Tag: the met

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Joy” and “Happiness”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This inscriptionΒ π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is a new word for all of you! While I haven’t seen it often, it’s probably a good one to know!

β€œπ“„«π“π“„£β€ is the Middle Egyptian word for β€œjoy” or β€œhappiness!” What I love about this word is that if we were going to literally translate it into English, instead of joy or happiness, it would translate directly to β€œwide heart.” How cute is that?!?! 

Let’s break down each of the symbols! 

The β€œspine and spinal cord 𓄫” symbol is a biliteral phonogram that is used to represent the sound β€œ3w.” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” symbol is a uniliteral phonogram used to represent the sound β€œt.” It also functions as the ideogram for the word β€œbread 𓏏𓏺” and can be used to make words feminine! 

The β€œheart 𓄣” symbol is an ideogram for heart and mind that can also be used to represent the sound β€œΔ±Ν—b”. The heart π“„£ can also be used as a determinative in the word for heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£. 

So all together, the transliteration of π“„«π“π“„£ would be 3wt-Δ±Ν—b. Other variations of the word are β€œ π“„«π“π“„£π“Ί,” or β€œ π“„«π“„£π“Ί.” 

What makes my heart wide π“„«π“π“„£? Going to museums, writing out my Instagram post each day, Marvel comic books, Harry Potter, and of course listening to BTS λ°©νƒ„μ†Œλ…„λ‹¨!!!!!

Let’s all share something that makes us happy/our hearts wide π“„«π“π“„£! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Small Ivory Chair of Akhenaten

This tiny π“ˆ–𓆓𓋴𓅩 ivory chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± probably held a tiny π“ˆ–𓆓𓋴𓅩 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ at one point! This chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± is only about 5cm in height so it is very tiny! The amount of detail that the artist was able to carve into such a small piece is incredible! 

On the back of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†±, Akhenaten’s nomen (birth name) and prenomen (throne name) are carved underneath the rays of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–𓇳. Let’s break down the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦! 

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– – Akhenaten β€œLiving Spirit of the Aten” – this is his β€œbirth name” – though not really because Akhenaten changed his name to Akhenaten from Amenhotep IVΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύπ“Œ€!Β 

π“‡³π“„€π“†£π“‡³π“¦π“Œ‘π“ˆ– – Neferkheperrua β€œThe Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra” is the throne name, which was probably taken when he was still calling himself Amenhotep IV π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“ŠΉπ“‹Ύ, since the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– contains β€œRa 𓇳” and not β€œAten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–𓇳.” 

𓋍 – this symbol on the back of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± is a combination of many different things! Most prominently, it is thought to be representative of the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯. The lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί are a symbol of Upper Egypt 𓇓 and the windpipe π“„₯ was a symbol of Lower Egypt 𓆀. Just like how the lungs π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and the windpipe π“„₯ need to work together in order for a person to survive, Upper 𓇓 and Lower 𓆀 Egypt needed to be unified in order for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– to be a strong country!

The lung π“Šƒπ“Œ΄π“„₯π“…±π“„Ί and windpipe π“„₯ design 𓋍 was usually found on objects that belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The three 𓏼 men π“Šƒπ“€€π“¦ on the side of the chair π“Ž›π“Š¨π“π“†± represent foreigners – a Libyan, an Asiatic, and a Nubian all of which are kneeling and raising their arms in a worshipping π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“€’ stance. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Doorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II

This large piece at the MET is referred to as a β€œDoorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II.” Basically, that means these blocks came from a gateway at a temple that was built in honor of one of Rameses II’sΒ π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–Β royal jubilees.Β 

The offering scene that is on the doorjamb is Rameses II π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“―, who was the patron god π“ŠΉ of the jubilee. Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― is a combination of the deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± (the creator god π“ŠΉ) and Tatanen 𓁯, a lesser known deity who was the personification of the primordial mound that rose during the Egyptian creation myth. Tatanen 𓁯 is often compared to Geb π“…­π“ƒ€π“€­ (the god π“ŠΉ of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ), however Tatanen 𓁯 is often associated with things that come from the interior of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ such as minerals, rocks π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“¦, and plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

So Geb π“…­π“ƒ€π“€­ is the Earth’s π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ surface (The Upper Earth), while Tatanen 𓁯 is the Earth’s π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ interior (The Lower Earth)! As a geologist, I love how the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ were able to make this distinction between the spheres of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ in their mythology! They also recognized the atmosphere (another sphere of the Earth π“‡Ύπ“‡Ύ) as the god π“ŠΉ Shu π“†„π“…±π“€­! It’s all so impressive to me! 

Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is broken down like this: 

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž› – Ptah (spelled out with phonogram symbols)

𓁯 – Tatanen (the determinative/ideogram)

Ptah’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± determinative was basically replaced with the determinative for Tatanen 𓁯 to make the god’s π“ŠΉ name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

Can you spot Ptah-Tatanen π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“― in the inscription on the doorjamb???

(Also Rameses III’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“ˆ˜π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– cartouches appear on this too on the bottom of the doorjamb – he clearly usurped this piece for his own use and didn’t change all of the cartouches!)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

This is the large granite statue of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ in comparison to me! This statue is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in it!

