The Pyramids, Mastabas and The
Archaeological sites in Saqqara
The Pyramids, Mastabas and The Archaeological sites in Saqqara
The Pyramids, Mastabas and The Archaeological sites in Saqqara
The pyramid of Userkaf
The first king of the fifth dynasty, grandson of Djedefre, Userkaf whose name means "his Ka is potent" chose to be buried close to Djoser in the north east corner of the funerary complex. His predecessor, Shepseskaf had chosen a mastaba as his burial place, today known as the El-Fara'un Mastaba. This was only a brief break in tradition though, as Userkaf immediately returned to the pyramid- shaped tomb. This sovereign attributed great importance to the cult of the sun and his may explain why his burial temple was built on the southern side of the pyramid, instead of the eastern, as the south is exposed to the sunlight all day long.
The pyramid, discovered by John Shae Perring and identified by
Cecil Firth in 1928, is not very big "the sides are 73 and 30 meters
in length and less than 50 meters high" and is badly damaged as
it was used in ancient times as a quarry for building materials.
Originally it was faced with enormous fine- grained limestone
blocks from Tura. An immense statue of Userkaf made of pink
granite was found in the court and the head is now exhibited in
the Egyptian Museum of Cairo.
The Pyramid of Teti
Teti was the founder of the sixth dynasty and succeeded Unas,
having married his daughter Idut. His Pyramid is to the north
east of the funerary complex built for Djoser and it had three
satellite pyramids, of which two belonged to the queens Khuit
and Iput, the latter being the mother of the future
king Pepi I.
Teti faithfully reproduced the entrance, the arrangement of the
rooms and especially the decoration of the pyramid texts from
Unas's pyramid, though here the texts also cover the basalt
sarcophagus.
Some of the largest, most important and attractive mastabas
are found around Teti's pyramid, such as those of Mereruka and
Kagemmi.
The Pyramid of Unas
The pyramid pf the ninth and last sovereign of the fifth dynasty is at the south west corner of the funerary complex of Djoser. It consists of a pyramid with a temple and causeway that leads to the valley temple. Smaller than the other pyramids "the sides are less than 60 meters" it was already in a poor state of repair in 2000 BC when Ramesses II had it restored. To the north of the pyramid is a 25 meter-deep shaft leading to three Persian tombs. The mummified body of the deceased, covered in gold and jewels, was preserved in one of these.
The Mastaba Tombs
Normally the tombs of dignitaries and nobility situated around the pyramid are shaped like a mastaba an Arab word meaning a bench.
They are rectangular in shape with slightly inward leaning walls,
have an upper cornice on all sides and a "dummy" entrance door
with or without an external atrium.
The sarcophagus was lowered into the shaft which lead to the
underground chamber. Once the sarcophagus was arranged
amongst the treasures and mementoes, the funerary chamber
was sealed the shaft was filled with stones and sand, and the
entrance was bricked up. The funeral was celebrated and gifts
were offered in the small external atrium in front of the dummy
door where the deceased was portrayed as if participating in the
rituals held in his honor.An image of the deceased was also
present at the rituals and funerary banquets, standing by the
false doorway or magically inhabiting his serdab in the form of a
statue.
The Mastaba Of Mereruka
This mastaba was discovered in 1893 by a French mission lead by Jacques de Morgan. It was built by Mereruka vizier, Head of Justice "Superintendent of the city" but also Teti's son in law, at the beginning of the sixth dynasty. It is the largest tomb in the area 40 meters by 24, with a surface area of 1000 square meters, contains 29 rooms and probably is a copy of Mereruka's princely palace. It is divided into three parts apartments for the owner for his wife, Hert-watet-khet, and for their two sons. The walls of the tomb are painted with scenes depicting everyday life in Egypt, the professions, hunting, fishing and the animals of the Nile. Mereruka is portrayed in many situations on the right of the entrance as he draws images of the three seasons of the Egyptian year, or on the sacred boat with his wife who is playing a harp. There is a statue of him in a niche in the pillared votive chapel the 13th chamber in Mereruka's area and also the main room of mastaba.
The Mastaba Of Kagemmi
This tomb belongs to another important potentate and learned High Priest of Teti's court who was also the superintendent of the king's pyramid. The building is half solid, like early mastabas, and half composed of pillared rooms, chambers and stores. The decorations of the secondary rooms are even more lovely than those in the funerary chambers that lead to the serdab. The scenes of fishing and offerings at the entrance and the engraved reliefs in the pillared room representing games and dancing, farm work and a judgment taking place in the Tribunal of Teti are all beautifully executed.
The Mastaba Of Ankhmahor
Also known as "the tomb of doctors" although Ankhmahor was not a doctor, but a Priest this is a sixth dynasty structure. The engraving showing the ritual of circumcision is famous. Still practiced in many cultures, this operation involved some risk, despite its simplicity. It was carried out by a priest who used a flint or oxidian knife and intonated magic spells during the ritual.
