Tag: thutmosis iii

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Three Golden Bracelets from the Tomb of Three Wives of Thutmosis III

These are three 𓏼 golden π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ /armlets π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Ž‘π“π“…±π“₯. They were found in the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of three 𓏼 minor wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣. While some of the inlaid glass is missing, these bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ are in incredible condition. I love how the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯, red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ all looks together!

Inside the bracelets, are the titles and cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣. The engravings were put inside the bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 so his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– would always be close to his wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ. I find this cool because even in modern times, it’s very also popular to have engravings with names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ or initials on the backs of rings or bracelets! It’s incredible to me how certain ideas and styles have persisted through time!

Translation time!

𓅭𓇳(𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣)𓆖 – β€œSon of Ra, Thutmosis III*, For all Eternity (or Everlasting)”

π“„€π“ŠΉ(𓇳𓏠𓆣)𓏙𓋹 – β€œThe Great God, Menkheperra, Given Life”

*this cartouche (𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣) is a variant of Thutmosis III’s birth name. The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is usually written as (𓅝𓄠𓋴) but this particular variant was used after Year 21 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ί of his reign. (𓅝𓄀𓄠𓆣) translates to β€œThoth is born, beautiful of form” while the regular birth name cartouche (𓅝𓄠𓋴) translates to just β€œThoth is born.” His throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) Menkheperra translates to β€œLasting is the form of Ra.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Red Granite Statue of Thutmosis III

I’m going to post another British Museum picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because I’m nostalgic and I like remembering how amazing that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 was!

This red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 is definitely an interesting one because it actually has the cartouches of Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ carved into the chest! This is what Egyptologists call usurping – meaning that Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ took statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and monuments from his predecessors, erased their name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, and put his own!

Egyptologists don’t think this was done out of disrespect for the previous pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, instead it was just Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ promoting his own rule.

Fun fact! Much like modern geologists, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ differentiated between granite and red granite rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦! How do we know?! The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are different:

Granite – π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“ˆ–π“Œ³π“Ώ
Red Granite – π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ

I love rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦ and geology so much! I actually got interested in geology as a kid because I wanted to know what all of the statues were made out of!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Reliefs of Thutmosis III

Here is a very nice raised relief in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ which depicts pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ (left). He can be identified based off of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that appear to his right.

Limestone relief of Thutmosis III in the Brooklyn Museum

Here are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ broken down:

𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III’s throne name)
π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great God
π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

Also on the right is the remnant of another person – most likely the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ (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 π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of them! This relief is depicting a religious precession that took place at Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This piece was excavated from the temple and is dated to c. 1478-1458 B.C.E.

Here is another example of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 wearing the blue crown π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™. Menkheperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (Thutmosis III’s throne name) is above his head 𓁢𓏺 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 π“‹Ή is the symbol that corresponds with the word β€œLife,” the Ankh π“‹Ή had other symbolic meanings as well – one of which is shown on this relief fragment!

The Ankh π“‹Ή can also symbolize the purifying π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— power of water π“ˆ—. In many temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 (like Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 here) is flanked by two 𓏻 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. One of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ who did was was usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, but it is impossible to tell which god π“ŠΉ is performing the action in this relief. The gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ would pour a stream of Ankhs π“‹Ήπ“‹Ήπ“‹Ή over his head 𓁢𓏺 to cleanse π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— and purify π“‹΄π“ƒ‚π“ˆ— him (Fun Fact: cleanse and purify can be the same word in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ but there are other variations of each word too).

Totally unrelated thought but I have always loved the word for water (π“ˆ—) because it is the β€œn” symbol! Since my name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Nicole and my name would start with π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, as a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€• I would refer to π“ˆ– and π“ˆ— as β€œmy symbol” πŸ˜‚.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Limestone Relief of Thutmosis III

This is a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief with the cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 on it. Let’s read some Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here’s the top line of text: π“†₯(𓇳𓏠𓆣)π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“ŽŸ π“Œ€π“π“Š–π“·π“„£π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“Š–π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ

π“†₯- King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(𓇳𓏠𓆣) – Menkhepera
π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…± – Montu
π“ŽŸ – Lord of
π“Œ€π“π“Š– – Thebes
𓁷𓄣 – middle/middle of
π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“Š– – Dendera
π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved
The full translation is: β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt, Menkhepera, Beloved of Montu, Lord of Thebes, middle of Dendera.”

