Egyptian palimpsest inscription misinterpreted as depicting a helicopter
The "helicopter", and the real hieroglyphs of Seti I and Ramesses II
The helicopter hieroglyphs is a name given to part of an Egyptian hieroglyph carving from the Temple of Seti I at Abydos . It is a palimpsest relief with two overlapping inscriptions, the titles of Ramesses II superimposed on those of his predecessor Seti I . They have been wrongly interpreted as an out-of-place artifact depicting a helicopter and other examples of advanced technology, in pseudo-scientific ancient astronaut circles.[ 1]
The "helicopter", a product of pareidolia ,[ 2] is made up of a bow hieroglyph of Seti I, and two arm hieroglyphs of Ramesses II.[ 3]
Translation
The initial carving was made during the reign of Seti I (c. 1294–1279 BC ) and translates to:[ 3]
Powerful of scimitar , who suppresses the nine bows (enemies of Egypt), [...], Menmaatra (throne name of Seti I)
Ramesses II (c. 1279–1213 BC ), Seti's successor, had the hieroglyphs filled in with plaster and re-carved the inscription to:[ 3]
Two Ladies : protector of Egypt, who repels foreign lands, [...], Usermaatra-Setepenre (throne name of Ramesses II)
Over time, the plaster has eroded away, leaving both inscriptions partially visible, creating a palimpsest-like effect of overlapping hieroglyphs.[ 4]
The hieroglyphs on an architrave in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos (read from right to left). The names of Seti I and Ramesses II are overlaid in the same cartouche .
See also
Sources
Brand, Peter J. (2023). Ramesses II, Egypt's Ultimate Pharaoh . Lockwood Press. pp. 82–85, 108. ISBN 9781948488495 .
References
Further reading
Baumann, Stefan (2018). "Ägypten, das Land der Mysterien und pseudowissenschaftlicher Mystifizierungen". In: Stefan Baumann (ed.), Fakten und Fiktionen. Archäologie vs. Pseudowissenschaft , Zaberns Bildbände zur Archäologie, Darmstadt, 89.
Roberson, Joshua Aaron (2016). "Anatomy of a Palimpsest: The Not-so-Strange Case of the 'Abydos Helicopter' ". Kmt . 27 : 61–66.
External links