Tag: akhenaten

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Egyptian Artifacts

Talatat of Akhenaten

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. 

Talatat of Akhenaten
Talatat from Amarna at the MET. The top talatat shows an image of the pharaoh Akhenaten

The top Talatat in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 was part of a much larger relief which was the pinnacle image of the time – Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 and the royal family (including Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭) receiving “Ankhs 𓋹” which is the symbol for “Life” from the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. 

The Talatat were unique because they were so small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 that a single worker could carry one 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 in other places across Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖.  After Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏, his monuments 𓏠𓏍 were destroyed and building materials were used by other pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

I like to think of this as an ancient Egyptian recycling program! It’s truly fascinating to see not only how the ancient Egyptians procured some of their building materials, but also to understand the intent behind them. Since Akhenaten was to be “erased” from history, his monuments were destroyed and the materials repurposed.

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Video

Tour of Gallery 122

Let’s go on a tour of Gallery 122 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art!

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One of my favorite things about the Metropolitan Museum of Art are these little “hidden” galleries that are off-shoots of the main galleries! This is Gallery 122, and it’s one of my favorites because this gallery houses many Amarna-era pieces along with pieces from the 19th Dynasty! The 18th and 19th Dynasties are my favorite parts of Egyptian History! There are so many little and wonderful hidden treasures in these rooms! They may not be the “big-ticket must-see” artifacts, but they have their own unique charms and history and I love them! Among the pieces in this gallery are Amarna-age trial pieces, broken pieces of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖/Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, many different ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures, flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 from the funeral of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, a wooden statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, lots of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 shards and so much more! I hope you enjoy this little gallery tour! 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. #ancientEgypt #egyptianhistory #egyptianmythology #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #anticoegitto #egitto

♬ Glimpse (Slowed + Reverb) – Gabriel Albuquerqüe

One of my favorite things about the Metropolitan Museum of Art are these little “hidden” galleries that are off-shoots of the main galleries! Gallery 122, is one of my favorites because this gallery houses many Amarna-era pieces along with pieces from the 19th Dynasty! The 18th and 19th Dynasties are my favorite parts of Egyptian History! 

There are so many little and wonderful hidden treasures in these rooms! They may not be the “big-ticket must-see” artifacts, but they have their own unique charms and history and I love them! 

Among the pieces in this gallery are Amarna-age trial pieces, broken pieces of statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖/Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭, many different ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures, flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 from the funeral of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓, a wooden statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, lots of pottery 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏋 shards and so much more! 

I hope you enjoy this little gallery tour! 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Head of Akhenaten or Nefertiti?

The MET has this piece listed as “Head of Akhenaten or Nefertiti” but to me, the head looks more like Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭 than Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖! Let me know who you think this piece looks more like in the comments!  

This piece is dated to c. 1353–1336 B.C.E., which unsurprisingly is during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The piece was found during the 1891-1892 excavations of Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 (present-day Amarna) by Flinders Petrie and Howard Carter. 

The bust was found in one of the sculptor’s 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀 workshops. The sculptor’s 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀 workshops in Akhetaten 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖 have been the source of many beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 pieces from this time period. I love the artifacts that are found in an unfinished state because it gives such insight into how these incredible ancient Egyptian artists worked and it shows that even the most grand of pieces started off in humble states! If this piece had been finished, would it have looked like the famous Bust of Nefertiti 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓄤𓇍𓏏𓏭? Or was the piece just meant to be a trial piece and this was what it was supposed to look like?

One of my favorite things about this account is I get to learn as I am teaching! I did not know the word for “sculptor 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀” off the top of my head so I looked it up! One of the alternative translations for “sculptor 𓋴𓋹𓈖𓐍𓀀“ is “Life Giver” which I find so fascinating – it really gives insight into the Egyptian culture because the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 or statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of a person could give 𓏙 life 𓋹 to them after death! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Akhenaten and Nefertiti

When I went to the Louvre in 2015, this was one of my must-see pieces! The love story of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 has always fascinated me . This painted limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 reminds me of the popular “couples statues,” which depict a husband and wife sitting together, that were prominent in burials during the Old Kingdom!

Akhenaten and Nefertiti

Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 was the “Great Royal Wife 𓇓𓏏𓈞𓏏𓅨” of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. This statue depicts Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 (left) and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (right) holding hands and walking forward. We know they are walking forward because one foot is placed in front of the other. 

Let’s talk about their clothing! They both have sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏪 on their feet and wearing broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦, the necklace 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 of choice for royals and the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹. Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 is also wearing the blue Khepresh crown 𓆣𓂋𓈙𓋙 on his head, while Nefertiti appears to be wearing what looks like the red crown 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓏏𓋔, but there is blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 on it! . The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is still present on the front of both crowns! 

What was the purpose of this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾? This most likely came from a private home, where it was used in a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗. The common people would worship Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 and Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 because they were thought to be manifestations 𓆣𓆣𓆣 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 here on Earth. 

The typical Amarna-style (elongated faces and limbs, more body fat in the stomach and thighs) is present here, which makes it very easy to identify these figures as Nefertiti 𓄤𓏏𓇍𓍘𓁗 and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The Amarna art revolution is so interesting because Egyptian art didn’t change much until Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 rule, then there was this drastic change, and then once Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 died, the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 reverted back to the traditional art style and it stated that way for the rest of the civilization. 

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Reading Hieroglyphs Ushabti Friends

Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs
This display combines two of my favorite things: Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs! This ushabti belonged to a woman named Isis and is on display at the MET.

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and was made for a woman named Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 who was ironically a singer for the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 ! 

This ushabti 𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because they undergo much development during this time period. It’s very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabti’s 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue! 

Here’s the full inscription on the ushabti: 𓇓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓅮𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤

Let’s break down the inscription by each individual word:

𓇓𓂝𓏏 – Singer 

𓈖 – of

𓅮 – (indicates past tense)

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten 

𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 – Isis

𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 – True of Voice/justified

While limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is not the most common material for ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to be made out of, it’s not unheard of to have ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 like this during the 18th Dynasty period.

It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, remained. 

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Ushabti Friends

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis – Ushabti Friends

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! 

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis
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!

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis
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!

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis
The Shabti Spell on the ushabti of Amenhotep III

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

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis
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.

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis
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! 

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis
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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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Akhenaten

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. 

Ushabti of Akhenaten
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. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Fragment of Akhenaten

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. 

Fragment of Akhenaten
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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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Video

Talatat – Video

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. 

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Cartouche of Akhenaten

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! 

Cartouche of Akhenaten
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

Cartouche of Akhenaten
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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