Tag: rameses ii

The Cartouches of Pharaoh Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 4, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the throne name and the birth name cartouches 𓍷𓍷𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! The cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are written on a blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 cup 𓎺𓏏! Cups 𓎺𓏏𓏦 such as these, which were inscribed with the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, were commonly found in foundation deposits of building projects that had been commissioned by that particular pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. These types of cups 𓎺𓏏𓏦 were usually not owned or used by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 despite his name 𓂋𓈖 being on it!

The Cartouches of Pharaoh Rameses II

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to start with the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the left! This is the throne name of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖, which is preceded by the normal royal title!

𓎟 – Lord

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre setep en Ra

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.” Let’s look at the name 𓂋𓈖 more closely:

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Mast)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Now let’s look at the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 on the right! This is the birth name of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 which is also preceded by the normal royal title!

𓎟 – Lord

𓈍𓏥 – Appearances

𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Ramessu mery Amun

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Ramessu mery Amun 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓” translates to “Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun.” The name 𓂋𓈖 could also be translated as “Ra Bore Him.” Let’s look at the name 𓂋𓈖 more closely:

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

𓈘 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

Both of the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are sitting on top of the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was associated with gold because the skin of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 were thought to be made of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉. Since the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was a god 𓊹 on Earth, it makes sense that he would be considered to be golden!

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Statue of Queen Tiye

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 25, 2023

This large granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 has quite the story and journey through history! It’s amazing how some pieces can start off in one place, but end up in a completely different location! Let’s take a closer look at this striking piece that is currently at the Vatican Museum, and follow her journey from Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 to Rome!

Queen Tiye at the Vatican Museum

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 definitely resembles other works of Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 – from the characteristic wig to the distinct face shape and design. In my opinion, there is no doubt that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was originally Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗. Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was married to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 and possessed the title of “King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏,” which pretty much meant that she was his favorite wife. Queen Tiye 𓍘𓇌𓏭𓁗 was actually the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Tutankhamun’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grandmother!

After some time had passed, the great usurper, Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, recognized the beauty 𓄤𓆑𓂋 of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 and brought it to his mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 where he had it dedicated to his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 (and wife of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠), Tuya 𓏏𓅱𓇋𓄿𓁗. “Usurping” was a popular practice where pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 would take old statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 𓏪 from previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and put their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 on it. Think of it as ancient plagiarism!

Then, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 made its way out of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and to Rome! For a long time, the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 adorned the “Gardens of Sallust,” which belonged to the Emperor Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 at the time. Many Roman Emperors liked Egyptian art, and some (like Caligula 𓁈𓋾𓏩𓄿𓏲𓏏𓎼𓃭𓂧𓂋𓁰 and Hadrian 𓉔𓏏𓂋𓂝𓈖𓊃𓈎𓊃𓂋) had pieces from ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 brought to Rome to adorn their gardens 𓎛𓊃𓊪𓈈𓏥 or estates. This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 was then re-discovered in 1714 and was brought to the Vatican Museums in 1839.

Tags amenhotep iii, artifact, rameses ii, roman, seti i, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Small Stela of the Vizier Paser

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 19, 2023

This tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 and unassuming stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 at the Louvre is really important to me and my Nonno because it depicts Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽, who was my Nonno’s favorite non-royal Egyptian! Nonno and I would always make it a point to try and find something related to Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 in every museum we went to!

Though he wasn’t a royal, Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was one of the most prominent men of his time and he was vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 under two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 – Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and then Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖. Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 served many different roles over twenty-five 𓎆𓎆𓏾 years! Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 was also an architect and one of his most famous works is the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 in the Valley of the Kings!

A vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was the highest ranking official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 and was the most powerful position in the government, besides the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Not only was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 the most trusted advisor to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but he also saw to the day-to-day operations of the government. The vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 was in charge of architecture, taxation, agriculture, military, the judiciary, finances, and many other things. Honestly that sounds exhausting, however, his hard work got Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 a nice tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 for himself, so that’s how we know so much about him! I guess wanting to preserve his name 𓂋𓈖 for eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 was a success!

Paser 𓅮𓀙𓀽 had many different titles, including “High Preist of Amun 𓊹𓍛𓌐𓈖𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳 ,” “superintendent of every work of the king,” “prophet of Maat,” “mouth of Nekhen” and “chief of secrets of the hieroglyphs.” This last title is probably why he is depicted with the god Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 on this small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

I wish I could see the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 more clearly, but I can see Paser’s 𓅮𓀙𓀽 name 𓂋𓈖 on the bottom part of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸!

Sorry the first picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is a bit blurry – I wanted to get as close as I could! The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows how small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is in relation to other objects!

Tags artifact, louvre, paser, rameses ii, seti i

Reading Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs from the Abydos King List!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 13, 2023

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

These beautiful 𓄤 hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are from the Abydos King List at the British Museum. There are two 𓏻 surviving King Lists from temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. One temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son 𓅭 Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos, while Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While the two 𓏻 lists were very similar, Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 had more rows to accommodate the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 so it appears to be shorter. There are three 𓏼 rows of cartouches on the remaining limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief – the upper two 𓏻 rows contain the cartouches of earlier pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, while the bottom row shows Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 throne name and birth name alternating – this is the part we will be reading today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to start from the right!

