Tag: akhenaten

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten

There are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 and some of them are on display at the MET! This particular Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 Figure of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 though broken in half, has a wonderfully preserved face and partial inscription!

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten
Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten on display at the MET

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾. 

Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray. While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. Let’s take a look at the partial inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥! 

You can see the inscription of “𓆥,” which as we have learned previously can translate to “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” As we know, this is a very popular title to be seen before a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷! 

The “𓇳” in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is part of one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne names, which would most likely be “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖,” since that is the only one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne name 𓂋𓈖 variants that begins with a “𓇳.”

Even though “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖” translates to “The Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra, the Unique one of Ra,” this variant was only seen after the name 𓂋𓈖 change from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

@ancientegyptblog 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Akhenaten and Me!

I’ve never shared this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because of the glare, but not every picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 needs to be perfect 𓄤! My Nonno took this photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and me at the Louvre in what I call the “Amarna Gallery!”   You can tell by my smile how happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 I was! Seeing a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in real life that I have only seen in books feels like meeting a celebrity!

Akhenaten and Me
Akhenaten and Me at the Louvre!

The Louvre has an impressive collection of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and I was so excited to be able to see them – this was probably the gallery I spent the most time in at the Louvre! After Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

This particular limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 surprised me when I saw it in person for the first time! I thought it was going to be a lot smaller, so I was shocked to see just how big it was! The piece is also incredibly well preserved – the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 forehead is still somewhat intact, and the design details on the skirt are clearly defined. Also, Akhenaten is holding both the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 in one hand 𓂝𓏺 instead of one in each hand 𓂝𓏺! 

The Louvre has this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 named “Statue of an Amarna King.” To me, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks like it is from the early part of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 because there are both traditional Egyptian elements and Amarna-era elements (elongated face and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) present in the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. If I were to guess, this was probably made before year 5 𓏾 of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, when he still had the name 𓂋𓈖 Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀. However, there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to confirm this, I am basing this inference just on the artistic style alone! 

This piece really is just stunning to see in person! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Wilbour Plaque

Not only is the Wilbour Plaque one of my absolute favorite pieces, this is one of the most famous pieces of Amarna-era art! The Brooklyn Museum has an amazing collection of artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and I’ll never forget the first time I got to see it with my Nonno! 

Wilbour Plaque
Me with the Wilbour Plaque at the Brooklyn Museum!

After Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because of just how different his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 was compared to the other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 – not only did the art style completely change, but the religion changed too! 

The top piece in the display is known as the Wilbour Plaque, named after Charles Wilbour who acquired it in 1881. This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 piece is interesting because it is complete as is it was; it was never part of a larger scene and was most likely used as a model for sculptors! Sculptor models were used by artists as references when they were making official art of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! 

The Wilbour Plaque (top) and another Sculptor’s Model (bottom) on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

While there aren’t any inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, it is assumed that the people represented here are Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭. However, some argue that the person accompanying Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 in the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 could either be Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 or Smenkare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣. 

To me this piece is interesting because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 is no where in sight! Usually Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is always accompanied by an image of the sun 𓇳𓏺/Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 with sun rays shining on him. It’s almost kinda weird to see him like this! 

The second piece in the display is another sculptor’s model! This piece shows Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 with another member of the royal family, and a hand! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Talatat Blocks

These small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 “Talatat” Blocks are made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and were used solely during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! These were used in the construction of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀) and the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖. 

Talatat Blocks
Talatat Blocks from the palace at Akhetaten on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Talatat blocks were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 a single worker could carry them and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, and were never used again. 

These Talatat at the Brooklyn Museum were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. These specific blocks are from the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, which is where Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grew up! These blocks reconstruct a pastoral scene. 

However, the Talatat were not found at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖; instead these blocks were reused by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 to build a pylon at Magna. The Talatat that are now seen in museums all over have been found in other places because the blocks were reused when other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 took the throne. They were also reused by Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖. The famous Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (started by Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 and completed by Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓) is built with Talatat! 

Tens of thousands of Talata have been found across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and I’m sure that there are still many more to be found! 

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

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of the Aten

Usually, a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 enclosed the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The oval surrounding the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was meant to be protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 from evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨 both in life 𓋹 and in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. During the 18th Dynasty, the name 𓂋𓈖 of the King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏 would also sometimes appear in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷. 

Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was not a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that followed tradition! Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, which archaeologists sometimes refer to as the “Amarna Revolution” is a period of less than 20 𓎆𓎆 years which showed big changes not only to the traditional Egyptian religion, but also changes to the traditional Egyptian art. 

This fragment does not contain the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Instead, the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are very long way to write the name 𓂋𓈖 of Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳, the sole sun 𓇳𓏺 deity 𓊹 in Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 new religion. 

Cartouches of the Aten
The Cartouches of the Aten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! These are two 𓏻 of the “early” cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳, as there were variations during the later part of the Amarna period. The two 𓏻 cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are incomplete, but since we know what the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are supposed to say, I will translate both! 

