Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part I)

Only here on ancientegyptblog will you hear someone say β€œLook at how gorgeous this is 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑” about a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 or other type of funerary object but that’s only because the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere is such an incredible piece (as many objects from the Late Period are)!

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
Me with the gorgeous Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Museum

I spent so long just trying to take in all of the beautiful π“„€ images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that are on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen or papyrus mixed with plaster! This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties. 

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
A view of the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere at the Brooklyn Muesum

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest π“ŠΉπ“› named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ may seem like random pictures of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and associate him with and ensure rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…±. 

Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere
The Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere with a view of the ram headed pendant and the central hieroglyphs with offering forumla

The ram headed pendant on his chest is meant to represent the sun 𓇳 god π“ŠΉ Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 – and through the netherworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 at night π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“„›. The images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ can almost be thought of as the picture-book version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

While the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱π“ͺ of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ are so delicately drawn, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ going down the middle of the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 seem to be unfinished and roughly done. The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ show the very standard offering formula!

π“‡“π“π“Š΅π“™ – An Offering the King Gives 

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

𓏅 – Foremost 

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

The inscription reads: β€œAn Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West.”

Look forward to a Part 𓏻 about the back of this piece! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Thoth on a Coffin

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ – with the god π“ŠΉ of writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ himself, Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭! I love Thoth 𓅝because I love hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and he’s my second favorite Egyptian deity! Let’s take a look at a depiction of Thoth on a coffin!

Thoth on a Coffin
Thoth on a Coffin depicted as an Ibis with a human body.

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows some details on the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a man named Kharrushere who lived during the Third Intermediate Period/22nd Dynasty (c. 825–712 B.C.E.). Elaborately decorated coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ are very typical of this time period and I love just looking at them and enjoying the beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 art!

Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭 was represented in multiple ways, and was always associated with either the baboon or the ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀. When in humanoid form (like on this coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾), he was represented as a human body with the head of an ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅀. 

Let’s break down the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ that are to the left of Thoth! 

π“†“π“Œƒπ“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“…€ – Thoth (β€œDjeuty” in Middle Egyptian)

π“ŽŸ – Lord

π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ – Hieroglyphs (β€œDivine Words/Writing”)

Thoth π“…€π“€­ was thought to have invented writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, and was thus the god π“ŠΉ of all record keeping, hence the epithet β€œLord of the Divine Words/Writing π“ŽŸπ“ŠΉπ“Œƒ.” Due to his vast knowledge, π“‚‹π“π“π“œ Thoth π“Ÿ was thought to know magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ and secrets π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“†Ÿπ“›π“¦ that were unknown to the rest of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon. He was also the god π“ŠΉ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ.

Thoth π“…€ has many ways to write his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs! Here are a few of them: 

π“…€π“€­ 

π“…€

𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭

𓅝𓏏𓏭

π“Ÿ

Most of the deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon have many variations of ways to write their names in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Memphis Triad

While Harry, Ron, and Hermione are most definitely my favorite trio of all time, the Memphis Triad comes pretty close!! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, groups of three 𓏼 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ are referred to as β€œtriads” by Egyptologists! Triads were groups of gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ that usually had some type of familial significance to each other. Father 𓇋𓏏𓀀-Mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐-Child π“π“‡Œπ“€• triads and family 𓅕𓉔𓅱𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏦 units were extremely important to Egyptian culture!

The Memphis Triad
Ptah (left), Sekhmet (middle) and Imhotep (right) make up the Memphis Triad

The triads were usually made into a single statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾, however, at the MET they have displayed these three 𓏼 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ together to form a triad which I think is so cool! This triad is known as the Memphis Triad, which consisted of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“€­ (left), Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ (middle) and Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (right). 

The Memphis Triad could also be Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“, and Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯. Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 was the son π“…­ of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± and Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ in mythology. However, during the Ptolemaic times (which is when these bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ are dated to), Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a god π“ŠΉ, and he kind of replaced Nefertem 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓍃𓀯 in the triad! Since Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was regarded by the Greeks as the Son π“…­ of Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“±, this unofficially made Sekhmet π“Œ‚π“π“…“π“π“ his mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐! 

Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, meaning β€œHe who comes in peace,” was a non-royal man who became deified.  Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was not deified in his lifetime – it was 2,000 𓆼𓆼 years after his death that he began to be worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a god π“ŠΉ by the Greeks. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows some of the details (Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus) on the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a man named Kharrushere who lived during the Third Intermediate Period/22nd Dynasty (c. 825–712 B.C.E.). These elaborately decorated coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ are very typical of this time period, and they’re some of my favorite things to just sit and look at because the art is just exquisite! 

Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus
Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus depicted on a mummiform coffin at the MET.

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, we can see the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ sitting in a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰. If you look closely, the pillars that are holding up the shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ are actually β€œDjed Pillars π“Š½π“Š½π“Š½β€ which is significant because not only does β€œDjed π“Š½β€ mean β€œstability” in Middle Egyptian, but the Djed Pillar is also thought to represent the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­!

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

While Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ is not explicitly labeled with his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, we know it’s him for a couple of reasons! He is depicted holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ…, which is very typical! In the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ thought, we can see the title β€œLord of Eternity π“ŽŸπ“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›β€ which is always associated with Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­! It’s basically his nickname!

π“ŽŸ – Lord 

π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž› – Eternity

In front 𓏃 of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ on the table, we can see the Four Sons of Horus! Not only are they usually shown together like this, but each one of them is labeled with their name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! However, due to spacing, the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ are a little abbreviated/shortened from their usual forms! 

Let’s start reading from the right since that’s the way the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this section point: 

𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍿 – Imseti (not shortened)

π“Ž›π“π“‘- Hapi (π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺπ“‡Œ) 

𓇼𓅐𓆑 – Duamutef (𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑)

π“π“Œ’ – Qebehsenuef (π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘)

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 and Qebehsenuef π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘ seem to be switched because Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears before Qebehsenuef’s π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ but after him in the lineup! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Coffin Fragment of Isis

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

This is a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 fragment (Late Period, Dynasties 26-31 c. 664-332 B.C.E.) that shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— in mourning. Since in Egyptian mythology Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ assisted in the resurrection of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, it was believed that she would be instrumental in the rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 which is why she was always seen on coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ or the on the foot panel of sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦. This coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ fragment of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is breathtaking in person!

Coffin Fragment of Isis
Me with the Coffin Fragment of Isis at the Brooklyn Museum

It’s usually easy to tell when Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— is being depicted in Egyptian art because she is wearing the same hieroglyphic symbol on her head that appears in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, which is the throne symbol π“Š¨!! Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— is shown wearing a white outfit, a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ and two 𓏻 green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛π“ͺ which seem to blend in to her green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 skin. The green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛 skin symbolizes life π“‹Ή and rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…±. 

Coffin Fragment of Isis
Coffin Fragment of Isis

This is the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– in the right column: β€œπ“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†—π“…¨π“‚‹π“ŠΉπ“…β€

π“†“π“‡‹π“ˆ– – Words Spoken By

π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“†— Isis (Isis is more commonly written like this β€œπ“Š¨π“π“₯β€œ or β€œ π“Š¨π“π“†‡π“₯”)

π“…¨π“‚‹ – the Great (greatness)

π“ŠΉ – God

𓅐 – Mother 

Put together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œWords spoken by Isis, the great God’s Mother…” The rest of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– on this column is cut off. 

On the left column, the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– starts of with β€œπ“Ήπ“ˆ–β€ which translates to β€œborn of” and then it says the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–of a person which is hard for me to translate because I can’t tell what bird symbol is being used! The last part of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– seems to say β€œtrue of voice π“™π“Š€,” but again it’s hard to tell because it’s cut off!

When I saw this piece I really liked it because of how colorful it was! No matter how many times I see artifacts in museums, I’m always shocked by how bright the colors still are on some objects! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Mother’s Day – Isis and Mut

Happy Mother’s 𓅐𓏏𓁐 Day to all of the moms – and especially to my Mom, Nonna, and Oma! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ I’m going to do a post about some of the Moms 𓅐𓏏𓁐π“ͺ of Ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– who happen to be goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“! 

Mother's Day Isis
A calcite statue accented with bronze of Isis feeding the baby Horus (Brooklyn Museum)

The first 𓏃 picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows a calcite 𓍱 and bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. This is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 has even appeared on the back of Roman Coins! 

Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and she was also a user of magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ.

Mother's Day Mut
A sunken relief of the goddess Mut, from a Ramesside-era stela (Brooklyn Museum)

The second picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 whose name π“‚‹π“ˆ– happens to mean β€œMother!” Symbolically, Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 was also thought to be the divine mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and this idea became popularized as Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ (her husband) became one of the most worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ during the 18th Dynasty.  Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐 didn’t appear in religious texts until the Middle Kingdom, and some think she was β€œinvented” to be Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ wife and a mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 figure. 

The word for β€œmother 𓅐𓏏𓁐/𓅐𓏏” in Middle Egyptian seems to predate the appearance of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Mut 𓏏𓅑𓁐, so it’s possible that her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– was intended to mean β€œmother.”

There are multiple variants for β€œmother” in Middle Egyptian/hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, so let’s take a look at them:

𓅐𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏𓏏𓁐

𓅐𓏏

𓅐𓅆𓆇

π“…π“π“Ž

𓅐𓏏𓁐𓅆

Happy Mother’s Day!

These are my personal photographs and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Birthdays in Ancient Egypt

My birthday is soon, so let’s talk about birthdays in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

Birthdays in Ancient Egypt
Me hanging out at the Temple of Dendur at the MET!

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from my last trip to the MET, when I just got to sit and hang out in one of my absolute favorite places – The Temple of Dendur! The temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was actually commissioned by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 (first emperor of Rome) and the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ was primarily used to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯.

The ancient Egyptians didn’t celebrate the birthdays of regular people – they celebrated the birthdays of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“! The 365-day calendar which is one of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to the world! Egyptian astronomers even adjusted the year to be exactly 365.25 days when their calculations got more accurate! 

The Egyptian calendar consisted of 12 π“Ž†π“» months that were each 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† days long. The extra five 𓏾 days left over at the end of the year were festival days – each day dedicated to celebrating the birthday of a different deity π“ŠΉ! 

Day 1 was the Birthday of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­

Day 2 was the Birthday of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­

Day 3 was the Birthday of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£

Day 4 was the Birthday of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯

Day 5 was the Birthday of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇

So how do we write β€œbirthday” in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ? Let’s use Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ as an example: π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“Ž± or π“„Ÿπ“π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­π“Ž±. 

Let’s break it down: π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“/π“„Ÿπ“ is the word for β€œbirth” and both are pronounced β€œmswt.” In the case of  β€œπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“,” this is what we call a β€œphonetic complement” – the sounds are written twice but pronounced once!

The β€œalabaster basin π“Ž±β€ symbol is a determinative for β€œfeast” or β€œfestival” but can also be an ideogram for β€œheb” (feast). 

So if I wanted to write out my own birthday, it would look like this: π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“…±π“π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“―π“ƒ­π“π“Ž±. You can do the same with your own – just replace my name π“‚‹π“ˆ– with your name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! 

A big thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 to the UCL website for the list of the festival days!! Check out their website for incredible information about ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Relief of the Goddess Isis

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looked at a raised relief of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“†‡ from the West Wall of a Chapel of Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…±. This chapel was originally located in the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–. Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± was old when he took the throne, and most of his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were either finished by or made by his 𓆑 son π“…­, Seti I π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ–. 

In ancient Egyptian art, one of the ways to distinguish deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ from each other are either looking at the crowns on their head, or the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that appear next to them. The crowns stayed pretty standard for most deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, however, Isis’ π“Š¨π“π“†‡ crown changed a lot! Most commonly she is depicted with the throne hieroglyph π“Š¨ on her head because it’s part of her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–! She can also be represented with the solar disk 𓇳 and cow horns π“„‹, or as she is here, with the solar disc 𓇳, cow horns π“„‹, and feathers 𓆄π“ͺ. The solar disk 𓇳 and cow horns π“„‹ makes her look similar to Hathor 𓉑, so it’s a good idea to read the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in this case!

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

Relief of the Goddess Isis
Relief of the Goddess Isis from the Chapel of Rameses I in the temple of Seti I at the MET

We are going to start reading from the right because the directional symbols (aka the birds π“…¨ 𓅐) point to the right! As usual, we are also going to read the columns from top to bottom! 

