Tag: the met

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Amenemhat I at the MET

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

Today we are going to look at an inscriptionΒ π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–Β that is on a relief at the MET! I chose this one because this relief shows the cartouches of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 I haven’t spoken about much – Amenemhat IΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“!Β 

Amenemhat IΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1939-1910 B.C.E.). He was of non-royal birth, and it is unknown how he acquired the throne. It is possible that he was the sameΒ AmenemhatΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ that was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep IVΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ and then took the throne after Mentuhotep IV’sΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“ŠͺΒ death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.Β 

Since the directional hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Once again, some of these words (especially the titles) I have taught before and you may recognize! 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚π“ – Amenemhat (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

π“†₯ – King of Upper and Lower Egypt or He of the Sedge and the Bee

π“‡³π“‹΄π“Š΅π“π“Šͺπ“„£ – Sehotepibra (Throne Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Amenemhat π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–𓅓𓄂𓏏 translates to β€œAmun is in the Front” -let’s break this down too:

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun

π“…“ – in 

𓄂𓏏 – Front/Foremost

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Egyptian Artifacts

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III

ThisΒ blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†Β is in exquisite condition.

Blue Faience Sphinx of Amenhotep III at the MET

This piece is possibly from the model of a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, but its function isn’t actually known. Despite its small size, the sphinxΒ π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€Β is definitely a standout in Gallery 119 at the MET!

A sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is the combination of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„› (the body) and a human (the head 𓁢𓏺).  Sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion π“Œ³π“Ήπ“„Ώπ“„›, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is wearing the nemes head cloth π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ with the Uraeus π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†— on the forehead. He also has a false beard in his chin. This is a very typical way for a pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to be depicted in statuary because this style represented the power and royalty of the pharaoh π“‰π“‰». 

The hands of the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are holding a nemset jar π“Œπ“Ί in each hand. This is a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, but there is no inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– to say which god π“ŠΉ/goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† is making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 to.  

This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty – New Kingdom (c. 1390–1352 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

A Column that Looks like a Sistrum

This may look like a sistrumΒ π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£, but it’s actually a column from a templeΒ π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰!Β 

A column that looks like a sistrum (with Hathor) at the MET

A sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑. Sistrums π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£π“ͺ usually had Hathor’s 𓉑 head 𓁢𓏀 (complete with her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle – just like this column!

While it is difficult to tell in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, some paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still left on the column! Based on scientific testing of the trace pigments left behind, Hathor’s 𓉑 hair would have been blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯!Β Fun fact: β€œEgyptian Blue” is the oldest synthetic color pigment in the whole world!

There are images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Hathor π“‰‘ and inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ on all four 𓏽 sides as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is exciting because these are all phrases I have taught through my previous posts! See if you can read along before reading the translation!!!

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Great God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s throne name)

How well did you do? We’re you able to read the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯? Let me know!!

This piece is dated to the Late Period, Dynasty 30, reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Nehebukau

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ is an Egyptian snake god π“ŠΉ whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– means β€œhe who harnesses the spirits” and was he considered to be a helpful deity! Β Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ is usually depicted as a snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 with human legs, and as a kid I always got a kick out of this!!Β 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was a very popular god π“ŠΉ to see represented on amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ worn by the living (especially New Kingdom and later) because amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ were thought to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the wearer from snake π“‡‹π“‚π“‚‹π“π“†™ bites! 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was thought to be the god π“ŠΉ that announced the new pharaoh π“‰π“‰» to the other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ at the beginning of his/her rule π“‹Ύ.  When the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» died, it was Nehebukau’s π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ job to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and feed the pharaoh π“‰π“‰» or other deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 person. The drink that the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 would be fed was called β€œThe Milk of Light,” and it would protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against bites from poisonous animals. Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ was one of the forty-two gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ who helped judge the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 in the Hall of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦. 

Nehebukau π“…˜π“Ž›π“ƒ€π“΄π“‚“π“¦ had no cult or priesthood associated with him because most would use magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ spells π“Ž›π“‚“𓏛𓏦 to invoke his protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ.  

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Frog Amulet

How cute is this frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amuletΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†?!?!

Frog Amulet at the MET

In ancient Egyptian religion and culture, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were thought to have magical π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ powers and bestow them upon its wearer. Β Worn by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, different amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ served various religious and protective functions. To understand the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulet’sΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†Β function we need to understand the significance of the frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† in ancient Egyptian religion and culture!Β 

Scientifically speaking, frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦ would appear after the flooding of the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, so they were associated with life π“‹Ή/the regenerative qualities of water π“ˆ—. Not only is water π“ˆ— necessary for humans to consume, but also for irrigating land for agriculture. 

The frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† is also associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† who is represented as a woman with a frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† head. Also, the frog determinative 𓆏 appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– so she was clearly associated with frogs π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“†π“¦. Heqet π“Ž›π“ˆŽπ“π“† was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of birth and rebirth. She also protected π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ during the childbirth process. 

Frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were worn by women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ for both protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ during childbirth and for an easy childbirth. Frog π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‚‹π“† amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ were also found on mummies π“‡‹π“Ήπ“…±π“€Ύπ“ͺ of both men π“Šƒπ“€€π“ͺ and women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, with the purpose that the amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† would help them with a successful rebirth in the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis – drawing, hieroglyph or both?

This is another closeup image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from Imhotep’s π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. While this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is not part of an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, this is my favorite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ; Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 on top of a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰!Β 

As many of you know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ and he always has been! I get so excited whenever I see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in any form of Egyptian art! 

There are two 𓏻 variations of this particular hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ: 𓃣 and 𓃀. Both can be used pretty much interchangeably and it was mostly style/aesthetics that determined which one was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃀

π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃀

𓃣 or 𓃀

𓁒

Once again, style/aesthetics determined which variation was used in inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯. This is not all of the variations of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, but the ones you will see the most! 

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with shrines, because he is a god π“ŠΉ that is associated with themes surrounding death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (mummification, places of burial). 

While the word in Middle Egyptian for shrine is π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰, shrines associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 had their own word! A shrine associated with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was called π“‰±π“ŠΉ, or the β€œGod’s Booth.” 

One of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 titles that commonly appears after his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is: π“…π“ŠΉπ“‰± or β€œIn front at the God’s Booth.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

Here is a β€œLarge Seated Statue of Hatshepsut” that is dated to the early 18th Dynasty (c.Β 1479–1458 B.C.E.), and most likely the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣.Β 

Even though Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is β€œportraying herself as a male” (as described by some historians), she is actually portraying herself as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

Paint can still be seen on the Broad Collar

She is wearing the nemes headdressΒ π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄Β and a broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹Β (necklace worn by royalty/the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ). Some of the paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is actually still visible on the broad collarΒ π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹! The face on this statue is completely destroyed, and this was definitely done on purpose.Β 

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

𓅭𓏏𓇳 – Daughter of Ra

π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘ – Bodily/Of Her Body

(π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ) – Hatshepsut’s cartouche (birth name)

π“Œ»π“‡Œ – Beloved

𓋹𓏏𓆖 – She Live Forever

Put together, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œBodily daughter of Ra, Hatshepsut, beloved, May She Live Forever.” Some of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is missing, so this is what I could see! 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is very much referring to herself as a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ – it’s in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! If she called herself the β€œSon of Ra” the inscription would look like β€œπ“…­π“‡³β€ instead of β€œπ“…­π“π“‡³. ” The word for β€œbodily π“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“π“†‘β€ is also feminized, and would be written as β€œπ“ˆ–π“π“„‘π“†‘β€ if it was referencing a male.

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Egyptian Artifacts

William the Hippo!

There are a couple of things I always look for when I go to a museum and the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 faienceΒ π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“ΌΒ Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ are one of them! At the MET, the blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is named π“‚‹π“ˆ– William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 and is kinda the unofficial mascot of the museum, so I just tend to call all of the hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 no matter what museum I am at!Β 

William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 was made between the 12th and 17th Dynasties. In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil! William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate it with rejuvenation! William 𓅱𓇋𓃭𓇋𓄿𓅓𓃯 is most likely painted blue 𓇅𓆓𓏛 to represent the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί and rebirth.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets and Amulet Molds

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you are looking at amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ and the molds that were used to make them!

Amulets and Amulet Molds at the MET

These molds are typically made of terracotta and allowed artists to not only mass produce amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, but also make the amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺΒ small and detailed! The amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ that you see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 are grape and daisy/rosette amuletsΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! In the mold on the top left (and the two grape amulets next to it), you can even see the cartouche β€œπ“‡³π“§π“Ž  Nebmaatra,” which is the throne name for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep IIIΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†!

Flowers were really popular in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! If you look at lists of hieroglyphic symbols, there are tons of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that represent plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! The phonogram/ideogram for the Nile Valley/Upper Egypt is 𓇗 – which represents a flowering plant π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†°! 

Tutankhamun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was found with flowers π“†Όπ“…±π“†°π“¦, as were other royal mummies. Even commoners would adorn their dead with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° arrangements. This is why amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ with flower π“†Όπ“…±π“†° designs were so popular!

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Blog

Memories at the MET

This picture is one of my absolute favorites. It kinda looks like we are in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! It was from one of my birthday trips to the MET – I believe this is my 16th birthday (I am 30 now).

I have such amazing memories here – there was a time when there was no glass covering the walls inside the mastaba (fun fact: mastaba means bench in Arabic)- I will never forget being inside this tomb seeing it without glass – as it was meant to be seen. Nonno was so happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 that I would be able to experience that!! The inside of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ is beautifully decorated with hieroglyphics π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and paintings!