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 – Rameses II, Beloved of Amun (birth name)

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 Rameses II (“Usermaatre” throne name)

𓅓𓂞𓂞 – By Permission Of

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓁩𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Rameses II (birth name variant)

“By Permission Of 𓅓𓂞𓂞” is meant to signify that Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 commissioned the creation of this King List! It’s also cool how different variants of the name 𓂋𓈖 were used throughout the relief!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓁜𓏺𓄟𓋴𓊃 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Tags british museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, seti i

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Rameses II Adoring the Sphinx at Giza”

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date January 7, 2023

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief is called “Rameses II adoring the Sphinx at Giza” and it is such a beautiful 𓄤 piece! Let’s take a closer look!

By the time Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 at Giza was already ancient (~1200 years old) – which is almost mind blowing to think about!!! During the 18th Dynasty (the dynasty before Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) the cult of the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 began to reach its peak in terms of religious importance.

During the first 𓏃 year of their reign 𓈎𓏏𓋾, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take a trip to the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 as almost a right of passage. They would then build monuments 𓏠𓏍 to document the occasion. This relief is representative of that trip that Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 took!

The New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓐆 knew the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 as Hor-em-Akhet 𓅃𓐝𓈌 which translates to “Horus in the Horizon.” The name 𓂋𓈖 most likely came from the fact that the Sphinx’s 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 head is seen in between Khufu 𓐍𓆑𓅱 and Khafre’s 𓇳𓈍𓆑 pyramids 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴𓏪, and can appear like the sun disc 𓇳 when approached from a certain direction. It’s definitely a creative name 𓂋𓈖!

Let’s read some simple hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here’s a breakdown of the name 𓂋𓈖 Horus in the Horizon 𓅃𓐝𓈌! Can you spot this on the relief?

𓅃 – Horus

𓐝 – em = in the

𓈌 – akhet = horizon

There are actually two 𓏻 different versions of this relief! If you look at the pictures above versus the pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 below, the reliefs are facing two 𓏻 different directions!

For a closer hieroglyphic study, we are going to be looking at the relief facing the left because I was able to get better pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this one! Both reliefs are pretty much identical except for the direction that they face!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below. Some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are missing, but I was able to infer what was being written:

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓎟𓈍𓏥 – Lord of Appearances

𓇳𓁩𓄟𓋴𓋴𓌸 – Rameses II (Birth Name Variant) (this cartouche is too damaged for me to know which variant, so I made my best guess)

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Usermaatre (Rameses II throne name)

𓊹𓄤 – Perfect God

𓎸𓅓(𓏲𓅆)(𓀭) – Khnum (these hieroglyphs are cut off, but my best guess is this is the start of the name of the god Khnum)

Here’s the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 translation for the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 posted below:

𓅃 – Horus

𓐝 – in the

𓈌 – Horizon

𓏙 – Given

𓋹 – Life

𓆑 – His

𓎟 – All

𓊽 – Stability

𓌀 – Strength

𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏜 – Health

𓄫𓄣𓏏 – Joy

𓎟 – All

𓇳𓏇 – Like Ra

𓇳𓎟 – Every day

This beautiful 𓄤 and unique relief is located at the Louvre in France!

Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, louvre, rameses ii

Blog Video

Video – Replica Statue of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 24, 2022

This little replica of the Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 from the Museo Egizio in Torino was given to me by my Nonno, and I love it so much!

You can read more about this beautiful 𓄤 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in my post about it!

Here is a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 to show you where Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 (and a replica ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure, also from the Museo Egizio) sits on my bookshelf!

Tags blog, museo egizio, nonno, rameses ii, video

Egyptian Artifacts

Rameses II at the Museo Egizio

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 23, 2022

Today’s 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 are from Nonno’s point of view! While I have never been to the Museo Egizio in Torino, my Nonno had been there many times and always spoke so highly of it. He took these photos 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on one of his trips there. He spoke about this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 a lot because he thought it was just stunning 𓄤. It is one of my dreams to go to the Museo Egizio one day – I just wish Nonno and I could have gone there together 𓈖𓊗.

This granodiorite 𓏠𓈖𓏏𓏏𓊌 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 is one of the most majestic pieces in the museum’s collection and one of the most lifelike statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 there is of Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖. This may just be mine (and Nonno’s) opinion, but I think it is one of the most majestic of all of the pharaonic statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 (Besides Hatshepsut’s of course)!!!

Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 is depicted here wearing the khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (also known as the blue crown) and he is holding a scepter 𓋾 in his hand. On his feet he is wearing sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏪, but under those sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏪 are nine bows 𓉺𓏏𓌔𓏦 which represent the enemies 𓐍𓆑𓏏𓀏𓏪 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

On either side of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 legs, there are two 𓏻 smaller figures. On the right side is Queen Nefertari 𓏏𓅑𓄤𓏏𓇋𓏮𓈖𓈘𓏏 and on the left is Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 and Nefertari’s 𓏏𓅑𓄤𓏏𓇋𓏮𓈖𓈘𓏏 first 𓏃 born son 𓅭 Amunherkhepeshef 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓁷𓏺𓄘𓀼.

