Tag: akhenaten

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 21, 2024

As part of my “Ushabti Friends” series, I am teaching you how to look at the different characteristics of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and how those characteristics can help you to narrow down the age/time period that the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is from! Today we are going to look at Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis!

All of the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 we are going to look at today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 are royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that all belonged to pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from the 18th Dynasty! The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because these little guys undergo much development during this time period and have so many different characteristics!

The wooden ushabti of Amenhotep III

The wooden ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is very interesting because it has a very distinct characteristic of 18th Dynasty ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that is not just one found on royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!

A closeup of the wooden ushabti of Amenhotep III to highlight where a hoe or other tools would have been placed in his hands!

There is a space in the hands where tools would have been inserted – such as a hoe 𓌸. Tools that were attached separately were only found in the 18th Dynasty!

The Shabti Spell on the ushabti of Amenhotep III

The “Shabti Spell” is also on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Limestone ushabti of Amenhotep II

The rock based ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 are all seen holding Ankh symbols in their hands which are crossed over their chest in a mummiform fashion.

Ushabti of Akhenaten holding Ankhs in each hand

I have only seen royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 with Ankhs 𓋹! I find this to be commentary on the religion because a deceased pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would not have to be doing work anyway – he probably was buried with ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 just in case! This is probably why some of the royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 have Ankhs 𓋹 and not tools!

Ushabti of Akhenaten holding Ankhs in each hand

These ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 also have false beards and are wearing some type of royal crown to distinguish that they are pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

Ushabti of Akhenaten wearing a royal crown and false beard

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Tags akhenaten, amenhotep ii, amenhotep iii, artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti, ushabti friends

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date March 7, 2024

This piece is listed as a “Funerary Figure” by the MET, but I think they mean to call it a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾! This particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, and he had many ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 made in various styles from many different materials (you can see another ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of his in the background of this photo). The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to him are made in the typical Amarna-art style.

The only fully preserved Ushabti of Akhenaten on display at the MET.

While are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, this red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is the only known one that is complete! Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 is a very durable rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 because it is composed of over 60% quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, which is a very hard mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 so it makes sense that this particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 would be the one to remain complete!

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾. Personally, I’m glad the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were able to stick around because they’re my favorite!!

Most ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead, which is the spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that allows the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure to perform work for the deceased in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Due to the change in religion, none of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain the “Shabti Spell;” they only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date February 19, 2024

This is a fragment of what used to be a limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the pharaoh Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖! This (and many others like it) were found during Flinders Petrie and Howard Carter’s excavation at present-day Amarna in 1891, which in ancient times was called Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖.

A Fragment of Akhenaten – many of Akhenaten’s statues were intentionally destroyed after his reign

Many of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 not only have the faces destroyed, but are also in hundreds of pieces. This deliberate destruction of his statuary was an attempt to destroy his image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 so he would be forgotten from history. Images/statues of a person, and the name 𓂋𓈖 of a person held immense power in ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 so if a name 𓂋𓈖 and image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was destroyed, its power was removed!

A Fragment of Akhenaten – a front view of the statue where the extent of the damage to his face can be clearly seen.

Why did Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 successors want his image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 destroyed? Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is infamous for completely changing the Egyptian pantheon from polytheistic worship of the traditional gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 to the monotheistic worship of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 and people definitely did not like that! When Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 son, Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 became the pharaoh, he reinstated the old religion and moved the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 back to Thebes 𓌀𓏏𓊖.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Video

Talatat – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date October 14, 2023

These small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 blocks are called “Talatat” and were used solely during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! These were used in the construction of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀) and the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖.

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These small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 blocks are called “Talatat” and were used solely during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! These were used in the construction of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀) and the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖. These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 blocks were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 a single worker could carry them and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, and were never used again. Even though originally from Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, these Talatat were actually found at Hermopolis because after Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦! These Talatat at the MET were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. A lot of the colors you see on these blocks are restored and not necessarily the original colors. Tens of thousands of Talatat have been found across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. @ancientegyptblog #ancientegypt #egyptianhistory #egyptologist #historytok #egyptology #ancient_egypt #pharaoh #akhenaten #metropolitanmuseum #egypt
♬ Epic Music(863502) – Draganov89

These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 blocks were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 a single worker could carry them and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, and were never used again.

