Tag: artifact

Statue of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 is one of the largest Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum. The piece is definitely grand, and is even more beautiful 𓄤 in person. Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 most prolific builder, so it makes sense that objects made in his likeness are also grand!

Nicole (me) with the Statue of Rameses II at the British Museum

Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 came to the throne after the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of his father Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and ruled Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 for about 67 years. He was the third pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, and is often referred to as “Rameses The Great” because he built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 more monuments than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and ruled longer than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The monuments attributed to Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 are some of the best preserved in all of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – it seems that he got his wish to be remembered even so long after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 as much as he could so he could ensure that his name 𓂋𓈖 lived on. He also usurped a lot of other previous pharaohs’ 𓉐𓉻𓏦 monuments too!

Geology time!!!! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was cut from pink/gray granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿. Granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 is an extremely strong rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 and resistant to weathering due to its high quartz content (hence why it is used to make countertops in modern times), 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 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 (aka the Ramesseum).

Tags artifact, british museum, rameses ii

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses IV

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This is a stunning 𓄤 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses IV 𓇳𓋾𓁦 who ruled during Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 20th Dynasty. He is depicted in a kneeling position with offering pots 𓏍 (for wine or water) in each of his hands. I always find this depiction of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 fascinating because pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 are considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 so they shouldn’t kneel for anyone – except another god 𓊹!

The god 𓊹 that Rameses IV 𓇳𓋾𓁦 is making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔 to is most likely Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳, since Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 is mentioned in hieroglyphic texts 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the back panel of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾.

The cartouches for Rameses IV’s nomen (birth name) 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃 and prenomen (throne name) 𓇳𓋾𓁦 are on each shoulder. There are many different variants of the nomen and prenomen, so these are not they only way his name 𓂋𓈖 appears on monuments! I just used the ones that were also used on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 itself! The different ways to write the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 are called “variants.”

While the original provenance isn’t known, it is most likely that they statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is originally from Amun-Ra’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak. Rameses IV 𓇳𓋾𓁦 was one of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who contributed to the decoration of Hypostyle Hall!

Tags artifact, british museum, rameses iv

Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Fragment of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

There are so many cool pieces in the Petrie Museum – while the pieces may not be as big or grand as the ones in the MET, Louvre, or British Museums, they are significant because they give a glimpse into the more subtle greatnesses in Egyptian society. Actually though, the “sister piece” to this one is actually in the MET!

This piece of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 (dated c. 1353–1336 B.C.E.) is what is known as a “trial piece” – basically it was practice for the artist/sculptor before they made the real thing! This was found in the sculptor’s workshop at Amarna (in the southern 𓇔𓅱𓏏 part of the city). While Tell el-Amarna is the modem name for the area, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 named his new capital “Akhetaton” or “Horizon of the Aten” – the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 was originally Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 before the big move.

Petrie spent a lot of time excavating that part of the city during his time there from 1891-1892. Most of what we initially learned about the city and it’s architecture came from Petrie’s excavations. Fun Fact: Howard Carter assisted Petrie on these digs!

The piece unmistakably depicts Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. It is very easy to tell when Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is being shown because of his very distinct facial features (pointed chin, long neck/face). It would also make sense that most of the artwork that was found at the sculptors workshop in his capital would contain art that depicted him, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, the royal family, and the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳.

Tags akhenaten, artifact, petrie museum

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Thutmosis I

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This fragment of a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief shows part of the cartouche for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓! Let’s take a look at his name 𓂋𓈖!

While Thutmosis I’s birth name is usually written as (𓅝𓄟𓋴) this particular cartouche shows a variant of this name 𓂋𓈖. The full variant would most likely read (𓈍𓅝𓄟𓋴𓄤𓏥𓊃) which means “Thoth is born, who has appeared perfectly.”

Another variant of his birth name is (𓈍𓅝𓇳𓄟𓏇𓊃) which means “Thoth is born, who has appeared like Ra.” The more popular variant of this birth name, (𓅝𓄟𓋴) simply means “Thoth is born.”

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (this is his throne name -“Great is the manifestation of the Soul of Ra”) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

Tags artifact, hieroglyphs, petrie museum, thutmosis i

Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis and Osiris – Cool Pieces at the Petrie Museum

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 has two 𓏻 cool things: an interesting limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 piece that represents Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (left) and a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 piece that represents Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 (right). While neither piece is “grand,” they pose some interesting questions because they are quite unique!

Let’s start with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 (because he’s my favorite)! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 is seated on a shrine (very similar in style to one of his determinative “𓃣” hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪). The ears are strange here because they are beautifully 𓄤 carved, but the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 between them was not cut away. Was this a stylistic choice or was the piece unfinished? We will probably never know! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was found at Saqqara and dates to the 26th Dynasty.

The Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 piece is also a bit strange. It is a large wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 figure that has been put into a base during modern times (to display easier). Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is shown in his typical mummiform 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 way – wearing the Atef Crown 𓋚 and holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 in his hands. What’s interesting is that the figure is very “blocky” – there are absolutely no fine details shown. Ancient Egyptian artists were known for fine details so again the question is: is the piece intended to look like this or is it incomplete? Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is dated to the 30th Dynasty – Ptolemaic Period and was also found at Saqqara.

Also totally unrelated but you can see the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 necklace from my previous post in the background of this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!!

Tags anubis, artifact, osiris, petrie museum

Egyptian Artifacts

A Collection of Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

I love ancient Egyptian amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 – probably because I love tiny objects! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were small objects wrapped within the bandages on a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 or worn by a living person. The purpose of the amulets was to protect the wearer with magic powers that were specific to that amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆. The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were also supposed to aid in resurrection. Here in the British Museum, they had quite a nice display of some faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces because I love their blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color! I also like this display because you can see different style variations!

