Tag: british museum

Realistic Lion Statue of Amenhotep III or IV

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 26, 2022

This lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was originally meant to represent the 18th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠. The Egyptians believed that lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏦 represented strength and might, which is why pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 wanted to be represented as lions 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏦 (and why the Sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 was so popular). While being represented as a sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 was considered the “normal” in Egyptian art, being represented as a full lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 was very rare. Also, sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 are usually represented in a “head-on” type style, while this statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 represents the lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛𓏦 in a more realistic fashion.

To me, this piece showcases the incredible skills that Egyptian artists possessed – not only could they make idealized/traditional statues like sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦, but they were also masters at making realistic statues too.

This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 has gone through many changes and was recycled by many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! It was originally made for Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠, however, an inscription was added to the chest by Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 (better known as Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 after his name 𓂋𓈖 change).

The inscription reads “Lion of rulers, wild when he sees his enemies tread his path.” The picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 below shows a close up of this inscription, however it is hard to read – I got some help from the British Museum website for the translation because when hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are faded, especially when looking at them from my photographs, they can be extremely difficult for me to read!

Tags akhenaten, amenhotep iii, artifact, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Abydos Kings List and the Missing Pharaohs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 26, 2022

Something I was so excited to see in the British Museum was the Abydos King List. There are two surviving King Lists from temples 𓉟𓏏𓉐𓏪 at Abydos, the cult center of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. One temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 is from Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and the other from his son Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓, who were both pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 during the 19th Dynasty. Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 list is still in the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abydos, while Rameses II’s 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was excavated and brought to the British Museum.

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, Smenkhare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣, Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 name 𓂋𓈖 should be!

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Tags akhenaten, artifact, british museum, hatshepsut

Egyptian Artifacts

The Abydos King List

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2022

While neither list is a 100% complete list, there are some glaring holes in the list – Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, Smenkhare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣, Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, and Ay’s 𓇳𓆣𓆣𓏪𓁹𓐙𓏏 cartouches are missing. Obviously, these names were left off because these pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 are considered non-legitimate. Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪 was the female pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and Akhenaten-Ay is considered the Amarna Period, which was not well liked due to the drama of Akhenaten changing the religion and moving the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

Tags artifact, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts

False Door of Bateti

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 25, 2022

This is the False Door of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤 named Bateti 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋 who was an official during the 5th Dynasty (2494-2345 B.C.E.). This particular False Door is interesting because it shows Bateti 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋 emerging from it – the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 served as a vessel for his soul 𓂓 to pass through the door. This False Door stood in the chapel of his mastaba tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. The False Door remains unfinished and his name 𓂋𓈖 should be carved above the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾, but only two 𓏻 hieroglyphic symbols were carved.

Bateti’s full name: 𓃀𓂝𓏍𓏏𓏏𓇋

What appears on the False Door: 𓏍𓏏𓏏 (the “𓏏𓏏” has been fully carved but the “𓏍” has only been sketched on to the limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉).

False Doors are an extremely important part of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. False Doors served as ways for the living relatives to make offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 to the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The offerings 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔𓏦 usually consisted of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥- bread 𓏐 and beer 𓏊 were two common ones! The False Door acted as a link between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the soul 𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could travel between the two lands 𓇿𓇿 through the False Door. They are also known as “ka 𓂓 doors” or “soul 𓂓 doors.”

False Doors were usually located on the western 𓋀𓏏𓏭 walls of tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏦 because the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. The west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 is associated with the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 sets in the west 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – when Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 makes his daily journey across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯, sunset 𓇋𓐍𓐍𓅱𓇶 is representative of his death.

𓏙𓋹𓊽𓌀

Tags artifact, british museum, hieroglyphs

Egyptian Artifacts

Horus as a Sphinx

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This is a really interesting piece from the British Museum!

It is a sandstone 𓂋𓅱𓂧𓏏𓌗𓈙 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤! Usually sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 are depicted as being the body of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛 with the head 𓁶𓏺 of a man 𓊃𓀀𓏤, but obviously this one is quite different!

This particular statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to c. 1250 B.C.E.; the reign of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓. This sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 and many other similar ones used to stand guard at Rameses II’s 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Abu Simbel.

Sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 are incredibly powerful creatures because not only do they represent the physical strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 of a lion 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓄛, but also the power of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 head 𓁶𓏺 isn’t represented on this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤, a falcon is. Falcons 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄𓏦 are associated with the god 𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭, who is the personification of the pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 power. Since one of Horus’ 𓅃𓀭 roles is as the god 𓊹 of pharaonic power, it makes sense that sphinxes 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏦 can also represent pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 while using a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 head 𓁶𓏺.

Tags artifact, british museum, horus, sphinx

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses II

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 is one of the largest Egyptian artifacts in the British Museum. The piece is definitely grand, and is even more beautiful 𓄤 in person. Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 was Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 most prolific builder, so it makes sense that objects made in his likeness are also grand!

Nicole (me) with the Statue of Rameses II at the British Museum

Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 came to the throne after the death 𓅓𓏏𓏱 of his father Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠, and ruled Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 for about 67 years. He was the third pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, and is often referred to as “Rameses The Great” because he built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 more monuments than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and ruled longer than any other pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

The monuments attributed to Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 are some of the best preserved in all of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 – it seems that he got his wish to be remembered even so long after his death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 built 𓐍𓂤𓅱𓋴𓀧 as much as he could so he could ensure that his name 𓂋𓈖 lived on. He also usurped a lot of other previous pharaohs’ 𓉐𓉻𓏦 monuments too!

