Tag: vatican museum

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Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Anubis

I love this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 so much! I think it’s gorgeous π“„€!! He’s Roman-ified and wearing a toga!! It’s a really nice piece and one of my favorites in the Vatican! My sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ even joined me for this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the Egyptian god π“ŠΉ of mummification, burial rites and tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“₯/cemeteries. However, when Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was conquered by Rome, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was likened to the Roman god π“ŠΉ Mercury! Mercury had many functions, but one of the traits that related him to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was that Mercury guided souls π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. It was part of Mercury’s function as the messenger god π“ŠΉ!

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is even holding a caduceus in his hand – a symbol often associated with Mercury. Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is also looking quite fashionable with his Roman style sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏦!

As you all know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god π“ŠΉ. I also love this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ because it shows the blending of the Egyptian and Roman religions which happened after Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was defeated by Rome during the Battle of Actium.

The Battle of Actium (September 12th, 31 B.C.E.) was the last battle of the Roman Republic and gave rise to the Roman Empire (and the fall of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–). The battle was fought between Octavian and Marc Antony/Cleopatra VII π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇. With Octavian’s victory, he secured his place as the first Emperor of Rome.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thoth as a Babboon

This is a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭! The god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was usually depicted as a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀, but was also commonly depicted as a baboon. The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is actually the Greek version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ–; the ancient Egyptians referred to him as Djehuty (𓅝-Djhu 𓏏- t, y-𓏭, π“€­).

While Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is mainly known as being the patron of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ, the god π“ŠΉ of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, and the creator of language 𓂋𓏺, he is also considered the god π“ŠΉ of the sciences π“‚‹π“π“π“œπ“¦ and the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή. The moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή could be thought of as a β€œnight sun,” which places him as an opposite of the sun 𓇳𓏺 god π“ŠΉ Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛. Thoth π“…€π“€­ is also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar!

Since the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή is commonly a symbol of wisdom, Thoth π“…€π“€­ was also associated with being very wise. Thoth π“…€π“€­ has also provided guidance to the other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and can also be associated with truth π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„ and justice π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“†„π“œ. Thoth π“…€π“€­ was thought to have invented writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, and was thus the god π“ŠΉ of all record keeping. These characteristics are why he is the bookkeeper in the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony from the Book of the Dead. The scene acted as the β€œLast Judgment” of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

Due to his vast knowledge, Thoth π“Ÿ was thought to know magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ and secrets π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“†Ÿπ“›π“¦ that were unknown to the rest of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. This made him an extremely powerful figure!

Thoth can be written as: π“…€π“€­, 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭, π“Ÿ. He also had various titles such as β€œLord of the Divine Words,” β€œThree Times Great,” and β€œLord of Ma’at” amongst many others!

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Welcome to Ancient Egypt Blog!

Nonno and Nicole at the Vatican Museum

My name is Nicole and I have a passion for history, most notably ancient Egypt. My Nonno has the same love for history, and he taught me basically everything I know. Together, we read books all about Egypt, ever since I was a little girl. He brought me my first book on hieroglyphs when I was six years old, and from there I taught myself how to read them. By the time I was twelve years old, I was able to go to museums and read the hieroglyphs off of the artifacts. Nonno was so proud of me and as my sister said β€œhe had been waiting his whole life for someone to care about this stuff like he did.” We loved going to museums and studying history together.

Unfortunately, my Nonno passed away in February 2020. He was my person and I am completely devastated. I started my Instagram account @ancientegyptblog and this website so I could share our love of history, share all of the amazing things he taught me, all the books he gave me, and all places he took me to.