Tag: osiris

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Book of the Dead Translation

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³, we are going to look at some writing in the Book of the Dead (known to the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ as the Book of Coming Forth By Day). This Book of the Dead belonged to a man named Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, who was a priest π“ŠΉπ“› of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. He lived during the early Ptolemaic Period (between 332-200 B.C.E.). This Book of the Dead is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

This inscription is about the god π“ŠΉ/π“€­ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! Let’s just jump right into it – some of these words are vocabulary we have gone over previously (or variants of the words), so see if you can recognize the words or phrases before reading the translation!

Since the symbols point to the right, we are going to start reading from the top of the right column! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are always read from top to bottom no matter what!

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ
β€œWords Spoken By π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, Foremost of π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“ the West π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€¦β€

π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“„€π“€­π“™π“Š€π“ŽŸπ“‹‚π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–
β€œIt is π“ƒΉπ“ˆ– the perfect god π“„€π“€­, true of voice π“™π“Š€, Lord π“ŽŸ of Abydos π“‹‚π“ƒ€π“ˆ‹π“Š–β€¦β€

π“ŽŸπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“π“†“π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­
β€œLord π“ŽŸ of Eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, Ruler π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of His Own π“†“π“π“ˆ–, King π“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“€­.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statue of Isis, Osiris and Horus


This bronze statue at the MET is from the Ptolemaic Period (664 – 31 B.C.E.) represents Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­- the main triad of the Egyptian pantheon.

Here, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is represented in his Greek form Harpokrates, with his trademarked “finger to lips” pose. This pose represents the β€œbe quiet” gesture because to the Greeks Harpokrates was the god π“ŠΉ of silence. What is interesting about this piece is that there are suspension loops on the back of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Harpokrates – this piece is probably too big to be worn as a necklace, so the loops may have some type of unknown symbolic significance.

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 have some type of familial significance to each other. For example, one of the Memphis triads during this 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“, just like Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is the son of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Graeco-Roman Stela

This is certainly an interesting stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for sure!

This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is made of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ but the craftsmanship is kind of…off! This is very typical for work from the time period (1st Century B.C.E. – 4th Century A.D.). During the Greek and Roman periods, objects like amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, and more were so mass produced that the craftsmanship suffered. Let’s take a look at what is going on!Β 

The top section of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ seems to be trying to follow the traditional Egyptian way – the winged π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒ sun disc 𓇳𓏺 and the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— are roughly carved but are definitely there! This design is known as β€œ Horus the Behdetite” and is a representation of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ that is popular on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ. Under that, two 𓏻 jackals π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯𓏦 are depicted! 

In the middle section, from the left, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is depicted holding an ankh π“‹Ή or key which most likely symbolizes his association with/ability to access the underworld (a very Graeco-Roman version of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣)! Then the four 𓏽 people to the right of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 are identified by the Greek inscription below: “Pekysis, son of Aruotes, and his brother Pachoumis; Tbaikis the elder and Tbaikis the younger.” Pekysis is thought to be the man holding the torch! Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is depicted all the way on the right! 

Thanks to the MET for the Greek translation because I certainly don’t speak Greek! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Hathor, Amun and Osiris

My Nonno always loved theΒ bronzeΒ π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦Β statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“! 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.

In this display at the Louvre, Hathor 𓉑, AmunΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­, and OsirisΒ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­Β are shown!Β 

Hathor 𓉑 is one of the most prominent goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ of the Egyptian pantheon. Along with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, she is regarded as the β€œdivine mother” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of love, joy, music, and dance – basically the fun things in life! Hathor is also the wife of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, and the daughter of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Hathor 𓉑 is usually associated with cows 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 and can take the form of a cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 in many forms of Egyptian art.

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! 

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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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Words Spoken by Osiris”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Today we are going to combine two words/phrases we have already learned! Here we see an inscription with the symbols β€œπ“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.” This translates to β€œWords spoken by π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– OsirisΒ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.β€Β π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–β€ is usually followed by the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a god π“ŠΉ or goddess π“ŠΉπ“ in inscriptions!Β 

The β€œcobra 𓆓” is a uniliteral phonogram, so it is a symbol that represents just one consonant. It represents the sound β€œαΈβ€ which would almost sound like a β€œj” when pronounced. 

The β€œstaff or walking stick π“Œƒβ€ functions as both a phonogram (in this phrase) and as an ideogram (for the word β€œ staff π“Œƒπ“Ίβ€). π“Œƒ is a triliteral phonogram symbol and represents the sound β€œmdw.”

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, and it is also uniliteral sign. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

The β€œreed 𓇋” is a uniliteral phonogram for β€œΔ±Ν—,” however it can also function as an ideogram for the word β€œreed 𓇋𓏺.” 

