Tag: gods and goddesses

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Ba Bird on a Sarcophagus

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³Β we are going to be looking at this vibrant/beautifully π“„€ painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 sarcophagusΒ π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­Β from the MET!Β 

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 depicts the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 ba 𓅑𓏺 returning to its mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The Ba 𓅑𓏺 was part of an individual’s soul that was depicted as a human headed bird. The Ba 𓅑𓏺 and the ka 𓂓𓏺 Β were both aspects of a person’s soul! I also love the detail of the four 𓏽 canopic jars underneath the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾!Β 

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. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 wasn’t necessarily associated with living, and seemed to manifest after the person died. Ba 𓅑𓏀 has no equivalent word π“Œƒπ“‚§π“…±π“€ in any current language 𓂋𓏺, as this was an ancient Egyptian funerary concept/belief. 

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. 

There’s a spell π“Ž›π“‚“𓏛 from the Book of the Dead that states β€œMay it (Ba) see my corpse, may it rest on my mummy, Which will never be destroyed or perish.” This spell π“Ž›π“‚“𓏛 illustrates why it was so important that the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 remain intact; the Ba 𓅑𓏀 needed to return to it! This is why funerary masks became so popular; if the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was destroyed, the mask could take the place of the mummy’s head and allow the Ba 𓅑𓏀 to return. 

Can you recognize any words in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­?! There’s a bunch we have learned:

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“Ήπ“Š¨π“ŠΉ – Osiris

π“ŽŸ – Lord

π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺπ“‡Œ – Hapi

π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“Ί – Revered

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Alternate Hieroglyphic Spelling of “Duamutef”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–𓇳 we are going to be looking at an alternate spelling for the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ Duamutef π“‡Όπ“‚Ÿπ“π“†‘! Usually, Duamutef is written as β€œπ“‡Όπ“…π“π“†‘,” however, β€œπ“‡Όπ“‚Ÿπ“π“†‘β€ is an alternate spelling for his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! While it is only a one symbol difference, that could confuse people who are just learning which is why I wanted to talk about it! Most of the deities in the Egyptian pantheon had multiple ways that their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ written in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! Another less common way to write Duamutef’s name is β€œπ“‚§π“―π“‡Όπ“…π“π“†‘,” but I have rarely seen that spelling used! 

Let’s take a look at Duamutef’sΒ π“‡Όπ“‚Ÿπ“π“†‘Β name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! All of the symbols in Duamutef’sΒ π“‡Όπ“‚Ÿπ“π“†‘Β name π“‚‹π“ˆ– are phonogram symbols, which means that they represent sounds!Β 

The β€œstar 𓇼”  functions as a triliteral phonogram for the sound β€œdw3” (almost like β€œdua”). Triliteral means that the symbol represents three consonants! In other words, it can also function as a determinative or ideogram. 

The β€œforearm with bread π“‚Ÿβ€œ symbol could either function as a uniliteral or biliteral phonogram depending ok the word! π“‚Ÿ represented the sounds β€œm” or β€œmj.” The β€œforearm with bread π“‚Ÿβ€ could also be a determinative in the word for β€œgive π“‚‹π“‚Ÿ.”

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The β€œhorned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound β€œf.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. 

So Duamutef’s π“‡Όπ“‚Ÿπ“π“†‘ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is something like β€œduamwttf” – which is very similar to β€œDuamutef!” Most of the major deities have Greek names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ that we use to identify them, instead of their actual Egyptian name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. For example, β€œAnubis” is a Greek name – β€œInpu” is what the ancient Egyptians would have called Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Pylon Shaped Stela of Rameses II

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

TodayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³Β we are going to be looking at a β€œPylon Shaped Stela of Rameses II” (c.Β 1279–1213 B.C.E.) at the MET. This piece is made of limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰Β and describes Rameses IIΒ π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–!Β 

Here is the left two columns:

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Rameses II (Birth Name)

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŽŸπ“ – Lady 

𓆭𓏏 – Sycamore 

𓇔𓏏 – Southern 

π“ŒΊ – Beloved 

Put all together, this inscription reads: β€œRameses II, Beloved of Hathor, Lady of the Southern Sycamore.” 

Here are the right two columns: 

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Rameses II (Throne Name)

𓉑 – Hathor

π“ŽŸπ“ – Lady 

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

π“ŒΊ – Beloved 

Put all together, this inscription reads: β€œRameses II, Beloved of Hathor, Lady of the West.” 

