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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Isis” in Hieroglyphs

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

These hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are from the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 Coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± of Khnumnakht, an individual who lived during the 12th-13th Dynasties (c. 1850-1750 B.C.E.).Β 

This is a variant of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“Ί in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! More commonly, her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written as β€œ π“Š¨π“π“₯,” and the difference between the two is the determinative at the end. Why was the determinative not used in this inscription? Most likely due to spacing issues! 

The β€œseat π“Š¨β€ symbol has many different functions in Middle Egyptian! In the case of the name β€œIsis π“Š¨π“π“Ί,” the seat functions as a biliteral phonogram for the sound β€œjs.” In other words, it can be a phonogram for the sounds β€œst,” and β€œhst.”  π“Š¨ is even an ideogram for the word β€œseat!” 

The β€œflat loaf of bread 𓏏” 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€œstroke 𓏺” hieroglyph is used at the end of words when there is a bit of space left over – it’s all for the aesthetic! This symbol is not pronounced, it is solely used for punctuation/aesthetic purposes! 

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œIsis” is actually the Greek version of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of this goddess π“ŠΉπ“! If we were to pronounce her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– the way the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ did (or inferred how they did), her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– would be pronounced like β€œIst π“Š¨π“π“Ί.” 

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Throne Name of Amenhotep III in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to be looking at the cartouche of the throne name of pharaoh π“‰π“‰» Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹†! Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† ruled during the 18th Dynasty and his rule π“‹Ύ was a time of prosperity for Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, especially in regards to the arts and international influence!

This piece pictured is a reconstruction of the original by the MET – the blue π“‡‹π“Ήπ“π“„Ώπ“Έπ“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces are original, but the gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ and plaster are not. 

Let’s take a closer look at the symbols in the cartouche: 

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Possessor of the Truth of Ra or Possessor of the Maat of Ra) 

The β€œπ“‡³ sun disc” symbol is an ideogram for β€œra” or β€œre,” but can also be a determinative in words such as sun, day, and time. The single symbol alone (like in cartouches) would be pronounced like β€œra” or β€œre.”

The β€œπ“§ goddess with a feather” symbol is a determinative in the name of the goddess Maat, and is also an ideogram for Maat. The single symbol alone would be pronounced like β€œMaat.”

The β€œπ“Ž  basket” is a biliteral phonogram symbol that has the sound of β€œnb,” which is inferred to be pronounced like β€œneb.” The π“ŽŸ alone can also mean the word β€œLord,” especially in the titles that come before a pharaoh’s cartouche. 

Now, reading three symbol cartouches can be confusing – sometimes you start with the middle symbol, sometimes you start with the last symbol. There is no way to know for sure – it comes with practice!

Fun Fact: Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† was the father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 of AkhenatenΒ π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Montu in Hieroglyphs

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

Today we are going to learn how to read the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ MontuΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“€­!Β MontuΒ π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“€­Β was a war god and was worshipped widely during the 11th Dynasty/Middle Kingdom.Β 

A closeup of the name “Montu” in hieroglyphs from a stela at the MET

The β€œπ“  game board and pieces” is a phonogram sign. It is a biliteral sign, which means that it represents two consonants. The β€œ 𓏠” is associated with the sound β€œmn” which could be pronounced like β€œmen,” β€œmun,” β€œmon,” etc. 

The β€œripple of water π“ˆ–β€ is also a phonogram sign, except it is uniliteral sign, which means that it just represents one consonant. The β€œπ“ˆ–β€ is associated with the sound of β€œn!” 

The β€œπ“Ώ hobble/tie” is also a uniliteral phonogram sign. The β€œπ“Ώβ€ is associated with the sounds of β€œαΉ―β€ or β€œt.” 

The β€œQuail Chick 𓅱” is a super popular symbol! It is a uniliteral symbol that is representative of the sound w/u, and it is also an ideogram for the word β€œchick π“…±π“Ί.”

The final symbol in the name, β€œπ“€­ seated god,” is one that is not pronounced! This is a determinative symbol, which means that it is a symbol used to show the general meaning of the word! It is basically used as punctuation at the end of the word to show you that it is over!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Vessels of Pepy II

Here are some vessels from the MET that are from the rule of Pepy II π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋. Made of alabaster, the purpose of these vessels was to keep cosmetic oils cool.

In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, on the middle vessel you can see Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 cartouche. On the vessel to the left, you can see his throne name, Neferkare 𓇳𓄀𓂓, which means β€œthe soul of Re is beautiful.”

In the picture𓏏𓅱𓏏 above, the vessel on the right is a little more clear. You can see Pepy II’s π“Šͺπ“Šͺ𓇋𓇋 cartouche, however the title 𓅭𓇳, β€œSon of Ra,” is also embedded in the cartouche instead of on top of it. This was a stylistic thing that occurred during the Old Kingdom. However, the title π“†₯, β€œKing of Upper and Lower Egypt” is present before the cartouche in this instance. The placement of the hieroglyphs can be super interesting!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Heart Scarab

This special amuletΒ π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†Β is known as a Heart Scarab! This particular Heart Scarab belonged to Hatnefer 𓄂𓄀𓁐, who was the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of SenemutΒ π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό! SenemutΒ π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€ΌΒ was Hatshepsut’sΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ most trusted advisor (amongst other things πŸ˜‰)!Β 

Heart Scarab of Hatnefer at the MET

In ancient Egyptian culture, the heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ was not only the center of a person’s life π“‹Ή, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ was not removed during the mummification process, because the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“π“‰. The person’s heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ would be weighed against Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, and that would determine if the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and then enter the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–, or eternal 𓆖 life π“‹Ή. This was called the β€œWeighing of the Heart,” and it is something I have written extensively about!