π“Š¨π“π“†‡ – Isis

𓅨𓂋𓏏 – Great One

π“ŠΉπ“π“… – God’s Mother

π“ŽŸπ“ – Lady/Mistress

π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“ŽΊπ“ – Lady/Mistress

𓇿𓇿 – Two Lands

The most common way to write Lady/Mistress is β€œπ“ŽŸπ“,” however, β€œπ“ŽΊπ“β€ is also a variant of that same word! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission. 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The God Osiris Inside A Sarcophagus

This depiction of the god π“ŠΉ Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is on the inside of a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­. Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is the lord of the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐  and it was the goal to be β€œreborn” like Osiris π“Š©π“Ή was after death. Much like Osiris π“Š©π“Ή in the myth, the deceased would not return to the world of the living, but instead live on in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

The God Osiris

Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is always depicted in the same way – as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾, holding the crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… , and wearing the Atef crown π“‹š. The Atef crown is the White Crown of Upper Egypt π“Œ‰π“π“‹‘ with two 𓏻 feathers 𓆄𓏏𓏭𓋛 of Ma’at π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ adorning the sides. Above Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛, who is the god π“ŠΉ of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺. 

I love how Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 is drawn in the β€œHorizon π“ˆŒβ€ hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ. The ancient Egyptians used to use hieroglyphic symbols π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ as artistic depictions for a lot of the natural happenings! Another example is how the β€œsky 𓇯” and β€œstar 𓇼” hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ were often also used to depict these object in art. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to start near Osiris’ head!

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇽 – Duat (ancient Egyptian word for Afterlife/Netherworld)

π“ŽŸ – Lord

π“‚¦π“ˆŠ – Sacred Land/Necropolis

Next to the flail: 

π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ – West

Osiris π“Š©π“Ή is often referred to as β€œForemost of the West π“…π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€ because in ancient Egypt, the β€œwest π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠβ€ was referred to as the Land of the Dead since the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west π“‹€π“π“π“ˆŠ.

Now beneath β€œwest” is where I don’t know what the glyphs say! It looks like β€œπ“ŠΉπ“Œƒβ€ which is β€œdivine writing” (aka hieroglyphs” but β€œGreat God π“ŠΉπ“‰Όβ€ would make more sense! Sometimes the way the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are drawn/painted can make it difficult to read and interpret!

There are many different ways to write Osiris’ name in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. Much like any language, Middle Egyptian changed and evolved over time. The way that Osiris is written on this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­, β€œπ“Š©π“Ή,” is a popular spelling from the Third Intermediate Period – Late Period, which is when this sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is dated to. The most common way that Osiris was written before then was β€œπ“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­,” which is the spelling that most are familiar with. Other ways to write Osiris are: 𓁹𓇓𓀴 and π“Ήπ“Š¨π“‚‹π“€΄, but these are less common.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of the Aten

Usually, a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· enclosed the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The oval surrounding the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was meant to be protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ from evil π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“π“…¨ both in life π“‹Ή and in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. During the 18th Dynasty, the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the King’s Great Wife π“‡“π“ˆžπ“ would also sometimes appear in a cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·. 

Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– was not a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that followed tradition! Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“, which archaeologists sometimes refer to as the β€œAmarna Revolution” is a period of less than 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years which showed big changes not only to the traditional Egyptian religion, but also changes to the traditional Egyptian art. 

This fragment does not contain the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–. Instead, the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are very long way to write the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, the sole sun 𓇳𓏺 deity π“ŠΉ in Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– new religion. 

Cartouches of the Aten
The Cartouches of the Aten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! These are two 𓏻 of the β€œearly” cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³, as there were variations during the later part of the Amarna period. The two 𓏻 cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are incomplete, but since we know what the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ are supposed to say, I will translate both! 

Here is the first two cartouches at the top of the fragment:  π“‹Ήπ“…Šπ“ˆŒπ“ˆŒπ“Ž›π“‚π“»π“›π“π“ˆŒπ“ 

π“‹Ή – Living 

π“…Šπ“ˆŒπ“ˆŒ – Ra-Horakhty

π“Ž›π“‚π“»π“› – Rejoicing 

𓐝 – in

π“ˆŒπ“ – Horizon

This translates to β€œThe Living Ra-Horakhty, Rejoicing in the Horizon.” 

This second cartouche got cut off (you can only see the first two symbols), but here it is: π“π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“†‘π“π“†„π“…±π“‡³π“ˆ–π“π“»π“π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³

𓐝 – In 

π“ˆ–π“‚‹ – Name

𓆑 – His 

𓐝 – As 

π“†„π“…±π“‡³π“ˆ–π“π“» – Light

𓐝 – In 

π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³ – Aten

This translates to β€œIn His Name As the Light Which is In the Aten.” 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.