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Tomb of Meresankh III

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Decoration inside the chapel of the tomb

The Tomb of Meresankh III is an ancient Egyptian tomb in the Eastern Cemetery of the Giza Necropolis. It housed the burial of Meresankh III, queen and wife to Khafre, though it was most likely commissioned by her mother, Hetepheres II. The subterranean rock-cut tomb, designated by archeologists as "G7530 sub" and is located under a mastaba designated G7530/7540.[1] The tomb consists of a three-room chapel, decorated with painted reliefs and carved figures, and a deeper burial chamber where Meresankh's sarcophagus was found.

Construction

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Meresankh was the wife of Khafre. Her parents were Hetepheres II, daughter of Khufu, and Kawab, son of Khufu and half-brother to Hetepheres II.[2] Her tomb is located in the Eastern Cemetery that stretches next to the Great Pyramid of Khufu. This area was designated to accommodate the tombs of his family, including queens and his children.[3] It returned to use during Khafre's reign. One of the first mastabas built at this time (G7530/7540) became the superstructure over the tomb of Meresankh III.[4] The mastaba was assigned to Hetepheres II[5] and she is likely responsible for building the tomb below this for her daughter, who likely died before her.[2] Evidence for this is found on the sarcophagus, on which an inscription added to the original decoration indicates that Hetepheres II gave it to Meresankh.[6][7] An inscription on a doorway in the tomb records that Meresankh was buried here 272 days after her death, a long delay that could suggest her death was unexpected and that more time was needed to prepare the tomb.[6] The tomb is thus usually attributed to the late Fourth Dynasty period.[1] Work on the tomb probably occurred or continued during the reign of Menkaure, Khafre's successor.[6]

Discovery

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The tomb was uncovered in 1927 during what was intended to be last day of excavations[2] by a team from Harvard University and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, led by George Andrew Reisner.[1] Excavators were clearing debris from the G 7540 mastaba and discovered the entrance to the tomb.[2] When the team entered the burial chamber, they found the lid of the sarcophagus propped open with rocks, left this way by robbers long ago, and the discarded skeleton of Queen Meresankh left in a corner of the room.[6]

Architecture

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Plan of the tomb's chapel, divided into three rooms (a-c)

The mastaba at ground level includes a small chapel for offerings, consisting of a room with a cruciform layout entered from the east. It was decorated with reliefs, of which the best remains are now found on the north wall, where four women are depicted making offerings.[10] The rock-cut tomb is located about 2 metres (6.6 ft) below the level of the street.[7] It consists of a chapel divided into three rooms,[11] plus a shaft leading to the burial below.[2] The tomb is decorated with painted reliefs that include depictions of Meresankh and her family (including Hetepheres II), scenes of funerary preparations, and agricultural scenes.[2] One of the most unusual features is the north wall, which is carved with ten female figures in a row.[4] The west wall includes a false door.[12]

  • The mastaba and entrance to the tomb (left)
    The mastaba and entrance to the tomb (left)
  • Row of sculpted figures on the north wall
    Row of sculpted figures on the north wall
  • Sculpted figures (right) and false door (left) on the west wall
    Sculpted figures (right) and false door (left) on the west wall
  • Shaft leading to the burial
    Shaft leading to the burial
  • Burial chamber (looking towards the entrance)
    Burial chamber (looking towards the entrance)

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b c Flentye 2006, p. 71.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Capel & Markoe 1996, p. 103.
  3. ^ Lehner & Hawas 2017, pp. 313–314.
  4. ^ a b Lehner & Hawas 2017, p. 319.
  5. ^ Flentye 2006.
  6. ^ a b c d Capel & Markoe 1996, p. 104.
  7. ^ a b Flentye 2006, p. 72.
  8. ^ Reisner 1927, p. 69.
  9. ^ Reisner 1927, p. 70.
  10. ^ Flentye 2006, pp. 72–73.
  11. ^ Flentye 2006, p. 73.
  12. ^ Flentye 2006, p. 74.

Bibliography

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  • Flentye, Laurel (2006). "The Mastaba of Meresankh III (G7530/7540) in the Eastern Cemetery at Giza: an Archaeological and Art Historical Analysis" (PDF). Bulletin of the Egyptian Museum. 3: 71–82.
  • Capel, Anne K.; Markoe, Glenn, eds. (1996). Mistress of the House, Mistress of Heaven: Women in Ancient Egypt. Hudson Hills. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-1-55595-129-0.
  • Lehner, Mark; Hawass, Zahi A. (2017). Giza and the Pyramids. Thames & Hudson Limited. ISBN 978-0-500-05189-4.
  • Reisner, George Andrew (1927). "The Tomb of Meresankh, a Great-Granddaughter of Queen Hetep-Heres I and Sneferuw". Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts. 25 (151): 64–79.
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