Even though originally from Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, these Talatat were actually found at Hermopolis because after Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

These Talatat at the MET were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. A lot of the colors you see on these blocks are restored and not necessarily the original colors.

Tens of thousands of Talatat have been found across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, the met, video

Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 28, 2023

Let’s read some Hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at the birth name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖!

The Birth Name cartouche of pharaoh Akhenaten on display at the Vatican Museum

Now, calling this his “birth name” cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is a little misleading because Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 birth name wasn’t actually “Akhenaten!” The name 𓂋𓈖 that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was given when he was born was Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀, and since he was the fourth pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 with that name 𓂋𓈖, Egyptologists have called him “Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀.”

Why did Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 change his name 𓂋𓈖 from Amenhotep 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 during year five 𓏾 of his reign? The change in name 𓂋𓈖 reflects the religious revolution that was happening at the time. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is famous for disrupting the entire Egyptian religious tradition and changing it from a polytheistic worship of the traditional pantheon to a monotheistic worship of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳.

Let’s break down the meaning of Akhenaten’s name 𓂋𓈖!

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten

𓅜𓐍 – Spirit

𓈖 – Of

The Cartouche of Akhenaten with the meaning of the hieroglyphs written next to the symbols.

So all together, the name “Akhenaten” translates to “Spirit of the Aten.”

One of the greatest things about reading cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏪 is that practicing with them will allow you to begin to understand hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 much more easily! The names of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 contain many common symbols, words, and phrases in Middle Egyptian! One of the ways I started learning was by reading the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏪!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags akhenaten, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, vatican museum

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 16, 2023

There are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 and some of them are on display at the MET! This particular Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 Figure of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 though broken in half, has a wonderfully preserved face and partial inscription!

Ushabti Figure of Akhenaten on display at the MET

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾.

Most of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are in various states of disarray. While most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text,” Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles. Let’s take a look at the partial inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥!

You can see the inscription of “𓆥,” which as we have learned previously can translate to “He of the Sedge and the Bee” or “King of Upper and Lower Egypt.” As we know, this is a very popular title to be seen before a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷!

The “𓇳” in the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 is part of one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne names, which would most likely be “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖,” since that is the only one of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 throne name 𓂋𓈖 variants that begins with a “𓇳.”

Even though “𓇳𓄤𓆣𓇳𓏦𓌡𓈖” translates to “The Beautiful One of the Manifestations of Ra, the Unique one of Ra,” this variant was only seen after the name 𓂋𓈖 change from Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀 to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags akhenaten, artifact, the met, ushabti

Egyptian Artifacts

Akhenaten and Me!

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 23, 2023

I’ve never shared this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 because of the glare, but not every picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 needs to be perfect 𓄤! My Nonno took this photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and me at the Louvre in what I call the “Amarna Gallery!” You can tell by my smile how happy 𓄫𓅱𓏛 I was! Seeing a statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 in real life that I have only seen in books feels like meeting a celebrity!

Akhenaten and Me at the Louvre!

The Louvre has an impressive collection of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 and artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and I was so excited to be able to see them – this was probably the gallery I spent the most time in at the Louvre! After Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

This particular limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 surprised me when I saw it in person for the first time! I thought it was going to be a lot smaller, so I was shocked to see just how big it was! The piece is also incredibly well preserved – the Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 on Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 forehead is still somewhat intact, and the design details on the skirt are clearly defined. Also, Akhenaten is holding both the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅 in one hand 𓂝𓏺 instead of one in each hand 𓂝𓏺!

The Louvre has this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 named “Statue of an Amarna King.” To me, this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 looks like it is from the early part of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 because there are both traditional Egyptian elements and Amarna-era elements (elongated face and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) present in the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾. If I were to guess, this was probably made before year 5 𓏾 of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, when he still had the name 𓂋𓈖 Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀. However, there are no hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 to confirm this, I am basing this inference just on the artistic style alone!

This piece really is just stunning to see in person!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Tags akhenaten, artifact, louvre

Egyptian Artifacts

The Wilbour Plaque

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 24, 2023

Not only is the Wilbour Plaque one of my absolute favorite pieces, this is one of the most famous pieces of Amarna-era art! The Brooklyn Museum has an amazing collection of artifacts from Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule 𓋾𓈎𓏏 and I’ll never forget the first time I got to see it with my Nonno!