Hathor π“‰‘ has the title β€œLady of the West π“ŽŸπ“π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€ because of her roles was to provide peace and solace to the souls π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ of the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 as they entered the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. Many people obviously associate Hathor π“‰‘ with love, joy π“„«π“π“„£, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ etc, but she was also a prominent funerary goddess π“ŠΉπ“! 

Hathor π“‰‘ has the title β€œLady of the Southern Sycamore π“ŽŸπ“π“†­π“π“‡”𓏏” or just β€œLady of the Sycamore π“ŽŸπ“π“ˆ–𓉔𓏏𓆭” because the sycamore tree π“ˆ–𓉔𓏏𓆭 was one of the native trees in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, and it grew at the edge of the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ! This would put it near necropolises, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ etc, so it was associated with the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱! Hathor π“‰‘ was considered one of the tree goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“, along with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Isis, Osiris and Horus


This bronze statue at the MET is from the Ptolemaic Period (664 – 31 B.C.E.) represents Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­- the main triad of the Egyptian pantheon.

Here, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is represented in his Greek form Harpokrates, with his trademarked “finger to lips” pose. This pose represents the β€œbe quiet” gesture because to the Greeks Harpokrates was the god π“ŠΉ of silence. What is interesting about this piece is that there are suspension loops on the back of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Harpokrates – this piece is probably too big to be worn as a necklace, so the loops may have some type of unknown symbolic significance.

Many gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon appeared in groups of threes 𓏼, which were known as Triads. They were groups of gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that usually have some type of familial significance to each other. For example, one of the Memphis triads during this period was Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, just like Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is the son of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Hathor – the Beautiful Cow!

Is this a beautiful woman 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 or a cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒?! The answer is both because this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from The Book of the Dead of Imhotep (at the MET) is of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form!

Hathor 𓉑 is one of the most prominent goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ of the Egyptian pantheon, and her roles evolved over time. Along with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, she is regarded as the β€œdivine mother” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of love, joy π“„«π“π“„£, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ (she was often depicted on sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ), and dance – basically the fun things in life π“‹Ή! Hathor is also mentioned as the the wife π“‚‘𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, and the daughter 𓅭𓏏of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, though through times some of these relations have changed/evolved. 

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œHathor π“‰‘β€œ in Middle Egyptian translates to β€œHouse of Horus” which links Hathor 𓉑 to the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 (because the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 is where Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ dwells). Absorbing the roles of pre-dynastic deities, Hathor was associated with both the night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„› sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and the Milky Way Galaxy π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“ˆŽπ“π“ˆŠ. 

Another function that Hathor 𓉑 possessed that  not many are aware of was that she was also a prominent funerary goddess π“ŠΉπ“! One of her roles was to provide peace and solace to the souls π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ of the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 as they entered the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. She was referred to as β€œMistress of the West,” and could be found welcoming the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱 with fresh water π“ˆ—. She also earned the title β€œLady of the Sycamore,” and was also seen as a tree π“†­π“…“𓆭 goddess π“ŠΉπ“. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Two Baboons

This is a sunken limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c.Β 400–200 B.C.E.). There’s a lot going on here in such a small space! Let’s take a look!Β 

Two 𓏻 baboons are offering Wedjat Eyes π“‚€π“‚€ to the god π“ŠΉ Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“›, who is depicted as the scarab π“π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣. Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“› represents the β€œnewborn sun” (sun at dawn). On the relief, Khepri π“†£π“‚‹π“‡‹π“› is holding the star β€œπ“‡½,” which is the sign for the Duat π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰ (Underworld/Afterlife), and beneath him is a sun disc 𓇳𓏺 with sun rays π“†„𓅱𓇢 extending downward. 

The baboons in this relief are most likely associated with the god π“ŠΉ Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­, who was often depicted as a baboon. The reason why they seem to be associated with Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­ is because of the Wedjat Eyes π“‚€π“‚€ they are holding and also by the shen rings 𓍢𓍢 they are wearing on their heads. The shen rings π“Άπ“Ά are thought to represent the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, and since Thoth π“…π“π“­π“€­ is god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή, he is commonly associated with this symbol!

The wedjat π“‚€ or the “Eye of Horus” is representative of the eye 𓁹𓏏𓏀 that Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ lost when battling Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Thoth π“…€π“€­ restored Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ eye, however, the single Eye of Horus became a symbol of rebirth or healing π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ€π“œ.

The Shen ring 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Sekhmet and Ptah – the Unlikely Pair!

This piece at the MET is from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c.Β 664–30 B.C.E.)Β is tinyΒ π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©Β so of course I love it!!

