Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead: Images of Deities

The Book of the Dead of Imhotep at The MET

These images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 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 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! Let’s take a closer look at both the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

The top panel shows the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (right) on their knees in a mourning position on either side of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 is in the form of a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 and is laying on a table that is in the form of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›.

I love how a row of stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼π“ͺ separate the two 𓏻 panels! The star 𓇼 hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ 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 𓏻 of the Sons of Horus are pictured with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in the center. Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is on his shrine π“‰±π“ŠΉ, just like my favorite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! Qebehsenuef π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘π“€­ is on the left of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 is on the right. The Sons of Horus had and Anubis all had roles in the protection of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

One thing I love about Egyptian art is how a lot of times there are β€œcaptions” next to the people/deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are pictured so that way you know who they are! Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are obvious to spot because of the crowns on their heads. Their crowns match the hieroglyphs in their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ – Isis has a π“Š¨ crown while Nephthys has a 𓉠 crown! However, Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 and Qebehsenuef π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘π“€­ are not as easy to recognize because they are mummiform and not in their usual form with the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ or falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ heads! So in this case, the β€œcaptions” are quite useful!!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis as the Defender of Osiris/Dionysus

How cute is this little (4.9 cm) gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ?!?! This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is titled β€œAnubis as Defender of Osiris/Dionysus (?).” It is always so cool to see elements of Egyptian, Greek, or even Roman culture combined into a single statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ! This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the 2nd – 3rd Centiry A.D., which is the Roman Period of Egyptian history!

While the Romans equated Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 to Mercury, the Greeks actually equated Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ to Dionysus! One interpretation of the statue is this: Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is dressed in a military outfit, in order to signify his role as a fighter against the enemies of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is holding a Thysrus in one hand 𓂝𓏺, which is a staff symbolic of/carried by the followers of Dionysus. In the other hand 𓂝𓏺, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is holding a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„.

Cool Connection! BTS actually have a song called β€œDionysus” and it is incredible with lots of cool mythological references/metaphors! My favorite line from the song is β€œArt is alcohol too, if you can drink it, you’ll get drunk fool…” The song is about loving art so of course I love the lyrics because you all know how much I love Egyptian art!

In my independent study of Korean I did learn this though: The Korean word for β€œart” is 예술 (yesul) and the Korean word for β€œalcohol” is 술 (sul) so these lyrics are actually a word play! I just love languages and connecting the things I love together!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Unfinished Stela

Look at this unfinished stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ – there are no hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!! I love when museums have unfinished pieces of Egyptian art because it’s so cool to see various steps in the artistic process! The empty boxes above the deceased (right) and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (left) are where the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ should be!

On the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, there are two Wedjat π“‚€ symbols. The Wedjat π“‚€ is a very common symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and regeneration. In between the Wedjats π“‚€π“‚€ is the Shen 𓍢 symbol! The Shen 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Both of these symbols could be worn by both the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“…±π“¦ and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) is making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (left). This image is a very popular one to appear on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ.

Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because he is wearing the sun-disc 𓇳𓏀 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front. Also, Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… and which is another common way to depict him. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is also sometimes shown holding a scepter π“Œ€ along with a flail π“Œ….

Based on the styling and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 22nd-25th Dynasties. There are many stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ like this in other museums too (except they are mostly finished, not unfinished)!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Sarcophagus of Artemidora

Details of the Winged Scarab on the Sarcophagus of Artemidora at The MET

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the details on a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ that belonged to a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Artemidora who lived in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰, glass, stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, and painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 details on this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ are stunning π“„€!

One of my favorite pieces of imagery from Egyptian art is the Winged Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣! 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! On this sarcophagus, we can see the sun 𓇳𓏺 represented above the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣; this was because Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 used to carry the sun 𓇳𓏺 across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯!

Below the winged π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒ scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣, we can see the shen 𓍢 symbol! The shen 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. The shen 𓍢 was first seen during the Old Kingdom, and was a very popular symbol throughout Egyptian history; Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ are frequently seen holding them!

Cool Fact: the wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ on the scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 are not those of a beetle, but are actually the wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ of a bird! Also, I just love the painted 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 details on these wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦; it’s 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 π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ standing with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of the deceased who is laying on a bed with a lion design. Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 arms are raised, and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is holding the traditional crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ…. Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ, and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is my sister’s π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ favorite! I always like seeing Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ together π“ˆ–π“Š— for that reason – it reminds me of me and my sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“!

To the left of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 and to the right of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 are the actual sisters π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“π“¦ in Egyptian mythology and in funerary scenes are usually depicted together!

You can tell which goddess π“ŠΉπ“ is which based off of the crowns on their head 𓁢𓏺! The crown on Nephthys’ head is 𓉠 which is the hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ that’s part of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and the crown on Isis’ head is π“Š¨ which also corresponds with her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! If you also look at the text that is next to each of them, their names are also written – it’s almost like a caption!

See if you can spot Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis and his Common Title

Here is a close up of an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ from a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ at the MET! While this is only part of the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, it is my favorite part! It’s my favorite because this is the part of the inscription that is the dedication to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! Whenever I see Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in the inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ I get really excited – as if I’m seeing a celebrity!

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

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 – Anubis
𓁢π“Šͺπ“ˆ‹π“Ίπ“†‘ Upon His Hill

This inscription can also be written as: π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘. If you notice, on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­, Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is missing the β€œπ“…±β€ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ! Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– might have been pronounced β€œInpw,” but here it’s written just as β€œInp!”

Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“…±
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒
𓃣
𓃀
𓁒

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

β€œUpon His Hill 𓁢π“Šͺπ“ˆ‹π“Ίπ“†‘β€ refers to Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 role as the protector of the tombs and cemeteries. Most of the time, tombs/cemeteries we’re surrounded by cliffs, hence the title! It could also be translated as β€œUpon His Mountain.”