Tag: sons of horus

The Four Sons of Horus on a Sarcophagus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 8, 2023

This beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 at the Brooklyn Museum shows the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Nephthys 𓎟𓏏𓉗𓏏𓆇 with the Four Sons of Horus! The Four Sons of Horus were an integral part of ancient Egyptian religion – usually in a funerary aspect so it makes sense that they would appear on a sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭!

The Four Sons of Horus usually appeared as the lids of canopic jars, which were the jars used to store the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of a deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 person during the mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 process. When they appears as amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 or on sarcophagi 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭𓏥, the Four Sons of Horus served as protectors 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

The Four Sons of Horus are easy to recognize because they usually appear together in funerary art! Another way to recognize them is by reading their names 𓂋𓈖𓏦!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Something interesting about this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is the way the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of the Four Sons of Horus are spelled! The spellings of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 here are some interesting variants that aren’t seen too often! We will start reading from the left!

Hapi 𓐑𓊪𓇌(can also be spelled 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭) had the head of a baboon and he protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺.

Imseti 𓐝𓊃𓍿 (can also be spelled 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭/𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 ) had the head of a human and he protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸.

Duamutef 𓇼𓂟𓅐𓏏𓈖𓆑(can also be spelled 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭/𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑) had the head of a jackal and he protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓈖𓈖𓈖𓌢𓏏𓏥𓆑(can also be spelled 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭) had the head of a Falcon and he protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼.

Can you spot all of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 in the inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖?

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

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Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, nephthys, sons of horus

Reading Hieroglyphs

Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 28, 2023

This photo 𓏏𓅱𓏏 shows some of the details (Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus) on the mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of a man named Kharrushere who lived during the Third Intermediate Period/22nd Dynasty (c. 825–712 B.C.E.). These elaborately decorated coffins 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 are very typical of this time period, and they’re some of my favorite things to just sit and look at because the art is just exquisite!

Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus depicted on a mummiform coffin at the MET.

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, we can see the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 sitting in a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐. If you look closely, the pillars that are holding up the shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 are actually “Djed Pillars 𓊽𓊽𓊽” which is significant because not only does “Djed 𓊽” mean “stability” in Middle Egyptian, but the Djed Pillar is also thought to represent the spine of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

While Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 is not explicitly labeled with his name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, we know it’s him for a couple of reasons! He is depicted holding the crook 𓋾 and flail 𓌅, which is very typical! In the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 thought, we can see the title “Lord of Eternity 𓎟𓎛𓇳𓎛” which is always associated with Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭! It’s basically his nickname!

𓎟 – Lord

𓎛𓇳𓎛 – Eternity

In front 𓏃 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 on the table, we can see the Four Sons of Horus! Not only are they usually shown together like this, but each one of them is labeled with their name 𓂋𓈖! However, due to spacing, the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 are a little abbreviated/shortened from their usual forms!

Let’s start reading from the right since that’s the way the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 in this section point:

𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍿 – Imseti (not shortened)

𓎛𓐍𓐑- Hapi (𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌)

𓇼𓅐𓆑 – Duamutef (𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑)

𓏁𓌢 – Qebehsenuef (𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑)

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 seem to be switched because Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 name 𓂋𓈖 appears before Qebehsenuef’s 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 but after him in the lineup!

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

Tags gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, osiris, sons of horus, the met

Video

Canopic Jars (Video)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date December 11, 2022

The Four Sons of Horus were an integral part of ancient Egyptian religion – usually in a funerary aspect.

During the process of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎 (which took about 70 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 days), the embalmers removed the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 and placed them in Canopic Jars. Each of the four 𓏽 jars was for one of the major internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 and each jar had a different head which represented one of the four Sons of Horus.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 (falcon head) held/protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼.

Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 (baboon head) held/protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 (jackal head) held/protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻

Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 (human head) held/protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met, video

Reading Hieroglyphs

The Four Sons of Horus in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 5, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This sunken relief and inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖 is from the sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 of a man named Harkhebit who lived during Dynasty 26 (c. 595-526 B.C.E.). This sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is one of the better examples of Late Period ancient Egyptian stonework and is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

One of the best things about Egyptian art is that sometimes the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 act as “captions” and tell you exactly which deity 𓊹 you are looking at! The name 𓂋𓈖 of the deity 𓊹 usually appears above their head in an inscription 𓎘𓅱𓎖!

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 and Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿.

On the left, we can see Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 who is one of the Four Sons of Horus that was tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. ! Duamutef can also be spelled like 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑, and it would be pronounced the same! A lot of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏, and even pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 had variants. A variant is just an alternate spelling of a word! A determinative could also appear at the end of the name 𓂋𓈖, which would make them appear as 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 and 𓇼𓂟𓏏𓆑𓀭.