Here is the first two cartouches at the top of the fragment:  𓋹𓅊𓈌𓈌𓎛𓂝𓏻𓏛𓐝𓈌𓏏 

𓋹 – Living 

𓅊𓈌𓈌 – Ra-Horakhty

𓎛𓂝𓏻𓏛 – Rejoicing 

𓐝 – in

𓈌𓏏 – Horizon

This translates to “The Living Ra-Horakhty, Rejoicing in the Horizon.” 

This second cartouche got cut off (you can only see the first two symbols), but here it is: 𓐝𓈖𓂋𓆑𓐝𓆄𓅱𓇳𓈖𓏏𓏻𓐝𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳

𓐝 – In 

𓈖𓂋 – Name

𓆑 – His 

𓐝 – As 

𓆄𓅱𓇳𓈖𓏏𓏻 – Light

𓐝 – In 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten

This translates to “In His Name As the Light Which is In the Aten.” 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Chariot in Ancient Egypt

This rectangle fragment of a relief depicting a horse drawn chariot 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝 was found at the Great Aten Temple in Amarna (Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖). This piece is estimated to have been carved between c. 1352–1336 B.C.E., which is during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This particular relief pictured was originally part of a much larger image 𓏏𓅱𓏏. Here, chariot 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝 attendants are keeping watch of the chariots 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝𓏦 for the royal family. 

Chariot
Image of a horse drawn chariot and a chariot attendant from Akhetaten on display at the MET.

Chariots 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝𓏦 (and horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏪) were not always a part of Egyptian history. It is estimated by historians that the chariot 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝 first arrived in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 around 1600 B.C.E. and that they were introduced by the Hyksos. The first horse 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗 remains in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 are estimated to be from the Thirteenth Dynasty, so horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏪 must have been introduced to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 before the Hyksos rule. 

After Ahmose I 𓇺𓄟 defeated the Hyksos and reunified Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 to start the 18th Dynasty/New Kingdom, the chariot 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝 became a common sight in both art and in the life of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Chariots 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝𓏦 were the number one choice of transportation for royalty! Chariots 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝𓏦 were also used by pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to take part in hunting, and were used by the army for battle. Many reliefs and other forms of art from this time period shows various pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 hunting or going into battle on their chariot. The chariot 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝 became a sign of bravery and strength 𓌀. 

Fun Fact: the hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 for “chariot 𓌝” only appeared in Middle Egyptian around the same time that the chariots 𓅨𓂋𓂋𓏏𓌝𓏦 were introduced to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖! That totally makes sense and it’s so cool to “watch” the language evolve as technology evolved! The same thing happens today! 

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

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of Akhenaten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a fragment of a relief that has some gorgeous 𓄤 hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on it – the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖!! This fragment is from present day Amarna, which during Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule was known as Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 translates to “Horizon of the Aten,” and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 named it the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during year five 𓏾 of his reign. 

Cartouches of Akhenaten
The Cartouches of Akhenaten on a fragment of a relief from the city of Akhetaten (The MET)

This relief is probably from after year five 𓏾 of his reign, just based off of the throne name variant that is used in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Let’s start from the top row of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We will start reading from the right since that is where the snake points to! This is a very popular phrase that you may recognize: 𓆖𓏙𓋹. This translates to “Given 𓏙 Eternal 𓆖 Life 𓋹.” 

Under that, we are also going to start reading from the right since that is where the directional symbols point to! 

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓋹 – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat (Truth)

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖- Neferkheperura-waenre which means “Beautiful are the Forms/Manifestations of Re, the Unique one of Re” (Akhenaten’s throne name)

On to the next set of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓋹 – Life

𓐝 – On

𓁧 – Maat (Truth)

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 – Akhenaten (the “birth name” variant, since Akhenaten’s actual birth name was Amenhotep (IV))

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances 

What always gets me is Akhenaten’s throne name of 𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖- Neferkheperura-waenre. This particular spelling of the throne name is only seen after he changed his given name from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖. The original spelling, before the name 𓂋𓈖 change was “𓁜𓄤𓆣𓏦𓇳𓌡𓈖.” The name 𓂋𓈖 is still pronounced the same and has the same meaning, but the falcon glyph 𓁜 was changed to just the sun disc 𓇳 (both pronounced Re/Ra).  Also, all of Akhenaten’s other names (Horus name, etc) underwent a change, to remove the other deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, but this one didn’t. 

I wonder why Akhenaten didn’t change the throne name (𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖) to represent the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳, just like how all of his other names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 were changed. He also kept the title “Son of Ra 𓅭𓇳,” instead of changing it to an Aten-based title. There are probably some mysteries that we will never fully comprehend about this time period! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Akhenaten and Nefertiti

The love story of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 is one that definitely captures the attention of Egyptologists and non-Egyptologists alike! I have always been fascinated by these two 𓏻 and I was so excited to see this painted limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the two 𓏻 of them at the Louvre! It was one of my must-see pieces! This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 reminds me of the popular “couples statues” that were prominent in burials during the Old Kingdom! “Couple Statues” depict a husband and wife sitting together! 

