Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Earth Day!

Yesterday was Earth Day and I forgot about it but I have a good excuse I promise – I’m an Earth Science teacher and for me, everyday is Earth Day!!Β 

It’s incredible to me how much the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ knew about our beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 planet, and how that knowledge was reflected in their intricate mythology. The Earth 𓇾𓇾 itself is differentiated (interior is divided into layers), has an atmosphere, and that atmosphere fades and thins away until space is reached. We can see all of these different β€œlayers” in this art from a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ which is showing part of the creation myth! Let’s take a closer look!Β 

Earth Day
A close-up image of a sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum depicts (from top): Nut, Shu, Khnum and Geb!

The goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the cosmos, Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­, is depicted as a woman 𓂑𓏏𓁐 arched over the rest of the figures, because as the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the cosmos, she surrounds the Earth 𓇾𓇾 – just like space actually does! Directly underneath Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ is Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭, the god π“ŠΉ of the atmosphere. Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is seen holding up the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 (which is depicted as the sky 𓇯 hieroglyph). Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is responsible for raising the atmosphere from the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface! 

Underneath Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭 is Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭, the god π“ŠΉ of the Earth’s 𓇾𓇾 surface, which the ancient Egyptians called the Upper Earth. Tantanen (not pictured) is the god π“ŠΉ of the Lower Earth (aka Earth’s interior). I still think it’s amazing that the ancient Egyptians knew there was an interior to the Earth 𓇾𓇾, and the mythology is how they conceptualized that. 

Khnum π“ŽΈπ“€­/π“ŽΈπ“π“€­, the ram headed creator god, is also pictured. Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ is one of the oldest deities; he is the god π“ŠΉ of the source of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, fertility and was thought to have made humans out of clay from his potters wheel! 

Take a closer look at the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 and see if you can see the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ of all of these gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! 

So in this beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, we have a representation of Space (Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­), the atmosphere (Shu 𓆄𓅱𓀭), the Earth’s surface (Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭) and the source of the Nile (Khnum π“ŽΈπ“€­). This is how the Egyptians saw Earth 𓇾𓇾 and I think it’s incredible!! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Late Period Mummy Mask

I love mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾π“ͺ! Funerary Masks (also called Burial Masks or Mummy Masks) were an important part of a person’s burial equipment π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ because the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 could either serve as protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, or take the place of the body if the head was destroyed or lost. In the Egyptian religion, the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to stay intact in order for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to be transported to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This was the purpose of mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž – the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 just served as extra protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ!Β 

Late Period Mummy Mask
Me at the Brooklyn Museum with a Late Period Mummy Mask

This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ is dated to the Late Period (1st Century B.C.E). This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is made of cartonnage, which was a very popular type of material to use because it was easy to work with and the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 could be made relatively quickly. The colors on this mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 are so bright and well preserved – especially on the broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. I love how the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ used red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and the blue/green 𓇅𓆓𓏛 color together π“ˆ–π“Š— a lot.

Late Period Mummy Mask
A beautiful example of a Late Period Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum. The goddess Isis is on the left and her sister Nephthys is on the right.

The art on the wig shows the goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (left) and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇(right). Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 were sisters and were both prominent funerary goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ who appeared a lot together π“ˆ–π“Š— on funerary objects such as masks and sarcophagi. 

You can easily tell Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 apart from each other in Egyptian art based off of the crowns that they are wearing. The crowns correspond to the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that make up their names: Isis (π“Š¨π“π“₯) wears β€œπ“Š¨β€ as a crown while Nephthys (𓉠𓏏𓆇) wears β€œπ“‰ β€ as a crown! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Corn Mummies in Ancient Egypt

Corn Mummies are an interesting part of Egyptian religious practices. While millions of animal mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ have been found at sites all over Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ made of grains π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“…±π“Έπ“¦ like wheat and barley have also been found – these have been nicknamed β€œcorn mummies” by Egyptologists.Β 

Corn Mummies
A corn mummy with an outer “sarcophagus” made of wood with the head of a falcon. This is dated to the Late Period-Ptolemaic Period.

