Tag: brooklyn museum

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Egyptian Artifacts

Two Wooden Statues of Metjetji

Whenever we were in a museum, my Nonno would always point out the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ whenever they were in great condition. He always explained to me that wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 decayed quickly and was harder to preserve than stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, so it was always remarkable whenever a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was able to retain its beauty π“„€ and not decay over thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years. Thanks to my Nonno’s teachings and enthusiasm, I have always been so appreciative of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 artifacts.

These are two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of an official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ named Metjetji who lived during the 5th or 6th Dynasty (c. 2371-2288 B.C.E.). These 𓏻 two statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ seem to represent Metjeti as a younger man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€, while other statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ show him at an older age. When the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ had their likeness preserved for eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, they wanted themselves to be represented at the best – hence why in most statues/reliefs/paintings that are found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 looks so young.

The paint on these wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ is remarkably well preserved, which can happen if the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is under the right conditions for thousands of years (which is rare – usually humidity and time can get the better of organic materials). Metjetji is wearing a kilt and broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ along with other pieces of jewelry. He is also holding a staff in his hand in the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ on the left. In both representations, Metjeti seems to be walking (because one foot is in front of the other – almost like a stride).

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amarna Art (Part 2)

Something I love about visiting various museums is seeing similar pieces of Egyptian history no matter where I go! The Brooklyn Museum has a wonderful collection of Amarna-era pieces (many of which were found by Petrie), so it’s no surprise that I have seen similar pieces in various museums around the world!

In the middle of the display, you can see a red quartzite inlay of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Inlays are part of what archaeologists call β€œcomposite statues,” or statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ that are composed of many different parts that would come together to form a single statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ! The part that would be the crown, and the stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ that was supposed to go in the hole that represents the eye 𓁹𓏀 are both missing. Either the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was never finished or both were lost in antiquity.

Next to the inlay of Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–, there is another quartzite composite statue but it is a head 𓁢𓏀 of possibly Smenkare π“‡³π“‹΄π“Šπ“‚“π“‚¦π“†£π“ͺ, the mystery pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that ruled π“‹Ύ for a short period of time in between Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“. The statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is in very bad condition, so it is really difficult to gather much information about it. However, at the time the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was made, it was made with high quality workmanship!

The style during Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– rule π“‹Ύ was very different than the traditional Egyptian art styles, which makes these pieces so weird and wonderful in their own way! I will never get tired of studying Amarna art!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Marriage Scarab and Senet

I love this display at the Brooklyn Museum because it’s so blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ – blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ is my favorite color (and it was a favorite of the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ too – for various religious reasons)! Both of these pieces are dated to the reign of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (Dynasty 18).

The first piece is a scarab 𓆣 that is known as a β€œMarriage Scarab,” even though it doesn’t mention marriage! During his reign π“‹Ύ, Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  commissioned the production of her 200 𓏲𓏲 scarabs 𓆣𓆣𓆣 that recorded important events. Fifty-six π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ώ of the scarabs 𓆣𓆣𓆣, like this one pictured, contained information such as Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  complete list of names/titles, the boundaries of the empire and Queen Tiye’s official names and titles/the names of her parents. The mention of Queen Tiye and her relation to Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  is what led Egyptologists to call these the β€œmarriage scarabs.”

Senet π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  is the world’s oldest board game – there’s evidence of its existence all the way back to the First Dynasty (though this particular board is dated c. 1390-1353 B.C.E.). During the New Kingdom, the game represented the journey of the Ka π“‚“ (soul) to the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The word β€œSenet” π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  actually means passage or gateway! If you look really closely, you can see details of the Djed Pillar π“Š½ and the Tyet π“Ž¬ (Isis Knot) painted on the sides!

Senet π“Šƒπ“π“ˆ–π“  is still a game that can be played today, though some of the rules are debatable! I find it so interesting that board games have been around for so long in history! Some things a about humanity have not changed!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Paddle Dolls

Here are two 𓏻 examples of paddle dolls – contrary to popular belief, these were not toys used by children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“¦ (as a kid I thought they were dolls that Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“¦ played with)!

A paddle doll is usually made of a flat piece of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 that shows a very rough representation of a head 𓁢𓏺, face, neck and torso of usually a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“. The bodies of the paddle dolls are usually pained in various designs, which are thought to represent either textile patterns or tattoos! The β€œbeads” that you see coming off of the head 𓁢𓏺 are made of mud pellets, which is representative of hair π“²π“ˆ–π“­. They would also make noise when shaken, similarly to that of a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£. Sometimes paddle dolls are associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 because of this!

The shape of the body (which is noticeably missing legs) is thought to be similar/representative of the menat necklace π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“π“‹§ that is usually worn by women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“¦ during religious ceremonies. These paddle dolls, were thought to be part of religious ceremonies due to this connection. It is also possible that these dolls were used as fertility figures, as some of them have been found with painted images of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 or Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ; both deities are associated with fertility.

The paddle dolls in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏are dated to Dynasties 11-13 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2081-1700 B.C.E.).

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs Lesson: β€œGiven Life, Stability and Strength for (all) Eternity”

How exciting! This is the first hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ lesson on the new website!

β€œGiven Life, Stability and Strength for (all) Eternity” is one of the most common phrases you will see in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Variations of this phrase can be found on so many different types of artifacts – from stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“¦, to statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦, to false doors, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦ and more!

Let’s breakdown the phrase symbol by symbol!
𓏙 – Given
π“‹Ή – Life
π“Š½ – Stability
π“Œ€ – Strength
𓆖 – Eternity

π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“†– is very much like a blessing, ensuring that the person being spoken about in the inscription is all of these qualities! This phrase can be used with both the living and the dead! A shortened version, 𓏙𓋹, or β€œGiven Life” also appears frequently!

Something that’s really great is that once you can recognize some of these common symbols and their meanings, you can go to museums and start to recognize the phrases on the monuments! One of the best ways to learn hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is to just start reading and keep practicing!