Tag: amenemhat i

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 has all words on it that I have taught already!! See if you can read it before looking at the translation!! Since the directional hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Also, hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are always read starting at the top line of symbols! 

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 – Amenemhat I (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓇳𓏇- Like Ra 

𓆖 – (For) Eternity

Now, this relief is only partial because some of the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are cut off, but based on the symbols that remain, and the formulaic way that royal titulary was always written, I have a pretty good idea what the line above the cartouche says! Let’s take a look: 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓊹𓄤 – The Great God 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

Now, before people come at me (it happens every time) for the translation of “ 𓊹𓄤 – The Great God,” yes, “𓄤” can be translated to “great,” “beautiful” and “perfect.” Much like in English (and I’m sure all other languages) in Middle Egyptian, words can have multiple meanings/translations!!! Also, there can be two different words that mean the same thing – “𓉻 / 𓉼” can also be translated to “great” – just like in the word for “pharaoh 𓉐𓉻,” which literally translates to “Great House.”

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today we are going to look at an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 that is on a relief at the MET! I chose this one because this relief shows the cartouches of a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 I haven’t spoken about much – Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏! 

Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1939-1910 B.C.E.). He was of non-royal birth, and it is unknown how he acquired the throne. It is possible that he was the same Amenemhat 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 that was the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Mentuhotep IV 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and then took the throne after Mentuhotep IV’s 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. 

Since the directional hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are pointing to the right, we are going to start reading from the right! Once again, some of these words (especially the titles) I have taught before and you may recognize! 

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 – Amenemhat (Birth Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

𓆥 – King of Upper and Lower Egypt or He of the Sedge and the Bee

𓇳𓋴𓊵𓏏𓊪𓄣 – Sehotepibra (Throne Name)

𓏙𓋹 – Given Life

The name 𓂋𓈖 Amenemhat 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏 translates to “Amun is in the Front” -let’s break this down too:

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun

𓅓 – in 

𓄂𓏏 – Front/Foremost