Geology time!!!! This statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 was cut from pink/gray granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿. Granite 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓈖𓌳𓍿 is an extremely strong rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 and resistant to weathering due to its high quartz content (hence why it is used to make countertops in modern times), so that is why the details on this are so well preserved.

This piece was excavated by Belzoni and was originally from Rameses II’s 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 mortuary temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖 (aka the Ramesseum).

Tags artifact, british museum, rameses ii

Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Rameses IV

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

This is a stunning 𓄤 statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses IV 𓇳𓋾𓁦 who ruled during Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 20th Dynasty. He is depicted in a kneeling position with offering pots 𓏍 (for wine or water) in each of his hands. I always find this depiction of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 fascinating because pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 are considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 so they shouldn’t kneel for anyone – except another god 𓊹!

The god 𓊹 that Rameses IV 𓇳𓋾𓁦 is making an offering 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏏𓏔 to is most likely Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳, since Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 is mentioned in hieroglyphic texts 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the back panel of the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾.

The cartouches for Rameses IV’s nomen (birth name) 𓇳𓄟𓊃𓊃 and prenomen (throne name) 𓇳𓋾𓁦 are on each shoulder. There are many different variants of the nomen and prenomen, so these are not they only way his name 𓂋𓈖 appears on monuments! I just used the ones that were also used on the statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 itself! The different ways to write the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 are called “variants.”

While the original provenance isn’t known, it is most likely that they statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 is originally from Amun-Ra’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak. Rameses IV 𓇳𓋾𓁦 was one of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who contributed to the decoration of Hypostyle Hall!

Tags artifact, british museum, rameses iv

Egyptian Artifacts

A Collection of Amulets

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

I love ancient Egyptian amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 – probably because I love tiny objects! Amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were small objects wrapped within the bandages on a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 or worn by a living person. The purpose of the amulets was to protect the wearer with magic powers that were specific to that amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆. The amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were also supposed to aid in resurrection. Here in the British Museum, they had quite a nice display of some faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪! I love faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 pieces because I love their blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color! I also like this display because you can see different style variations!

The wedjat 𓂀 (Eye of Horus) is a very common symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 and regeneration. The wedjat 𓂀 symbol was used by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱! Many people wore wedjat 𓂀 necklaces or rings 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪𓏦 in order to invoke its powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜. This very much shows how religion and fashion were very much related in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖!

The Isis knot 𓎬 is representative of a tied piece of cloth and is associated with the blood of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥 (hence why red colored stones are usually used to make these amulets). It is a symbol of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and was usually placed at the neck of the deceased. Knots in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 were thought to release magic.

Tags amulet, artifact, british museum

Egyptian Artifacts

(More) Ushabti Figures

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

More ushabtis!!!! Most ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures are made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, but can also be made out of wood, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, calcite, terracotta and more rarely, bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦. Today I’m going to talk about bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures!

It is pretty rare to find bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and there are not too many instances of archaeologists finding bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ones in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥. Before the discovery of the royal tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏥 at Tanis 𓆓𓂝𓈖𓏏𓊖, only six 𓏿 bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures had been found. One 𓏺 was for the pharaoh Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓, and five 𓏾 were for Rameses III 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓈘𓇋𓏠𓈖.

The pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖 of the 21st Dynasty (c. 1000 B.C.E.) had many bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures made. The bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are in similar style to the “regular” types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures made with more popular materials. They are mummiform, with the arms crossed on the chest with an inscription on the front. Psusennes’ 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures are distributed in museums around the world and are highly valued pieces despite their modest appearance!

Unrelated, but I love Psusennes I’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖 name 𓂋𓈖! It translates to “ The star who has appeared in Nut, beloved of Amun.” Sometimes, Nut 𓈖𓏏𓊖 is taken to mean “Thebes” in royal titularly. Nut 𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭 is the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯! Nut can be written as “𓈖𓏏𓊖” or “𓏌𓏏𓇯𓀭” (and there are other variations as well)!

Tags artifact, british museum, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Figures

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 24, 2022

One of the reasons I find ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures so fascinating is because they come in many different styles and can be made from many different types of materials. Most ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures are made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼, but can also be made out of wood, limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, calcite, terracotta and more rarely, bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦. The faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures can come in all different colors: blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟, green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, blue-green 𓇅𓆓𓏛, white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 and others!

I love how this display at the British Museum shows many different styles/colors of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾!

There are two 𓏻 ways to write ushabti in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪:

𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 – šwbtj – the earlier word that was used in Egypt.
𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 – wšbtj – the “newer” form of the word. This is where the Egyptological term of “ushabti” or “shabti” (both are correct terms to use) originated from!

So which version of the word do I use in my posts? Both! I like to mix it up! “ 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾” seems to be the version preferred by Allen, while “ 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾” seems to be more used by Budge and other earlier hieroglyphic dictionaries. I think it’s important to be able to recognize both versions for translation purposes! In English, my Nonno always said “ushabti” so I always use it! I will rarely say/use “shabti.”

Tags artifact, british museum, ushabti

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