Tomb of Kairsu discovered in Abusir (AC 33)

• Authors: Bárta Miroslav , Jirásková Lucie , Krejčí Jaromír , Odler Martin , Brůna Vladimír , Brunker Havelková Petra , Sůvová Zdeňka
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The tomb of Kairsu is located north of the pyramid of Neferirkare and is part of a so far unexplored cemetery dating to the reign of Neferirkare – Nyuserre. The mastaba features several highly unusual characteristics. Basalt blocks had been used for the pavement in front of the façade and in the chapel. To date, it is the only attestation of such a practice in a non-royal tomb in the Old Kingdom. Some of the titles of Kairsu show that he was a high ranking official. Kairsu was overseer of all royal works of the king and foremost of the House of Life. There was a very close link established between this institution, which was in fact a centre of knowledge and wisdom in the Old Kingdom, and the god of creation Khnum. It is also important that the House of Life appears from the reign of Nyuserre when Osiris is attested for the first time. Another important feature of the tomb is the fact that the statue of the tomb owner was placed in front of the sarcophagus. This only confirms the previous assumption that ancient Egyptians were placing statues not only in different areas of tombs’ superstructures but also in the burial chambers. There is a strong possibility that the owner of the tomb may be identical to the famous sage of Egyptian history, who, according to a much later tradition, was author of the Loyalist teaching, Teaching for Kagemni and Teaching of Kairsu and also father of the early Sixth Dynasty vizier Kagemni.

Keywords

EN

Abusir; Fifth Dynasty; Neferirkare; Kairsu; overseer of all royal works of the king House of Life; Khnum; sage

Discipline

• ARCHAEOLOGY: ARCHAEOLOGY

• Publisher: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic
• Journal: Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)
• Year: 2020
• Issue: 25
• Pages: 35-58

Contributors

author

Bárta Miroslav

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

author

Jirásková Lucie

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

author

Krejčí Jaromír

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

author

Odler Martin

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

author

Brůna Vladimír

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

author

Brunker Havelková Petra

• Department of Anthropology, National Museum in Prague; Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University

author

Sůvová Zdeňka

• Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University