Tag: book of the dead

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep (Part 2)

Here is the second small papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 which belonged to a man named Amenhotep π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (not the pharaoh). You should also check out Part 1 which goes into more depth on a different papyrus of Amenhotep!

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep
The Book of the Dead of Amenhotep on display at the MET.

This small section of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 has Chapter 78 written in Cursive Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ. This chapter is about how the deceased can β€œtake the form of a divine Falcon.” The gods Osiris and Horus appear in this spell, and it even involves a mythological figure called β€œThe Double Lion.” 

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

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep
A closeup of the Book of the Dead of Amenhotep which shows a mummy figure of Amenhotep (left) and a Falcon (right).

Next to the Falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ you can see the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ which I think are: π“†£π“‚‹π“…“π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“ŠΉπ“‚‹π“» (sometimes the cursive hieroglyphs are difficult to read – I did my best).Β 

β€œπ“†£π“‚‹β€ means β€œto exist, to be, to change into” and β€œπ“ŠΉπ“‚‹β€ means β€œdivine.” While the other symbols are a little difficult to read, I can assume it’s one of the variants for the word β€œFalcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„β€ since I can see what I think is the beginning of the word β€œπ“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘.” So all together this text most likely reads: β€œTo Change Into the Divine Falcon.” 

π“†£π“‚‹π“…“π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“ŠΉπ“‚‹π“» or “To Change Into the Divine Falcon” is the name of Chapter 78 which is what the rest of this papyrus shows! It’s amazing how the ancient Egyptians wrote titles for their “chapters” (using “chapters” or “numbers” to describe the Book of the Dead is a modern designation and was not used during ancient times).

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– β€œAmenhotep π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” means β€œAmun is Satisfied” and is a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– known by people who love ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– because there were many pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 who had the birth name of β€œAmenhotep π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ.” I didn’t notice it until I zoomed in on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛, but the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–β€œAmenhotep π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” appears in the top left corner next to the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 looking figure! I love how the ancient Egyptians captioned everything – if you can read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ it makes everything so much easier! 

Let’s break down the meaning of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–:

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– – Amun 

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ – htp (Satisfied, Peace) 

If you want a lot of information about the Book of the Dead, I suggest looking at UCL’s website – it’s what I use to reference the chapter numbers!

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!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep (Part 1)

This is a small papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 which belonged to a man named Amenhotep (not the pharaoh). Amenhotep was the β€œOverseer of the Builders of Amun” and he lived during the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). 

Book of the Dead of Amenhotep
Book of the Dead of Amenhotep at the MET.

This particular papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 sheet shows portions of Chapters 42 and 74 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. The β€œChapters” are a modern numerical sequence put together as more copies of the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 were found. There is no particular order to the ancient Egyptian spells – each copy of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is different which is part of what makes it fascinating! 

Chapter 42 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 associates different parts of the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό with that of a particular deity π“ŠΉ. For example, one line from this spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“› is β€œThe lips of Anubis, the teeth of Serket…” and it continues in that fashion! 

Chapter 74 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is the spell for β€œhastening on foot and going out from the earth.” 

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the β€œBook of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ β€œπ“‰π“‚‹π“π“‚»π“…“π“‰”π“‚‹π“²π“‡³π“Ίπ“Όπ“Ίβ€ translate to!

Let’s take a closer look: 

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

π“…“ – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where β€œbook” comes from) 

If you want a lot of information about the Book of the Dead, I suggest looking at UCL’s website – it’s what I use to reference the chapter numbers and anything in quotes in this description is from their website!Β 

If you were interested in this post, please check out Part 2 which looks at the second papyrus that belonged to Amenhotep!

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!

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

The Egyptian Star

Egyptian Star
The Egyptian Star hieroglyph might have been inspired by the starfish that live in the Red Sea

The five pointed Egyptian Star 𓇼 is one of my absolute favorite hieroglyphic symbols! The star hieroglyphic π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ symbol 𓇼 was used very frequently in words as well and there are different variations of star symbols (𓇻, 𓇽). You’ll mostly see it in words like β€œDuat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.” Sometimes β€œDuat” is represented with just the β€œπ“‡½β€ symbol too!Β 

Egyptian Star
A painted and a carved hieroglyphic Egyptian star!

