Tag: hieroglyphs

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

“Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef”

This beautiful 𓄤 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is titled by the MET as “Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.”

This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is dated to Dynasty 11 of the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1988 B.C.E.) and we know this because the cartouches of Mentuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 (credited with reunifying Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖) appear as a dedication from Intef 𓏎𓈖𓏏𓆑, the owner of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. Intef 𓏎𓈖𓏏𓆑 was an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 and “overseer of the fortress” – a title that could’ve only been given to him after the reunification of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! While I would love to translate the whole thing for all of you, there is too much text to fit in an Instagram description, and it’s hard to see some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! so I will do as much as I can! Below are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 from the first half of top panel of the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸! I want to translate the other readable parts for you all too so I will do that soon!

𓅃𓄥𓇿𓇿 – Horus, Uniter of the Two Lands

𓅒𓄥𓇿𓇿- Two Ladies, Uniter of the Two Lands

𓅉 – Horus of Gold

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt

(𓇳𓎟𓊤) Nebhapetra (throne name)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

(𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪) Mentuhotep II (given name)

𓋹 – Life

𓇳𓏇 -Like Ra

𓆖 – Forever

Here it is all together: 𓅃𓄥𓇿𓇿𓅒𓄥𓇿𓇿𓅉𓆥(𓇳𓎟𓊤)𓅭𓇳(𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪)𓋹𓇳𓏇𓆖

“Horus, “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Two Ladies “Uniter of the Two Lands,” Falcon of Gold, King of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebhepetre, Son of Ra, Mentuhotep, alive like Ra forever.”

Nicole (me) with the Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef.
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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Seti I

Here’s another piece from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology! This is a really simple piece but I really like it! It probably caught my eye because it has the cartouche of Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 on it, and Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 was one of my Nonno’s favorite pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! The afternoon that Nonno and I spent exploring the Petrie Museum was one of the best days of my life!

This piece is a fragment from a larger statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾. On the top part of the piece you can even see the bottom part of a broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. It is made of black 𓆎𓅓 basalt, which is an igneous rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙. Basalt forms when lava solidifies on the Earth’s surface or under the ocean. The entire ocean floor is made of basalt which means that it is is the most abundant rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 on Earth (and Mars too)!

The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on this piece are very simple and easy to read!

𓇓𓏏 King of Upper…

𓋔𓏏…and Lower Egypt

(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – Maatmenra (Seti I – Maatmenra was his throne name)

Usually the title of “King of Upper and Lower Egypt” is written as “𓆥” so it is interesting to see it written as “𓇓𓏏𓋔𓏏.” In the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 for this piece, the crown of Lower Egypt 𓋔 was used instead of the bee 𓆤.

King of Upper and Lower Egypt 𓆥 can literally be translated to “He of the Sedge and the Bee,” which is the title that usually preceded the prenomen, which was also known as the throne name or the royal name. The sedge 𓇓 was the symbol for Upper Egypt while the bee 𓆤 was the symbol of Lower Egypt. This title was symbolic that the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was ruling over a united Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to have this title was the Pharaoh Den 𓂧𓈖 during the First Dynasty!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Thutmosis I

This fragment of a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief shows part of the cartouche for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓! Let’s take a look at his name 𓂋𓈖!

While Thutmosis I’s birth name is usually written as (𓅝𓄟𓋴) this particular cartouche shows a variant of this name 𓂋𓈖. The full variant would most likely read (𓈍𓅝𓄟𓋴𓄤𓏥𓊃) which means “Thoth is born, who has appeared perfectly.”

Another variant of his birth name is (𓈍𓅝𓇳𓄟𓏇𓊃) which means “Thoth is born, who has appeared like Ra.” The more popular variant of this birth name, (𓅝𓄟𓋴) simply means “Thoth is born.”

Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 (this is his throne name -“Great is the manifestation of the Soul of Ra”) was the third 𓏼 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty. Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 was responsible for many successful military campaigns and building projects, including additions to the Temple of Amun 𓇋𓏠𓈖 at Karnak. Though, in my opinion, Thutmosis I’s 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 most notable achievement is being Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 father 𓇋𓏏𓀀!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Reliefs of Thutmosis III

Here is a very nice raised relief in limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 which depicts pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 (left). He can be identified based off of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 of his name 𓂋𓈖 that appear to his right.