Corn mummies are found in cemeteries that are usually dated from the Third Intermediate Period through Roman times though they first 𓏃 appeared during the Middle Kingdom. This particular corn mummy is (in the first picture) from the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (400 – 200 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 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ almost always contain Osiris’ π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ name and his titles/epithets in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, but also a β€œmummy” stuffed with grain that has a head of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. 

Another reason Egyptologists made the connection to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ was the cyclic nature of growing grains π“ˆŽπ“„Ώπ“…±π“Έπ“¦- in Egyptian religion, anything that was cyclical was related to the birth π“„Ÿ, death 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and then rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± cycle of the human experience/Egyptian religion.

Corn Mummies
Three corn mummies on display at the MET. This picture shows the variation in the designs of the “sarcophagus,” however, they all have the head of a falcon.

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 π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head is representative of the god π“ŠΉ 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. This particular corn mummy contains hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ that mention the combination god π“ŠΉ Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, who was popularly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a funerary god π“ŠΉ during this time period.

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Goddess Seshat

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ I am going to speak about a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ I have never written about before and her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐! The reason I never wrote about Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is because I never had a picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of her! I was so excited to finally β€œmeet” Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 at the Brooklyn Museum!

Seshat
Me at the Brooklyn Museum with a limestone relief of the goddess Seshat! You can always tell that it’s Seshat pictured due to the “𓋇” crown on her head which is associated with her!

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of writing, wisdom and knowledge. Her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– literally translates to β€œfemale scribe,” and she is also the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of scribes π“Ÿπ“€€π“ͺ! In this relief, she is depicted as a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€ because she is holding writing with a stylus on a board. You can easily pick Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 out in Egyptian art because of the seven pointed emblem 𓋇 that she wears on her head (I call it a star). This symbol is also part of her name, which makes it easy! 

Seshat
Limestone relief of Seshat at the Brooklyn Museum.

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is also the goddess of architecture, accounting, mathematics, and surveying. This is what made her an essential part of a building ceremony called the β€œStretching of the Cord.” The β€œStretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. It involved nailing four 𓏽 stakes into the ground at the four 𓏼 corners of the building and then linking them with a cord. 

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 is definitely related to and shares some of the same functions as the god π“ŠΉ Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 (or Djehuty to the ancient Egyptians), who was also considered to be the god π“ŠΉ of writing, knowledge and wisdom. Usually Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 is credited with inventing writing/hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (hence his title β€œLord of the Divine Words/Writing π“ŽŸπ“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“‚‚π“‚‚π“‚‚π“Ÿβ€), however, some mythology credits Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐 with inventing writing/hieroglyphs, while Thoth 𓅝𓏏𓏭𓀭 was the one who taught writing to man! 

Here are some ways to write Seshat’s name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ: 

Seshat 𓋇

Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐

Seshat π“‹΄π“ˆ™π“„Ώπ“π“…†

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Egyptian Artifacts

Vase of Woman Holding Anubis

On my most recent trip to the Brooklyn Museum, I saw this piece for the first 𓏃 time and it caught my eye immediately! I don’t remember ever really seeing a piece like this in a museum before and I think it’s stunning!Β 

Vase of Woman Holding Anubis

This is a clay π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“‹΄π“ˆ‡ vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ which depicts a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ holding a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ or dog π“ƒ€π“Ž›π“ˆ–π“ƒ‘! Some Egyptologists think that this vase π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹ depicts a servant woman holding the pet dog π“ƒ€π“Ž›π“ˆ–π“ƒ‘ of her master or mistress. 

During the 18th Dynasty, when this piece was made, a certain group of potters 𓇋π“ͺπ“‚§π“π“­π“€¨π“‡‹π“²π“­π“œπ“€œπ“ˆ–π“†“π“Šƒπ“π“°π“…©π“¦ (possibly all people from the same workshop) made vases π“ π“ˆ–π“‡‹π“‹π“ͺ in the form of humans π“‡¬π“ˆ‹π“π“…±π“€€π“π“¦ and animals! This would have been a complex process, and the potters 𓇋π“ͺπ“‚§π“π“­π“€¨π“‡‹π“²π“­π“œπ“€œπ“ˆ–π“†“π“Šƒπ“π“°π“…©π“¦ would have had to make both halves of the piece separately using a mold for each and then join them together! 

