Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thoth Amulets

The god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭(or Djehuty to the ancient Egyptians) was originally god π“ŠΉ of the moon, but then became associated with writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ and knowledge. He was also the god π“ŠΉ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ. The moon could be thought of as a β€œnight sun,” which kind of places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Re 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Thoth π“…€π“€­ is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar!

Thoth Amulets at the MET

Thoth π“…€π“€­ was thought to have invented writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, and was thus the god π“ŠΉ of all record keeping. Due to his vast knowledge, Thoth π“Ÿ was thought to know magic and secrets that were unknown to the rest of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. In the Book of the Dead, Thoth π“…€π“€­ is at the extremely important Weighing of the Heart – which is the judgement of the deceased’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 against Ma’at’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather. His job was to record the results of the ceremony.

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was usually represented as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ with an ibis head (π“Ÿ), an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀 or a baboon. In this photograph, there are many faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό statues of Thoth π“…€π“€­ as a baboon. These were very popular amongst scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ, and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 were worn by the living to invoke wisdom!

Thoth can be written as: π“…€π“€­, 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, π“Ÿ. He also had various titles such as β€œLord of the Divine Words,” β€œThree Times Great,” and β€œLord of Ma’at” amongst many others!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Stela with the God Sobek

This is a black granite π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows the god π“ŠΉ Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ in sunken relief. This stela is dated to the reign of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 (18th Dynasty). The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ originally belonged to a soldier named Amunemhat and he dedicated it to one of Sobek’s π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ temples. Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 saw a lot of military victories, and that is probably how Anunemhat was able to pay for this small stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

On the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ is seen in crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ form standing on an altar π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ with an elaborate headdress on his head. There is an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 in front of him that contains bread 𓏏𓏔𓏐 and meat 𓇋𓅱𓆑𓄹, which were very common things to be left as offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏 𓏔𓏦 to either a god π“ŠΉ or the dead. Amunemhat is seen kneeling in the lower right corner of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ. Due to the faded hieroglyphs it’s very hard for me to translate them though next to Amunemhat’s head 𓁢𓏺 you can see β€œ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–β€ which is β€œAmun” and this the start of Amunemhat’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ had been worshipped since the Old Kingdom and is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts as being the son π“…­ of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­. He was a water god π“ŠΉ , and also of areas such as marshes and rivers/riverbanks. Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ usually appears in art as a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ or as a man with a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ head. The elaborate headdress on his head is representative of the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 with tall plumes on either side.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Sculpture of the Goddess Hathor

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ sculpture of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 is one of my favorite pieces that I saw in the Louvre. This piece is dated to the Ptolemaic Period, and used to be part of a column.

Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is quite unique compared to some of the other gods/goddesses. Her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is composed of a composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ which literally translates to β€œHouse of Horus.” Hathor 𓉑 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, motherhood, joy, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

One detail that I love about this piece is that Hathor 𓉑 is shown with her cow ears! Hathor 𓉑 was usually depicted in Egyptian art as either a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ or a cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒, so this little detail is just so cool! Another detail that I love is how her wig is decorated with rosettes! The details are in raised relief, which only make them stand out more.

In Middle Egyptian, the words β€œbeautiful woman” and β€œcow” were the same – the only thing that was different was the determinative symbol! This was most likely due to an association with Hathor 𓉑, and to this day remains one of my favorite β€œfun facts” about hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 (beautiful woman)
𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 (cow)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Stela Dedicated to Hathor

I’m making another post with Hathor 𓉑 in it because why not?! Hathor 𓉑 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, motherhood, joy, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

This limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was dedicated to Hathor 𓉑 and the 11th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ by a priest π“ŠΉπ“› named An. On this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, Hathor 𓉑 appears in her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form, while the human figure (probably Montuhotep II) on the left is cut off. An is not pictured on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, which means it was probably already made and An just had his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– added to it. It was most likely placed in a shrine at Deir el-Bahri, because both Hathor 𓉑 and Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ were both worshipped there. It was not uncommon for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to be worshipped long after they died.

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

π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – β€œThe Great God, Lord of the Two Lands, Nebhapetra” (Nebhapetra is Montuhotep II’s throne name)

π“‰‘π“π“Š“π“·π“π“Š–π“‹† – β€œHathor, Chief one of Thebes” (Thebes can also be written as β€œπ“Œ€π“π“Š–β€ – I’m just copying the symbol directly from the stela, even though it may look β€œbackwards”).

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Seti I and the Goddess Hathor

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Hathor 𓉑 was known as the Lady of the West (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west! Here, she is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him her menat necklace 𓋧, a symbol of protection. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺! This relief was originally from Seti I’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ– tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, which is actually the biggest tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ in the Valley of the Kings!

