Tag: amun ra

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Amun-Ra in Hieroglyphs

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to be looking at an inscription that appears on aΒ  β€œDoorjamb from a Temple of Rameses II” which is on display at the MET. Since this is from the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“, we can easily date the inscription to the 19th Dynasty! This piece is made of red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ which is both a highly durable and very beautiful 𓄀𓆑𓂋 rock π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“ˆ™. The durability of the red granite π“…“π“Œ³π“π“ŽΆ has allowed the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ to stay so well preserved for so long!

Amun-Ra

Here is a breakdown of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ:

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra

π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώ – Lord of the Thrones

π“ˆ˜ – Beloved

All together the inscription reads β€œBeloved of Amun-Ra, Lord of the Thrones.” 

So why is the inscription written/translated the way it is? β€œAmun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ίβ€ is written first but said last due to what is called β€œhonorific transposition.” Out of respect for the god π“ŠΉ, their name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is written first but said last in the sentence! In English (and other languages like Italian) we have something similar to this – we say β€œten dollars” but write it as β€œdollars ten” – $10! 

β€œLord of the Thrones π“ŽŸπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“ŽΌπ“‡Ώπ“‡Ώβ€ is an epithet which is kind of like a title that is written after the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ so it both written and pronounced after the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the god π“ŠΉ. 

This type of inscription commonly appears after the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· which is the oval enclosure that distinguished the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 from other hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ in inscriptions. In my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 you can even see the bottom part of the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·!

When you first start learning how to read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ it seems like a puzzle but it definitely gets so much easier with practice!Β 

This is my personal photograph 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
Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of Rameses II

This is a large sandstone stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ of Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ on display at the Brooklyn Museum.Β Β 

Stela of Rameses II
Stela of Rameses II on display at the Brooklyn Museum!

The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ talk about how Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ founded the town of Meriamun, and how he established the cult of Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– there. The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was a way to commemorate Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ presenting statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ to the temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³. 

The image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows (from left to right) Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–, and Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“. Rameses II can be seen wearing the blue crown, also known as the khepresh π“†£π“‚‹π“ˆ™π“‹™ crown which was very popular among New Kingdom pharaohs 𓉐𓉻! 

Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ is receiving symbols of kingship (the crook π“‹Ύ) from the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³. This is meant to represent that Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ saw Rameses II π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ as a legitimate and rightful ruler! The pharaohs 𓉐𓉻 believed that they were direct descendants of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ (in the 18th – 19th Dynasties Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–/Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Ίπ“‡³ kind of replaces Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ in popularity as king 𓇓 of the gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ) and that they were gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ on Earth.Β 

It was also really cool that five 𓏾 of Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ appear on this stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!Β These names appear on the top two rows of the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

Here are Rameses II’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ˜π“‡³π“Ίπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ five 𓏾 names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦:Β 

π“ƒ’π“‚‘π“‡³π“Ίπ“€­π“ŒΈπ“‡Œ – Horus π“…ƒ Name (The Strong Bull, Beloved of Ra) 

π“…–π“Ž‘π“†Žπ“π“Š–π“…±π“‚π“†‘π“²π“‚‘π“ˆŠπ“π“¦ – Nebty π“…’ Name (Protector of Egypt Who Curbs Foreign Lands”)

π“Œ‚π“π“‚‘π“„˜π“‚§π“‚‹π“‚‘π“Œ”π“π“€π“» – Golden Horus π“…‰ Name (β€œPowerful of Arm, He Who Has Subdued the Nine Bows”)

π“‡³π“„Šπ“§π“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– – Throne Name (β€œThe Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra”)

π“©π“›π“ˆ˜π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“ – Birth Name (β€œRa has fashioned him, beloved of Amun”)

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III?

This quartzite statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 at the Brooklyn Museum is called β€œAmun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί or Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž β€ and while small π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…©, it certainly gives us a lot to think about! I think that this statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 is a representation of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  for a couple of reasons!Β 

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III
Statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The first and most obvious reason are the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on his chest ornament, which is on top of an elaborately carved broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹. While the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ are difficult to see in the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, here is the translation: 

π“‡³π“§π“Ž  – Nebmaatra (Amenhotep III’s throne name)

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra

π“ŒΈ – Beloved

So the full translation would be β€œNebmaatra, Beloved of Amun-Ra.” This clearly labels the statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 as being of Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž . 

Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III
Me with the statue of Amun-Ra or Pharaoh Amenhotep III at the Brooklyn Museum

The statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 does have a some similarities to the representation of the god π“ŠΉ Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί too, especially the remnants of the crown on his head, which is the same two-plume crown π“‹› that is characteristic of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί. 

Amenhotep III π“‡³π“§π“Ž  seems to have had a fascination with Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί, and probably wanted to be depicted as him. Many Egyptologists wonder if Amenhotep III’s π“‡³π“§π“Ž  fascination with this solar deity was inspiration for his son π“…­ Akhenaten’s π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– religious revolution. 

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