King Tut and hieroglyphic writing....

While looking for something else yesterday, I came to an article  about King Tutankhamun, with some pictures of artifacts from his tomb which have been
on tour in recent years.

One that has always caught my attention is Tut's 'Wishing Cup' or more likely
a chalice, bearing in mind that the Pharaoh was also the Chief High Priest for ceremonial occasions at the principal temple of the land, which he generously
supported. The writer goes on about the inscription around the rim of that chalice, actually two different ones, depending on whether you were reading from right to left, or from left to right around the rim. One gives a recitation
of his official pedigree, and the other is the one that prompts the Wishing Cup
notion. Actually, it's more like a blessing or a prayer.

The literal translation of the hieroglyphs goes " May your spirit (or soul) live for 
millions of millions of years (for eternity), you who love Thebes, sitting with your face to the north wind, your two eyes beholding happiness."

Now, let's put all that into context. Even in those days, just like us, they didn't 
always take everything literally. Millions of millions of years means forever. Thebes was at that time the heart of their culture and learning. The north wind was the cooling wind from the Mediterranean. The sand storms and bad wind came from the south, so he would have his back to that if facing the north wind.
And his two eyes beholding happiness is fairly self-explanatory. So let's put it all together with relevance to the times and the place, and here's how it would go:

May you live Forever,

Loving enlightenment,

Overcoming adversity,

And enjoying happiness.

And that Wishing Cup or chalice may have been brightly painted at one time.....

It was made to look like a lotus in bloom, and the Blue Lotus was most popular in Upper Egypt, and was believed to represent rebirth, just as the sun is reborn

each morning at sunrise. So it would fit well with the inscription on its rim.

Examination of Tut's mummy revealed a blow to the back of the head, behind the left ear, and I think the murder weapon was this calcite vase found in the tomb. You'll note that star-shaped crack in its base. Where better to hide it?

The world was a hotbed of intrigue even then....