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Egyptian Artifacts

Composite Papyrus Capital

This piece is called the “Composite Papyrus Capital” and it is on display at the MET! This used to be a part of a larger column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅  that measured over seven 𓐀 meters tall! In building/archaeology, the “capital” is the name of the decorated uppermost part of the column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅! 

Composite Papyrus Capital
Composite Papyrus Capital on display at the MET

This column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅 was originally at the Temple of Amun at the Kharga Oasis which was built by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Nectanebo I 𓇳𓆣𓂓(378 – 360 B.C.E.). This was part of a large temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 building program that Nectanbo I 𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓂡𓃭𓆑 initiated as a way to resist the threat of Persian rule through the introduction of more traditional Egyptian religious works. 

The most striking aspect of this column capital is the intricate design and the preserved colors. While Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 is a desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊, is has always had diverse plant 𓇐𓅓𓆰 life thanks to the Nile River 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. Ancient Egyptian art always showcased the biodiversity of the area and this column does that beautifully! Papyrus plants 𓇅𓆰 (upper) and flatsedge plants 𓇓 (lower) are the main decoration on the column. Both plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 were very common along the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and were quite important to the Egyptian economy. 

Some of the preserved colors they can be seen are green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, yellow and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. I always love when stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪 works still have retained their original color because most of the time, the colors have faded over time. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Video

Wax Ushabtis – Video

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 evolved in the 12th Dynasty, wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figurines that looked like humans (and had their own mini coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦) were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! 

These precursor-ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 were made of beeswax and beeswax was said to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, resurrection, and regeneration. The figures are somewhat detailed and were wrapped in a linen cloth 𓍱 and placed in the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 did not identify any role or jobs that the figure had (like the text on a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 could identify what it’s job was), but it did identify the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Sometimes even the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 an offering the king gives) appeared on the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 as if it were a real one! 

If these figures weren’t workers, then what was their purpose? It is thought that this figure would take the place of the body should the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be destroyed. 

These particular wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures belonged to Queen Neferu, who lived during the 11th Dynasty (c. 2051–2030B.C.E) during the reign of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪. Her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 had many of these wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures, however in general, not many similar ones have been found (in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found). 

Ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom. 

Wax Ushabtis
Wax Ushabtis on display at the MET

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Water Clock

The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were no doubt masters of math and science 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜! One of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to the world was the creation of the 365 (and eventually 365.25) day calendar! They even invented the sundial 𓍬𓏏𓊌 (also known as the “shadow clock”), which was the first portable time keeping device! They also invented a device called a Water Clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻.

Water Clock
A fragment of a Water Clock with the cartouche of Alexander the Great on it at the Brooklyn Museum

This piece pictured is also a clock – or a piece of one at least! This is basalt fragment is part of a device that is known as a water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻. The water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is the first clock that doesn’t depend on an astronomical object to tell the time! The oldest water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 known was found in the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪(c. 1500 B.C.E.). The Greeks even adopted the use of water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 around 325 B.C.E. and named them “clepsydras” which translates to “water thieves.” 

A water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is a round vessel/vase that has a hole at the bottom that allowed water 𓈗 to drip through at a slow pace. Water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 were usually used to tell time at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛, but they might have been used during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 too. The water 𓈗 was drained from the vessel after twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours, and then it could be refilled and be used again! Markings on the side helped to keep more accurate time! 

This fragment of a water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is really cool because it has the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of Alexander the Great 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 on it! Alexander the Great’s 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 name 𓂋𓈖 is written with all phonogram symbols, which shows the versatility of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Even foreign names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 could be written with ease! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Inscribed Stones

There are two 𓏻 things that completely fascinate me: ancient Egyptian history and geology so these “inscribed stones” are so interesting to me! I love when I can combine my passion for these two 𓏻 subjects! Rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏥 are basically the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of the Earth 𓇾𓇾! What’s even better is when hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 appear on pieces/fragments of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 – it’s like hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 inception! 

Inscribed Stones
Many Inscribed Stones with the cartouche of Hatshepsut on display at the MET

The MET has these listed as “inscribed stones,” which were most likely intentionally put at the base of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 Valley Temple as offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. Three 𓏼 different types or rocks are shown in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above: limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 and quartzite. All three 𓏼 of these rocks 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙𓏥 are found in abundance across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, especially the sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 and limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉! 