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Brooklyn Museum

Here are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 broken down:

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III’s throne name)
𓊹𓄤 – The Great God
𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Also on the right is the remnant of another person – most likely the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 (a portion of a shoulder and a crown are seen, so the presence of the crown allows us to infer that it is in fact another royal figure).

What is super interesting about this piece is that the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 that are carved are not the actual pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 themselves, but statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 of them! This relief is depicting a religious precession that took place at Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐. This piece was excavated from the temple and is dated to c. 1478-1458 B.C.E.

Here is another example of a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙. Menkheperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (Thutmosis III’s throne name) is above his head 𓁶𓏺 on the relief so we know that it is him! This one is in the Vatican Museum!

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Vatican Museum

While many know that the Ankh 𓋹 is the symbol that corresponds with the word “Life,” the Ankh 𓋹 had other symbolic meanings as well – one of which is shown on this relief fragment!

The Ankh 𓋹 can also symbolize the purifying 𓋴𓃂𓈗 power of water 𓈗. In many temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦 in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (like Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 here) is flanked by two 𓏻 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. One of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who did was was usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, but it is impossible to tell which god 𓊹 is performing the action in this relief. The gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 would pour a stream of Ankhs 𓋹𓋹𓋹 over his head 𓁶𓏺 to cleanse 𓋴𓃂𓈗 and purify 𓋴𓃂𓈗 him (Fun Fact: cleanse and purify can be the same word in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 but there are other variations of each word too).

Totally unrelated thought but I have always loved the word for water (𓈗) because it is the “n” symbol! Since my name 𓂋𓈖 is Nicole and my name would start with 𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, as a kid 𓐍𓇌𓀕 I would refer to 𓈖 and 𓈗 as “my symbol” 😂.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Parapet from Amarna

Here is a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 fragment of a parapet (c. 1352-1336 B.C.E., New Kingdom Amarna Period) that depicts the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭. A parapet is a low wall, and it may have been part of a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at one point.

In the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 is offering cartouches to the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. These cartouches do not belong to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, but to the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 itself which is different because cartouches were usually for pharaohs. Also strange is that other gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are mentioned in the Aten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 cartouches, even while the Egyptian religion was banned. These might be early cartouches, before a complete ban took effect. There is also a lot of debate because does this mean that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 on Earth 𓇾𓇾, or were they two 𓏻 separate beings?

Front side of the limestone parapet from Amarna

Here is a closer look at the cartouches:

(𓈌𓈌𓅊𓋹𓎛𓂝𓏮𓏛𓐝𓈌) – “ “The living Re-Horakhty, Rejoicing in the horizon”

(𓐝𓂋𓈖𓆑𓐝𓆄𓅱𓇳𓈖𓏏𓏮𓐝𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳) – “In his name as Shu, who is in the Aten”

Also in the image𓏏𓅱𓏏, Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 is extending light rays to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭. The light rays are represented by lines, with hands 𓂧𓏏𓏦 on the end that are holding Ankhs 𓋹𓋹𓋹.

Obverse side of the limestone parapet from Amarna

This is the obverse side of the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 fragment of a parapet (c. 1352-1336 B.C.E., New Kingdom Amarna Period) that depicts the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (left) and Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 (right).

The piece is in such poor condition because after the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, his city was abandoned and fell to disarray. This makes the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 difficult to translate but I will try! Also, many of the buildings were destroyed by Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 and the materials were then used to build 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 one of his temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏦.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is the third column from the left:

(𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖) – cartouche of Akhenaten
𓐙𓉻 – “True of Voice” or “Justified”
𓊢𓂝𓇳𓏤 – Lifetime
𓆑 – “he” or “his”

“Akhenaten, true of voice, in his lifetime…”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Hatshepsut – Dispelling Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, and I want to show why they are misconceptions.

It was always said by historians that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was “showing herself as a male” or “trying/wanting to be a man.” These statements are just not true. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 never portrayed herself as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤. She portrayed herself as a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, which she was! In fact, she very much referred to herself as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐. How do we know? It’s all in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Let’s take a look at the titles she gives herself.

The inscription reads: 𓄤𓊹𓏏𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿𓇳𓁦𓂓𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼𓇿𓇿𓌸𓇌𓋹𓍘𓆖

𓄤𓊹𓏏 – “Perfect goddess”
𓎟𓏏𓇿𓇿 – “Lady of the Two Lands”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – “Maatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)
𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun
𓎟𓎼𓎼𓎼𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Thrones
𓌸𓇌 – Beloved
𓋹𓍘 – May She Live!
𓆖 – Eternity

So the inscription reads “Perfect goddess, lady of the two lands Maatkare, Beloved of Amun, Lord of the Thrones, May She Live, For Eternity.”

If Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was referring to herself as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 or trying to be a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤, the inscription would read like this:

𓄤𓊹 𓎟𓇿𓇿 𓇳𓁦𓂓 – “Perfect god, lord of the two lands Maatkare.”

The addition of the “𓏏” makes the words the feminine version! “𓎟 – Lord” becomes “𓎟𓏏 – Lady” and “𓊹 -God” becomes “ 𓊹𓏏 – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is very much referring to herself as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 – it’s in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here is the other inscription that is on the statue:

The inscription reads:𓅭𓏏𓇳𓈖𓏏𓄡𓏏𓆑(𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪)𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓇓𓏏𓊹𓏥𓌻𓇌𓋹𓏏𓆓𓆑

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra
𓈖𓏏𓄡𓏏𓆑 – Bodily/Of Her Body
(𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)
𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳 – Amun-Ra
𓇓𓏏 – King of (feminine form of King)
𓊹𓏥 – Gods
𓌻𓇌 – Beloved
𓋹𓏏𓆓𓆑 – She Live Forever (forever is usually written as “𓆖”)

Put together, the inscription reads: “Bodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved of Amun-Ra, King of the Gods, May She Live Forever.”

Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is very much referring to herself as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 – it’s in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! If she called herself the “Son of Ra” the inscription would look like “𓅭𓇳” instead of “𓅭𓏏𓇳. ” The word for “bodily 𓈖𓏏𓄡𓏏𓆑” is also feminized, and would be written as “𓈖𓏏𓄡𓆑” if it was referencing a male. The word for “king 𓇓” is also written in the feminine form and has the “𓏏” at the end (𓇓𓏏).

There was no word for “queen” in Middle Egyptian, the closest word that exists is “𓇓𓏏𓏏𓈞,” which translates to “The King’s Wife.” Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was certainly not the King’s Wife: she was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻/king 𓇓𓏏.

This misconception needs to be squashed, because it very much erases Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 identity 𓂋𓈖 and as we know, the name/identity 𓂋𓈖 of a person was essential to Egyptian cultural beliefs. Referring to Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 as anything but how she referred to herself is an insult to her.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Inscription – “Before Anubis”

Here is a piece of an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the MET.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!!

𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓃣 – “Anubis”

A very simple inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖, but something that was important for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 since Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 was tasked with the protection of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! In order for ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 to journey through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and eventually reach the Field of Reeds 𓇏𓏏𓈅𓇋𓄿𓂋𓅱𓆰𓊖, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾/body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to remain intact! So a person definitely wanted to be near Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢!

Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 name 𓂋𓈖 Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓃣
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱
𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓁢
𓃣
𓃤
𓁢

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Relief of Thutmosis III

This is a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief with the cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it. Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Here’s the top line of text: 𓆥(𓇳𓏠𓆣)𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓎟 𓌀𓏏𓊖𓁷𓄣𓉺𓈖𓊖𓌺𓇌

𓆥- King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(𓇳𓏠𓆣) – Menkhepera
𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱 – Montu
𓎟 – Lord of
𓌀𓏏𓊖 – Thebes
𓁷𓄣 – middle/middle of
𓉺𓈖𓊖 – Dendera
𓌺𓇌 – Beloved
The full translation is: “King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Menkhepera, Beloved of Montu, Lord of Thebes, middle of Dendera.”

Here’s the second line of text: 𓅭𓇳(𓅝𓄠𓋴𓇋𓊃) 𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀𓋴𓃀𓈖𓄫𓄣𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖
𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
(𓅝𓄠𓋴𓇋𓊃) – Thutmosis III
𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀 – Given Life, Stability, Strength
𓋴𓃀𓈖- Health
𓄫𓄣 – Happiness
𓇳𓏇𓏺 – Like Ra
𓆖 – Eternity
The full translation is: “Son of Ra, Thutmosis III, Given Life, Stability, Strength, Health, and Happiness, like Ra, for eternity.”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Granite Statue of Hatshepsut and its Hieroglyphs

Since I can’t go too long without talking about Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, let’s talk about this granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of her!

She is depicted in female attire, but is also wearing the nemes head cloth 𓈖𓅓𓋴, which is usually reserved only for the reigning pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to wear! Once again, this imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows that Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 wanted to be seen as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, not be seen as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤.

