Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Hathor, Amun and Osiris

My Nonno always loved theΒ bronzeΒ π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦Β statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“! Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period.

In this display at the Louvre, Hathor 𓉑, AmunΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­, and OsirisΒ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­Β are shown!Β 

Hathor 𓉑 is one of the most prominent goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ of the Egyptian pantheon. 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, music, and dance – basically the fun things in life! Hathor is also the wife of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, and the daughter of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉑 is usually associated with cows 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and can take the form of a cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ is also considered to be one of the most important gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon and was first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts. Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ had many different roles and was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a creator god, solar god, fertility god, warrior god, and king of the gods. Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ is also considered the β€œuniversal god” meaning that his power permeated the cosmos and all that the cosmos contained! 

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion.  This is because Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and the ruler of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.  When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Relief of Sobek

I enjoyed talking about my friend SobekΒ π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ so here’s another piece that depicts SobekΒ π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹! This is a raised limestoneΒ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰Β relief of SobekΒ π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹Β from the Ptolemaic Period and is at the MET.

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 is usually depicted as a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ sitting on a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ – just like this hieroglyph β€œπ“†‹,” or as a human body with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head 𓁢𓏺. 

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 was worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ from the Old Kingdom through the Roman Periods, but his popularity seemed to have peaked during the Second Intermediate Period as many pharaohs π“‰π“‰»π“¦ of the 13th Dynasty had names π“‚‹π“ˆ–𓏦 that were associated with him. For example, the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the pharaohs π“‰π“‰»π“¦ called β€œSobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” translates to β€œSobek is satisfied.” There were also many commoners whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was also Sobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ.

Fun fact! While β€œSobekhotep π“†‹π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” can literally be written as β€œSobek π“†‹β€ and β€œHotep π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” with the ideogram for β€œSobek π“†‹β€ taking on the full meaning of the word, the name can also be written as β€œπ“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ,” which also spells out Sobekhotep, but this time, only phonograms are used! I love seeing different variations of the same words in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ostracon of the Crocodile God Sobek

This is an ostracon, which is basically either a broken piece of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ (in this case), pottery, a rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™, etc. that was used for drawing practice or even β€œTo Do” lists! A lot of the ostraca from ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– were often used as β€œpolitical cartoons” – where animals were depicted doing human things that were usually comments of society and the social hierarchy! Pieces of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ were often used because papyrus π“…“𓍑𓏏𓏛 was too expensive to practice on! 

This nice little ostracon pictured however, is just a lovely drawing of the crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom (Ramesside – c. 1295–1070 B.C.E.) and was most likely found at Deir el-Medina! 

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 was one of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that was named in the Pyramid Texts, which makes him one of the oldest deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. He is often depicted as a human body with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head 𓁢𓏺. 

Some of the Egyptian legends state that Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 rose out of the primordial waters and created the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Since Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 is associated with the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, this makes him also associated with fertility (much like Taweret, the crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of fertility) since the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ associated the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί with fertility and rebirth. 

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘𓆋 was both feared and revered due to him being a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ! He was worshipped π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ in order to ensure the fertility of both people and crops, but also to protect against crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ attacks. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

A Column that Looks like a Sistrum

This may look like a sistrumΒ π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, but it’s actually a column from a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

A column that looks like a sistrum (with Hathor) at the MET

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 – just like this column!

While it is difficult to tell in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, some paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still left on the column! Based on scientific testing of the trace pigments left behind, Hathor’s 𓉑 hair would have been blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯!Β Fun fact: β€œEgyptian Blue” is the oldest synthetic color pigment in the whole world!

There are images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Hathor π“‰‘ and inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on all four 𓏽 sides as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is exciting because these are all phrases I have taught through my previous posts! See if you can read along before reading the translation!!!

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s throne name)

How well did you do? We’re you able to read the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯? Let me know!!

