Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Nefertem

Here is a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the god π“ŠΉ Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯!

Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is usually associated with perfumes, but this role is secondary to his role as the god π“ŠΉ of the lotus flower 𓆸 that rose out of the primeval waters π“ˆ— in the Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ creation myth. However, in the Pyramid Texts (from the Old Kingdom), Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is actually described as β€œThe lotus blossom which is before the nose of Ra,” so he was clearly always associated with both lotus flowers 𓆸 and perfumes/scents!

Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is always depicted as a young man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ with a large lotus flower 𓆸 on his head 𓁢𓏺! Less commonly, he can be shown as a human body with a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› head 𓁢𓏺 wearing the lotus 𓆸 headdress.

In Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–, Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was part of the triad with Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and was often portrayed as their child π“π“‡Œπ“€•. Father 𓇋𓏏𓀀-Mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐-Child π“π“‡Œπ“€• triads and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 units were extremely important to Egyptian culture! Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 wasn’t commonly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 by the masses because he was usually associated with royal monuments. His association with Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ also made him somewhat feared because she was a strong and ferocious goddess π“ŠΉπ“!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Duamutef – Canopic Jar

While Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 may be the most common jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯-headed god π“ŠΉ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, there are other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that have the head 𓁢𓏺 of a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ as well! This is a faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό canopic jar with the head of the god π“ŠΉ Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– can also be written as 𓂧𓍯𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, was one of the four Sons of Horus. Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 job was to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification.

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction. The goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ was tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑. The name Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 means β€œHe who adores his mother.”

This canopic jar is dated to the Ramesside period (19th Dynasty, c. 1295–1185 B.C.E.).

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wepwawet

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is not the only jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯-headed god π“ŠΉ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and it can be easy to get some of them confused because they look similar! Even in ancient texts Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 can be confused with each other but they are separate deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! This is a bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the god π“ŠΉ Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧! While the head is cut off, the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is in front of Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 on this piece!

This piece was likely used in a royal procession, as Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 was one of the symbols carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during certain rituals/ceremonies. Wepwawet’s π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– translates to β€œopener of the ways,” and he was even associated with clearing the path for the sun 𓇳𓏺 to rise in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯! This is probably why he was carried in front of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 during processions!

Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 is associated with Abydos π“‹π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š– and is likely the oldest god π“ŠΉ associated with the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯! Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 has been depicted on objects that even pre-date the Narmer 𓆒𓍋 Palette π“π“Šƒπ“π“†±! Wepwawet π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 is associated with war and conquest, and leading ritual processions.

There are a couple of different variations of Wepwawet’s π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ:
𓃧
π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓃧
π“„‹π“ˆπ“₯𓏏𓁒

The first way the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written is just the determinative symbol, while the other two 𓏻 ways show the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– spelled out the same, but the determinative at the end is different!

This piece is dated to the Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (c. 664–30 B.C.E.).

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Egyptian Artifacts

Khonsu

Let’s talk about Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€―!

The god π“ŠΉ Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€― is definitely getting some media attention due to Moon Knight! While this gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ pendant may look like Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 at quick glance, this is actually the god π“ŠΉ Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€―! When they are both in their falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ form, they might be mistaken with each other, especially since Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is represented with the sun disk 𓇳𓏺 on his head 𓁢𓏺, while Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€― is represented with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή on his head 𓁢𓏺 – since both are circles, they do look similar!

Khonsu’s π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€― role in the pantheon has changed throughout time, and he was quite the bloodthirsty god π“ŠΉ in the Pyramid Texts, however in the New Kingdom he was a more peaceful god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή. He was considered to be the son π“…­ of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ and Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, and together the three of them made up the Theban triad.

While Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€― does take the form of a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„, he is usually represented as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ wrapped in mummy bandages and wearing a crescent 𓇹 shaped necklace! He can also be depicted with his hands/arms 𓂝𓏦 restrained. That representation sounds familiar, doesn’t it?! The anthropomorphic form of Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€― definitely inspired parts of the Moon Knight comics and tv show!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œKhonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€―β€œ is thought to come from the verb β€œto traverse” and it means β€œhe who traverses (the sky).” This piece is dated to the 19th-20th Dynasties (c. 1295–1070 B.C.E).

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Winged Scarab

The Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is a large faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† that consists of three 𓏼 separate pieces; the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 itself and the two 𓏻 wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ that go on either side. These amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were placed usually on the chest of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, and sometimes were even sewn into the beaded shrouds that would cover the wrapped mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 in the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. There are even holes in the amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ to allow for them to be attached securely! Most of the time, the pieces were integrated right into the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 bandages just like the other funerary amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ. I love this type of amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† so much!

The wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ are not those fo a beetle, but are actually the wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ of a bird! The wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ allowed the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 to join the rising and setting of the sun 𓇳𓏺 each day – which to the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ religion! As a god π“ŠΉ who was constantly reborn, Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 was associated with resurrection!

Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is the god π“ŠΉ that is associated with scarabs 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣π“ͺ and he is the god π“ŠΉ of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺 in the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭. The name β€œ Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛” is pronounced pretty much the same as β€œscarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣” even though they are spelled differently!

In this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are also the four Sons of Horus amulets, which I have posted about previously! The four Sons of Horus were usually placed below the winged scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 on the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, just like in this display!

The Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 also showed up in the Marvel show Moon Knight a lot! What did you think of Layla’s outfit in the last episode?!?! I loved it! If I was a superhero I would want that to be my costume!!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ammit – The Devourer

Ammit in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep at The MET

Never did I think I would see the day where Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 was the main villain on a Marvel tv show but here we are! Let’s learn a bit about the Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 from Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ mythology – there are some similarities to the Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 we saw on Moon Knight! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 was not formally worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 in any formal cult (unlike on Moon Knight) and the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ saw her as a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ to be feared and overcome!

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 was a combination of animals that were most feared by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ: she had the head 𓁢𓏺 of a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ, the neck and mane of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, and the rear of a hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―! Since she was the combination of both land and marine animals there was no escaping Ammit’s 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 wrath no matter where you went!

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 was known as β€œthe devourer” or β€œeater of hearts” and her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œfemale devourer” or β€œfemale devourer of the dead.” That is in reference to Ammit’s 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 role in the Weighing of the Heart of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱; if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 led a life full of bad deeds, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 would eat their heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 when it weighed more than Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather. When Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 eat their heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would not be granted access to the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife).

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 is from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Ra-Horakhty, Amun, and Taweret

I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are no exception! Here are three 𓏼 beautiful π“„€ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗!

Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is considered by historians to be Egypt’s most important deity π“ŠΉ. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is an ancient deity π“ŠΉ who combined with many different solar and cosmic gods throughout Egyptian history. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the god π“ŠΉ of the morning sun π“…ƒπ“ˆŒπ“π“­π“€­. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and depictions of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ became more prominent during the Late Period.

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!

While the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ! The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means β€œthe great (female) one!” That is certainly a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that suits her!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Triad Amulet

I love amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ because I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things!!!

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 had some type of familial 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 relationship/significance to each other. One of the Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– triads during the Late 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“. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† on the left is a representation of this Triad!

The Ossirian Triad (the three 𓏼 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ to the right) is a representation of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (β€œMistress of the House” and associated with vultures), Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ (god π“ŠΉ of the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and the protector of the ruler π“‹Ύ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–), and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of healing and magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ).

Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, the sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife π“ˆŸπ“ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† is representative of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and that protective power extends to the wearer.

This type amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The God Ptah

Ptah from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (The MET)

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± s from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET! This particular Book of the Dead is incredible because it is one of the most complete ones I have ever seen! Even though it is only in black π“†Žπ“…“ or red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ ink and not in full color like some other versions, it is still so beautiful π“„€ to look at and I am always mesmerized by the details!

One thing that is very obvious about hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is that the symbols look like pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦! In art from the pre-dynastic and early dynastic periods, sometimes it is difficult to tell where the art ends and the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ begin!

I really liked this drawing of the god π“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± because it looked like the determinative that appears after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– when it is written in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here are some of the variations of Ptah’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–:
π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±
π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“€­
π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“°
π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›

As you can see, the three phonogram symbols β€œ π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›β€ remain the same, it is just the determinative that changes! Once you know the phonogram symbols, his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is easy to spot because it doesn’t change! I personally love the determinative of Ptah in the shrine (𓁱) – just like what is shown on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Duamutef in Hieroglyphs

Duamutef’s name in Hieroglyphs

𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 – Duamutef in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 was one of the four Sons of Horus and his job was to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why he is commonly represented on the lid of canopic jars or in funerary art. The function of the canopic jar was to hold the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 that were removed during the process of mummification. Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 is associated with the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ, and all four Sons of Horus are associated with a cardinal direction.

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

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€œvulture 𓅐” is a triliteral phonogram and represents the sounds β€œmjt/mwt.” It is also used as a determinative in the word β€œvulture π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“…β€

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 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is something like β€œduamwttf” – which is very similar to β€œDuamutef!” There’s no Greek version of the name here! For example, β€œAnubis” is a Greek name – β€œInpu” is what the ancient Egyptians would have called Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣!