Tag: the met

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouche of Pharaoh Nebra

IΒ am standing with the Horus cartouche of the Second Dynasty Pharaoh Nebra π“ŽŸπ“‡³ (or Raneb).

Not much is known about Nebra π“ŽŸπ“‡³ besides his name, which mostly appears on alabaster bowls and cups. The length of his rule is also not known, since that section of the Turin Canon/Papyrus is destroyed but Egyptologists estimate it to be about 10 π“Ž† -14 π“Ž†π“½ years.

The name Nebra π“ŽŸπ“‡³ (or Raneb) has puzzled Egyptologists because Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 was not a big religious figure during the Second Dynasty. At that time, Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ was the main deity and Egyptian religion very much centered on the story of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£ and the importance of keeping divine balance. The name Nebra π“ŽŸπ“‡³ can also be translated as either β€œLord of the sun (Ra)” or β€œRa is my lord,” which would show that the sun was already being worshipped separately as its own deity at this time instead of just being part of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. The Third Dynasty (around the rule of Djoser 𓂦) is really when evidence of the sun being an independent deity begins to show up in Egyptian society.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Swivel Scarab Rings of Thutmosis III


I am the type of person that loves jewelry, and a lot of the jewelry that I wear is inspired by ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Rings are my absolute favorite type of jewelry to wear, and I love looking at the jewelry of the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ in museums! I may be biased, but I think that Egyptian jewelry is the most beautiful type of jewelry! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 sure knew how to accessorize!

These scarab 𓆣 rings bear the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. Scarab 𓆣 rings like these were extremely popular during the New Kingdom. I love how the different colors of the scarab 𓆣 pair so beautifully with the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰. Also these are swivel rings, meaning they spin! How cool is that??!!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Scarabs of Hathsepsut and Thutmosis III

Here are some of the scarabs that have both the names of Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.

The three 𓏼 scarabs at the top are inscribed with the cartouche of Thutmosis III, 𓇳𓏠𓆣 while the scarab at the bottom has both of their cartouches. It’s very interesting to see objects with both of their cartouches on it, and these would most likely date from their joint rule before Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 declared herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Something that has always been crazy to me is how detailed and beautiful π“„€ the inscriptions on such small objects can be! I know that the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used molds to make small objects a lot of the time, but the craftsmanship is incredibly impressive! I’m such a bad artist and have zero artistic talent, so I have so much respect π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„… for the people who created all of these beautiful works of art that I get to study and admire.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Cow Statue of the Goddess Hathor


I am with a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of a cow’s 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 head, which of course is representative of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑.

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.

Fun fact: the words β€œbeautiful woman” and β€œcow” are super similar in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ- only the determinative at the end is different! They are even pronounced the same (nfrt) Why? Probably because of Hathor 𓉑! I find this hysterical – you probably don’t want to mess these two words up (in English at least πŸ˜‚). Even my family knows this fact about hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, because I bring it up all the time!!

𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 (beautiful woman)
𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 (cow)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sistrum of Hathor

Hathor 𓉑 was the goddess of music, and music has been something that I have loved throughout my entire life. From listening to classic Italian music with my Nonno, to discovering artists myself, music has always been healing to me. I cannot go a day without listening to my favorite artists. Music has not only been essential to my life, but it was also culturally essential in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

The piece in the picture is a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ with Hathor’s 𓉑 head depicted. A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was almost like an ancient tambourine or rattle – while the part that makes the music is often not found intact, the handle with Hathor’s 𓉑 face usually is. Sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ can be found dating back to the Old Kingdom, but most that are found are usually from the Late – Graeco/Roman periods. We don’t know much about the songs that were sung in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– because the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ did not have any form of musical notation, however, archaeologists have been able to replicate various types of instruments based on archaeological findings and try to figure out how they would sound! Musicians were often associated with a temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ or a particular god π“ŠΉ/goddess π“ŠΉπ“, and they usually held a decently high place in the social hierarchy.

