Tag: brooklyn museum

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 19, 2023

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 are one of them! The little hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are a nice plus too because they are so cute!

Me with the Hippos and Hedgehogs at the Brooklyn Museum!

The the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨! William has lotus flowers 𓆸𓏪 painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile 𓇋𓏏𓂋𓅱𓈗𓈘𓈇𓏺 and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

Hippos and Hedgehogs!

In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, the hedgehog 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛 was associated with rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱, which is a concept central to the ancient Egyptian religion. This association occurred because when food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 is scarce, hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 will retreat into their underground burrows for long periods of time. Hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 only re-emerge from their burrows during times of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 abundance. This disappearing/appearing pattern strongly correlated with the concept of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 to the ancient Egyptians.

The hedgehogs 𓎛𓈖𓏏𓏭𓄛𓏪 in this display are made out of blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 just like the hippopotamus 𓌉𓏏𓃯!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Video

Wooden Statue of Anubis (Video)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is one of my favorites!

@ancientegyptblog
This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is one of my favorites! This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎. Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill/mountain 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above! This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #ancientegyptblog #anticoegitto #egyptology #brooklynmuseum #anubis #egitto
♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

This statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 shows Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in his jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 form. The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎.

Another one of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 titles is “upon his hill/mountain 𓁶𓏺𓈋𓆑” and this hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrase usually follows his name 𓂋𓈖 in dedication texts! Again, this is representative of Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 role as protector 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱; he was always standing watch from above!

This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular!

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, video

Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 8, 2023

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title “Goldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).

Me with the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose at the Brooklyn Museum

This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐!

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 as well.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script

Hieratic is the script that this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read Hieratic well at all! While Hieratic is another way to write the Middle Egyptian language, some of the symbols look VERY different and have evolved over time – it is definitely difficult to learn! Much like hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, Hieratic can be read from top to bottom, right to left or left to right.

The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script in black and red ink

Some of the Hieratic is in black 𓆎𓅓 ink while some of it is in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓂝𓏛 of a spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃” could have been written/drawn in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all! So, some of the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems kinda random.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

@ancientegyptblog

Tags artifact, book of the dead, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III?

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 6, 2023

This quartzite statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Brooklyn Museum is called “Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 or Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠” and while small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it certainly gives us a lot to think about! I think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a representation of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 for a couple of reasons!

Statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first and most obvious reason are the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on his chest ornament, which is on top of an elaborately carved broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. While the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, here is the translation:

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s throne name)

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Ra

𓌸 – Beloved

So the full translation would be “Nebmaatra, Beloved of Amun-Ra.” This clearly labels the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as being of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠.

Me with the statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 does have a some similarities to the representation of the god 𓊹 Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 too, especially the remnants of the crown on his head, which is the same two-plume crown 𓋛 that is characteristic of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺.

Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 seems to have had a fascination with Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺, and probably wanted to be depicted as him. Many Egyptologists wonder if Amenhotep III’s 𓇳𓁧𓎠 fascination with this solar deity was inspiration for his son 𓅭 Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 religious revolution.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags amenhotep iii, amun ra, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 4, 2023

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 at the Brooklyn Museum is similar to the one I posted from the MET yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳! I love seeing “sister” pieces across museums!

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

This piece is dated to the Late Period or Ptolemaic Period (c. 664-30 B.C.E.), which is when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 in this style became extremely popular! This piece was likely found at Saqqara, which in ancient Egyptian times was called Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖.

I also love this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 because it is very similar to Anubis’ 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 determinative hieroglyph 𓃣 (which is my favorite hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbol) and it’s almost identical to the ‘recumbent jackal 𓃢” sign! The recumbent position is representative of him guarding the necropolis 𓋴𓈖𓊼 from high above on a hill 𓈎𓄿𓄿𓊎 or mountain 𓈋𓅳- as was his role as the god 𓊹 of cemeteries and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎.

Ptolemaic Statue of Anubis at the Brooklyn Museum

Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, despite being associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, was a very positive figure in Egyptian religion. In Egyptian mythology, he played the vital role in the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 of the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and weighed the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 against Maat’s 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 feather 𓆄𓏺 in the Weighing of the Heart! In modern pop culture, Anubis is usually the “villain” when in reality he was a highly regarded and peaceful god 𓊹!

Basically, I love anything to do with Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣! Seeing a well preserved statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of him, or hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbols of his name 𓂋𓈖 in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 makes me really happy 𓄫𓏏𓄣 and excited. It’s like seeing an old friend 𓈘𓈇𓀀𓁐!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags anubis, artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses

Egyptian Artifacts

Soul of Pe

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 29, 2023

This bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 kneeling statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 deity 𓊹 is referred to as the “Soul of Pe” and it is actually another way to depict the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭. Also known as “Horus of Pe,” these bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 became popular during the Late Period, after 600 B.C.E.

Bronze Soul of Pe statue on display at the Brooklyn Museum

The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and are referred to as the ancestors of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 symbolized the predynastic rulers of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of Pe 𓊪𓊖 and Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 were thought of as very powerful deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that not only aided the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥, but also the current living 𓆣𓂋𓀀𓏪 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 and Pe 𓊪𓊖 were both cities in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were around as early as the predynastic period. Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 was originally the cult center for the god 𓊹 Horus in Upper Egypt 𓇓, however, Pe a town in Lower Egypt 𓆤, was awarded to Horus 𓅃𓀭 by Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 after his eye was injured during his battle with Seth 𓊃𓏏𓄡𓁣 for the throne of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

In this particular statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, Horus 𓅃𓀭/Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is shown in a characteristic kneeling position with one arm raised, with the other resting on his chest. This is known as a “jubilation position,” which is meant to show the Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 celebrating the rising of the sun 𓆄𓅱𓇶. The Soul of Pe 𓊪𓊖 is usually represented as Horus 𓅃𓀭 the Falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, while the Soul of Nekhen 𓊔𓈖𓊖 is usually represented as a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, horus, soul of pe

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2023

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree!

Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣!

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣.

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, jewelry, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Animal Mummies

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2023

I have mentioned in many previous posts that I have loved mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 ever since my Nonno introduced me to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 when I was a little girl! Although animal mummies are the most common form of Egyptian artifact (seven million dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummies have been found in Saqqara alone), they are among the least understood of all objects.

A dog (left) and a cat (right) mummy on display at the Brooklyn Museum

At the Brooklyn Museum, they have a couple of animal mummies which are in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 here! On the left is a dog 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡 mummy, and on the right is a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummy. The level of preservation of these mummies is exquisite!

It is well documented that the ancient Egyptians kept dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 as pets. In tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥, many times dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 and cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠𓏪 have been found buried with their owners! Dogs 𓃀𓎛𓈖𓃡𓏦 have also been mentioned on funerary stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 along with other family members! The thought is that the pet and the owner would be able to stay together 𓈖𓊗 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 if they were buried together 𓈖𓊗.

One of the possible explanations of the significance of animal mummies can be tied to the Egyptian cultural aspect surrounding animals. Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for “animal” – there was the word 𓌚𓅓𓄛 but it translates more accurately to “beast” then all animals in general. The Egyptians didn’t think of animals as “less” than humans – Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅡𓏺 (part of the soul 𓂓 that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 through death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 just like humans.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, mummy

Egyptian Artifacts

Professional Mourners

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 22, 2023

While preparing for death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 was an essential part of life on Earth 𓇾𓇾 for the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪, it doesn’t mean that they weren’t upset by the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of a loved one. Wealthier Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were able to hire professional mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀠𓏪/𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 for their funerals and those mourners could be men (𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀠𓏪) or women (𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪).

A limestone relief from a tomb which shows Professional Mourners outside the entrance to a tomb.

In the case of this sunken limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 relief, there are three 𓏼 female mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 present – two 𓏻 are sitting and one 𓏺 is standing. Only one of the female figures is fully preserved. At funerals, the professional mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 were hired to sing and cry.

The three 𓏼 mourners 𓇋𓎡𓃀𓏏𓏭𓁐𓏪 are in front of a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 entrance, which looks like the “shrine facade 𓉱” hieroglyphic symbol.

The entrance to the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 has plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰 and offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in front of it. I also like the column 𓅱𓐍𓇋𓇅 that is added to this relief.

Reliefs such as these served the purpose of ensuring perpetual mourning for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. If there was mourning present on the reliefs within a tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐, it meant that the mourning would go on for all 𓎟 eternity 𓆖.

On a personal note, this relief really speaks to me because this account on the most basic level is a manifestation of my grief. I started this account as a way to try and cope with my Nonno’s death, and over three years later it’s still helping me to do that. I see the three people in this relief as me, my sister and my brother. It’s incredible how I can deeply relate to a tomb relief from ancient Egypt.

This piece is from Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 (present day Saqqara) and is dated to Dynasty 19 (c. 1295-1190 B.C.E.).

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part II)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 16, 2023
1 Comment on Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part II)

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named 𓂋𓈖 Nespanetjerenpere and is on display at the Brooklyn Museum. Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 we looked at the front, and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the back!

Me with the back of the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Museum

On the back, the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭 and Thoth 𓅤𓀭 are depicted. On the left, the ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 headed god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅤𓀭, and the god 𓊹 of writing is shown. On the right is Horus 𓅃𓀭, who is the falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 and the embodiment of divine kingship. He was considered to be the god 𓊹 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and the “Lord of the Sky 𓎟𓊪𓏏𓇯.”

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 are seen holding a Djed pillar 𓊽, which is the symbol of stability. The Djed pillar 𓊽 is thought to be the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The Djed pillar 𓊽, shown here is even wearing the Atef crown 𓋚, which is the crown that Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 wears.

The back of the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere, showing Thoth (left), the djed pillar (center) and Horus (right)

It is very symbolic that this image 𓅱𓏏𓅱 appears where the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of the mummy 𓅱𓇋𓀾 would be. It can be interpreted that Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭are supporting the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of the deceased person.

When a person died 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and became “The Osiris,” The Djed Pillar 𓊽 was then thought to represent their spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦! The spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 was thought to keep Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 upright and able to function as the primary god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is even referenced in the The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.”

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, horus, thoth

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories