Unique images discovered in ancient Egyptian tomb

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

Colorful pictures of daily life in ancient Egypt have been 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.

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 Curved Pyramid and the Red Pyramid.

The rectangular mastaba, built from unfired mud bricks, measures about 8 by 12 meters and has seven burial shafts, as well as another shaft for ceramic bowls and other objects used in funerary 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 residents of the palace district, and his wife Idut.

The shape of the mastaba, as well as the inscriptions, images and pottery found inside, suggest that it dates from the late 5th or early 6th Dynasty – approximately 2300 BC.

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

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 are convincing evidence of the artistic environment of the capital region of the developed Old Kingdom.”

According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the inscriptions showed that the tomb’s owner “held several positions in the royal palace in the administration of the 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 at Dahshur since 1976. The initial stages focused on the pyramids of King Sneferu of the Old Kingdom and King Amenemhat III of the Middle Kingdom.

However, more recent excavations have focused on the graves 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 this 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.”