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Reading Hieroglyphs

The Cartouches of Pharaoh Rameses I

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

Today π“‡π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‡³ we are going to look at the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦ of the first 𓏃 pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 19th Dynasty, Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…±! Rameses I 𓇳𓄇𓏠 was of non-Royal birth and was already quite old when the previous pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ–, chose him as his successor. Rameses I π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± had a very brief reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of about two 𓏻 years! 

Before he was pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, Rameses I 𓇳𓄇𓏠 served as the vizier 𓅷𓏏𓏺𓀀 to Horemheb π“‡³π“‚¦π“†£π“Όπ“‡³π“‰π“ˆ– and was a High Priest of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£. This means that Rameses I 𓇳𓄇𓏠 probably played an important role in the restoration of the old religion! Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 (his 𓆑 son π“…­) succeeded him on the throne and this was the first direct father 𓇋𓏏𓀀 to son π“…­ succession since Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ–!

Rameses I
The throne name (left) and birth name (left) cartouches of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh Rameses I

Let’s break down each of the cartouches π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“·π“¦! We are going to start with the throne name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· (prenomen) on the left!Β This is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that the person took when they became the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻!

𓇳𓄇𓏠 – Men Pehty Ra (β€œEternal is the Strength of Ra”) 

Let’s break down the symbols/phrases in the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· to gain a better understanding of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–:Β 

𓇳 – Ra 

𓄇 – Strength/Strong

𓏠 – Eternal 

Now let’s look at the birth name cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· on the right!Β The birth name is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– that the person was born with!

π“‡³π“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± – Ramessu (β€œRa has Bore Him” or β€œRa has Fashioned Him”)

Let’s break down the symbols/phrases in the cartouche π“ π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“· to gain a better understanding of the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–:Β 

𓇳 – Raπ“„Ÿπ“‹΄π“‡“π“…± – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of