Tag: hatshepsut

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“First Love”

I’ve had this written for a while but haven’t posted it because it is very feelings-y and very different from my usual posts. I am a huge fan of the group BTS. They are a Korean boy band whose music has basically gotten me through 2020. While I love all of their music, one of their songs has really struck a chord with me because it basically puts my feelings about ancient Egypt into words. The song is called β€œFirst Love” and it is written and performed by Min Yoongi (aka SUGA). While you would expect a song with this title to be about a person, it is in fact about Yoongi’s love for the piano from a very young age and his lifelong journey with his childhood piano.


I have always called Ancient Egypt my β€œfirst love” so when I listened to the song and I read the translation I immediately related to it. While I am passionate about many things, Egypt is always the thing that I will return to because Egypt’s history is just something I love so deeply. Throughout my life, I have so many beautiful memories in my Nonnoβ€˜s basement looking through his books and staring up at the bookcases hoping to one day be able to read every single word that they contain. So many memories of listening to my Nonno explain the significance of each piece in museums. These feelings of childish wonder are emotions that I always wish to return to.

β€œWhen I was fed up and lost, Back then when I fell into a pit of despair, Even when I pushed you away, Even when I resented meeting you, You were firmly by my side, You didn’t have to say anything, So don’t ever let go of my hand, I won’t let you go ever again either, My birth and the end of my life, You will be there to watch over it all” -First Love


I feel like a picture of me with my favorite Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statue is appropriate for this type of post! I’m 16 in this picture!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ostraca of Senemut


Ostraca are basically the ancient Egyptian version of a sketch pad or scrap paper! They were used by scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ or artists to practice their craft! The ostraca were usually chips of limestone or broken pottery.


These ostraca at the MET are very awesome because they depict Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό!! Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 most trusted advisor (and in my opinion, they were definitely much closer than that 😜). Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό was not only the tutor for Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 daughter 𓅭𓏏 Neferure 𓇳𓄀 π“„€ π“„€, the royal architect in charge of Deir el-Bahri, but he was also the Steward to Amun π“†“π“‰π“Ίπ“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– at Karnak.

The sketch of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό on these ostraca are very similar to the sketches of Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό that are seen in his tomb!

These were always some of my favorite pieces to see as a kid! Not only because it was Senemut π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“…π“€Ό, but also I loved seeing how the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used to do things!! Seeing the grids and seeing their β€œsketch pads” allowed me a glimpse into just how some of this incredible art was created!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut

This is one of the grand, large kneeling statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ that were found during excavations of her temple at Deir el-Bahri. The excavations were a joint operation between the MET and the Egyptian government.

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is depicted wearing the nemes headcloth, a false beard on her chin, and is kneeling with a nemset jar π“Œ in each hand 𓂧𓏏𓏺. These were meant to be offerings to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–- an inscription on the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ states that Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is offering “maat” to Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–- while Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ was the goddess of truth, “maat” was also a concept held dearly by Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ. Her reign was guided by order, truth, and justice – all the principles of maat.

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is seen kneeling, which is not too common for a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 since they were considered to be gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth. However, since Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, she did this in a kneeling position. A pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 kneeled for no one – except for another god π“ŠΉ.

From this angle, the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ looks even more grand! I also love pink granite, which many of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ are made out of. Granite is an extremely dense and durable rock (hence why it is used for countertops today), and these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ were definitely built to last.

The image above is of the cartouches of Hatshepsut’s throne name, Maatkare 𓇳𓁦𓂓.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Small Kneeling Statue of Hatshepsut

This is a small, kneeling statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ made out of black/pink granite! The black and pink granite is traditionally found in Aswan (Upper Egypt). In the USA, black and pink granite is commonly found in Nevada and other western states! This piece is in the MET.