This piece is dated to the Late Period, Dynasty 30, reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Nehebukau

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ is an Egyptian snake god π“ŠΉ whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œhe who harnesses the spirits” and was he considered to be a helpful deity! Β Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ is usually depicted as a snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 with human legs, and as a kid I always got a kick out of this!!Β 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was a very popular god π“ŠΉ to see represented on amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ worn by the living (especially New Kingdom and later) because amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ were thought to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the wearer from snake π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†™ bites! 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was thought to be the god π“ŠΉ that announced the new pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to the other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ at the beginning of his/her rule π“‹Ύ.  When the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» died, it was Nehebukau’s π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ job to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and feed the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» or other deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 person. The drink that the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 would be fed was called β€œThe Milk of Light,” and it would protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against bites from poisonous animals. Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was one of the forty-two gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ who helped judge the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 in the Hall of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦. 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ had no cult or priesthood associated with him because most would use magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ spells π“Ž›π“‚“𓏛𓏦 to invoke his protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ.  

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Osiris Statues at the Museo Egizio

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was taken by my Nonno at the Museo Egizio! While I have never been to the Museo Egizio, my Nonno always spoke so highly of the museum; he absolutely loved it there! He always brought me back books whenever he went! I always got an English and Italian version so I could practice my Italian too!Β 

These are three bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are dated to the Late Period. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ Is typically depicted as a mummy π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύ wearing the Atef crown π“‹š and holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flailπ“Œ… . The crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… are symbols associated with kingship. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are highly abundant and have been associated with worship π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ in homes and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ but have of course been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ. 

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion.  This is because Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the dead π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the ruler of the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.  The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ after the Weighing of the Heart ceremony; but only if their heart was in balance! 

When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis – drawing, hieroglyph or both?

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. While this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is not part of an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, this is my favorite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ; Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰!Β 

As many of you know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art! 

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ: 𓃣 and 𓃀. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃀

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃀

𓃣 or 𓃀

𓁒

Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. This is not all of the variations of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but the ones you will see the most! 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god π“ŠΉ that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, places of burial). 

While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰, shrines associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was called π“‰±π“ŠΉ, or the β€œGod’s Booth.” 

One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is: π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰± or β€œIn front at the God’s Booth.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

I had the most amazing day at the Brooklyn Museum with my sister and parents! This was the best birthday (May of 2021) I have had in a long time and I’m so lucky that my family not only supports me in my love of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, but that they went out of their way to make my day special! Thank you Amanda for following me around and taking pictures πŸ˜ƒ.

Here I am with a figure of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 from the Ptolemaic Period! As you all know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god π“ŠΉ so I was really excited to see this beautiful π“„€ piece! This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue shows Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in his jackal form. The kneeling position is representative of him guarding the necropolis from high above on a hill/mountain- as was his role as the god of cemeteries (and mummification). It’s also similar to his determinative hieroglyph 𓃣.

One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles is β€œupon his hill π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘β€ and this hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ phrase usually follows his name in dedication texts! Another common title associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is β€œhe who is in the mummy wrappings π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–.β€œ

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Isis, Horus and Osiris

Here’s a picture featuring bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ! of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ at the Brooklyn Museum!

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion. This is because Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the dead and the ruler of the afterlife, and Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Late Period through the Ptolemaic Period. Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood 𓅐𓏏𓁐, the protection of women, and a user of magic. As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 holding a child is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus with Nephthys

This is the side of a beautifully π“„€ painted sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum!

The goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is portrayed where the head of the deceased would be laid because she is regarded as a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This tradition began during the New Kingdom. Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 was Seth’s π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ wife, the sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, and during later parts of mythology the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 through a union with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­.

Even though Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is associated with Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£, she is regarded as a positive figure in the later evolutions of Egyptian mythology, and she even helped Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ find Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨ scattered body pieces and put him back together after Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ cut him up!

One of her titles is β€œMistress of the House.” She is often associated with vultures, hence why she is frequently depicted with wings. The headdress that she wears are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ for her name! Something super interesting is that even though Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are husband and wife they are rarely shown together. Instead, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is usually depicted with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­.