I really like it because I just see a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ holding what looks to be a recumbent jackal – aka Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my absolute favorite Egyptian deity π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and my first thought when I saw this piece was that I could see Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 in the woman’s π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ arms! I think this piece is so beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 and I think the little Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the cutest thing! This piece was made between the reigns of Amenhotep III π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“‹Ύπ“‹† and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (c. 1479-1352 B.C.E.) and was found at Saqqara (Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–).

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Reading Hieroglyphs

“Great God Ptah”

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at an inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ that is part of the West Wall of the Tomb Chapel of Kaemsenu. This inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ is a little bit tricky to read at first because one of the symbols is actually upside down!! Not going to lie, at quick glance I thought this inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ said β€œHigh Priest π“ŠΉπ“›!” 

Great God Ptah
“Great God Ptah” in hieroglyphs! Since the “cloth on a pole π“ŠΉ” symbol is pointing to the left, that’s the direction we start reading from!

So let’s take a look at what it actually says: 

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“Šͺπ“π“Ž› – Ptah

All π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, the inscription π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ reads “Great God Ptah.”

Let’s take a closer look at each of the symbols: 

The β€œcloth on a pole π“ŠΉβ€œ hieroglyph is an ideogram for the word god. π“ŠΉ is also a triliteral phonogram, and represents the letters β€œntr” which may have been pronounced like β€œneter.” π“ŠΉ Is also a determinative for β€œgod.” So the β€œcloth on a pole π“ŠΉβ€œ symbol can function as all three types of hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. If you see this symbol, you are most likely looking at a word that has to do with the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ!

The β€œwooden column 𓉼” hieroglyph is a biliteral phonogram which represents the sound β€œΛ3.” This symbol does have a variant, 𓉻, which means the same, it’s just oriented at a different angle! But I’ve never seen it upside down before! 

The β€œstool π“Šͺ” is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œp.” 

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€œwick π“Ž›β€ is a uniliteral phonogram for the sound β€œh.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statue of Amun and Horemheb

This is a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–. This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is special because my Nonno took it at the Museo Egizio in Torino, Italy.

Amun and Horemheb
Statue of Amun (left) and the pharaoh Horemheb (right) at the Museo Egizio in Torino, Italy

Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– was the final pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 18th Dynasty, having taken over the throne from Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏. Before he was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– was the commander of the army for the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“. He continued the restoration of traditional Egyptian religious practices that Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“ began, and he also usurped a lot of monuments from both Ay 𓇳𓆣𓆣π“ͺ𓁹𓐙𓏏 and Tutankhamun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“π“…±π“π“‹Ήπ“‹Ύπ“‰Ίπ“‡“. 

Let’s take a closer look at the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾! The god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ (left) is depicted larger than Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– (right) because the only person more important than the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 himself was another god π“ŠΉ! 

Amun and Horemheb
A closer view of the hieroglyphic inscription that appears on either side of Amun’s throne on the statue.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! We are going to start on the left side of Amun’s throne!Β 

π“ŠΉπ“„€ – The Perfect God 

π“ŽŸπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Two Lands

π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Horemheb (Throne Name – The sacred one of the manifestations of Ra, chosen of Ra)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š— the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: “The Perfect God, Lord of the Two Lands, Horemheb, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Given Life.”

Now let’s look at the left side of the throne: 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

π“ŽŸπ“ˆπ“₯ – Lord of Appearances 

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŒΊπ“„Ώπ“‹”π“π“Ž± – Horemheb (Birth Name – Horus in Jubilation, whom Amun has loved)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra

π“ŒΊπ“‡Œ – Beloved

𓏙𓋹- Given Life

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š— the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: “Son of Ra, Lord of Appearances, Horemheb, Beloved of Amun-Ra, Given Life.”

While the last part of the inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– is the same on either side of the throne, the titles are different because of Horemheb’s birth name versus the throne name! Different titles in the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are associated with each name π“‚‹π“ˆ–!

Notice how the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are mirrored on either side of the throne! This makes it so all of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are facing Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ legs! The ancient Egyptians loved to have symmetry in their art!

