Tag: ra horakhty

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Stela of Aafenmut

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at a wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (c. 924–889 B.C.E., 22nd Dynasty) which belonged to a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡. This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ shows a typical funerary stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 scene, and this style of stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ was very popular during this time period. I love this particular style because it is so colorful! This stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

The Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž is shown at the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ and the Solar Barge 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž represents Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯. Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey is supposed to be representative of his birth/resurrection (sunrise), growth (day) and then death (sunset). In between Aafenmut π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a table filled with offerings π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of bread 𓏏𓏐, fruit, and flowers 𓆼𓅱𓆰𓏦. 

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

π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ – Ra-Horakhty

π“ŠΉπ“‰Ό – Great God

π“ŽŸ – Lord

𓇯 – Sky/Heaven

π“‚ž – Give

𓆑 – He

π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓐍𓏛- Offerings

𓐝 – To

π“Š©π“Ή – Osiris

𓐝 – To

π“ž – Scribe

π“Ίπ“‰π“Œ‰π“Ίπ“‰ – Treasury

π“‰»π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“…π“†‡ – Aafenmut

π“™π“Š€ – True of Voice (Justified)

So all π“ŽŸ together π“ˆ–π“Š—, this inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– reads: β€œRa-Horakhty, the Great God, Lord of the Sky/Heaven, may he give offerings to Osiris, to the scribe of the treasury, Aafenmut, True of Voice.” 

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of a Man Named Ihefy

This is a simple stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is painted in really nice bright colors on wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺! One of the reasons I like this piece so much is that it has retained its colors through time! This is dated between the 22nd and 25th Dynasties.

The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ depicts a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Ihefy simply worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/adoring the god π“ŠΉ Horus(?) π“…ƒπ“€­. While the museum description says the god π“ŠΉ is Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, I question that because of the sun disc 𓇳𓏀 appearing on the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head. Usually, Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 will appear as a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head wearing a sun disc 𓇳𓏀. Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is usually depicted wearing the crown of Upper Egypt π“‹‘, Lower Egypt π“‹”, or both π“‹– (most common).

However, since this is a later time period, this could be the god π“ŠΉ Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€, who is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because of the sun-disc 𓇳𓏀 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front, along with the fact that Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is holding a flail π“Œ… and scepter π“Œ€, which is another common way to depict him.

The main reason why I think this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€? The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Ra-Horakhty’s π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears right above him on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

We know that Ihefy is worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒 Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because his arms are in the raised position! The determinative for the word worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 is even a man with his arms raised π“€’!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of Ra-Horakhty, Amun, and Taweret

I love tiny π“ˆ–π“†“π“‹΄π“…© things and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ are no exception! Here are three 𓏼 beautiful π“„€ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€, Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­, and Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗!

Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is considered by historians to be Egypt’s most important deity π“ŠΉ. Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 is an ancient deity π“ŠΉ who combined with many different solar and cosmic gods throughout Egyptian history. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is the god π“ŠΉ of the morning sun π“…ƒπ“ˆŒπ“π“­π“€­. Images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 and depictions of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ became more prominent during the Late Period.

Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ is also considered to be one of the most important gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ in the Egyptian pantheon and was first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts. Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ had many different roles and was worshipped 𓇼𓄿𓀒 as a creator god, solar god, fertility god, warrior god, and king of the gods. Amun’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“€­ is also considered the β€œuniversal god” meaning that his power permeated the cosmos and all that the cosmos contained!

While the ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ both feared and revered π“‡‹π“Œ΄π“„ͺ hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ due to their strength and power, Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ who was a protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ! The name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 actually means β€œthe great (female) one!” That is certainly a name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that suits her!

Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Unfinished Stela

Look at this unfinished stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ – there are no hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!!! I love when museums have unfinished pieces of Egyptian art because it’s so cool to see various steps in the artistic process! The empty boxes above the deceased (right) and Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (left) are where the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ should be!

On the top of the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, there are two Wedjat π“‚€ symbols. The Wedjat π“‚€ is a very common symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ and regeneration. In between the Wedjats π“‚€π“‚€ is the Shen 𓍢 symbol! The Shen 𓍢 symbol is a circle of rope that is tied at the end. The tied rope symbolizes completeness, infinity/eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›, and is also a symbol of protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ. Both of these symbols could be worn by both the living π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“…±π“¦ and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

The deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 (right) is making an offering to the god π“ŠΉ Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ (left). This image is a very popular one to appear on stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ.

Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because he is wearing the sun-disc 𓇳𓏀 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front. Also, Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is holding a crook π“‹Ύ and flail π“Œ… and which is another common way to depict him. Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is also sometimes shown holding a scepter π“Œ€ along with a flail π“Œ….

Based on the styling and the images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ, I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 22nd-25th Dynasties. There are many stelae π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έπ“ͺ like this in other museums too (except they are mostly finished, not unfinished)!