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, because I don’t think I have ever discussed it much on this page: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the only child of her father, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž Ahmose.

After the death of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ married her half brother, Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– lesser wives.

Thutmosis II died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child, so Hatsheput π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Temple of Dendur

The room at the MET that houses the Temple of Dendur doesn’t feel like a gallery in a museum – it feels like you are in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. This is one of my absolute favorite places. I could literally just sit in this place for hours just taking in the atmosphere – sometimes just existing and taking in a place without rushing around or having a plan is the best.

The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was actually commissioned by Augustus and building was complete by 10 B.C. Dendur is located in Nubia, and is just south of Aswan. Even though the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was built by Augustus, it definitely follows Egyptian style and not Roman style. The emperor is actually presented as a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 worshipping Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on the walls of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰. The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was primarily used to worship the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This large granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is not in the β€œHatshepsut Gallery” (as I like to call it) at the MET – in fact, she is right next to the Temple of Dendur! I find it an interesting placement in the museum because the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and the Sphinx are from two very different time periods in Egyptian history. The temple of Dendur was built by Augustus while Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ ruled during the New Kingdom.

The Sphinx was one of six large sphinxes that would line her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. It is made of granite, which was mined at Aswan and then transported ~500 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Granite is a super dense rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ so this was no easy task!

This is a large and absolutely beautiful π“„€ piece in real life. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is depicted wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth and the false beard – typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Thutmosis III

Not going to lie, I have had a love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 my whole life πŸ˜‚ – I know that sounds weird to say about a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 who I clearly have never met, but it’s the only way I can describe it!! This piece is in the MET, and the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are inscribed so beautifully on it! Definitely very eye-catching!

When I first started learning about Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 as a kid, I was (and still am!) so completely fascinated by her and how she became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. Since Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was a child when Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– died, Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 became the co-regent, until she named herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and pretty much β€œtook the throne.” Since females were never in line for the throne, even though Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓 was the daughter of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his main queen π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž, she was never in line to be pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

So why my love/hate relationship with Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣? Well, for the longest time it was thought that after Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 death, when he relcaimed the throne, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 had Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 monuments destroyed and her name erased from as many things as possible. Did he actually do this? Scholars aren’t sure it happened to the extent that it was once thought. But I don’t think we will ever have an answer.

What were some of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 accomplishments? He was a great military leader and conquered all of Syria. This is in great contrast to Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, who focused more on trade and economic endeavors than military campaigns.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bastet vs. Sekhmet

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows bronze statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of the beloved π“Œ»π“‚‹π“‡Œ Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“. Here are some fun facts about Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“!!

The goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ were both depicted as cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠π“ͺ, however, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ usually had the body of a woman while Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ usually had the body of a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠.

However, when Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was depicted with the body of a woman, she was usually holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in one hand! Since Hathor 𓉑 was usually seen with sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ, this shows a link between the two 𓏻 goddesses!

Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ and Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ were believed to be the two unpredictable personalities of the same goddess π“ŠΉπ“. While Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ represented the destructive and unpredictable side, Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was the gentler and calmer side.

Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of pregnancy and childbirth and was considered to be the protective form of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“.

Bastet’s π“Ž―π“π“π“ father was Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! Which is why her alter ego Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ can be associated with the sun.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Late Period Faience Amulets

These are some Late Period faience amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were protective symbols that could be used by either the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and each amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† had its own power based on the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 it represented.Β 

The first amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† on the left is Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭, the god π“ŠΉ of the air and atmosphere. In the Egyptian creation myth, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 raised the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, separating the two 𓏻. Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 was often worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 by sailors, who were looking for favorable winds π“‡‹π“‡¬π“ˆ–π“…±π“Š‘π“¦! 

The next two 𓏻 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are different representations of the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­. Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is usually represented as a ram and is one of the oldest Egyptian deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ – evidence of worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 dates back to the First Dynasty!! Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is the god π“ŠΉ of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and fertility. In the creation myth, Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is said to have created all of the world’s people on his potter’s wheel. He is associated with Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, who created the heavens π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 and Earth 𓇾𓇾 on a potter’s wheel. 

The next two 𓏻 amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are a hare 𓃹𓏺 and an Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒. The hare 𓃹𓏺 amulet was thought to have regenerative powers, and in a funerary context, would help the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be reborn π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The Apis Bull π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺ𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. 

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is a fierce Egyptian goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who is associated with childbirth. Women who were pregnant would wear amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 for protection. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 is always represented as a pregnant hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― and was a household deity – she didn’t have any temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ dedicated to her specifically. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Non-Royal Art from the Amarna Period

Both of these pieces may seem small, but they are quite interesting!

Both the head of a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ (left) and the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of two men and a boy (right) are non-royal art pieces from the Amarna Period. The Amarna Period refers to the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– is referred to as the heretic pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, because he changed the entire Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.

Besides the dramatic religious shift, and the move of the Egyptian capital from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to his new capital (aptly named β€œAkhenaten”), one thing that made the Amarna period quite different was the shift in the art style. Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– and the royal family were always depicted strangely compared to past Egyptian art styles. Many think this could be due to a genetic connective tissue disease than ran through the family. However, these two 𓏻 pieces show that even the non-royals were also depicted in what is now considered to be typical Amarna style art. Amarna art usually shows people with long limbs, strangely shaped heads, and prominent bellies.