My absolute favorite artists are No Doubt, Il Volo, BTS, and One Direction! I also listen to a lot of other Italian artists, Broadway cast recordings, and classic rock music! Do you guys have some favorite musicians that you listen to?

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Horemheb

Before Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– became the last pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty, he was a general under the pharaohs Tutankamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ and Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏.

This large statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ (and a second similar one) at the MET would have been placed in a temple – either the temple of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± at Memphis or the temple of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ at Karnak.

It was standard for high officials to show themselves in a seated position with a papyrus scroll 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 on their lap. In the Old Kingdom, the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ usually showed the official reading, but in the New Kingdom, the statues always showed the official writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– is writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ a hymn to the god Thoth π“…€π“€­(who is the god of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯).

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ around the base of the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ mention Horemheb’s π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– many titles. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the β€œpapyrus” 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 that is on Horemheb’s π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– lap can actually be read, but it was so difficult to get a picture𓏏𓅱𓏏/actually read them because I could not get close enough to the statue!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statues of Merti and His Wife

These two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were something my Nonno always made sure I appreciated when we went to the MET. My Nonno loved the Egyptian pieces that were made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 because wood is difficult to preserve. Since wood is organic, in heat and humidity it will break down, especially over thousands of years. He always wanted me to appreciate how well preserved these two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues were!

These two 𓏻 wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ are from the 5th Dynasty and depicts the Governor Merti and his wife. They are both wearing wigs and nice clothing garments. Eleven π“Ž†π“Ί wooden statues were found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ at Saqqara and all of them were in incredible condition.

Though it is difficult to see in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Merti is carrying the Sekhem Scepter, depicted similarly by the hieroglyph π“Œ‚, which translates to β€œpower.” That particular hieroglyphic symbol is also part of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Sekhmet’s π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ name, and her name translates to β€œshe of might.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Anubis – Names and Titles in Hieroglyphs

It’s no secret that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 (Inpu in Egyptian – the name Anubis is actually Greek) is my favorite of the Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ! I have always been a fan of mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ, so it makes sense that the god of embalming, tombs, cemeteries, etc ended up being my favorite! Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 also could act as a guide to souls in the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐(referenced in the Pyramid Texts of Unas).

The inscription (which is read from left to right on this particular text) states: π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“…±π“ƒ£π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘ π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–.

The translation is:
π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – An offering the king gives
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣- Anubis
π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘ – Upon his hill/mountain
π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š– – He who is in the mummy wrappings

The title β€œπ“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹π“†‘β€ refers to Anubis’ role as the protector of the tombs while β€œ π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š–β€ refers to Anubis’ importance as the god π“ŠΉ of embalming/mummification.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Name Panels of Senwosret I

I am standing in front of the Name Panels for the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– at the MET. These panels were originally part of his pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 complex and were reconstructed from excavated pieces.

Senwosret I’s π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– throne name Kheperkare 𓇳𓆣𓂓 is seen multiple times along with his Horus name β€œπ“‹Ήπ“„Ÿβ€ which means β€œliving in births.”

These panels were originally part of his pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 complex and were reconstructed from excavated pieces.

A lot of Egyptian art was designed to be in three layers. The falcon god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen at the top of all the panels which represent the world 𓇾𓇾 according to Egyptian religious beliefs – at the top is the realm of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, then beneath that is the realm of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

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Egyptian Artifacts

An Alternate View of Hatshepsut

This is probably going to sound strange to some, but I was so excited to see the back of the Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ at the MET!

Usually when the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is displayed you can’t see the back of it, but since the statue is part of the special exhibition of the 150th anniversary of the MET, it’s in a different room! The different location allowed me to gain new views of my absolute favorite piece!

I had only ever seen the back of the statue in a book 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 that I have from the special exhibition β€œHatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh” at the MET in 2006. The back is very interesting because you can still see some of the original paint remaining (although in my photo it is difficult to see)!! The paint is a blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color!