The Mastaba of Ti
Considering the level of artistic expression achieved here, the delicate synthesis of the forms and the harmony of the structure, this is probably the finest tomb in the entire funerary comple. It was already completed in 2600 BC when Khufu was only beginning to build the great pyramid. Ti husband of princess Nefer-Hotep, lived at the time of the fifth dynasty. To use a contemporary term we could call him a VIP unique friend, holder of secrets, head of the kings works, director of the pyramids of Nefer-Ka-Ra and Niuser-Ra, these are only some of the inscriptions describing him in the tomb. The reliefs engravings here are considered to be some of the loveliest of the entire Old kingdom. The great court has twelve pilasters and chapel, and the most lively scenes decorating the area are those of family life, hunting and fishing. The human figure is always portrayed quite formally but at the same time with exquisite delicacy, and the sequence of painted reliefs seems to take place in front of our eyes transmitting a strong sense of movement.
The Mastaba of Ptahotep
On the opposite side of the necropolis is the mastaba of Ptahotep, vizier and judge who lived at the time of the fifth dynasty and whose name means "Ptah id Happy". His double tomb is shared with two members of his family. Discovered by the French archaeologist "Auguste Mariette", it is of impressive size and was decorated with fine reliefs engravings, probably the work of Ankhen-Ptah, which describe, in minute detail, daily life in ancient Egypt including servants bearing gifts and men rowing a boat. The image of Ptahotep on a seat with legs shaped like those of a lion, while with his left hand he raises a particularly elegant glass to his mouth is specially lovely.
The Mastaba of Nebit
Just south of the pyramid of Unas are the mastabas of Nebit and Khenut, both wives of the king and dated late fifth dynasty. Nebit's mastaba is noted for the rather rare decoration of the second chamber. The queen herself is portrayed here in the palace harem, the apartments reserved for the woman, while, smelling a flower, she participates at the presentation of offerings. The tomb consists of a room with four niches that contained statues for the cult of the deceased.
The Mastaba of Idut
Discovered in 1927 by the English archaeologist Cecil Firth, this tomb was actually built for a vizier who lived at the time of the king Unas at the end of the fifth dynasty. At the time of the sixth dynasty, princess Seshsechet, better known ad Idut, took over the burial chambers and entirely altered the original decorations.
The mastaba has ten chambers of which only five are decorated.
As well as the usual scenes of offerings, hunting and fishing, the
tomb contains numerous scenes of everyday life, such as those
illustrating the process of butchering a bull, where two men are
seen using long knives to cut the various sections of the animal.
The Mastaba of Niankhnum and Khnumhotep
Also known as the "tomb of the two brothers" The structure was discovered below the causeway of Unas temple in 1964 and was built during the fifth dynasty. The two brothers, possibly twins, were both priests of Ra in the temple of Niuserre and were also responsible for "care of the hands of the King" They are portrayed with their two sons at the sides of the vestibule entrance. The bas-reliefs engraved on the fine grained limestone walls are most attractive, sophisticated and quite vivacious, such as for example, the scene showing some young men on a papyrus skiff performing acrobatic games.
The Mastaba of Irukaptah
Entirely excavated from rock, the tomb of Irukaptah was built during the fifth dynasty. It is known as the "tomb of the butchers" as he was "head butchers of the great house". Unique of its kind, the single room is decorated on the north and east walls with large painted and plastered reliefs figures in a standing position, representing members of Irukaptah's family who were also buried here.
The Mastaba of Nefer and Kahay
Quite small in size and similar in
structure to the "tomb of the
butchers", this wa sthe burial
place of Nefer "Supervisor of
the Craftsmen" and "Head of
the Choristers" shared with nine
other relatives including his
brother Kahay.
In the stele of a false door the
figure of his brother Werkbau is
portrayed during a funeral
banquet. The relief panel
showing the cutting and
carrying of papyrus stalks in the
upper band, and a group of
animals crossing a ford in the
lower one, is of great charm.
Serapeum
Located to the north east of the step pyramid, the Serabeum was formed by a long underground gallery with side chambers, each containing an enormous granite sarcophagus weighting about 60 tons where the bodies of mummified bulls were considered to be deities and on death were therefore mummified and buried in the same way as a king.
Portrayed as a bull with a solar disc between the horns, the
center of the cult of the sacred Apis bull was in Memphis. In
order to be recognized as sacred, the animal had to have certain
features that were known only to the priests.
On the death of an Apis bull, the priests sought out another
animal, the final choice being determined by numerous special
characteristics "Herodotus lists some 29" including a white
triangle on the forehead, a mark like an eagle on the neck and
another in the shape of a crescent moon on its flank.
The word Serapeum is the Latin form of the Greek Serapeum
and derives from the fact that once the Apis bull become a
divinity after death, it was known as Osor Apis, which the Greeks
modified into the name Serapis, During the Ptolemaic period
statues of Greek poets and philosophers including Plato, Homer,
Pindar, Heraclitus and Hesiod were placed in the open near to
the Seraprum in the area known as the hemicycle.