The β€œeye 𓁹” is a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œjr.” The β€œeye 𓁹” can also function as an ideogram for β€œeye 𓁹𓏺” and also as a determinative. 

The β€œπ“Š¨ seat” is a biliteral phonogram that represents the sound β€œst.” It can also be used as an ideogram for the words seat/place. 

The β€œseated god 𓀭” is a determinative symbol and isn’t pronounced! It acts as β€œpunctuation” at the end of the name of a male god! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Osiris Statues at the Museo Egizio

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was taken by my Nonno at the Museo Egizio! While I have never been to the Museo Egizio, my Nonno always spoke so highly of the museum; he absolutely loved it there! He always brought me back books whenever he went! I always got an English and Italian version so I could practice my Italian too!Β 

These are three bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are dated to the Late Period. Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ Is typically depicted as a mummy π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύ wearing the Atef crown π“‹š and holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flailπ“Œ… . The crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… are symbols associated with kingship. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are highly abundant and have been associated with worship π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ in homes and temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ but have of course been found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ. 

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 π“…“𓏏𓏱 and the ruler of the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death π“…“𓏏𓏱 and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.  The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ after the Weighing of the Heart ceremony; but only if their heart was in balance! 

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

Bronze Statues of Isis, Horus and Osiris

Here’s a picture featuring bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ! of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ at the Brooklyn Museum!

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 and the ruler of the afterlife, and Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death 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.

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 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood 𓅐𓏏𓁐, the protection of women, 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 is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

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Egyptian Artifacts

British Museum Funerary Display

There’s a lot going on in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, but I really like this display at the British Museum! This display contains statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ that all have to do with funerary practices.Β 

On the bottom left, there are multiple figures of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris. Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures connect three gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are connected to rebirth/resurrection into a single statue π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾. These statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ became popular during the Late Period and they seemed to have evolved from the figures of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ that became popular in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during the 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom). These figures are always a mummiform figure on a wooden π“†±π“π“Ί base. 

On the bottom right is a corn mummy in a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. While millions of animal mummies have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies made of grains like wheat and barley have also been found. Corn Mummies are meant to be a representation of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Egyptologists came to this conclusion because the β€œcoffins” that contain the corn mummies almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and his titles/epithets.

The middle-right shows wooden π“†±π“π“Ί funerary figures of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys π“‰ π“π“†‡ which were also popular figures to find in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ from the Late Period and onward. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys π“‰ π“π“†‡ were sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“π“ͺ and both funerary goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“. Similar statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ can be seen in museums around the world!

The top left shows various figures and representations of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, who was the main funerary god π“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Β The Book of the Dead of Hunefer is one of my absolute favorite artifacts, and seeing it in the British Museum was a dream come true for me!

On the top panel, Hunefer (the deceased) stands before the 42 divine judges and pleads their lifetime of truth and moral doings. The Book of the Dead provided the deceased with the words to say so they would pass this trial!

On the bottom panel: This is the Weighing of the Heart ceremony! Let’s start from the left! Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is leading Hunefer (the deceased) to the scales (not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous they are holding hands πŸ˜‚). Here, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒 weighs the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s π“Œ΄π“™π“‚£π“π“¦ feather (Maat is sitting on top of the scales). If Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two 𓏻, that means that the deceased lived a truthful π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ and just π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ life π“‹Ή.

Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 (the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is there waiting to see if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 didn’t live a truthful π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ life! If the deceased’s 𓅓𓏏𓏱 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 weighs more than the feather, Ammit 𓂝𓅓𓅓𓏏 would eat the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and the deceased would β€œdie a second time” and not live in eternal paradise. Thoth π“…€π“€­ records the findings of the ceremony.

If the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 passed the Weigning of the Heart, they would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and would then enter the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š– and live in eternal paradise!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Sketch of Osiris

While this may seem like a simple sketch of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ on limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰, I actually find it very interesting! This is easily recognizable as the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ because the lord π“ŽŸ of the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… , and wearing the Atef crown π“‹š. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ adorning the sides.

Sketch of Osiris at the Brooklyn Museum

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are as follows:
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ

It simply says β€œOsiris, the great god.” In this caption, Osiris is written β€œbackwards” and without the determinative π“€­ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ. This was probably due to the fact that the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ would appear neater when written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“Ήβ€ instead of like this β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨.”

Also, β€œgreat god” is written like this β€œπ“‰Όπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉβ€ instead of this β€œπ“‰Όπ“ŠΉ.” It was either done to take up the appropriate amount of space (aesthetics were everything, and was much more important than proper spelling/grammar πŸ˜‚) or to emphasize Osiris’ greatness. It could’ve even been for both reasons!