Unique images discovered in ancient Egyptian tomb

The discovery allows us to reconstruct pictures of everyday life in Ancient Egypt

Colorful pictures of everyday life in Ancient Egypt were discovered in a tomb that is more than 4,300 years old. The tomb, known as a mastaba, was found in the pyramidal necropolis of Dahshur, about 25 miles south of Cairo, during a recent Egyptian-German archaeological mission.

Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

Dahshur is the southernmost of the necropolises of the great pyramids of the Old Kingdom in the vicinity of the ancient capital of Memphis, CNN reports. The main attractions are the two large pyramids of King Sneferu: the so-called Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.

The rectangular mastaba, built of unbaked mud brick, measures about 8 by 12 meters and has seven burial shafts, as well as another a shaft for ceramic bowls and other objects used in funeral rituals.

According to the inscriptions on the massive false limestone door, the tomb belonged to a man named Seneb-Nebef, who served in the administration of the inhabitants of the palace area, and his wife Idutu.

The shape of the mastaba, as well as inscriptions, images and ceramics, those found inside suggest that it dates from the end of the 5th or beginning of the 6th dynasty — approximately 2300 BC.

The expedition was led by Stefan Seidlmeier, former director of the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin.

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He told CNN via email: “The corridor and cult chamber were decorated with delicate designs on clay plaster — a rarity in the Dahshur necropolis. Despite extensive destruction, numerous images have survived. They depict the owner of the tomb and his wife in front of the sacrificial table, scenes from everyday life — donkeys on the threshing floor, ships on the Nile, the market square — and servants bringing gifts for the funerary cult.

Thanks to their elegant forms and perfect execution, the paintings provide convincing evidence of the artistic environment of the capital region of the developed Old Kingdom.»

According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the inscriptions showed that the owner of the tomb «occupied several positions in the royal palace in the administration tenants,” while his wife “held the titles of Priestess of Hathor and Lady of the Sycamore Tree.”

The German Archaeological Institute in Cairo has been excavating Dahshur since 1976. The initial phases focused on the pyramids of King Sneferu of the Old Kingdom and King Amenemhat III of the Middle Kingdom.

However, later excavations focused on the tombs of great statesmen, priests and administrators from the same eras.

< Stefan Seidlmeier and his team will continue excavations at the site “in an attempt to uncover more secrets of the area,” Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement. It added: “In the coming period, work will be carried out to clean the tomb and its inscriptions and complete documentation.”