What I also love about the Star 𓇼 is that not only does it function as a hieroglyph, but it is also used as artistic decoration.Β 

Egyptian Star
Egyptian Stars on the Middle Kingdom Canopic Jar Case of Ukhotep (MET)

The night sky/star design appears on the ceilings of tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“ͺ (Seti I’s π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“£π“‡Œπ“ŒΈπ“ˆ– tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰ comes to mind), temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“ͺ (Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ temple π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐) and even on funerary objects π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ like canopic jar cases and in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺!Β 

Egyptian Star
Stars in the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose (Brooklyn Museum)

The five pointed star hieroglyph (𓇼), while used to represent stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦 in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯, actually resembles the starfish π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό that inhabit the Red Sea! Egyptologists and archaeologists think that the star hieroglyph (𓇼) originally represented the starfish π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό but then evolved to represent stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦 in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 as well.Β 

Egyptian Star
Stars in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (MET)Β 

What I find fascinating is that the ancient Egyptian language (π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό), English (starfish), and Italian (stella marina) all equate these beautiful π“„€ sea animals to the stars in the sky! The ancient Egyptians had a deep understanding of astronomy and the stars 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓏦 and it’s so cool that they saw starfish π“‡Όπ“ˆ™π“‡Ό in the Red Sea and thought that they looked like the bright objects in the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯!Β 

Egyptian Star
A Starfish at EPCOT in Disney World – it definitely looks like a five pointed Egyptian Star!

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! 

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Video

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose – Video

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title β€œGoldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).Β 

@ancientegyptblog

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title β€œGoldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.). This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰! The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story. The spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ as well. The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 contained instructions/spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, the end of a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, or the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ of certain mythological figures. My friend @EgyptologyLessons posted a video of a Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 yesterday so I was inspired to post one too! 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 #egyptologist #ancient_egypt #historytok #egyptology #brooklynmuseum #bookofthedead #booktok #egyptianmythology

♬ Ahsoka – Main Theme – Epic Version – L’Orchestra Cinematique

This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰! 

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story.Β  The spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ as well.

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 contained instructions/spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they made their way through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ text that you see is used to indicate the start of a new spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, the end of a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, or the names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“₯ of certain mythological figures. 

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

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hieroglyphs, Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic

Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic?! There are so many ways to write the Egyptian Language! 

Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, the script everyone is most familiar with, was the first 𓏃 script used by the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ to write their language! There are well over 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 unique hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ and over 800 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 symbols if you count the variants! Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ were mainly used on temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“₯, stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“₯, obelisks 𓉢𓉢𓉢, other funerary equipment  π“ˆŽπ“‚‹π“‹΄π“π“π“Š­ such as sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ and other objects of all kinds! 

Then there are Cursive Hieroglyphs which is also known as Hieroglyphic Book Hand! This was usually used on handwritten papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and was a less detailed version of the traditional hieroglyphic symbols. Cursive Hieroglyphs are easy to read because these symbols match their traditional hieroglyphic counterparts! 

Hieratic is a script that was used on papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 and the symbols do not match their hieroglyphic counterparts! I cannot read Hieratic and I have found it quite difficult to learn! Plus the Hieratic symbols have evolved over time so they have changed a lot which only makes it more difficult!Β 

Hieroglyphs Cursive Hieroglyphs and Hieratic

This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Imhotep at the MET and it shows Cursive Hieroglyphs (left) and Hieratic (right). I love how both scripts are used because you can really see the difference between the two! 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Hunefer

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄀𓀽 is my favorite version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 due to the incredibly detailed drawings and beautiful script 𓄀𓆑𓂋. It was a dream come true to see it in person at the British Museum!

The text was clearly written by an expert scribe π“Ÿπ“€€, and since Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄀𓀽 was a scribe π“Ÿπ“€€, was it possible that he wrote his own Book of the Dead?

Book of the Dead of Hunefer
Me with the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The script in Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄀𓀽 Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is known as β€œCursive Hieroglyphs” or β€œHieroglyphic Book Hand” and I can read it because it’s not in Hieratic like a lot of papyri 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛𓏦 are!Β 

Book of the Dead of Hunefer
The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

The β€œWeighing of the Heart,” or the β€œJudgement of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­β€ is my favorite part! In this scene, Hunefer’s 𓉔𓅱𓄀𓀽 heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 is being weighed against Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣.  If Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 determines there’s balance between the two, then Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄀𓀽 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨ π“€­ by Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. Thoth π“…€π“€­ records the findings.

In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, the Book of the Dead was actually referred to as the β€œBook of Coming Forth by Day” which is what the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ β€œπ“‰π“‚‹π“π“‚»π“…“π“‰”π“‚‹π“²π“‡³π“Ίπ“Όπ“Ίβ€ translate to!

Let’s take a closer look: 

𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻 – Coming Forth

π“…“ – By

𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺 – Day

𓍼𓏺 – Determinative for papyrus scroll (which is where β€œbook” comes from)Β 

In its simplest form, The Book of the Dead is a collection of magic spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ to help the deceased enter the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, and eventually the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–.Β 

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 of Hunefer 𓉔𓅱𓄀𓀽 is dated to the 19th Dynasty. 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose

One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museum’s Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title β€œGoldworker of Amun.” Sobekmose was buried in Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– and that is where this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was found. This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).Β 

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose
Me with the Book of the Dead of Sobekmose at the Brooklyn Museum

This Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is displayed as one complete papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 which is incredible to see! The papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰! 

The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story.Β  The spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 can be representative of the spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ as well.

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose
The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script

Hieratic is the script that this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read Hieratic well at all! While Hieratic is another way to write the Middle Egyptian language, some of the symbols look VERY different and have evolved over time – it is definitely difficult to learn! Much like hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, Hieratic can be read from top to bottom, right to left or left to right.Β 

Book of the Dead of Sobekmose
The Book of the Dead of Sobekmose with Hieratic script in black and red ink

Some of the Hieratic is in black π“†Žπ“…“ ink while some of it is in red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ.  The red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end π“ŽΌπ“‚‹π“Ž›π“‚π“› of a spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃” could have been written/drawn in red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅑𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all!  So, some of the red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ ink seems kinda random. 

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

@ancientegyptblogΒ 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Tyet Knot

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a symbol known as the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ or the Isis Knot π“Ž¬!Β 

Tyet Knot
The Tyet Knot drawn in the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (the MET)

This particular Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ is from the Book of the Dead of 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 Imhotep at the MET! Even though this Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 is from the Ptolemaic Period, the origin of the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ from the First Dynasty/Early Dynastic Period! It always amazes me how the same religious symbols just persisted through Egyptian history! 

The Tyet Knot π“Ž¬, also known as the Isis knot π“Ž¬, was considered a very strong symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and came to be associated with Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯. The Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ believed that knots π“Ž¬ were able to bind and then release magic π“Ž›π“‚“π“„Ώπ“œ. The Isis Knots π“Ž¬ were also mostly used in a funerary context, such as amulets π“Šπ“Šͺ𓅆𓏦 (starting in the New Kingdom) placed on mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ or as part of spells π“Ž›π“‚“π“›π“¦ in the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

In chapter 156 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, it states that the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† should be made of red π“‚§π“ˆ™π“‚‹π“…Ÿ jasper and placed on the neck of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The spell states that the Tyet Knot π“Ž¬ amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† β€œwill drive away whoever would commit a crime against him.” 

Let’s take a look at the hieroglyphic meaning! Called the β€œtie π“Ž¬β€ by Gardiner, this symbol is an ideogram for β€œTyet Knot π“Ž¬β€ or β€œIsis Knot π“Ž¬β€ and is associated with the sound β€œtjt” which would be pronounced like β€œtyet.” 

Categories
Blog Egyptian Artifacts

My Favorite Egyptian Artifacts

Happy 700 𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲𓏲 posts to @ancientegyptblog 𓃣 on Instagram!! Thank you 𓋴𓏏𓍯𓄿𓀒 all π“ŽŸ for your continued support – it means the world 𓇾𓇾 to me!

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ for a special post, I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite Egyptian π“†Žπ“π“€€π“ artifacts that I have seen in museums! Now, these objects aren’t the β€œbig ticket” items, or objects that most people run and see, however, these are the ones that I love and items that you can probably see at your local museums!Β 

Hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ – it’s no secret that I love reading hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, and I love seeing them no matter what object they appear on! 

Hieroglyphs King's List
Me with the King’s List in the British Museum

Ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ- my favorite little guys who perform tasks for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! There are so many different types across various time periods of Egyptian history! I love them all!Β 

Ushabtis
The Ushabti display at the Brooklyn Museum

Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ- Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was one of the only commoners to be deified, and he was the architect of Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– first 𓏃 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴! My Nonno loved Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, and I do too! This Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ Statue 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾 pictured is my favorite one at the Vatican!

My favorite Imhotep statue at the Vatican Museum – Look at those ears!!

Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺- better known to the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ as the β€œBook of Going Forth By Day,” this papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 would provide spells needed for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to reach the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This one pictured is the Papyrus of Hunefer, which contains my favorite β€œWeighing of the Heart” scene.Β 

Book of the Dead of Hunefer
The Weighing of the Heart Scene from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer at the British Museum

Wooden Sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺΒ  (with the Eyes) – The eyes 𓁹𓏏𓏦 on this side of the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ would allow the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to see outside of it! My Nonno told me this every time we were in a museum and saw a sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ like this!Β 

Middle Kingdom Sarcophagus
Middle Kingdom sarcophagus with the eyes! (the MET)

Anything Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 – Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, the god π“ŠΉ of mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž and tombs, has been my favorite god π“ŠΉ, so I get excited every time I see him! Reliefs, sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“ͺ, statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ, – you can find Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 all over!Β 

Anubis relief
My favorite relief of Anubis (from the Middle Kingdom) at the MET

Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ- I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things so of course I love amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ! Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ come in all different designs – every day objects, deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ, animals – the list is endless! There are so many different types and functions, however their main function was protection of the living 𓆣𓂋𓀀π“ͺ or the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱!Β 

Amulets
Various amulets on display at the MET – including the winged scarab which is one of my favorites!

Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ – I am obsessed with the Egyptian Hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― statues! Hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and revered along the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί! I always look to see if a museum has one of these!Β 

William the Hippo
William, the blue faience Egyptian hippo at the MET

I hope you enjoyed this highlight of some of my favorite Egyptian artifacts!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Heart and Heart Scarab

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about the Heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 in ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–! Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the Heart Scarab! This particular Heart Scarab at the Brooklyn Museum is so cool because it is actually in the shape of a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 instead of a Scarab 𓐍π“Šͺ𓂋𓂋𓆣. The term β€œHeart Scarab” is a modern one used by archaeologists! 

In ancient Egyptian culture, the heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not only the center of a person’s life π“‹Ή, but also thinking, memory, and moral values. The heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 was not removed during the mummification π“‹΄π“‚§π“π“…±π“Ž process, because the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person would need it on their journey through the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. 

The person’s heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 would be weighed against Maat’s π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ feather 𓆄𓏺 by Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, and that would determine if the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 would be presented to Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ and then enter the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–, or eternal 𓆖 life π“‹Ή. This was called the β€œWeighing of the Heart,”  or the β€œJudgement of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­.” 

Heart Scarab
Two Heart Scarabs in the shape of a heart, with Chapter 30B of the Book of the Dead inscribed on it.

So how does the Heart Scarab play into this? In modern terms, the Heart Scarab could be seen as a β€œcheat code” for getting past the β€œWeighing of the Heart” – most are inscribed with the spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“› from Chapter 30B from the Book of the Dead. In this spell π“Ž›π“‚“π“›, the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 asks their own heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 to not betray them during the β€œWeighing of the Heart.” 

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 30B from the Papyrus of Ani: β€œO my heart of different ages! Do not stand up as a witness against me, do not be opposed to me in the tribunal, do not be hostile to me in the presence of the keeper of the balance, for you are my ka which was in my body, the protector who made my members hale.” 

Basically, the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ feared the outcome of their final judgement so they developed this amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† as a way to ensure a positive outcome to the scales!