On the right, we can see Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿 who is also one of the Four Sons of Horus who was tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸! Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿 can also be spelled like 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋, and that variation is the one you will see most often so it was very cool to see this particular spelling! A determinative could also appear at the end of the name𓂋𓈖 , which would make them appear as 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 and 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋𓀭.

Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌 and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑

On the left, we can see Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌, who is one of the Four Sons of Horus. Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺. Hapy’s name 𓂋𓈖can also be spelled like in “𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌” hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪. The spelling seen on this sarcophagus (𓐑𓊪𓇌)is a less common variant! Even in English, Hapy 𓐑𓊪𓇌 can also be spelled like “Hapi!”

On the right, we can see Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 who is another one of the Four Sons of Horus. Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼. The way that Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 is spelled on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭 is the most common way I have seen the name 𓂋𓈖 spelled!

A determinative could also appear at the end of the name𓂋𓈖 , which would make them appear as 𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 and 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭.

Much like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 and Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 were popular deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 to see on funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭, the Sons of Horus were as well because they were tasked with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. That is certainly an important job! Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣 does appear on this sarcophagus 𓎟𓋹𓈖𓐍𓊭, he’s just in a different spot!

Tags gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, sons of horus

Egyptian Artifacts

Viscera Figures

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date October 24, 2022

While the four 𓏽 figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the front of this display look like ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures, they are not!! There are some blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures behind the Four Sons of Horus though!

So what are these Four Sons of Horus figures? These are actually called “viscera figures” and they were meant to protect the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! Usually, the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, liver 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, and intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼 were removed, dried with natron, and placed in Canopic Jars for protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜.

In some cases, the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 were mummified and put back in the body. This is where the viscera figures come into play – the viscera figures were then placed inside the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 to protect 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the mummified organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦!

From the left: Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻. Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸. Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼. Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon and protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺.

These pieces are dated to the Third Intermediate Period/21st Dynasty (c. 1000–945 B.C.E.). The viscera figures and the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures pictured were found in the burial chamber 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓉐 of Djedmutesankh in a tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met, ushabti

Reading Hieroglyphs

“Qebehsenuef” in Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date October 24, 2022

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to be looking at one of the names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 of one of the Four Sons of Horus!

Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, and was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊.

Qebehsenuef can be written as both 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 and 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑, and sometimes a determinative was added to the end of the name 𓂋𓈖, which reads like 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭.

The “water jar with water 𓏁 / 𓏂” symbols are both variants of each other and have the same meaning! These symbols mostly act as determinatives, however in the case of Qebehsenuef the symbols act as a triliteral phonogram with the sound “kbb/qbb” or “kbh/qbh.”

The “arrowhead 𓌢” is a biliteral phonogram that is associated with the sound “sn.” Since the arrowhead 𓌢 is repeated three times in the name, that pluralizes the symbol and causes it to have the sound “snw.”

The “horned viper 𓆑” functions as a uniliteral phonogram and represents the sound “f.” In other words, it can function as a determinative. The 𓆑 can be confusing for people learning hieroglyphs because it can also function as the word “he”! There are so many ways that 𓆑 and it takes practice to master them all!

So Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 may seem like a difficult name 𓂋𓈖 to pronounce but once you break down the symbols it’s not too bad! How the name 𓂋𓈖 is written with Romanized Letters is very similar to the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Qebehsenuef 𓏂𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 would would like “Qbh-snu-f.”

Tags gods and goddesses, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, sons of horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Mislabeled Canopic Jars

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date September 4, 2022

These canopic jars are very famous pieces from the British Museum! Any time you read a book on mummification or Egyptian funerary practices, these canopic jars will make an appearance! The first book on Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 my Nonno ever gave me was Carol Andrews’ book on the mummies at the British Museum, and of course these canopic jars were in the book! It was so exciting to see them in person! However, these are “dummy” canopic jars; they aren’t even totally hollow inside so they definitely weren’t used during the mummification process.

But that’s not what is the most interesting here; what’s most interesting is in the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Each canopic jar has a lid that represents one of the Four Sons of Horus. Each one has the task of protecting a specific organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹 of the deceased!

From the left:

-Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 (falcon head) held the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼

-Imseti 𓇋𓅓𓊃𓍿𓀭 (human head) held the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸

-Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭 (baboon head) held the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺

-Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 (jackal head) held the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻

Now, if you take a closer look at the inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on the jars – Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑𓀭 is labeled with Duamutef’s 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑𓀭 name 𓂋𓈖 and vice versa!

