Tag: jewelry

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Steatite Scarab Ring

This mounted steatite 𓅮𓈎𓏏𓈒𓊌 scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 ring 𓂝𓈖𓏏𓋪 inscribed with the throne name cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is a stunning example of the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 that were made during this time period. Some Egyptologists state that the scarabs 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣𓏪 made during the Hatshepsut 𓇳𓁦𓂓/Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 era were some of the finest ever made, and I happen to agree! 

Steatite Scarab Ring
Steatite Scarab Ring inscribed with the throne name of pharaoh Thutmosis III

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! 

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.” This cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 appears twice on the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣! 

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The word “Eternity 𓆖” also appears on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣. 

In the middle of the scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣 there is also the “Gold Falcon/Gold Horus 𓅉” symbol which shows a falcon 𓅃 standing on the hieroglyphic symbol for “gold 𓋞.” Usually the Gold Falcon 𓅉 is one of the five names of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and is the third part of the royal titularly. Thutmosis III’s Gold Falcon name is “𓅉𓂦𓂋𓏛𓈍𓅱𓏛𓏦 Djoser Khau” which translates to “Sacred of Appearances.” Obviously this full name does not appear on the Scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣, but the Gold Falcon 𓅉 symbolizes kingship 𓇓𓇌. 

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

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Egyptian Artifacts

Menat Necklace

This is a picture of a special type of necklace called a menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧. The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace is unique because it consists of a keyhole shaped piece and a lot of beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦. The beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 on this menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and there are some glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 near the keyhole piece! Blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 is my favorite color, so I really love how blue was such a popular color in ancient Egyptian art!

Menat Necklace
A beautiful example of a menat necklace on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace not only appears a lot in Egyptian art, but it was clearly used by real people too! The menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was often carried or worn by women during religious ceremonies. Similar to a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was shaken like a rattle. The person would hold the keyhole piece and then shake the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 to create the rattle-like sound!

The sound produced was meant to appease gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 or goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏. Similar to the sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was often associated with Hathor 𓉡, who was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 (amongst other fun things). Hathor 𓉡 is often seen in art giving the menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 to a pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 in Egyptian art.

This particular menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace was found at Malqata and is dated to the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 (c. 1390 – 1352 BCE). In order to celebrate his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪, the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 built a new palace 𓂝𓎛𓏏𓉥𓉐 which was referred to as “The House of Rejoicing” at present day Malqata in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. It would be interesting to know if this menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 was specifically used during his Heb Sed Festival 𓎛𓃀𓋴𓂧𓏏𓎱𓇳𓏪!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

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Egyptian Artifacts

Broad Collar and Pomegranate Spoon

Here I am at the Brooklyn Museum with a beautiful 𓄤 Broad Collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 and Pomegranate 𓇋𓈖𓉔𓏠𓆭 Spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔! Let’s learn some more about these beautiful 𓄤 pieces!

Broad Collar and Pomegranate Spoon
Me with the Broad Collar and Pomegranate Spoon at the Brooklyn Museum!

One of the most popular types of jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍢 amongst the elite – including the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and royal family is known as the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was “𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 wesekh.” The last symbol of the word (the determinative hieroglyph) could also act as an ideogram be be used to represent the whole word “𓋝 wesekh.” 

This particular broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was made during the late 18th Dynasty, which is when this style reached peak popularity. Broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 could be made of many different types of materials, including gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, but the one shown in this picture are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦. This broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is in almost perfect condition! 

A closer view of the Broad Collar and Pomegranate Spoon at the Brooklyn Museum!

Underneath the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is actually a spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔! It is not a spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔 that was used for eating, but instead used to hold ointment 𓋴𓎼𓈖𓈖. The top part of the spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔 swivels open! It is fashioned after a pomegranate 𓇋𓈖𓉔𓏠𓆭, and the spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔 part itself is supposed to be a pomegranate 𓇋𓈖𓉔𓏠𓆭 fruit. 

The Middle Egyptian word for “spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔,” is actually translated as “incense spoon” or “cosmetic spoon,” which is what the function of this object seems to be! 

Fun fact: pomegranate 𓇋𓈖𓉔𓏠𓆭 flowers and fruit never appear on the plant 𓇐𓅓𓆰 at the same time, so maybe the spoon 𓂝𓂝𓃀𓎺𓈙𓆑𓂧𓅱𓈔 is representative of the growth from flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦 to fruit or the life cycle of the plant 𓇐𓅓𓆰? We will never know! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Ancient Egyptian Beads

I love ancient Egyptian jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍢 – especially the beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦! One of the reasons I love it so much are the bright and beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 colors! It always amazes me how these beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 colors are probably just as bright today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 as they were thousands 𓆼𓆼𓆼 of years ago! 

Ancient Egyptian Beads
An ancient Egyptian necklace that is displayed how it was found – just the beads, no string! These beads are dated to the reign of Amenhotep III (18th Dynasty) and are at the MET.

Fun fact: most of the necklaces 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝𓏦 that are displayed in museums have been re-strung because over time, the fine threading used to actually string the beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 together decomposes or disintegrates, and just leaves the beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 behind until they are found by archaeologists! 

These beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 have not been restrung into a necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝, instead they are displayed as they were found. I honestly don’t know which way I like better; the reconstructed necklaces 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝𓏦 that are restrung, or the necklaces 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝𓏦 displayed such as these! 

These beads 𓋴𓅓𓂧𓏏𓏯𓏸𓏦 were found at Amenhotep III’s 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓋾𓋆 palace at Malqata and are dated to his reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏.  The House of Rejoicing (the name of his palace) and the surrounding villages at Malqata were preserved really well, and it is considered to be one of the most best town sites preserved in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. 

Lets’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! See if you can spot this on the tiles/inlays on the top of the picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! 

𓇳𓁧𓎠 – Nebmaatra (throne name for Amenhotep III)

𓅭𓇳 – Son of Ra

Do you like ancient Egyptian jewelry 𓂝𓏏𓍢? Let me know your favorite type!! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful this is! Let’s take a closer look at these beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 beaded necklaces  𓂝𓏏𓍢𓏪 from Amarna 𓈌𓏏𓉐𓇋𓏏𓈖𓊖! 

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna
Beaded Necklaces from Amarna (the MET)

There are many different styles of beads, and I just love how striking the colors are! On these necklaces 𓂝𓏏𓍢𓏦, the bright yellow beads are in the form of a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗. A Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually depicted as an upright snake 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆙 and is a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, and divine authority in Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖. The Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 is usually associated with the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but in the later time periods also worn by women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 and certain deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹. 

The reddish/brown colored beads are in the shape of a fly 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦! Flies 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦𓏪 were seen as an amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 of protection and were possibly used to protect the wearer from insect bites. I love the fly 𓂝𓆑𓆑𓆦 beads/amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏦! 

Beaded Necklaces from Amarna
Beaded Necklaces from Amarna (the MET)

There are so many ways to say “necklace” in Middle Egyptian, so let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here are some different ways to say “necklace”: 

𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 broad collar 

𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 necklace (menat)

𓃀𓏲𓃀𓏲 necklace, collar

𓂝𓏏𓍢 jewelry, necklace (with stone beads)

𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 necklace

𓈙𓅱𓋝 necklace

I chose to use “𓂝𓏏𓍢” when writing out this description because this word (pronounced like “at”) is the word specifically for a necklace 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓋝 that has stone beads 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓊪! I figured that was a pretty close description to the artifacts in this display! The Menat 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧 and the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 are very specific types of necklaces and neither of them are shown in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏! 

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

“Wide Heart” or “Happiness”

𓄫𓄣 – “Be Happy, “Happiness,” “Be Cheerful,” “Joy,” – or in Middle Egyptian, “Wide Heart.” 

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful is this piece!? While this piece of jewelry may be unassuming to most who walk past it in the galleries as it is very small 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩, it carries such a universal message that has permeated for thousands of years – Happiness 𓄫𓄣! I LOVE how the actual Middle Egyptian version of the word is “Wide Heart” – I think it carries so much meaning in such a little phrase. “Ancient Egypt makes my heart wide” sounds cooler than “Ancient Egypt brings me joy/happiness” 

I always love seeing Happiness/Joy 𓄫𓄣 written on objects because that is exactly how I felt when I was in a museum and looking at Egyptian artifacts with my Nonno. The only emotion I could feel at the time was joy 𓄫𓄣 and I was so lucky. I would do anything to go to a museum with my Nonno and experience those emotions again. While I do feel immense joy 𓄫𓄣 in museums now, there’s always a sadness to it as well because I truly miss my Nonno more than anything. I would love a piece like this as a necklace – sometimes we all need a reminder to find joy 𓄫𓄣! 

𓄫𓄣𓏏, 𓄫𓏏𓄣𓏺, and 𓄫𓄣𓏺 are all common variants of the word, that I have seen many times in inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 too! 

This beautiful 𓄤 clasp belonged to the princess Sithathoryunet, who is thought to be the daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1887–1813 B.C.E) Pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Senwosret II 𓄊𓋴𓂋𓏏𓊃𓈖. She is thought to be his daughter 𓅭𓏏 because her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 is linked to his. Flinders Petrie was actually the one to discover her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Despite being robbed in antiquity, the tomb robbers left a chest full of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry behind! The clasp is made out of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and carnelian, which is a stone with a red color. I will speak more about the jewelry in future posts, it is is so beautiful 𓄤 and I love jewelry!