This smallΒ π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©Β piece of metal depicts the deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ PtahΒ π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±Β and SekhmetΒ π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“.Β PtahΒ π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±Β and SekhmetΒ π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“Β are super interesting mythological figures in ancient EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–Β because they were some of the oldest deitiesΒ π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉΒ that were worshipped for thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years!Β 

Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was known as the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of war, the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺 (such as the desert π“…Ÿπ“‚‹π“π“ˆŠ heat), could bring on plagues, and was associated with kingship. In the Book of the Dead, Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± is referred to as β€œThe Master Architect,” and β€œFramer of Everything in the Universe” due to his role in β€œspeaking” the world 𓇾𓇾 into creation! 

If Sekhmet’s π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 power was uncontrolled, she could pose major problems for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. For example, when Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was sent by her father Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 to punish the human race for rebelling against him, she lost control and had to be stopped by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 before she eradicated all of humanity! Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 tricked her into thinking that pomegranate juice was blood and Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 drank so much she fell asleep! In one version of the myth, when she wakes up, the first thing she sees is Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and instantly falls in love with him! 

The love affair between Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 us very interesting in a mythological sense because Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± represents creation while Sekhmet π“Œ‚𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 can represent total destruction! Their son π“…­, Nefertem π“„€π“†‘𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯, is the god π“ŠΉ of healing. The union of creation and destruction created healing and thus re-established β€œMa’at” (truth π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„/justice π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ) in the world π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Graeco-Roman Stela

This is certainly an interesting stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for sure!

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is made of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!Β 

The top section of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ seems to be trying to follow the traditional Egyptian way – the winged π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒ sun disc 𓇳𓏺 and the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— are roughly carved but are definitely there! This design is known as β€œ Horus the Behdetite” and is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that is popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ. Under that, two 𓏻 jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 are depicted! 

In the middle section, from the left, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is depicted holding an ankh π“‹Ή or key which most likely symbolizes his association with/ability to access the underworld (a very Graeco-Roman version of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣)! Then the four 𓏽 people to the right of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are identified by the Greek inscription below: “Pekysis, son of Aruotes, and his brother Pachoumis; Tbaikis the elder and Tbaikis the younger.” Pekysis is thought to be the man holding the torch! Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is depicted all the way on the right! 

Thanks to the MET for the Greek translation because I certainly don’t speak Greek! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II

This large piece at the MET is referred to as a β€œDoorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’sΒ π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–Β royal jubilees.Β 

The offering scene that is on the doorjamb is Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“―, who was the patron god π“ŠΉ of the jubilee. Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― is a combination of the deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± (the creator god π“ŠΉ) and Tatanen 𓁯, a lesser known deity who was the personification of the primordial mound that rose during the Egyptian creation myth. Tatanen 𓁯 is often compared to Geb π“…­π“ƒ€π“€­ (the god π“ŠΉ of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ), however Tatanen 𓁯 is often associated with things that come from the interior of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ such as minerals, rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦, and plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

So Geb π“…­π“ƒ€π“€­ is the Earth’s π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ surface (The Upper Earth), while Tatanen 𓁯 is the Earth’s π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ interior (The Lower Earth)! As a geologist, I love how the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were able to make this distinction between the spheres of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ in their mythology! They also recognized the atmosphere (another sphere of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ) as the god π“ŠΉ Shu π“†„π“…±π“€­! It’s all so impressive to me! 

Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is broken down like this: 

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž› – Ptah (spelled out with phonogram symbols)

𓁯 – Tatanen (the determinative/ideogram)

Ptah’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± determinative was basically replaced with the determinative for Tatanen 𓁯 to make the god’s π“ŠΉ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Can you spot Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― in the inscription on the doorjamb???

(Also Rameses III’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“ˆ˜π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!)

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Thoth

This is a limestone relief of the god π“ŠΉ Thoth π“…€π“€­ at the Vatican Museum! While Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ, Thoth π“…€π“€­ was always my second favorite because he was the god π“ŠΉ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯! Since I love hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, Thoth π“…€π“€­ was always a figure that I found fascinating!

Here are some fun facts about Thoth!
-β€œThoth” is actually his Greek name – in Egyptian his name is β€œDjehuty”

-While Thoth π“…€π“€­ is mainly known as being the patron of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ and the god π“ŠΉ of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯/creator of language, he is also considered the god π“ŠΉ of the sciences and the moon!

-He is credited with inventing the calendar and controlling space and time!

-Thoth π“…€π“€­ has also provided guidance to the other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and can also be associated with truth and justice.

-Since Thoth π“…€π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the moon, he replaced Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 in the sky at night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„›.

-He can be represented as an Ibisπ“…ž, as a human body with an Ibis headπ“Ÿ, or as a baboon𓃻!

-He was the bookkeeper at the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony