order for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– to be a strong country!

The lung π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and windpipe π“„₯ design 𓋍 was usually found on objects that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. In this case, it is on the side of one of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ most beautiful π“„€ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ!

The design 𓋍 also contains elements that look like lilies 𓇕𓇕𓇕 and papyrus 𓇉𓇉𓇉! It’s such a cool design 𓋍 with so much to interpret! I remember being so puzzled by it as a kid when I saw it for the first time!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

White Limestone Sphinx of Hatshepsut

I was SO EXCITED to see the white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ again! It has been so long since I’ve seen this piece; it was honestly like greeting an old friend! This Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ used to be in the main Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ gallery at the MET, but for some reason it’s no longer there! Now it is hidden in one of the smaller galleries which is a shame because it is such a beautiful piece!

Most of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ that was excavated from her temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 were carved from red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ, however this one is carved from limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ – the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ and this Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are very different too. The white limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ have much more feminine features as compared to the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ ones most likely because they were used in different parts of the temple 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 for different purposes.

This Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ has been heavily reconstructed by using pieces that were modeled after the second Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ just like this one, which is in the Cairo Museum. These two 𓏻 sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ most likely guarded the upper terrace of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 while the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ would have guarded the lower terrace.

Thanks to Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ drive/intelligence and her architect Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, Hatshepsut will be remembered as one of the most prolific builders in Egyptian history! It’s such a shame that she doesn’t get the same recognition that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ gets!

Instead of wearing the typical nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth that most pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who were fashioned into sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ wear, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is actually wearing a lion’s π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› mane! This is very typical of Middle Kingdom art! This piece is dated to 1479–1458 B.C.E., and I love seeing New Kingdom art imitate styles from the past!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – Maatkare
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun
π“ŒΊπ“π“‡Œ – Beloved
𓋹𓏏𓏙- Life Given
𓆖 – Eternity

β€œMaatkare, Beloved of Amun, Given Life for Eternity.”

I know this is strange, but β€œGiven Life” is written backwards! It should be β€œπ“™π“‹Ήβ€ not β€œπ“‹Ήπ“™β€ as it’s written (this inscription is read from right to left).

There’s also an added 𓏏, which makes it the feminine form! There’s a second sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ just like this one in the Cairo Museum, and on that sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€, there is no added 𓏏! Why would one sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ use the feminine form and one use the masculine?! We will probably never know!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hatshepsut – A Brief Family History

The large red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ in comparison to me! This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous π“„€ to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in it!

Nicole (me) with the large red granite statue of Hatshepsut at the MET

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the only child π“π“‡Œπ“€• of her father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž Ahmose.

After the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ married her half brother, Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– lesser wives.

Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child π“π“‡Œπ“€•, so Hatsheput π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her large military.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Ointment Jar Translation

This is an ointment jar that was found amongst many other artifacts in the foundation deposits of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. While foundation deposits can be traced all the way back to the 3rd Dynasty, putting ointment jars in them date back to the 12th Dynasty. There are fourteen foundation deposits associated with Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰! In Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ time, the temple was referred to as 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐 or the β€œHoliest of Holies” (or djeser-djeseru). There are many different hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ variations of the word as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great Goddess
π“ŽŸπ“π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lady of the Two Lands
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare
π“‹Ήπ“˜ – May She Live!
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun
π“…“ – In
𓂦𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies
π“ŒΊπ“π“‡Œ – Beloved

So all together, the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads: β€œThe Great Goddess, Lady of the Two Lands, Maatkare, May She Live! Beloved of Amun who is in the Holiest of Holies.”

Fun fact about the word β€œπ“…“!” This one symbol, usually associated with the modern letter β€œm,” can have many meanings such as: in, as, by, with, from, when, through, and what!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Senemut

This is a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£. A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ usually had Hathor’s 𓉑 head 𓁢𓏀 (complete with her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle. It’s interesting to see a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό holding something other than Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, because he is usually depicted with her.

Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄀𓄀𓄀, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her.

There are many differing theories on Senemut’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό relationship with Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ Many believe (including myself) that they were having an affair. There’s even graffiti from the tomb builders in some unfinished tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that show that they too believed that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό were romantically involved.

Gossiping about relationships seems to have always been something that people have done!