Tag: isis

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Statues of Isis and Nephthys

This post will be about two statues from different museums that are very similar!

This is a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 dated from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period. I am always amazed when wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statues are in such great condition – even though the paint is chipping in some places, the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ still retained much of its original color!

Wooden Statue of Nephthys at the Brooklyn Museum

Along with her sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the dead and this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was most likely used for funerary purposes. The crown on her head is one of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that is used in her name (𓉠), which makes Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 very easy to identify in tomb art/funerary art. Her hand/arm 𓂝𓏺 is raised in what is thought to me a mourning position, and this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was most likely placed in a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰.

Nephthys’ 𓉠𓏏𓆇 title was β€œMistress of the House π“ŽŸπ“π“‰π“Ί.” Her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– could also be written as π“ŽŸπ“π“‰—π“π“’π“―π“†—. The three 𓏼 symbols β€œπ“ŽŸπ“π“‰—β€ can be combined to make the β€œπ“‰ β€ symbol, which is not only the crown, but a space saver when writing out hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Nephthys’ 𓉠𓏏𓆇 hair is blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ because it was supposed to be the same color as lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧! Lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 is a stone (usually found in modern day Afghanistan) and was considered to be worth more than gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ because it had to be traded for! Many of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ were thought to have blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 hair!

This is a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is dated from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period. Once again, this wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 statue is in such great condition! When I saw the statue of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 in the Brooklyn Museum, it immediately reminded me of this statue of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ at the Louvre!

Wooden Statue of Isis at the Louvre

Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of the dead and the wife to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was most likely used for funerary purposes. Her hands/arms 𓂝𓏦 are raised in what is thought to be a mourning position, and this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was most likely placed in a tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰.

The crown on her head is one of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that is used in her name (π“Š¨), which makes Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ very easy to identify in tomb art/funerary art. Isis can also be written as π“Š¨π“π“†— or π“„Ώπ“Š¨π“π“₯, but no matter what, the β€œπ“Š¨β€ always appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–!

Much like the statue of Nephthys’ 𓉠𓏏𓆇 from the Brooklyn Museum, Isis’ π“Š¨π“π“₯ hair is blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ because it was supposed to be the same color as lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧! Many of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ were thought to have blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ lapis lazuli 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓏧 hair!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Osiris, Isis and Horus

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ was able to come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ and clay statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ. The bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Late Period through the Ptolemaic Period. Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and a user of magic. As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans. This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 holding a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby.

Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was one of the main figures of Egyptian religion. This is because Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the god π“ŠΉ of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and the ruler of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and Egyptians spent their entire time living preparing for their death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and meeting with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. When the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was alive, he was thought to be the living image 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹 of the God π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, but more importantly when the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 died, he was thought to then become an Osiris-like figure.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Venerated Before…” in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Also, how gorgeous π“„€ are the colors on this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­?!

This is another inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that you will find on sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ or other funerary objects, like stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ. While the phrase may not be as common as some others (like the Offering Formula), it does pop up fairly frequently and it’s a good one to know!

π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œ- Venerated
𓐍𓂋 – Before
π“Š¨π“π“Ί – Isis (her name is usually written as π“Š¨π“π“₯, but the determinative is missing most likely due to the amount of space available on the sarcophagus.)

Since β€œVenerated π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œβ€œ is just another way to say β€œrespect,” this phrase means that the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person was held in high regard by the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯! That is certainly a position that an ancient Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ would want to be in!

Now, Isis π“Š¨π“π“Ί isn’t the only goddess’ π“ŠΉπ“ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that is used in this phrase; Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 and Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ are popular to find as well! This is because all three 𓏼 of these deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ are associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!

π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œπ“π“‚‹π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 – Venerated Before Anubis
π“„ͺπ“π“‡Œπ“π“‚‹π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Venerated Before Osiris

I hope this has been helpful in your hieroglyph journey!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Triad Amulet

I love amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ because I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things!!!

Many gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon appeared in groups of threes 𓏼, which were known as Triads. They were groups of gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that usually had some type of familial 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 relationship/significance to each other. One of the Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– triads during the Late Period was Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 is the son of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† on the left is a representation of this Triad!

The Ossirian Triad (the three 𓏼 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ to the right) is a representation of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (β€œMistress of the House” and associated with vultures), Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ (god π“ŠΉ of the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and the protector of the ruler π“‹Ύ of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–), and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of healing and magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ).

Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, the sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife π“ˆŸπ“ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† is representative of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and that protective power extends to the wearer.

This type amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

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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!!!

Categories
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!