Inscribed Stones
A closeup of an Inscribed Stone with the throne name of Hatshepsut on it! Look at how beautiful the carvings are! The details on the “ka 𓂓” symbol are particularly stunning!

While many of these “inscribed stones” have very rough carvings on them, the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 that appears in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above on the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 is quite beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋! The version of Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 that appears on these fragments of rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 is her throne name, which is the name she took when she became pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! Her throne name is “Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓” which translates to “Truth is the Soul of Re.” 

Let’s take a closer look at what the symbols in her name mean:

𓇳 – Ra

𓁦 – Maat (Truth) 

𓂓 – Ka (Soul)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ptolemaic Gold Wreath

Much like today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was very valued in the ancient world. This Ptolemaic Gold Wreath that I am standing with at the Brooklyn Museum is an exquisite piece!

Ptolemaic Gold Wreath
Me with a Ptolemaic Gold Wreath at the Brooklyn Museum

Fun fact: in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was actually considered to be more valuable because it was harder to obtain through trade! Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 itself does not naturally have a lot of silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉! Silver 𓌉𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was associated with the moon 𓇋𓂝𓎛𓇹, while gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 was associated with the sun 𓇳𓏺! 

This piece is from the Ptolemaic Period (3rd century-2nd century B.C.E.), and it has a very obvious Greek influence. When Alexander the Great 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃“conquered” Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, it resulted in the merging of Greek/Macedonian and Egyptian cultures! 

Ptolemaic Gold Wreath
A closeup of the Ptolemaic Gold Wreath on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

Many different types of wreaths 𓌴𓄿𓎛𓆰𓏦 were made in ancient Greece using different plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰. The “plant 𓇐𓅓𓆰” used in this wreath 𓌴𓄿𓎛𓆰 may be the laurel, which was associated with the Greek god 𓊹 Apollo. 

While gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 wreaths 𓌴𓄿𓎛𓆰𓏦 like this one could be used to crown athletic victors, it could have also been used in a funerary context. The wreath 𓌴𓄿𓎛𓆰 pictured is most likely one that had a funerary purpose. The wreaths 𓌴𓄿𓎛𓆰𓏦 worn by the living were most likely made of real flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦. 

Gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 is a very malleable material, meaning that it can be easily shaped and bent into various shapes. While a great property to have when considering art, this also means that anything made of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 is extremely delicate. Most gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 jewelry made today is actually an alloy – meaning gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 is mixed with another metal to make it more durable. 

Due to the delicate nature of these wreaths 𓌴𓄿𓎛𓆰𓏦, there are only four 𓏽 surviving today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ritual Statue

A “Ritual Statue” was used in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 on processional boats to show the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 worshipping the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. Usually, the statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 that appeared on these processional/ceremonial boats were of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 exclusively. This particular ritual statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is the earliest one found from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 that depicts a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Ritual Statue
Ritual Statue of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Thutmosis III on display at the MET

Another important aspect of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is that it is made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 – with the exception of a few Middle Kingdom examples, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 seems to be the start of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!  Both ritual statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary became much more common during the Third Intermediate and Late Periods. 

My Nonno loved bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statuary, and I do too because they are always so well preserved and the details can easily be seen! On this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in particular, the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 around the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 is still intact (some of the gold was restored) as is the nemset jar 𓏌𓏺! The inlays in the eyebrows are missing, but might have been gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 or stone 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪. While an arm 𓂝𓏺 may be missing, this gives us insight into the artistic ingenuity of the Egyptian artisans; the arms 𓂝𓏦 attach perfectly into the grooves provided, which allowed for more detailed work! 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and we know that because the throne name of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 appears on the belt that the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is wearing! Kneeling bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 dated to the New Kingdom are extremely rare! 

Egyptologists can also date this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to the 18th Dynasty based on the clothes it is wearing; the combination of the Khepresh Crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 and the way the skirt is styled (longer in the front) are very typical pharaonic fashion for the 18th Dynasty! 

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is also very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 and is only 5 inches (13.1 cm) tall! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Thoth on a Coffin

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – with the god 𓊹 of writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥 himself, Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭! I love Thoth 𓅝because I love hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 and he’s my second favorite Egyptian deity! Let’s take a look at a depiction of Thoth on a coffin!

Thoth on a Coffin
Thoth on a Coffin depicted as an Ibis with a human body.