Akhenaten and Nefertiti
Limestone statue depicting Nefertiti and Akhenaten

Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 was the “Great Royal Wife 𓇓𓏏𓈞𓏏𓅨” of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This statue depicts Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 (left) and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (right) holding hands and walking forward. We know they are walking forward because one foot is placed in front of the other in a striding position. I also love the detail of the sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏪 on their feet! They are also both wearing broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦, the necklace 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 of choice for royals and the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is also wearing the blue Khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 on his head, while Nefertiti appears to be wearing what looks like the red crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔, but there is blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on it! The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is still present on the front of both crowns! 

What was the purpose of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾? This came from a private home, where it was used in a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗. The common people would worship Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 because they were thought to be manifestations 𓆣𓆣𓆣 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 here on Earth. 

The typical Amarna-style (elongated faces and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) is present here, which makes it very easy to identify these figures as Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The Amarna art revolution is so interesting because Egyptian art didn’t change much until Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule, then there was this drastic change, and then once Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 died, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 reverted back to the traditional art style and it stated that way for the rest of the civilization. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouche of Akhenaten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at one of the birth name variants for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖! Now, this is most definitely a variant, because this cartouche 𓍷 definitely does not show the name 𓂋𓈖 that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was given when he was born! The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was actually born with the name 𓂋𓈖 Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 (Amun is Satisfied, God and Ruler of Thebes), and changed his name 𓂋𓈖 during year five 𓏾 of his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏. 

“Lord of Appearances, Akhenaten.”

Let’s take a closer look at Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 cartouche 𓍷! Above the cartouche is his title “Lord of Appearances 𓎟𓈍𓏥.” 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten (pronounced “Aten”)

𓅜𓐍- Spirit (pronounced like “ahk”)

𓈖 – Of (pronounced like “n”)

This is where the name 𓂋𓈖 “Akhenaten” come from and the name 𓂋𓈖 means “Spirit of the Aten.” 

The “reed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for “ı͗,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word “reed 𓇋𓏺.”

The “flat loaf of bread 𓏏” is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound “t.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word “bread 𓏏𓏺.” 

The “ripple of water 𓈖” is also a uniliteral phonogram sign. The “𓈖” is associated with the sound of “n!” 

The “𓇳 sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for “ra” or “re,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun 𓆄𓅱𓇳, today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, and Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. 

The “crested ibis 𓅜” symbol is a biliteral phonogram sign and is associated with the sound “ah.” It can also be an ideogram for “spirit.”

The “placenta or sieve 𓐍” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram and is associated with the sound “ḫ” (similar to a “k”). This symbol is actually considered “unclassified” because Egyptologists actually don’t know what it exactly represents! 

Something that’s very special about this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is that my Nonno took it when we were at the Vatican Museum together 𓈖𓊗! 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Nefertiti’s Name and Titles in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

On this relief from the remains of the Central Palace at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 (present day Tel el-Amarna), you can see Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤  𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, and their daughter 𓅭𓏏 Meriaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓈘𓏏𓁐 praising the sun god, Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. The rays of the sun are depicted as hands giving the symbol of life, the ankh 𓋹, to the royal family. 

Nefertiti’s cartouche appears twice on this relief. Let’s look at the inscription on the left! Some of it is missing, but I am going to infer the missing pieces: 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓈘𓏏𓁐 – Meriaten (the last two symbols of her name are seen in the inscription 𓏏𓁐) (this is my guess)

𓌺 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓈖 – Born of 

𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 – King’s Great Wife 

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤 𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 – Neferneferuaten Nefertiti

𓋹𓍘 – May She Live! 

𓆖 – Everlasting (eternity)

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

So all together, the inscription reads: “Meriaten, born of the beloved King’s Great Wife Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, May she live for everlasting eternity.” 

Nefertiti’s cartouche reads “Neferneferuaten Nefertiti” which pretty much translates to “Beauty is the Beauties of Aten, the beautiful one has come.” “𓄤” is a triliteral phonogram and translates to “nfr” (pronounced nefer) which means beauty or beautiful. This is actually the shorthand way to write “beautiful,” and the other  way it appears in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is fully spelled out as “𓄤𓆑𓂋” – it’s still pronounced the same though as “𓆑 = f” and “𓂋 = r.” 

Above her cartouche on the left side of the relief you can see her title “King’s Great Wife” 𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞 – (ancient Egyptians had no word for queen). Pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 also usually had multiple wives, so this title denoted the “favorite” wife. 

While both of the following words – 𓆖 and 𓎛𓇳𓎛 mean the word “eternity,” a lot of times they are seen together on inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥! It would be silly to say “eternity eternity,” so Egyptologists translate this phrase as “𓆖𓎛𓇳𓎛 Everlasting Eternity.” 

This relief is presently located at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL, London.