While it may be difficult to see in the photographs, a special symbol appears on both sides of the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. This symbol, called the sema-tawy 𓋍, is a combination of many different symbols all combined into one! Most prominently, it is thought to be representative of the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 and the windpipe 𓄥. The lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 are a symbol of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the windpipe 𓄥 was a symbol of Lower Egypt 𓆤. Due to this, the sema-tawy 𓋍 is thought to be the symbol of a unified Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was always referred to as the “Lord of the Two Lands 𓎟𓇿𓇿” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt 𓆥” because Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆤 Egypt, although united, were in fact very different from each other. They each had their own natural resources, cultures and local gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. The lung 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺 and windpipe 𓄥 design 𓋍 was usually found on objects that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. In this case, it is on the side of one of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 most beautiful 𓄤 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪!

Some Egyptologists think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks like Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖, and that Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 usurped it from his own father 𓇋𓏏𓀀. However, there are no signs of reworking on the cartouche or on the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 as a whole, so the two 𓏻 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 probably just resembled each other!

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is dated to the first 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 years of the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, because Nefertari 𓏏𓅑𓄤𓏏𓇋𓏮𓈖𓈘𓏏 died during Year 30 𓎆𓎆𓎆 of Rameses II’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏.

Tags artifact, museo egizio, rameses ii

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Ancient Plagiarism – aka Usurping

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 11, 2022

This statue is very interesting because it was originally made for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenemhat II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 during the 12th 𓎆𓏻 Dynasty. However if you look at the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, the cartouches of Rameses II can be read! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 used to recycle statues all the time – this is a process known as usurping (taking one pharaoh’s monuments, erasing their name, and putting yours!). It’s kind of like ancient plagiarism!!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓆥(𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖) King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre
𓅭𓇳(𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓) Son of Ra, Rameses

This statue is made of granodiorite, a type of volcanic (igneous) rock. It was quarried at Aswan and then transported up the Nile to Memphis, where it was sculpted.

Tags amenemhat ii, artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

Pylon Shaped Stela of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date October 5, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at a “Pylon Shaped Stela of Rameses II” (c. 1279–1213 B.C.E.) at the MET. This piece is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and describes Rameses II 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖!

Here is the left two columns:

𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Rameses II (Birth Name)

𓉡 – Hathor

𓎟𓏏 – Lady

𓆭𓏏 – Sycamore

𓇔𓏏 – Southern

𓌺 – Beloved

Put all together, this inscription reads: “Rameses II, Beloved of Hathor, Lady of the Southern Sycamore.”

Here are the right two columns:

𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖 – Rameses II (Throne Name)

𓉡 – Hathor

𓎟𓏏 – Lady

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

𓌺 – Beloved

Put all together, this inscription reads: “Rameses II, Beloved of Hathor, Lady of the West.”

Hathor 𓉡 has the title “Lady of the West 𓎟𓏏𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊” because of her roles was to provide peace and solace to the souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they entered the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Many people obviously associate Hathor 𓉡 with love, joy 𓄫𓏏𓄣, music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 etc, but she was also a prominent funerary goddess 𓊹𓏏!

Hathor 𓉡 has the title “Lady of the Southern Sycamore 𓎟𓏏𓆭𓏏𓇔𓏏” or just “Lady of the Sycamore 𓎟𓏏𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭” because the sycamore tree 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 was one of the native trees in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, and it grew at the edge of the desert 𓅟𓂋𓏏𓈊! This would put it near necropolises, tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 etc, so it was associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! Hathor 𓉡 was considered one of the tree goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏, along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 and Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭.

Tags gods and goddesses, hathor, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Horus Name of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date October 5, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the Horus Name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! So far, I have really only spoken about the Throne Name (𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖) and the Birth Name (𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓), so let’s take a closer look at the Horus Name!

The Horus Name is the oldest way that a pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 name 𓂋𓈖 was written/identified and is one of five 𓏾 ways to write the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The Horus Name consists of three elements: the palace facade 𓊁, Horus the Falcon 𓅃 standing on top of the palace 𓊁, and the name 𓂋𓈖 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 within the palace 𓊁. The palace 𓊁 hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is pronounced like “serekh” and some Egyptologists are now referring to the Horus Name as the Serekh Name. This was basically the early version of the cartouche!

Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 had a lot of different variations of his Horus Name, so let’s take a look at the two 𓏻 that are pictured!

𓂡𓃒𓁛𓌺 – “Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra”

𓂡𓃒𓁧𓌺 – “Strong Bull, Beloved of Maat”

“Strong Bull 𓂡𓃒“ was a very popular way to start off the Horus Name because bulls 𓃒𓃒𓃒 were a symbol of strength 𓌀 and fertility, both of which are qualities that pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to have!

Tags hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, the met

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