Me with the Wilbour Plaque at the Brooklyn Museum!

After Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is my second favorite pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 because of just how different his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 was compared to the other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 – not only did the art style completely change, but the religion changed too!

The top piece in the display is known as the Wilbour Plaque, named after Charles Wilbour who acquired it in 1881. This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 piece is interesting because it is complete as is it was; it was never part of a larger scene and was most likely used as a model for sculptors! Sculptor models were used by artists as references when they were making official art of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

The Wilbour Plaque (top) and another Sculptor’s Model (bottom) on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

While there aren’t any inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥, it is assumed that the people represented here are Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭. However, some argue that the person accompanying Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 in the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 could either be Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 or Smenkare 𓇳𓊃𓉻𓂓𓂦𓆣.

To me this piece is interesting because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 is no where in sight! Usually Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is always accompanied by an image of the sun 𓇳𓏺/Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 with sun rays shining on him. It’s almost kinda weird to see him like this!

The second piece in the display is another sculptor’s model! This piece shows Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 with another member of the royal family, and a hand!

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

Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, brooklyn museum, nefertiti

Egyptian Artifacts

Talatat Blocks

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 22, 2023

These small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 “Talatat” Blocks are made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and were used solely during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖! These were used in the construction of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 at Karnak (this construction started when he was still Amenhotep IV 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓊹𓋾𓌀) and the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖. Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖.

Talatat Blocks from the palace at Akhetaten on display at the Brooklyn Museum.

These limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 Talatat blocks were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 a single worker could carry them and put it into place. This was meant to expedite construction and make building a lot faster. The Talatat are also unique because they were only used during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, and were never used again.

These Talatat at the Brooklyn Museum were once brightly painted in striking colors, as was most of the Egyptian monuments 𓏠𓏍. These specific blocks are from the palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖, which is where Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓 grew up! These blocks reconstruct a pastoral scene.

However, the Talatat were not found at Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖; instead these blocks were reused by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓 to build a pylon at Magna. The Talatat that are now seen in museums all over have been found in other places because the blocks were reused when other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 took the throne. They were also reused by Horemheb 𓇳𓂦𓆣𓏼𓇳𓍉𓈖. The famous Hypostyle Hall at Karnak (started by Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 and completed by Rameses II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓈘𓇳𓏺𓄟𓋴𓇓) is built with Talatat!

Tens of thousands of Talata have been found across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and I’m sure that there are still many more to be found!

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

Tags akhenaten, artifact, brooklyn museum

Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouches of the Aten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 3, 2023

Usually, a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 enclosed the name 𓂋𓈖 of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. The oval surrounding the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 was meant to be protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 from evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨 both in life 𓋹 and in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. During the 18th Dynasty, the name 𓂋𓈖 of the King’s Great Wife 𓇓𓈞𓏏 would also sometimes appear in a cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷.

Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 was not a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 that followed tradition! Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, which archaeologists sometimes refer to as the “Amarna Revolution” is a period of less than 20 𓎆𓎆 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 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. Instead, the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are very long way to write the name 𓂋𓈖 of Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳, the sole sun 𓇳𓏺 deity 𓊹 in Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 new religion.

The Cartouches of the Aten

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! These are two 𓏻 of the “early” cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳, as there were variations during the later part of the Amarna period. The two 𓏻 cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are incomplete, but since we know what the cartouches 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷𓏦 are supposed to say, I will translate both!

Here is the first two cartouches at the top of the fragment: 𓋹𓅊𓈌𓈌𓎛𓂝𓏻𓏛𓐝𓈌𓏏

𓋹 – Living

𓅊𓈌𓈌 – Ra-Horakhty

𓎛𓂝𓏻𓏛 – Rejoicing

𓐝 – in

𓈌𓏏 – Horizon

This translates to “The 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: 𓐝𓈖𓂋𓆑𓐝𓆄𓅱𓇳𓈖𓏏𓏻𓐝𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳

𓐝 – In

𓈖𓂋 – Name

𓆑 – His

𓐝 – As

𓆄𓅱𓇳𓈖𓏏𓏻 – Light

𓐝 – In

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten

This translates to “In His Name As the Light Which is In the Aten.”

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

Tags akhenaten, artifact, aten, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

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