Here’s the second line of text: 𓅭𓇳(π“…π“„ π“‹΄π“‡‹π“Šƒ) π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“ˆ–π“„«π“„£π“‡³π“‡π“Ίπ“†–
𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra
(π“…π“„ π“‹΄π“‡‹π“Šƒ) – Thutmosis III
π“™π“‹Ήπ“Š½π“Œ€ – Given Life, Stability, Strength
π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“ˆ–- Health
π“„«π“„£ – Happiness
𓇳𓏇𓏺 – Like Ra
𓆖 – Eternity
The full translation is: β€œSon of Ra, Thutmosis III, Given Life, Stability, Strength, Health, and Happiness, like Ra, for eternity.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III

The MET has a very large collection of objects from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of the Three foreign Wives of Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. These women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ were named Menhet π“π“‚Ÿπ“ˆ–π“‰”π“π“‡Ώπ“π“, Menwi π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“Œπ“―π“‡‹π“, and Merti π“…“π“‚Ÿπ“ƒ­π“˜π“‡‹π“ and were buried in an undecorated tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ located near Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š–. The country of origin of these women 𓂑𓏏𓁐π“ͺ is unknown.

This gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ has a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head on each end. While this piece is dated to the New Kingdom (18th Dynasty c. 1479–1425 B.C.E.), broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ have been used to adorn mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ since the Old Kingdom (c. 2649 B.C.E.). Broad Collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ were the necklace of choice amongst the elites and the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ.

The Vulture Pectoral is also most likely from the same tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ as the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ pictured. Vultures are common funerary symbols and are usually associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ. Nekhbet π“‡‘π“ƒ€π“π“…π“ŽŸ was usually depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 with the head 𓁢𓏀 of a vulture. She is the patron goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of Upper Egypt 𓇑 (hence why her name has the β€œπ“‡‘β€ symbol for upper Egypt) and was also tasked with protecting π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ royal women 𓀻𓋴𓏏𓁐.

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Egyptian Artifacts

β€œAnnals of Thutmosis III”

I am standing with a group of inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ called the β€œAnnals of Thutmosis III” which originally was in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ at Karnak. These inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ contain details of Thutmosis III’s 𓅝𓄠𓋴 military campaigns π“Ž˜π“…±π“‡Œπ“π“‚»π“¦ in Syria and Palestine. These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ contain the most detailed account of military campaigns π“Ž˜π“…±π“‡Œπ“π“‚»π“¦ from all of Egyptian history!

Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴 was a fierce warrior and brilliant military strategist who took part himself in many of the campaigns π“Ž˜π“…±π“‡Œπ“π“‚»π“¦ described in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ.

The first line of text from the annals read: “His Majesty commanded that there be recorded on a stone wall in the temple he had renovated…the triumphs accorded him by his father, Amun, and the prizes he took. And so it was done.” This translation is from the museum description as I cannot see the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ clearly enough in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 to translate! You can also access the full text online – give it a read! It’s truly fascinating stuff!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Base of an Offering Table

While this piece is outwardly awkward and simple looking, the beauty π“„€ of it is in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! I love these types of pieces – where you really have to examine them and look closer to see the beauty π“„€ of it! This is the base of an offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃, and obviously the piece is incomplete and was most likely broken in antiquity.

The main highlight is the really long cartouche! Now, this cartouche doesn’t just contain the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but his title and epithet as well. The title of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 usually came before 𓐍𓂋 the cartouche (and was seated on the top outside of the oval) while the epithet would appear both after the cartouche or inside of it.

Let’s take a closer look! Some of the text is read from right to left and some is read from left to right because the symbols are pointing towards these two directions! It makes it very confusing to type it out but I will do my best! I’m going to type it out as I see it in the cartouche so some of the symbols may be pointing the wrong way in my translation! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are like one big puzzle which is why I love them so much!

The text reads: (π“‹Ήπ“™π“†£π“‡³π“ π“„€π“ŠΉπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ίπ“ŒΊπ“‡Œ)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life
𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Menkheperra (Thutmosis III)
π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Great God
π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra
π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

So all put together the text reads β€œGiven Life, Menkheperra, the Great God, Beloved of Amun-Ra.”

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Faience Foundation Brick of Thutmosis III

β€œThe Great God, Menkheperra, Beloved of Osiris.”

This faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό piece is most likely a foundation deposit brick of a building that was built during the reign π“‹Ύ of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄠𓋴.

Foundation deposit bricks were ceremonial offerings that were placed at the corners of buildings, courts, temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ , tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦, and pretty much the foundation of any building. They can almost be thought of as the ancient version of a ground-breaking ceremony. The foundation deposit bricks usually contained the cartouche of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that the building was constructed under on it!

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

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – [The] Great God
(𓇳𓏠𓆣) – Menkheperra [Throne name of Thutmosis III]
π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ – Osiris
π“ŒΉπ“‡Œ – Beloved

So the full inscription reads: β€œThe Great God, Menkheperra, Beloved of Osiris.”

β€œBeloved π“ŒΉπ“‡Œβ€ is a word that pops up a lot in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ so it is a good one to know! It is also popular as the first part of a person’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. For example the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œMeryamun” or β€œBeloved of Amun” was a very popular name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!