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Video

Video – Statues of Isis and Horus

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby is one of the most popular images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of the Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and even through the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods.  This video examines the significance of the statues of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­!

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 appeared in bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦, stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ, and even as small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! My Nonno would always point out these pieces of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby because he felt they were so significant to the evolution of religious art through time. 

While my Nonno loved Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ and Roman art, he also loved Christian/Biblical art, so these Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ were kind of a natural connection between his area of interests! I always make sure to look for statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ like this in museums whenever I visit! 

Symbolically, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was thought to be the mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, and was often associated with motherhood, the protection of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“, and a user of magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ.  As Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ became a more popular religious figure, she was associated with cosmological order and was considered to be the embodiment of fate by the Romans.  Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ was widely worshipped during the Roman times, and Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ feeding Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ as a baby has even appeared on the back of Roman coins.

This image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother 𓄿𓏏𓁐 holding a child π“π“‡Œπ“€• is thought to have inspired the well known Catholic images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus as a baby. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Tyet Knot

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a symbol known as the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ or the Isis Knot π“Ž¬!Β 

Tyet Knot
The Tyet Knot drawn in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (the MET)

This particular Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ from the First Dynasty/Early Dynastic Period! It always amazes me how the same religious symbols just persisted through Egyptian history! 

The Tyet Knot π“Ž¬, also known as the Isis knot π“Ž¬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and came to be associated with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that knots π“Ž¬ were able to bind and then release magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ. The Isis Knots π“Ž¬ were also mostly used in a funerary context, such as amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦 (starting in the New Kingdom) placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ or as part of spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

In chapter 156 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, it states that the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† should be made of red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ jasper and placed on the neck of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The spell states that the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† β€œwill drive away whoever would commit a crime against him.” 

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! Called the β€œtie π“Ž¬β€ by Gardiner, this symbol is an ideogram for β€œTyet Knot π“Ž¬β€ or β€œIsis Knot π“Ž¬β€ and is associated with the sound β€œtjt” which would be pronounced like β€œtyet.” 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Rameses III

This striking red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ belonged to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses III π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“‹Ύπ“‰Ί. Rameses III π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“ˆ˜π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– was the second pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 20th Dynasty and he ruled for 32 π“Ž†π“Ž†π“Ž†π“» tumultuous years. His reign was marked by political, economic, and military issues. 

The most interesting part about Rameses III’s π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“‹Ύπ“‰Ί reign for me is what is known as the β€œHarem Conspiracy” – Rameses III’s π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“ˆ˜π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– secondary wife, Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“, plotted to have Rameses III π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“ˆ˜π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– killed so her son π“…­ Pentawer π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“π“„Ώπ“…©π“‚‹π“Ή could become pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 instead of the chosen heir, Rameses IV π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“Šƒπ“Šƒ. While Tiye π“˜π“‡Œπ“­π“ and her conspirators (other high officials) succeeded in killing Rameses III π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“‹Ύπ“‰Ί, they did not succeed in establishing Pentawer π“Šͺπ“ˆ–π“π“„Ώπ“…©π“‚‹π“Ή as pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.Β  All of the conspirators were caught and put to death and Rameses IV π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“Šƒπ“Šƒ succeeded Rameses III π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“‹Ύπ“‰Ί as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻.Β 

Sarcophagus of Rameses III
The red granite sarcophagus of Pharaoh Rameses III, which depicts the goddess Isis

Here, on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of Rameses III π“›π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‹΄π“‹Ύπ“‰Ί, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is depicted where the feet of the deceased would be placed. Isis’ π“Š¨π“π“₯ sister Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 is usually located where the deceased’s head would be located. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is easily recognized in Egyptian art because she is normally shown with the headdress of a throne, π“Š¨, which is also one of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in her name π“‚‹π“ˆ–. Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is shown with wings π“‚§π“Œ³π“π“†ƒπ“¦ and sitting on the hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ for β€œgold π“‹ž.” 

Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is known as a devoted wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 and mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, but was also associated with resurrection π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± due to her role in piecing her brother/husband Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ back together after he was dismembered by their brother Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. She is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, who was magically conceived after Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ brought Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ back to life π“‹Ή.