Tag: the met

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Hetepsi

This is a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ for a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 who was a priestess π“ŠΉπ“› of Hathor 𓉑 during the Old Kingdom (6th-8th Dynasty, c. 2323-2100 B.C.E.). Hetepsi π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 is seen holding a sistrum π“Šƒπ“ˆ™π“ˆ™π“π“£ in her hand, which is a musical instrument which is associated with the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ– – β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering of…” (Anubis’ name is shortened here, most likely for spacing reasons because Anubis is usually always written as π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 or π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒).

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺ𓏏𓏏 – β€œA royal offering” (π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ can mean β€œpeace” or β€œoffering”)

π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ – β€œPriestess of Hathor, Mistress of…” (β€œMistress” can also be translated as β€œLady”)

π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 – β€œDendera, who is revered…”

π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋 – β€œ…before the great god lord of the sky, Hetepsi”

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“‰“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“Šͺπ“π“π“‰žπ“π“‹π“ŠΉπ“›π“ŽŸπ“ π“‰Ίπ“ˆ–π“π“Š–π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ𓅱𓏏 π“π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“„€π“ŽŸπ“Šͺπ“π“‡―π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓋴𓇋

β€œAn offering the king gives Anubis, a voice offering for the royal offering, Priestess of Hathor, Mistress of Dendera, who is revered before the great god, lord of the sky, Hetepsi.”

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief from the Tomb of Dagi

This beautiful π“„€ limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ relief is from the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Dagi, who served as vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 and treasurer 𓋨𓅱 during the reign of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (Dynasty 11, c. 2010–2000 B.C.E.). It is unclear if the two 𓏻 men π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ shown in this relief are Dagi’s sons, or if they are other officials 𓋴𓂋𓀀𓏦. The two 𓏻 men π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ are wearing blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ armlets π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“Ž‘π“π“…±π“ͺ and broad collars π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. This type of jewelry, while expensive to obtain in real life, was very common to see in reliefs.

While very simple, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this relief show the name β€œπ“Š¨π“π“…­β€, which is pronounced as β€œSaiset” and translates to β€œSon of Isis.” This is actually one of the earliest examples of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ actually being used as part of a name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

I am always a big fan of the simple reliefs that have a ton of color. It’s amazing how artifacts that are so old are still able to retain their color and beauty after thousands of years. No matter how many times I see stuff like this, it always amazes me!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Wooden Model Boat from the Tomb of Ukhhotep

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is from the tomb of a man named Ukhhotep. This is one of two 𓏻 funerary boats that were found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ – most Middle Kingdom tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ that had wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models always contained two 𓏻 boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ – In the tomb one was oriented to the north and the other towards the south. During the actual funeral, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would take one last journey across the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Models of boats 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šžπ“¦ (usually funerary boats), were usually found in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ as a way to symbolically bring the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

I really love this model because of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 that you can see underneath the canopy! The canopy also has a leopard skin at the top. The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is accompanied by two 𓏻 women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ mourners – they are probably meant to represent Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇. There is also a priest π“ŠΉπ“› (dressed in the leopard skin) who holds a scroll with a funerary offering on it. There is a second priest π“ŠΉπ“›, also dressed in leopard skin with his arm 𓂝𓏺 extended outward in a mourning gesture.

Wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models were very popular amongst Middle Kingdom tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦. This particular boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is dated to the 12th Dynasty (c. 1981–1802 B.C.E.)

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Middle Kingdom Coffin and Hieroglyph Translation

This is a stunning π“„€ example of a Middle Kingdom coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±(Late 12 to mid-13 Dynasty c. 1850–1750 B.C.E.). Many coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± from the Middle Kingdom were made of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and elaborately painted. This coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± belonged to a person named Khnumnakht, who is an unknown individual except for this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±.

The panel of this coffin π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†± that I chose to highlight is significant for many reasons. The two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 that are seen would serve as a way for the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to be able to see into the land of the living. The head 𓁢𓏺 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 would have been placed directly behind these two 𓏻 eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦. Below the eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦, is the Middle Kingdom version of the false door (particularly popular in Old Kingdom tombs). The false door would allow the spirit of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be able to travel between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

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

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – β€œAn offering the king gives..”
π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ί – β€œ…Osiris…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Š½π“Š½π“…± – β€œ…of Djedu…”
π“ŠΉπ“‰» – β€œ…the Great God…”
π“ŽŸ – β€œ…Lord…”
π“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š– – β€œ…of Abydos.”