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows some details on the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a man named Kharrushere who lived during the Third Intermediate Period/22nd Dynasty (c. 825–712 B.C.E.). Elaborately decorated coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 are very typical of this time period and I love just looking at them and enjoying the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 art!

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 was represented in multiple ways, and was always associated with either the baboon or the ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤. When in humanoid form (like on this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾), he was represented as a human body with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤. 

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃 that are to the left of Thoth! 

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓅤 – Thoth (“Djeuty” in Middle Egyptian)

𓎟 – Lord

𓊹𓌃 – Hieroglyphs (“Divine Words/Writing”)

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 was thought to have invented writing 𓏟𓏛𓏥, and was thus the god 𓊹 of all record keeping, hence the epithet “Lord of the Divine Words/Writing 𓎟𓊹𓌃.” Due to his vast knowledge, 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜 Thoth 𓁟 was thought to know magic 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 and secrets 𓃀𓋴𓆟𓏛𓏦 that were unknown to the rest of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon. He was also the god 𓊹 of scribes 𓏟𓀀𓏪.

Thoth 𓅤 has many ways to write his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs! Here are a few of them: 

𓅤𓀭 

𓅤

𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭

𓅝𓏏𓏭

𓁟

Most of the deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 in the Egyptian pantheon have many variations of ways to write their names in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Art in Amenhotep III’s Palace

The art in Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at present-day Malqata must have been such a sight to see! Malqata is located near Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 in Upper Egypt 𓇓 on the West Bank of the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺. One of the reasons why the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Malqata is so fascinating is because of the beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 artwork that has been discovered throughout it!

Art in Amenhotep III's Palace
One of the many pieces of art in Amenhotep III’s Palace from Malqata. The duck and various forms of vegetation create a relaxing ambience!

Believe it or not, this beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece of art actually was part of the decoration on the floor in one of the rooms of the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐! I love how the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and cream colors complement each other and make a relaxing ambience. Plus, I think ducks 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅭𓏪 are adorable and I love how this duck 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅭 is just hanging out amongst the flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦/papyrus 𓇅𓆰 and other vegetation 𓇆𓆰𓏥! 

In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 built a new palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 which was referred to as “The House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, also known as the “30 Year Jubilee,” was meant to celebrate the 30th year of a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏. The construction started during year 11 𓎆𓏺 of his reign, and Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 made Malqata his primary residence by year 29 𓎆𓎆𓐀𓏺. 

Malqata was abandoned by Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 when he succeeded his father. Many archaeologists speculate that many of the artists 𓍍𓏏𓏭𓀁 and craftsmen that worked at Malqata also worked in the Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 workshops because similar floor-art has also been found at Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Memphis Triad

While Harry, Ron, and Hermione are most definitely my favorite trio of all time, the Memphis Triad comes pretty close!! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, groups of three 𓏼 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are referred to as “triads” by Egyptologists! Triads were groups of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that usually had some type of familial significance to each other. Father 𓇋𓏏𓀀-Mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐-Child 𓐍𓇌𓀕 triads and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 units were extremely important to Egyptian culture!

The Memphis Triad
Ptah (left), Sekhmet (middle) and Imhotep (right) make up the Memphis Triad

The triads were usually made into a single statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, however, at the MET they have displayed these three 𓏼 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 together to form a triad which I think is so cool! This triad is known as the Memphis Triad, which consisted of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓀭 (left), Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 (middle) and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 (right). 

The Memphis Triad could also be Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐, and Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was the son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 and Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 in mythology. However, during the Ptolemaic times (which is when these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are dated to), Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a god 𓊹, and he kind of replaced Nefertem 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 in the triad! Since Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was regarded by the Greeks as the Son 𓅭 of Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱, this unofficially made Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐! 

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, meaning “He who comes in peace,” was a non-royal man who became deified.  Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was not deified in his lifetime – it was 2,000 𓆼𓆼 years after his death that he began to be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as a god 𓊹 by the Greeks. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts Video

Statue of Senemut – Video

This is a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣. A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 usually had Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤 (complete with her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle. 

It’s interesting to see a statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 holding something other than Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, because he is usually depicted with her. 

Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼, although not of noble birth, became an extremely important figure during the reign of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪  Senemut 𓌢𓈖𓅐𓀼 was Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 closest advisor, the tutor for her daughter Neferure 𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤, and the architect responsible for building her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. 

Putting a commoner in such a powerful position might have been a strategic move by Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 – it would pretty much guarantee that he remained loyal to her. 

Statue of Senemut
Statue of Senemut holding a sistrum at the MET

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