Provides a much needed summary overview of the key elements of Egyptian tomb form, use and decoration over time. The tombs, with their scenes, inscriptions, objects and human remains, represent our richest source of information for the understanding of Egyptian beliefs and practices, art and architecture and of many aspects of daily life. Detailed, scholarly reports on individual cemeteries and tombs are abundant but in this fully illustrated, more general work, reproduced in this facsimile edition, Kanawati provides an invaluable introduction to, and overview of, the key elements of Egyptian tombs from Predynastic to the Late Period. The Egyptian dead enjoyed a continued existence in both the Netherworld and the land of the living – the individual possessing multiple entities that experienced different destinies after death. The tomb provided an everlasting earthly dwelling and consisted of a chapel above ground where the deceased’s cult was maintained and offerings presented, and a burial chamber for the body. Either or both could be richly decorated with paintings, reliefs and inscriptions. Kanawati describes and illustrates the principal forms and features of architecture and nature and subject matter of decoration and demonstrates how tomb design and decoration changed through time.
This original study examines the claims for sensational intrigues in the 6th century Egyptian palace, culminating in the possible assassination of King Teti by his own bodyguards. New evidence from the author's recent excavations is set against the written claims of the ancient historian Manetho. This offers the reader a unique opportunity to compare archaeological and historical evidence, and sheds new light on the political conspiracies and quarrels of the age. With over 80 illustrations, and clear presentation of the dynastic tomb excavations, the book also gives a rare and accessible insight into Old Kingdom society and administration under the kings Unis, Teti and Pepy I. It will be valuable to all students of Egyptian history.
This book explores the role of the artists who created the magnificent tomb paintings of Egypt's Old Kingdom. Challenging the idea that the artists of ancient Egypt were anonymous craftsmen who labored in obscurity to create masterpieces of funerary art, the authors of this volume haveproduced a thorough study, well illustrated with detailed photographs and line drawings, that gives definition to these skilled and valued members of society. This monograph provides an accessible reference on Egyptian art as it appears in wall scenes, and addresses the intriguing question of theartists' identity and individual style.
As vizier and husband of King Teti's eldest daughter, Mereruka enjoyed a very special status and built an unusually rich mastaba. This volume deals with the architecture and art of the exterior of his mastaba and with those of rooms A1-A12 of his magnificent chapel. The variety of themes depicted in this section of the chapel include, fishing and fowling, life in the marshlands, gardening, desert hunt, metal workers and other professions, rendering accounts, poultry house, preparation of food and drink and bringing offerings, entertainment with the harp, etc. The tomb is an essential source of information for most research in the Old Kingdom. In addition to the new and complete record in line drawings and colour photographs, the present book includes studies of the architectural features and the colour conventions in the tomb as well as detailed tabulation of titles, individuals and themes represented. Includes 50 folded line drawings.
The project of surveying, excavating, recording and preserving the site of El-Hawawish, the cemetery of Akhmim, capital of the ninth province of Upper Egypt, was completed in 1992. This book complements the published series on the rock tombs, and attempts to reconsider the chronology of the officials of UE. 9 and other Upper Egyptian provinces, the dates for many of which differ from those currrently accepted. Whilst concentrating on chronology as well as on civil and religious administration, the book also draws on an analysis of various other aspects such as art, architecture, colour conventions, palaeography, stelae, coffins and pottery.
One of the foremost experts on Old Kingdom tombs looks at the burial chamber, its significance, and its preparation, concluding that the "house of death is for life." The Egyptian tomb was not considered simply as a grave for burying the corpse of a dead person, but rather as a house of eternity in which the deceased would spend an everlasting life. The author also discusses the architectural designs and characteristics of burial chambers associated with the mastabas and rock-cut tombs, and studies the development of decoration on the walls of tombs.
The tomb of Hesi was discovered in the early 1980s but remained unpublished. Although formed of a portico and one-roomed chapel, the walls are full of scenes and inscriptions executed in high quality relief, on a small scale to allow for the inclusion of a variety of themes on rather limited wall space. Included in the traditional subjects depicted in the tomb are some unusual motifs. Similarly, the incscriptions, including Hesi's biography, contain some unconventional expressions. The name and figures of Hesi have been deliberately chiselled out from the tomb decoration as, happened to many tomb owners who lived in the turbulent period from the end of Teti's reign to the beginning of that of Pepy I.
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