The name of the goddess “Nephthys” from the coffin of Khnumnakht
Letβs read some hieroglyphs πΉππͺ! These hieroglyphs πΉππͺ are from the wooden π±ππΊ Coffin π΄π ±πππ± of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).
Today, our inscription very simply reads βπ ,β which is the shortened version of the name ππ of the goddess πΉπ Nephthys π !
This type of symbol that is used in Nephthysβ π name ππ is called a Composite Hieroglyph. A Composite Hieroglyphic symbol is a symbol that is the combination of multiple symbols into a single glyph.
The three πΌ symbols βπππβ can be combined to make the βπ β symbol, which is not only the crown that Nephthys wears π , but a space saver when writing out hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
Nephthysβ π title was βMistress of the House ππππΊ.β If you look, even the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ for βMistress of the House ππππΊ,β are very similar to her name (π )! Both πand π are part of the symbols that relate to βStructures and their Parts;β I love when it is all connected!
Her name ππ could also be written as ππππππ―π or more commonly as π ππ.
In statuary and funerary art, the crown on her head πΆπΊ is one of the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ that is used in her name (π ), which makes Nephthys π ππ very easy to identify in tomb art/funerary art.
These images ππ ±ππ¦ are from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET! This particular Book of the Dead is incredible because even though it is only in black ππ or red π§πππ 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! Letβs take a closer look at both the images ππ ±ππ¦ and the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
The top panel shows the goddesses πΉπ Isis π¨ππ₯ (left) and Nephthys π ππ (right) on their knees in a mourning position on either side of the deceased π ππ±. The deceased π ππ± is in the form of a mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ and is laying on a table that is in the form of a lion π³πΉπΏπ.
I love how a row of stars π΄ππΏπΌπͺ separate the two π» panels! The star πΌ hieroglyph πΉπ is another one of my favorite symbols and I love how it is used in both writing and drawing/art!
On the bottom panel, two π» of the Sons of Horus are pictured with Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ in the center. Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is on his shrine π±πΉ, just like my favorite hieroglyph πΉπ! Qebehsenuef ππ’π’π’ππ is on the left of Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ and Duamutef πΌπ πππ is on the right. The Sons of Horus had and Anubis all had roles in the protection of the deceased π ππ±.
One thing I love about Egyptian art is how a lot of times there are βcaptionsβ next to the people/deities πΉπΉπΉ that are pictured so that way you know who they are! Isis π¨ππ₯ and Nephthys π ππ are obvious to spot because of the crowns on their heads. Their crowns match the hieroglyphs in their names πππ¦ – Isis has a π¨ crown while Nephthys has a π crown! However, Duamutef πΌπ πππ and Qebehsenuef ππ’π’π’ππ are not as easy to recognize because they are mummiform and not in their usual form with the jackal ππΏππ₯ or falcon πππ‘π heads! So in this case, the βcaptionsβ are quite useful!!!
Details of the Winged Scarab on the Sarcophagus of Artemidora at The MET
This picture ππ ±π shows the details on a sarcophagus ππΉπππ that belonged to a woman πππππ named ππ Artemidora who lived in Egypt ππ ππ during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The gold ππππ, glass, stone ππππͺ, and painted π¨ππ ±ππΈπ¦ details on this sarcophagus ππΉπππ are stunning π€!
One of my favorite pieces of imagery from Egyptian art is the Winged Scarab ππͺπππ£! The wings π§π³πππ¦ allowed the scarab ππͺπππ£ to join the rising and setting of the sun π³πΊ each day – which to the ancient Egyptians πππππͺ represented the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The cycle was central to the ancient Egyptian ππππ religion! As a god πΉ who was constantly reborn, Khepri π£πππ was associated with resurrection! On this sarcophagus, we can see the sun π³πΊ represented above the scarab ππͺπππ£; this was because Khepri π£πππ used to carry the sun π³πΊ across the sky πͺππ―!
Below the winged π§π³ππ scarab ππͺπππ£, we can see the shen πΆ symbol! The shen πΆ symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity ππ³π, and is also a symbol of protection π ππ‘π. The shen πΆ was first seen during the Old Kingdom, and was a very popular symbol throughout Egyptian history; Nekhbet ππππ π and Isis π¨ππ₯ are frequently seen holding them!
Cool Fact: the wings π§π³πππ¦ on the scarab ππͺπππ£ are not those of a beetle, but are actually the wings π§π³πππ¦ of a bird! Also, I just love the painted π¨ππ ±ππΈπ¦ details on these wings π§π³πππ¦; itβs stunning π€!
(from Left) Nephthys, Anubis, Horus, and Isis on the Sarcophagus of Artemidora at The MET
I really like this scene because you can see Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ and Horus π π standing with the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ of the deceased who is laying on a bed with a lion design. Anubisβ πππͺπ ±π£ arms are raised, and Horus π π is holding the traditional crook πΎ and flail π . Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is my favorite Egyptian god πΉ, and Horus π π is my sisterβs π’ππ favorite! I always like seeing Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ and Horus π π together ππ for that reason – it reminds me of me and my sister π’ππ!
To the left of Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is the goddess πΉπ Nephthys π ππ and to the right of Horus π π is the goddess πΉπ Isis π¨ππ₯. Isis π¨ππ₯ and Nephthys π ππ are the actual sisters π’πππ¦ in Egyptian mythology and in funerary scenes are usually depicted together!
You can tell which goddess πΉπ is which based off of the crowns on their head πΆπΊ! The crown on Nephthysβ head is π which is the hieroglyph πΉπ thatβs part of her name ππ, and the crown on Isisβ head is π¨ which also corresponds with her name ππ! If you also look at the text that is next to each of them, their names are also written – itβs almost like a caption!
See if you can spot Isis π¨ππ₯ and Nephthys π ππ in the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ!