I’m not sure if it is an ancient mistake or a mistake by the museum! I’m always so amused when I come across stuff like this!

The inscription above the names is a common one that we have gone over before:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By

𓁹𓊨𓊹 – Osiris (the symbol for “god 𓊹” is used as the determinative here instead of the usual “𓀭” – I love seeing variation)!!

Tags artifact, british museum, Duamutef, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, mummy, sons of horus

Egyptian Artifacts

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 1, 2022

These are Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus and are dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (c. 400-30 B.C.E.). The Sons of Horus were deities 𓊹𓊹𓊹 who were charged with protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the internal organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱, and were usually represented as the lids of canopic jars.

Funerary Figures of the Four Sons of Horus at the MET

What’s really cool about these statues 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 is that they are decorated so beautifully 𓄤! I love how they look like mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾𓏪 (the proper term is “mummiform”), and how a large broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝 is painted 𓏞𓏜 on their chests. Also, each statue 𓄚𓈖𓏏𓏭𓀾 has a heart 𓇋𓃀𓄣 amulet 𓊐𓊪𓅆 in the middle of the broad collar 𓅱𓋴𓐍𓎺𓋝! The details are exquisite!

While each Son of Horus was associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏. Let’s take a look at each deity (starting from the left):

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal 𓊃𓄿𓃀𓃥, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, was associated with the East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭, and was protected by Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and was protected by Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, was associated with the North 𓎔𓏏, and was protected by Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human, protected 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, was associated with the South 𓇔𓅱𓏏 and was protected by Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

Tags artifact, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met

Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets of the Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 26, 2022

These are four 𓏽 faience amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 that represent the four Sons of Horus.

Here, they are depicted as mummiform figures and while amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 could be worn by both the living and the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱, these specific amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 were most likely used by the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. While the Sons of Horus were first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, these amulets 𓊐𓊪𓅆𓏪 are dated between The Late Period and the Roman Period (664 B.C.E.-after 30 B.C.E.).

After the 18th Dynasty, the Four Sons of Horus were associated with being the heads on canopic jars which would guard the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹𓏦 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. While each were associated with an organ 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹, they were also each associated with a cardinal direction and were protected by a funerary goddess𓊹𓏏.

(From Left) Imsety 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋 had the head of a human, protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, was associated with the South 𓇔𓅱𓏏 and was protected by Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥.

Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑 had the head of a jackal, protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, was associated with the East 𓋁𓃀𓏏𓏭, and was protected by Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋌𓀭.

Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 had the head of a falcon, protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼, was associated with the West 𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊, and was protected by Selket 𓊃𓂋𓈎𓏏𓁐.

Hapy 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌 had the head of a baboon, protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, was associated with the North 𓎔𓏏, and was protected by Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

Tags amulet, artifact, brooklyn museum, sons of horus

Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead – The Four Sons of Horus

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 21, 2022

This copy of the Book of the Dead (known to the Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 as the Book of Going Forth By Day) belonged to Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪, Priest 𓊹𓍛 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, who lived during the early Ptolemaic Period (between 332-200 B.C.E.). No, it’s not that Imhotep from “The Mummy” (1999), however, this is still a funny coincidence! The Book of the Dead was created for Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 so he could have a successful journey into the afterlife/Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The spells on the papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 were also meant to ensure his safety and well-being in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (realm of the dead).

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏, you can see some of the hieratic script that the Book of the Dead is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read hieratic! I can only read hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Some of the hieratic is in black 𓆎𓅓 ink while some of it is in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟. The red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓂝𓏛 of a spell, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table” could have been written/drawn in red 𓂧𓈙𓂋𓅟 and offering tables 𓂝𓃀𓅡𓄿𓋃 were not bad at all!

On the top right, you can see Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 standing with his arms raised in a worshipping stance; he is worshipping the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡, who is in her cow form 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒! Next to that, you can see the four Sons of Horus surrounding a canopic chest! The Four Sons of Horus guarded the organs 𓇋𓂧𓂋𓄹 of the deceased! From the right: Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑(jackal head) held/protected the stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, Imseti 𓇋𓐝𓋴𓍘𓇋(human head) held/protected the liver 𓅓𓊃𓏏𓄹𓏸𓏸𓏸, Hapi 𓎛𓐑𓊪𓇌(baboon head) held/protected the lungs 𓊃𓌴𓄥𓅱𓄺, and Qebehsenuef 𓏁𓌢𓌢𓌢𓆑 (falcon head) held/protected the intestines 𓈖𓊪𓅮𓄿𓏲𓏼.

Tags artifact, book of the dead, gods and goddesses, sons of horus, the met

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