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

π“‰‘π“Άπ“·π“π“π“Š–π“‹† – β€œHathor, Chief one of Thebes”

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – β€œLord of the Two Lands, Maatmenra” (Maatmenra is the throne name)

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯(π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–) – β€œLord of the Two Lands Seti, Beloved of Ptah” (Seti is the birth name)

𓏙𓋹 𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – β€œGiven Eternal Life, Like Ra”

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Egyptian Artifacts

“Royal and Divine Triad”

Triads (groups of three 𓏼) were popular among ancient Egyptian statuary and mythology. This piece from the Louvre is called the β€œRoyal and Divine Triad” (Dynasty 19, New Kingdom c. 1279-1203 B.C.E.) because it represents three 𓏼 of the most powerful figures in the Egyptian pantheon. Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ or his son π“…­ Merenptah π“‡³π“ƒ’π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ is on the left, Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is in the middle, while Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is on the right. The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was viewed as a god π“ŠΉ on Earth, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was the king of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was lord π“ŽŸ of the afterlife.

I find this piece super interesting because the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 kind of inserted himself amongst the most famous of the Egyptian triads – Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ – who were supposed to represent the divine family (mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, and child π“π“‡Œπ“€•). In some instances (like with this statue), the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would function as the child in the statue.

Not all triads represented families, though that was the most common. Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was a family triad that was extremely popular in Memphis. During the New Kingdom (around the time of Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“), the triad of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, and Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± became very popular due to the powerful nature of these three 𓏼 deities

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Raised Relief of Horus

This raised relief in limestone is dated to the 12th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom c. 1981–1952 B.C.E.) and the reign of the pharaoh Amenemhat Iπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚. Amenemhat I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ is famous for moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to just south of Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. He also began a co-regency with his son π“…­, Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– ten π“Ž† years before his death in order to maintain stability. This block was found at the foundation of Amenemhat I’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ mortuary temple.

From the right, the upper part of a was scepter π“Œ€ can be seen supporting the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. On the was scepter, a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is seen with the shen 𓍢 symbol of the universe around its neck. The falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ that is seen is actually the top part of the Horus name cartouche (which is usually rectangular shaped and is meant to represent a palace). The god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen presenting an ankh π“‹Ή to the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„. Due to the ram π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ƒ horn 𓄋𓏏𓏺 that can be partially seen on the left, it can be inferred that it is the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ that is being depicted.

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

On top of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ reads: π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–π“‚π“†‘π“‹Ή which translates to:

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–- Edfu

𓂝𓆑𓋹 – May He Give Life (One of Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ titles is β€œHorus of Edfu.”)

In between Horus and Khnum the inscription is broken but reads: π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“‰π“³ π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” which translates to: β€œHe who is before the house of protection, Words Spoken By…”

π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“ -Before/In front of

𓉐𓍳 – House of Protection

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” – ?

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Osiris, Isis and Horus

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ was able to come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ and clay statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ. The bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. 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, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.

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 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, 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 π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

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

Statues of Sekhmet

As I’ve stated many times before (it’s a family trait – we always repeat the same stories πŸ˜‚), my Nonno loved Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“. Now every time I see a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of her, I think of my Nonno.

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most of the feline 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 deities were female! This was most likely intentional – much like a lioness π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“π“„› can be gentle and nurturing with her cubs, she can also be extremely fierce and aggressive when she needs to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ them. This duality is quintessential to not only Sekhmet’s π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ role in the Egyptian pantheon, but to the other feline 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 goddesses π“ŠΉπ“π“ͺ as well!

Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ is always seen with a sun-disk 𓇳𓏺 on her head 𓁢𓏺, which shows that she is the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. She was known as the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of destruction/war, and her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œshe who is powerful.” She could also represent the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺, such as extreme heat. There were many religious rituals designed to appease her. Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ was feared for being a very powerful and very destructive goddess π“ŠΉπ“.

These particular statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ was made during the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  during the 18th Dynasty.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Column of Bes

This is part of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ column that is representative of the god π“ŠΉ Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ and it is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (332-31 B.C.E.).

Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was worshipped as the protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of households 𓉐𓏺, mothers 𓅐𓏏𓁐π“ͺ, children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ, and even childbirth. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also represented everything good, and was the enemy of anything evil. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ is also thought to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ people against sickness. Cups were fashioned in Bes’ π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ likeness and people thought if they drank from the cup, Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ would heal them! Small statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ were also placed in bedrooms as a form of protection.

Fun fact: the Spanish island of Ibiza is thought to be named after Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ! Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was worshipped by the Phoenicians (whose pantheon mixed with the Egyptians) and Phoenician settlers brought their worship of Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ with them to Ibiza when it was settled. Ibiza actually means β€œIsland of Bes.”