So put together, the inscription says:

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™π“Š¨π“Ήπ“Ίπ“ŽŸπ“Š½π“Š½π“…±π“ŠΉπ“‰»π“ŽŸπ“Œπ“ˆ‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“Š–

β€œAn offering the king gives Osiris, Lord of Djedu, the Great God, Lord of Abydos.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut

It’s been a little bit since I’ve spoke about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ!! As many of you know, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and she has been an inspiration to me ever since I was a little kid! The β€œHatshepsut Room” at the MET is my most favorite gallery in any museum that I’ve been to – I feel so lucky that it’s so close to me here in NY! I still get so excited every time I get to step into the gallery! It is breathtaking every single time! Even with the mask, I think it’s very easy to see just how happy I am in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏.

This is a bust of Pharaoh Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, in the form of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ (Osiride). The statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ originally stood over 4.6 m (15 ft) high and is originally from Hatshepsut’s mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ was not a free-standing statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ- it was actually carved from the blocks that were once part of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰.

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ holds the traditional crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… across her chest, along with an ankh π“‹Ή and scepter π“Œ€. In antiquity, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was wearing the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“„€π“‹‘ on her head. About twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† years after Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ died, these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were cut off of the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and thrown into a pit near the entrance. The statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ remained buried until they were discovered by excavators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the 1930s.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of Montuhotep II

This beautiful π“„€ raised relief of Montuhotep II π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 in limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ is originally from Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. This relief was part of one of the main areas of the temple that was added at the end of Montuhotep’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ reign. This dates the piece to c. 2010–2000 B.C.E. (Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11).

Hathor’s 𓉑 face was actually chiseled away during the Amarna Period, when Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– changed Egypt’s religion to the sole worship of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³. After Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign, in Dynasty 19, some repairs were made to this piece.

In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, you can see Montuhotep II’s π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ birth name, throne name (both with titles), and Nebty name.

π“†₯(π“ π“ˆ–π“Ώπ“…±π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ) – King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Montuhotep II (Birth Name)

𓅭𓇳(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Son of Ra, Nebhapetra (Throne Name)

π“„₯𓇿𓇿 – The Uniter of the Two Lands (Nebty π“…’ Name)

In front of Hathor 𓉑 the inscription reads: π“„₯π“ˆ–π“ˆ–π“Ž‘π“‡Ώπ“‡Ώπ“‡π“‡‹π“Ž—π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“…Ίπ“„«π“π“„£π“ŽŸ which translates to β€œFor you I united the two lands as the powers commanded, all joy.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Corn Mummies

Corn Mummies are an interesting part of Egyptian religious practices. While millions of animal mummies have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies made of grains like wheat and barley have also been found. Corn mummies are found in cemeteries and are usually dated from the Third Intermediate Period through Roman times though they first appeared during the Middle Kingdom. This particular corn mummy is from the Ptolemaic Period (332–30 B.C.E.).

Corn Mummies are meant to be a representation of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and Egyptologists came to this conclusion because the β€œcoffins” that contain the corn mummies almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name and his titles/epithets. Another reason Egyptologists made the connection to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the cyclic nature of growing grains – in Egyptian religion, anything that was cyclical was related to the birth-life-death cycle humans experience.

Even though the corn mummies are dedicated to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, they are almost always found in cases with a falcon head. The falcon head is representative of the god Sokar π“Šƒπ“Ž‘π“‚‹π“…‹, who is often connected to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. Their connection goes all the way back to the Old Kingdom, and The Pyramid Texts are the one of the first instances in which they are shown to have a connection.

Sokar π“Šƒπ“Ž‘π“‚‹π“…‹ was originally thought to be the god π“ŠΉ of craftsmanship, but due to his association and worship at Memphis, he became a prominent god π“ŠΉ of the afterlife. The combination forms of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, Sokar-Osiris (Middle Kingdom), Osiris-Sokar (New Kingdom) and the most popular Ptah-Sokar-Osiris also emphasizes this connection between the two 𓏻.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Dog, Horse, and Gazelle at the MET

Here are some of the more striking pieces from the Egyptian Galleries at the MET!