While not as grand as some of her other statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ that adorned her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri, this one makes quite an impression. There are at least eight of these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, and many of them are in the MET. They were most likely used to line the upper court at her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, and are thought to be intended for her Heb Sed festival (a festival used to celebrate 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† years of rule, and then celebrated every three 𓏼 years after the initial 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†). Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, ever the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to break from tradition, instead celebrated hers in the 16th π“Ž†π“Ώ year of her rule!

In this statue, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is kneeling and is seen holding the nemset jar π“Œ. The jar π“Œ has the djed pillar π“Š½ adorning the front. The djed pillar π“Š½ is thought to be the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, and it represents stability and endurance – both are attributes a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 needed in order to be a successful ruler!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Majestic Hatshepsut!

What a majestic view!Β 

This large red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is not in the β€œHatshepsut Gallery” (as I like to call it) at the MET – in fact, she is right next to the Temple of Dendur! Dendur is located in Nubia, and is just south 𓇔𓅱𓏏 of Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š–. 

I find the location of the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ an interesting placement in the museum because the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and the sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ are from two 𓏻very different time periods in Egyptian history. The temple of Dendur was built by Augustus 𓉐𓉻𓀀 and building was completed by 10 B.C.E.,  while Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ ruled π“‹Ύ during the New Kingdom. This sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was sculpted during the joint reign π“‹Ύ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III π“‡³π“ π“†£ c.1479–1458 B.C.E.

The Sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was one of six 𓏿 large sphinxes π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦ that would have lined her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. It is made of red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ, which was mined at Aswan π“‹΄π“ƒΉπ“ˆ–π“Œπ“²π“Š– and then transported ~500 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Red Granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ is a super dense rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ so this was not an easy task! 

This is a large and absolutely beautiful π“„€ piece in real life. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is depicted wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth and the false beard – typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! The sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ was a very popular way for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to be represented, and this practice occurred for thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years. While the most famous sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ is the great sphinx π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“€ of Khafre π“‡³π“ˆπ“†‘ at Giza, there are so many other wonderful sphinxes too π“Ž›π“…±π“ƒ­π“¦! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery (Part 3)

I have written about these small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© β€œKneeling Statues of Hatshepsut” in the past, but I have never posted a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 with all four 𓏽 of them togetherΒ π“ˆ–π“Š—! Usually due to crowds at the MET, it is so hard to get all four 𓏽 in a single picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Since I wrote about the big statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ yesterday, let’s look at the smallΒ π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© statuesΒ π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺΒ todayΒ π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³! I was so happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 to get some fun pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 in the HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ Gallery!Β 

In these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is kneeling and is seen holding the nemset jar π“Œ.  The jar π“Œ has the djed pillar π“Š½ adorning the front.  The djed pillar π“Š½ is thought to be the spine of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, and it represents stability and endurance – both are attributes a Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 needed in order to be a successful ruler π“‹Ύ!

While tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©, these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ adorned her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. At least eight of these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were found on the joint expedition between the MET and the Egyptian government during the excavation of Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐. Four 𓏽 of these are in the MET, and are in varying conditions. 

They were most likely used to line the upper court at her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰, and are thought to be intended for her Heb Sed festival (a festival used to celebrate 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž† years of rule, and then celebrated every three 𓏼 years after the initial 30 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†). Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, ever the Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 to break from tradition, instead celebrated hers in the 16th π“Ž†π“Ώ year of her rule! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery (Part 2)

Thanks to my mom 𓄿𓏏𓁐, who was at the museum with me, I was able to get such great pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 in the HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ Gallery!

Here I am in between the two 𓏻 large red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ! These statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ are tremendous in size and so gorgeous π“„€ to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in them! 

In both statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is in a kneeling position holding a nemset jar π“Œπ“Ί in each hand π“‚§π“π“Ί. In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, kneeling is considered a worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 position, and hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ at the base of one of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ say that she is offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 plants π“†Ύπ“†°π“†°π“†° to the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­. 