Since I shared what makes me happy 𓄫𓄣, I’d love to hear from all 𓎟 of you! Share something that makes you happy/your heart wide 𓄫𓄣! 

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Egyptian Artifacts

“Nefer” Broad Collar

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How beautiful this is! Look at this beautiful 𓄤 broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! 

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦, and the nobility/wealthy! This broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is unique because traditionally they were made with faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads while this particular broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is made of gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 and glass 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼! Fun fact: glass and faience are the same word in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪: 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼!

If you look closely at this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝, you will see a familiar hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 symbol: 𓄤! The “heart and windpipe 𓄤” symbol is a triliteral phonogram that represents the sound “nfr” which in modern times we pronounce like “nefer.” The word “nfr 𓄤” translates to “beautiful” or “good” and is a very popular symbol not only in hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 phrases such as titles, but also in names 𓂋𓈖𓏦! 

So basically, this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is just saying “beautiful 𓄤” over and over and over again! Maybe the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was supposed to bring good 𓄤 wishes to the wearer, or just make them  even more beautiful 𓄤! Isn’t that what nice jewelry is all about, even in modern times?!

The MET has this piece titled “Broad Collar of Nefer Amulets” and it belonged to one of the foreign wives of pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣, as that is the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 the piece was found in. This piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1504–1450 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

A Beautiful Broad Collar

“𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑 – How Beautiful This Is!” – I feel like this is the only appropriate phrase to describe this broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 at the MET! I have used this Middle Egyptian phrase to describe broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 in past posts too! I just think they are gorgeous 𓄤 pieces of jewelry especially this one, because it is so colorful! 

In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 (pronounced “wesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝𓏺 could be used for the whole word.

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦. The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 reached peak popularity during the 18th Dynasty and this particular one was made during the reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 (c. 1353–1336 B.C.E.).

Broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 could be made of many different types of materials, including gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, but the one shown in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is made of colorful faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 beads. The beads are each representative of a different plant 𓇐𓅓𓆰! The center row has blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, yellow, green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 cornflowers. Then there are three rows of dates (in yellow, green 𓇅𓄿𓆓𓏛, and red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟), and the outer beads are white 𓌉𓆓𓇳 lotus petals. 

This broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 looks like it is in almost perfect condition, however, the beads were re-strung during modern times! 

Fun Fact: This broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is actually from the private collection of Howard Carter! 

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Three Golden Bracelets from the Tomb of Three Wives of Thutmosis III

These are three 𓏼 golden 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 /armlets 𓄟𓋴𓎡𓏏𓅱𓏥. They were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of three 𓏼 minor wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪 of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣. While some of the inlaid glass is missing, these bracelets 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛𓏪 are in incredible condition. I love how the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥, red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 all looks together!

Inside the bracelets, are the titles and cartouches of Thutmosis III 𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣. The engravings were put inside the bracelet 𓂝𓏠𓆑𓂋𓏏𓇛 so his name 𓂋𓈖 would always be close to his wives 𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪. I find this cool because even in modern times, it’s very also popular to have engravings with names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 or initials on the backs of rings or bracelets! It’s incredible to me how certain ideas and styles have persisted through time!

Translation time!

𓅭𓇳(𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣)𓆖 – “Son of Ra, Thutmosis III*, For all Eternity (or Everlasting)”

𓄤𓊹(𓇳𓏠𓆣)𓏙𓋹 – “The Great God, Menkheperra, Given Life”

*this cartouche (𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣) is a variant of Thutmosis III’s birth name. The name 𓂋𓈖 is usually written as (𓅝𓄠𓋴) but this particular variant was used after Year 21 𓎆𓎆𓏺 of his reign. (𓅝𓄤𓄠𓆣) translates to “Thoth is born, beautiful of form” while the regular birth name cartouche (𓅝𓄠𓋴) translates to just “Thoth is born.” His throne name (𓇳𓏠𓆣) Menkheperra translates to “Lasting is the form of Ra.”

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Broad Collars

The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 loved jewelry! In Egyptian art, the wealthy and upper class people were always depicted wearing elaborate jewelry as a way to show their status. The gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 are also often depicted wearing a lot of beautiful 𓄤 jewelry.

One of the most popular types of jewelry amongst the elite – including the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and royal family is known as the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝. In Middle Egyptian, the word for broad collar was 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 (pronounced “wesekh) or simply just the determinative hieroglyph 𓋝 could be used for the whole word.

Broad Collars at the MET

The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was the necklace of choice by both the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 and the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 and it reached peak popularity during the 18th Dynasty. The broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 was also given to people of high rank or officials 𓋴𓂋𓀀𓏪 as a mark of honor. Broad collars 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝𓏦 could be made of many different types of materials, including gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉, but the ones shown in this picture are made of faience beads.

Many mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 have also been found buried wearing the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! You gotta look good in the afterlife too 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐!!