The wedjat 𓂀 (Eye of Horus) is a very common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. The wedjat 𓂀 symbol was used by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! Many people wore wedjat 𓂀 necklaces or rings 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪𓏦 in order to invoke its powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. This very much shows how religion and fashion were very much related in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

The Isis knot 𓎬 is representative of a tied piece of cloth and is associated with the blood of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (hence why red colored stones are usually used to make these amulets). It is a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and was usually placed at the neck of the deceased. Knots in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were thought to release magic.

Tags amulet, artifact, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts

(More) Ushabti Figures

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

More ushabtis!!!! Most ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures are made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, but can also be made out of wood, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, calcite, terracotta and more rarely, bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦. Today I’m going to talk about bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures!

It is pretty rare to find bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and there are not too many instances of archaeologists finding bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ones in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥. Before the discovery of the royal tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥 at Tanis 𓆓𓂝𓈖𓏏𓊖, only six 𓏿 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures had been found. One 𓏺 was for the pharaoh Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, and five 𓏾 were for Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖.

The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖 of the 21st Dynasty (c. 1000 B.C.E.) had many bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures made. The bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are in similar style to the “regular” types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures made with more popular materials. They are mummiform, with the arms crossed on the chest with an inscription on the front. Psusennes’ 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures are distributed in museums around the world and are highly valued pieces despite their modest appearance!

Unrelated, but I love Psusennes I’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖 name 𓂋𓈖! It translates to “ The star who has appeared in Nut, beloved of Amun.” Sometimes, Nut 𓈖𓏏𓊖 is taken to mean “Thebes” in royal titularly. Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! Nut can be written as “𓈖𓏏𓊖” or “𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭” (and there are other variations as well)!

Tags artifact, british museum, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Figures

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

One of the reasons I find ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures so fascinating is because they come in many different styles and can be made from many different types of materials. Most ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures are made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, but can also be made out of wood, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, calcite, terracotta and more rarely, bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦. The faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures can come in all different colors: blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛, white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 and others!

I love how this display at the British Museum shows many different styles/colors of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾!

There are two 𓏻 ways to write ushabti in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 – šwbtj – the earlier word that was used in Egypt.
𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 – wšbtj – the “newer” form of the word. This is where the Egyptological term of “ushabti” or “shabti” (both are correct terms to use) originated from!

So which version of the word do I use in my posts? Both! I like to mix it up! “ 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾” seems to be the version preferred by Allen, while “ 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾” seems to be more used by Budge and other earlier hieroglyphic dictionaries. I think it’s important to be able to recognize both versions for translation purposes! In English, my Nonno always said “ushabti” so I always use it! I will rarely say/use “shabti.”

Tags artifact, british museum, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabtis of the High Priests of Amun

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This group of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 glazed faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 (or shabti) figures belonged to different “High Priests of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳” and their families. These ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 were found in the Royal Cache at Deir el-Bahri and are dated to the 21-22 Dynasties (1070-925 B.C.E.).

The “High Priest of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳” was the top ranking priest 𓊹𓍛 in the priesthood of the god 𓊹 Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖. The High Priests of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳 first appeared during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom and gained a lot of power under Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. The Theban high priest was usually appointed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. However, their power was curtailed when Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 came to the throne and changed the polytheistic Egyptian religion to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳.

Though not officially pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 themselves, The High Priests of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳 during the 21st Dynasty were unofficial rulers of Upper Egypt 𓇓. Their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 even appeared in cartouches and they were buried in royal tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦. This partially explains why these particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures have the craftsmanship that would usually be reserved for royalty.

Tags artifact, british museum, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Reliefs of Thutmosis III

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

Here is a very nice raised relief in limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 which depicts pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (left). He can be identified based off of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of his name 𓂋𓈖 that appear to his right.

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Brooklyn Museum

Here are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 broken down:

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III’s throne name)
𓊹𓄤 – The Great God
𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Also on the right is the remnant of another person – most likely the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 (a portion of a shoulder and a crown are seen, so the presence of the crown allows us to infer that it is in fact another royal figure).

What is super interesting about this piece is that the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 that are carved are not the actual pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 themselves, but statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of them! This relief is depicting a religious precession that took place at Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. This piece was excavated from the temple and is dated to c. 1478-1458 B.C.E.

Here is another example of a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙. Menkheperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (Thutmosis III’s throne name) is above his head 𓁶𓏺 on the relief so we know that it is him! This one is in the Vatican Museum!

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Vatican Museum

While many know that the Ankh 𓋹 is the symbol that corresponds with the word “Life,” the Ankh 𓋹 had other symbolic meanings as well – one of which is shown on this relief fragment!

The Ankh 𓋹 can also symbolize the purifying 𓋴𓃂𓈗 power of water 𓈗. In many temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (like Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 here) is flanked by two 𓏻 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. One of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who did was was usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, but it is impossible to tell which god 𓊹 is performing the action in this relief. The gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 would pour a stream of Ankhs 𓋹𓋹𓋹 over his head 𓁶𓏺 to cleanse 𓋴𓃂𓈗 and purify 𓋴𓃂𓈗 him (Fun Fact: cleanse and purify can be the same word in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 but there are other variations of each word too).

Totally unrelated thought but I have always loved the word for water (𓈗) because it is the “n” symbol! Since my name 𓂋𓈖 is Nicole and my name would start with 𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, as a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀕 I would refer to 𓈖 and 𓈗 as “my symbol” 😂.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, hieroglyphs, thutmosis iii, vatican museum

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