So how does the Heart Scarab play into this? In modern terms, the Heart Scarab could be seen as a β€œcheat code” for getting past the β€œWeighing of the Heart” – this special scarab π“π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣 is inscribed π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– with Chapter 30A from the Book of the Dead (most are inscribed with Chapter 30B). In this spell, the deceased π“…“𓏏𓏱 asks their own heart π“‡‹π“ƒ€π“„£ to not betray them during the β€œWeighing of the Heart.” 

Basically, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ feared the outcome of their final judgement so they developed this amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† as a way to ensure a positive outcome to the scales!

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 30A: β€œ Do not stand against me as witness beside the lords of the ritual, Do not say against me, he did do it, about my actions, Do not make a case against me beside the great god, Hail my heart, Hail my heart…”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Temple of Dendur and the Crocodile!

Being at the Temple of Dendur is just so relaxing to me. I just love being in this room – I have so many amazing memories here with my Nonno and my sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ who is in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 with me! I could literally just sit in here for hours and just exist.

One of my favorite things as a kid was the little crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ statue that’s in the β€œriver” that goes around the temple! I always thought it was so cool! The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and worshipped crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦. Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹, the god π“ŠΉ with the head of a crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ was worshipped from the time of Narmer all the way through the Roman period. He was a fertility god π“ŠΉ, associated with the annual flooding of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί.

Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ also represented the power and might of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because crocodiles π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œπ“¦ are incredibly strong – and were a constant threat to those living along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹ is the son π“…­ of the war goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Neith π“ˆ–π“π“‹Œπ“€­ and is sometimes referenced as being the son π“…­ of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. Hundreds of crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ mummies have been found in Faiyum and other places in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most likely as way to appease Sobek π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“Ž‘π“†‹.

Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗, another crocodile π“…“π“‹΄π“Ž›π“†Œ goddess π“ŠΉπ“ is associated with female fertility and childbirth.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Cat Mummies!

Here are some cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 and animal mummies at the MET! Also on an unrelated note if you look to the far left, you can see the back of an Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ statue! 

The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ made a lot of animal mummies – over four million ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀 mummies and seven million dog 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯ mummies have been found in Saqqara alone! The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ actually never wrote down (at least in what archaeologists have found) the role that animal mummies played in religion or society. This leaves a lot of room for inferences! Although animal mummies are the most common form of Egyptian artifact, they are among the least understood of all objects. Maybe at some point an explanation will be found!

One of the possible explanations of the significance of animal mummies can be tied to the Egyptian cultural aspect surrounding animals. Believe it or not, there is no Middle Egyptian word for β€œanimal” – there was the word π“Œšπ“…“π“„› but it translates more accurately to β€œbeast” then all animals in general. Animals were usually referred to by their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– instead of as a singular category. Their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was usually very similar to the sound the animal made! For example, the Middle Egyptian word for cat is 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 (miu) which can be pronounced like β€œmeow.” The word for dog is 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯ (iwiw) which can almost sound like β€œwoof woof.”

Why is this significant? It shows that the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ didn’t regard animals as different from humans or less than humans (unlike the Greeks and Romans, and eventually Western cultures). Animals were living things that contained a ba 𓅑𓏺 (part of the soul π“‚“ that is active in this world and the spiritual world). They could become gods through death and mummification just like humans.

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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

Another Cat Mummy!

While this may look like a statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“, it’s actually a cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummy!

There are many different ways that animal mummies have been found. Some are wrapped in linen 𓍱 while others are found in these elaborate statue-like coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±. These types of mummy-wrappings were popular during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods.

Cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠π“ͺ were sacred animals in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– because they were thought to represent the soul π“‚“ of Bastet π“Ž―π“π“π“ or Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“. Much like today, cats 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠π“ͺ were also pets in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– and cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 mummies have been found in human tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ as well. The thought is that the cat 𓅓𓇋𓅱𓃠 and the owner would be able to stay together π“ˆ–π“Š— in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 if they were buried together π“ˆ–π“Š—.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Broad Collars

The ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ loved jewelry! In Egyptian art, the wealthy and upper class people were always depicted wearing elaborate jewelry as a way to show their status. The gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ are also often depicted wearing a lot of beautiful π“„€ jewelry.

One of the most popular types of jewelry amongst the elite – including the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and royal family is known as the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ (pronounced β€œwesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝 could be used for the whole word.

Broad Collars at the MET

The broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ was the necklace of choice by both the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and it reached peak popularity during the 18th Dynasty. The broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ was also given to people of high rank or officials π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€π“ͺ as a mark of honor. Broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹π“¦ could be made of many different types of materials, including gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰, but the ones shown in this picture are made of faience beads.

Many mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ have also been found buried wearing the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹! You gotta look good in the afterlife too 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!!