The dog 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯ is referred to as a β€œMechanical Dog” because it’s mouth 𓂋𓏺 can open and close by using the lever that is located on the chest! When the mouth 𓂋𓏺 is open, tongue and teeth are visible! Much like our society today, the Egyptians had dogs 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯𓏦 as pets and mummified dogs 𓃛𓅱𓃛𓅱π“ƒ₯𓏦 have been found in tombs with their owners! This piece is from the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and actually used to be part of Howard Carter’s personal collection!

The gazelle 𓂾𓋴𓃲 is made of ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ and has a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 base. The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 are made of inlaid stone, the ears are missing along with the horns. This piece is from the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and was a part of Lord Carnarvon’s personal collection.

The horse 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗 used to be part of a whip handle and is made of ivory π“‹π“ƒ€π“…±π“ŒŸ. Interestingly, horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏦 didn’t come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– until the Second Intermediate Period during the time of Hyksos rule (c. 1667–1570 B.C.E.). During the New Kingdom however, horses 𓋴𓋴𓅓𓏏𓃗𓏦 (and chariots) were a common sight! This piece is from the rule of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  (18th Dynasty) and was a part of Lord Carnarvon’s personal collection.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Raised Relief of Horus

This raised relief in limestone is dated to the 12th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom c. 1981–1952 B.C.E.) and the reign of the pharaoh Amenemhat Iπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚. Amenemhat I π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ is famous for moving the capital of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– from Thebes π“Œ€π“π“Š– to just south of Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–. He also began a co-regency with his son π“…­, Senwosret I π“„Šπ“‹΄π“‚‹π“π“Šƒπ“ˆ– ten π“Ž† years before his death in order to maintain stability. This block was found at the foundation of Amenemhat I’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“…“π“„‚ mortuary temple.

From the right, the upper part of a was scepter π“Œ€ can be seen supporting the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. On the was scepter, a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is seen with the shen 𓍢 symbol of the universe around its neck. The falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ that is seen is actually the top part of the Horus name cartouche (which is usually rectangular shaped and is meant to represent a palace). The god π“ŠΉ Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is seen presenting an ankh π“‹Ή to the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„. Due to the ram π“Šƒπ“‚‹π“ƒ horn 𓄋𓏏𓏺 that can be partially seen on the left, it can be inferred that it is the god π“ŠΉ Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ that is being depicted.

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

On top of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ reads: π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–π“‚π“†‘π“‹Ή which translates to:

π“„‘π“‚§π“π“Š–- Edfu

𓂝𓆑𓋹 – May He Give Life (One of Horus’ π“…ƒπ“€­ titles is β€œHorus of Edfu.”)

In between Horus and Khnum the inscription is broken but reads: π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“π“‰π“³ π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” which translates to: β€œHe who is before the house of protection, Words Spoken By…”

π“ƒπ“ˆ–π“ -Before/In front of

𓉐𓍳 – House of Protection

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“‹΄π“ˆ–π“ƒ” – ?

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Egyptian Artifacts

Burial Chamber of Sobekmose

This is the burial chamber π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“‰ of Sobekmose, who was a treasury official π“‹΄π“‚‹π“€€ under the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž (18th Dynasty, c. 1417–1379 B.C.E.). The south 𓇔𓅱𓏏 wall, part of the east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭 wall, and the ceiling 𓉔𓄿𓏏𓇯 blocks are all preserved here. The blocks are made of sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™.

Decorated burial chambers π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“‰ were not super common in the 18th Dynasty. Instead, the scenes depicted here were usually distributed amongst many chambers. They are all condensed into one room here.

The ceiling’s 𓉔𓄿𓏏𓇯 inscriptions include a prayer to Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯), β€œwords spoken by π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ–β€ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­, and inscriptions saying that “the Osiris Sobekmose” is “honored by” the Four Sons of Horus and various other gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ. The east 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭 entrance wall is decorated with protective texts and images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣. The south 𓇔𓅱𓏏 wall is covered in prayers to many different Egyptian gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“.

This was purchased from the Egyptian government in 1908, and the north π“Ž”π“ and west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ walls of the burial chamber π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“‰ are actually in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston!