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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

The Apis Bull

These are bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒. The worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 can actually be traced back to as early as the First Dynasty! 

The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was associated with fertility and rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 and was mostly worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 in Memphis 𓏠𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓉴𓊖 near the Ptah 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁱 Temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐. People would travel from various locations to the temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 just to worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒, and the mother 𓅐𓏏 of the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒. 

While Hathor 𓉡 is probably the most famous of the cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹, the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was also very widely worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 and represented eternity 𓎛𓇳𓎛 and the harmonious balance of the whole universe. The Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 was usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 which is probably why a lot of pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 were referred to with the title of the “strong bull 𓂡𓃒.” This was to represent the strength 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and vitality of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. 

Usually a live bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 was used to be worshipped, and the bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 needed to have special markings on it such as a triangle shape on its forehead, or patches that represented wings 𓂧𓌳𓏏𓆃𓏦 on its body. When the bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 that was being worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀢 as the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 died, it was embalmed 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 and buried elaborately. A new bull 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓃒 would then take its place. 

One of the easiest ways to recognize the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒 in statuary is by looking for the sun disc 𓇳 on its head, and the elaborate cloth that is decorating the back of its body. In this picture it’s hard to see the triangle on its forehead that usually represented the Apis Bull 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓃒, but it is there! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Great Sphinx of Tanis

Did you know that this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 in the Louvre is one of the largest outside of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖?

The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 is known as the “Great Sphinx of Tanis” because it was found in the ruins of the Temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 of Amun-Ra 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏺𓇳 in Tanis 𓆓𓂝𓈖𓏏𓊖! Tanis 𓆓𓂝𓈖𓏏𓊖 was the capital of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 from the 21st-23rd Dynasties. 

The sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 is made of red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 which is an extremely strong 𓄇𓏏𓂝𓏭 and durable rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙! Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 was very valued not only for its pink color but its durability. As you can see, the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 retained its beautiful 𓄤 features really well due to the characteristics of the rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙

This sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 is so interesting because the cartouches of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 Merneptah 𓇳𓃒𓈖𓈘𓊹𓊹𓊹 (19th Dynasty) and Sheshonq I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓆷𓆷𓈖𓈎 (22nd Dynasty) are both seen on the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤.  Why are two 𓏻 pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 there?  Well, the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 used to recycle monuments, a process called “usurping.” The practice of usurping was when the current pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would take old pharaoh’s 𓉐𓉻 names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 off of monuments 𓏠𓏍 and put their own there! It is basically ancient plagiarism and it occurred quite frequently. 

Some Egyptologists say this sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 actually dates back to the Old Kingdom, as the face 𓁶𓏺 doesn’t represent any known pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! A book that I have says the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 dates to the Middle Kingdom. We will probably never know when the sphinx 𓎛𓅱𓃭𓏤 was carved which is both fascinating and frustrating at the same time! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Painted Wooden Stela

This painted wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is an absolutely beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 piece from the Third Intermediate Period (22nd Dynasty, c. 825–712 B.C.E.) and one of my favorites to see at the MET. 

Painted Wooden Stela at the MET

This stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 depicts the god 𓊹 Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 leading the deceased woman, Tjanetiset, to the deity 𓊹 Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤. This imagery 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is very common on stelae 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 from this time period. Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 is the combination of the deities Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 and he is the god 𓊹 of the morning sun 𓅃𓈌𓏏𓏭𓀭. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦  and depictions of Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤 in funerary art became more prominent during the Late Period. 

I love this piece so much because it looks like Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 and the woman Tjanetiset are holding hands and he is leading her to Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤! What’s very interesting is what is in Tjanetiset’s other hand! If you look closely, she is holding a heart in her hand 𓇋𓃀𓄣 and it looks like she is holding it in an offering position to Ra-Horakhty 𓅊𓏔𓏔𓏤. 

In ancient Egyptian religion/culture, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not only the center of a person’s life 𓋹, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process, because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

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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

Hatshepsut’s Ovoid Stone

This piece is known as an “Ovoid Stone” or a “Hammering Stone” and was probably used as a type of tool during building construction.

Ovoid Stone
A closeup image of the Ovoid Stone and the hieroglyphs on it!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I divided the inscription into two parts, and then translated each of the individual words so you can get a sense of the sentence structure used in the Middle/New Egyptian language!! Here’s the first row:

𓊹𓏏𓄤(𓇳𓁦𓂓)𓁹𓈖𓊃𓅓𓏠𓏍𓊃𓏛𓆑𓊃𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺

𓊹𓏏𓄤 – Great Goddess

𓇳𓁦𓂓 – Maatkare

𓁹𓈖 – to make/to do/born of

𓊃 – she

𓅓 – for

𓏠𓏍𓊃𓏛- monument

𓆑 – father 

𓊃 – her 

𓇋𓏠𓈖𓇳𓏺 – Amun-Re

“The Great Goddess, Maatkare, she made the monument for her father, Amun-Re…” 

And here’s the second row: 

𓐍𓆑𓏸𓍱𓈙𓁷𓏸𓇋𓏠𓈖𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐𓁹𓊃𓋹𓍘

𓐍𓆑 – in front of/at (a preposition)

𓏸𓍱𓈙 – Stretching of the Cord

𓁷𓏸 – over

𓇋𓏠𓈖 – Amun 

𓂦𓏛𓂦𓅱𓉐 – Holiest of Holies

𓁹𓊃𓋹𓍘 – May She Live / That They Live

“…at the stretching of the cord over the Holiest of Holies Amun, May She Live!”

The “Stretching of the Cord” was part of the foundation ritual that occurred when a building was constructed in ancient Egypt. “Holiest of Holies” is the name for Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri. 

Ovoid Stone
A larger view of the display that contains the Ovoid Stone

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Reading Hieroglyphs

The King’s List and Hatshepsut

King's List
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.

Here I am with the King’s List in the British Museum! In the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, I’m pointing to where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name 𓂋𓈖 should be because she was one of the pharaohs left off the list – she was left off because she was considered to be a non-legitimate pharaoh. 

King's List
Me with the King’s List at the British Museum.

The point of the King Lists was not to preserve history for future generations, rather the main objective was to glorify the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, and as we know, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 were considered gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 on Earth. These lists allowed Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and Rameses II 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓 to assert their legitimacy amongst the old pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 of Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

King's List
A closeup of the cartouches on the King’s List

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to look at the Throne Name cartouches of the 18th Dynasty pharaohs to show where Hatshepsut’s 𓇳𓁦𓂓 name is missing! We will start reading from the right since the hieroglyphs point in that direction! 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓂓 – Thutmosis I “Great is the manifestation of the soul of Ra” 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Thutmosis II “Great is the manifestation of Ra” 

 𓇳𓏠𓆣 – Tutmosis III “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra” 

𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 – Amenhotep II “Great is the manifestation of Ra”

𓇳𓏠𓆣𓏼 – Thutmosis IV “Lasting are the Manifestations of Ra”

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Amenhotep III “Possessor of the Truth of Ra”

As you can see, the cartouches jump right from Thutmosis II 𓇳𓉻𓆣𓈖 to Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 and totally skip Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓! 

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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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Egyptian Artifacts

Small Animal Statues

I love this display at the MET because not only do I love tiny things, but these small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 animal statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 have a lot of significance!

Small Animal Statues on display at the MET! In the front is the jasper hippo, then the amethyst monkey holding its baby, and behind that is the three jerboas.

Let’s first talk about the red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 jasper hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯! Instead of the usual standing position, this hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is laying down and might have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 because there is actually a hole going through it! In Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were both feared and respected 𓈙𓆑𓄅 because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. However, hippos 𓌉𓏏𓃯𓏦 were also thought to be powerful protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 against evil 𓃀𓇋𓈖𓏏𓅨, which is what this amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 would have done for the wearer! This piece is dated to the New Kingdom. 

The amethyst figure behind the hippo 𓌉𓏏𓃯 is of a monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 holding its baby! This piece is dated to the Middle Kingdom but it is very similar in style to some Old Kingdom pieces that are also at the MET! Monkeys 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛𓏪 are not native to Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 and were actually pets for the very wealthy. This figure also has a loophole in it and would have been used as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆. Usually the image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of a mother and child is associated with fertility and rebirth. 

The three little figures behind the amethyst monkey 𓎼𓄿𓆑𓄛 are little desert rodents called “jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛. I thought they were mice 𓊪𓈖𓏌𓄛 at first and had to look up jerboa in both English and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 – I love learning new things! The symbolic meaning of these Middle Kingdom statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 are unknown, but they were buried with someone! The jerboa 𓎛𓍿𓋴𓄛 is a small desert rodent and these animals first show up as statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾𓏪 during this time period; none have been found dated to the Old Kingdom! 

Small Animal Statues
Small Animal Statues on display at the MET

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

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Categories
Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 2)

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is my second post on Cleopatra’s Needle and here is a link to the first!

This obelisk 𓉶 was commissioned to be built by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign to highlight his military victories. On the obelisk 𓉶, not only can you see Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 throne name cartouche, but you can also see both the throne name and birth name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! Rameses II usurped this monument, as he did with the monuments of many past pharaohs! He not only put his cartouches, but at the top of the obelisk 𓉶 his Horus Name also appears in the serekh! 

Cleopatra's Needle
A closeup image of the hieroglyphs on Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is Thutmosis III’s throne name and it appears multiple times on the obelisk. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Ramessu Mery Amun 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓” is Rameses II’s birth name. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun,” but could also be translated as “Ra Bore Him, Beloved of Amun.”

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

𓈘 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” is Rameses II’s throne name and translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Can you spot the three different cartouches in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? I will probably be doing another post on the inscriptions and their meaning so look out for that post too!

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!