The main difference between the two 𓏻 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ is that one has a false beard and one does not! In statuary, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were usually depicted wearing a false beard as it was a sign of royalty π“‹Ύ. Since most of these statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ were found in pieces at Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐 during excavations, it’s possible that the statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ on the right was supposed to have a false beard but it wasn’t found, or that it was never supposed to have one!

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Hatshepsut Gallery (Part 1)

I had HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ all to myself at the MET!!

Anyone who has been following me for a while knows that the β€œHatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺΒ Gallery” at the MET is my favorite gallery out of any museum I have been too! HatshepsutΒ π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ has been my favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 since I was a child; pretty much ever since my Nonno told me that there was a womanΒ π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“Β who was the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of EgyptΒ π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–!Β 

Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ cartouche means β€œUnited with Amun, Foremost of the Noble Women,” however just the given name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œHatshepsut π“π“„‚𓏏𓀼π“ͺ” alone just means β€œForemost of the Noble Women,” and I feel that name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is totally appropriate for her! Her throne name, β€œMaatkare π“‡³π“¦π“‚“” means β€œTruth is the Soul of Re.” 

Most of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ that are in this gallery are from the MET’s joint expedition with the Egyptian government in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during 1928-1929. This excavation focused on Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐, which is the location of Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple. Most of the statues π“„šπ“ˆ–𓏏𓏭𓀾π“ͺ you can see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 were found in pieces, and were put back together. 

Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ ruled π“‹Ύ for about 20 π“Ž†π“Ž† years, and the earlier years were a joint rein π“‹Ύ with her nephew Thutmosis III π“‡³π“ π“†£. She commissioned many building projects (her mortuary temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri π“‚¦π“‚‹π“‚¦π“₯𓉐 being the most magnificent) and sent an expedition to the land of Punt π“Šͺπ“ƒΊπ“ˆ–π“π“ˆ‰.

About twenty π“Ž†π“Ž† years after her death π“…“𓏏𓏱, around the end of Thutmosis III’s π“‡³π“ π“†£ reign π“‹Ύ, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 were erased from monuments and she was not included on the Ramesside King’s Lists. The theory is that this was Thutmosis III’s π“‡³π“ π“†£ doing, however, that is a theory and there isn’t really sound archaeological evidence for it. We will probably never know for sure!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Seated Statue of Hatshepsut

This is the large granite statue of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ in comparison to me! This statue is tremendous in size and it so gorgeous to look at! Hateshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ really does look regal in it!

Here’s some family history about Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, because I don’t think I have ever discussed it much on this page: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was the only child of her father, Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 and his principal wife π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž Ahmose.

After the death of Thutmosis I 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓, Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ married her half brother, Thutmosis II π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– who had become the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. While Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ was unable to produce a male heir, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was born to one of Thutmosis II’s π“‡³π“‰»π“†£π“ˆ– lesser wives.

Thutmosis II died while Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 was still a child, so Hatsheput π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ became his co-regent until she declared herself the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. After Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ death, Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 assumed the role of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.

One of the many reasons I look up to Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ so much was because she was so intelligent and ambitious. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ had an extremely prosperous reign because she was more concerned about expanding Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– economy and taking up new building projects as opposed to conquering new lands with her military.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Large Granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut

This large granite Sphinx of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is not in the β€œHatshepsut Gallery” (as I like to call it) at the MET – in fact, she is right next to the Temple of Dendur! I find it an interesting placement in the museum because the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ and the Sphinx are from two very different time periods in Egyptian history. The temple of Dendur was built by Augustus while Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ ruled during the New Kingdom.

The Sphinx was one of six large sphinxes that would line her temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri. It is made of granite, which was mined at Aswan and then transported ~500 miles up the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί. Granite is a super dense rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ so this was no easy task!

This is a large and absolutely beautiful π“„€ piece in real life. Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ is depicted wearing the nemes π“ˆ–π“…“π“‹΄ head cloth and the false beard – typical fashion for a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!