Her hands 𓂝𓏦 are flat on her lap, which means that this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was probably put inside the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 and meant to receive offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦. This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was found in multiple pieces during excavations at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐, and then pieced back together.

Let’s look at the hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 inscription (only the top part of it can be seen – the other half is too destroyed for me to finish translating):

𓄤𓊹𓏏 – “Perfect goddess”
𓇳𓁦𓂓 – “Maatkare” (Hatshepsut’s throne name)

So the inscription reads “Perfect goddess, Maatkare.”

If Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was referring to herself as a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 or trying to be a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤, the inscription would read like this:

𓄤𓊹(𓇳𓁦𓂓) – “Perfect god, Maatkare.”

The addition of the “𓏏” makes the word the feminine version – “𓊹 -God” becomes “ 𓊹𓏏 – Goddess.” So as you can see, Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 is very much referring to herself as a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 – it’s in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! There are too many examples of Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 being referred to as a female in writing to make the rash conclusion that she was “trying to be a man.”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

False Door of Neferiu

This is another beautiful 𓄤 example of a False Door from the Old Kingdom or First Intermediate Period (8th-11th Dynasty). This False Door belonged to the Royal Sealer 𓅓𓂋𓋩𓏏 Neferiu 𓄤𓂻𓅱. A Royal Sealer 𓅓𓂋𓋩𓏏 had a job similar to that of a treasurer 𓋨𓅱!

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This is the top line of text:
𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓁹𓊨𓀭𓎟𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖𓉓𓂋𓈖𓐍𓄪𓅱𓄤𓂻𓅱

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – an offering the king gives
𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris
𓎟𓊽𓂧𓅱𓊖 – Lord of Djedu
𓉓 – a voice offering
𓂋 – before
𓈖 – to/for
𓐍𓄪𓅱 – the revered
𓄤𓂻𓅱- Neferiu

All together the inscription reads: “An offering the King gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, a voice offering before and to the revered Neferiu.”

This is the second line of text:
𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓃣𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐏 𓉓𓂋𓈖𓄤𓂻𓅱

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – an offering the king gives
𓃣 – Anubis
𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑 – upon his mountain
𓏶𓅱𓏏𓐏 – in the mummy wrappings
𓉓 – a voice offering
𓂋 – before
𓈖 – to/for
𓄤𓂻𓅱 – Neferiu

All together the inscription reads: “An offering the king gives Anubis, Upon His Mountain, in the mummy wrappings, a voice offering before and to Neferiu.”

These two 𓏻 inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 are very common and are the standard “offering formula” (with some minor variations) that are used in many False Doors and Stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸. In the second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I zoomed in on the part with Anubis 𓃣 because he is my favorite and I always get excited when I see his name 𓂋𓈖! Just the determinative symbol for Anubis 𓃣 instead of his full name (𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣) was used in this inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 probably due to a lack of space!

Now let’s read the text that is in the middle panel of the false door! These two 𓏻 pieces of text basically say what a great person Neferiu 𓄤𓂻𓅱 was and it also lists all of the wonderful things he did in his life! I did not write out all of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 this time because it was too long! Please enjoy the translation though!

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is the translation of the inscription on the left side: “I gave bread 𓏏𓏐 to the hungry 𓎛𓈎𓂋𓅩𓀁 and clothes 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓅱𓋳𓏦 to the 𓈖 naked 𓄿𓎛𓇌𓋳𓀁. I drove the boatless in my boat. I gave property to someone I knew as well as to the one I did not. The seal-bearer 𓋨𓅱 of the King of Lower Egypt 𓆤, the sole companion, the revered 𓄪𓐍 Neferiu 𓄤𓂻𓅱.”

This is the text on the right side: “O the living 𓇋𓀞𓋹, those who are upon the Earth 𓇾, who love life 𓋹𓈖𓐍, I gave assistance to those in the year 𓂋𓈖𓆳𓏏𓏤 of hardship. I acted mightily with my strong arm in order to endure among my children. It is Iqer* who did it that I might become greater than the great 𓅩𓂋 ones and the noblemen…of my entire town, who bore witness to me.”
*Iqer is a local deity or the name of a place near Dendera

On the bottom, next to Neferiu 𓄤𓂻𓅱 and his wife 𓈟𓏏 on both sides the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 say:
𓈟𓏏𓌸𓂋𓏏𓆑𓌉𓃀𓆓𓏏 or “His 𓆑 beloved 𓌸𓂋 wife 𓈟𓏏 Wedjbet 𓈟𓏏.”