Search results

1

Tomb of the chief physician Shepseskafankh

100%

Bárta M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 15

15-27

EN

Mastaba AS 39 was discovered during the course of the 2013 season in Abusir South. It is located in the northeastern part of the cemetery of officials dated to the Fifth Dynasty, spanning the reigns of Nyuserre through Djedkare (2402–2322 BC). Shepseskafankh was a person of elevated status at the royal court as indicated by the titles on his unique unfinished false door. These include, among others, the title of the chief physician of the king, property custodian of the king, chief of the physicians of Upper and Lower Egypt as well as two so far unattested titles of hem-netjer-priest of Khnum who is foremost of the House of Life and of the House of Protection and overseer of the healing substances of the Great House. These titles attest to his historically unique position. Shepseskafankh’s duties included supervision over the House of Life, which was a centre authority for storing and maintaining written documents. At the same time he was in charge of the House of Protection, which, most likely, was a facility where royal children were born. Based on archaeological and epigraphic evidence, it may be supposed that it is one of the earliest structures in the examined cemetery. Despite the fact that most of the burial facilities of the tomb owner and his family members were looted in antiquity, the tomb represents a unique testimony of the latter part of the Fifth Dynasty history on a microscale.

2

Kanopy v době Staré říše

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Jirásková L.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2014

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issue 13

49-55

EN

Canopic jars represent one of the sources of evidence of the early stages of the mummification process. However, most of the jars have been found empty without any traces of the original contents. Only several instances of wrapped packages have been discovered either inside the jars or within the heap of their fragments. As they appeared only in the Memphite area tombs, it seems that the presence of canopic jars in the private tombs represented merely an imitation of a piece of royal burial equipment, for most of the Old Kingdom bodies bear no traces of evisceration. The shape of the canopic jars is inspired by the tall shouldered jars commonly used until the beginning of the Old Kingdom, and in limited examples even later. The original shape underwent slight changes in order to become suitable for new contents, i.e. above all there is a widening of the mouth which made it wider than the base. The jars seem to have been called nmst jars, and are often represented within the scenes of stone vessel workshops. Their shape also very much resembles the shape of model stone shouldered jars. As four of them appear in complete sets, these model jars might represent the models of canopic jars within the sets of model stone vessels deposited within the Old Kingdom tombs.

3

Saqqara 2012 and 2015: inscriptions

100%

Kuraszkiewicz K. O.

Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean

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2016

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vol. 25

255-263

EN

Numerous fragments of decorated limestone blocks attributed to the funerary chapel of the God’s Sealer Ikhi/Mery were found during the 2012 and 2015 seasons of Polish excavations in Saqqara. A theoretical reconstruction of the tomb facade is proposed based on the finds and some peculiarities of the decoration are discussed.

4

The Polish archaeological survey in the north-eastern part of the Nile Delta (season 2010) – the pottery from Tell el-Murra and Tell Abu el-Halyat

88%

Jucha M.

Recherches Archéologiques Nouvelle Serie

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2011

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vol. 3

179-194

EN

The recent research in the North-Eastern Nile Delta proves that a great quantity of sites existed here during Naqada III period. These sites undoubtedly played an important role both in the developing contacts between Egypt and Canaan, as well as in the processes which led to the formation of the Egyptian state. Further data concerning the Naqada III settlements in the Nile Delta have been obtained recently, during the Polish Archaeological Survey in Ash-Sharqiyyah Governorate. Most of the work in 2010 concentrated at Tell el-Murra and Tell Abu el-Halyat and this article focuses on the pottery found at these two sites. The occurrence of potsherds dated to the Protodynastic, Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods at Tell el-Murra points at the fact that the latest occupation at that site should be dated to the latter. Moreover, potsherds were also found decorated with a zig-zag pattern, which are quite characteristic of the Predynastic-Lower Egyptian Culture. Most of the pottery from Tell Abu el-Halyat is dated to the Early Dynastic period, but the occurrence of several fragments which could belong both to the earlier and later forms may indicate that it was probably inhabited also during the Protodynastic as well as Old Kingdom (?) periods.

5

Sculptures from the pyramid complex of Djedkare Isesi at South Saqqara. A preliminary report

88%

Megahed M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2016

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issue 17

24-33

EN

After more than sixty years since the first investigation of the pyramid complex of King Djedkare Isesi at South Saqqara, the monument keeps adding to our knowledge a great amount of information concerning the architecture and the decorative program of the royal pyramid complexes in the late Fifth Dynasty. In addition, Djedkare’s pyramid complex, where djed-pillars, fragments of kneeling captive statues, sphinxes, lion statues and a small statue of the king himself were found, provides us with material about the royal statuary program. This article presents these sculptures, hoping to complete a detailed publication in the near future.

6

Some notes on the female ka-servant in the Old Kingdom

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Sánchez Casado R.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2019

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issue 23

125-131

EN

The iconographic repertoire of the Old Kingdom tombs seems to show that the funerary cult during this period was developed by an important number of people that were able to hold a wide variety of titles. Among those, there is one that looms as particularly frequent: the Hm-kA. Usually known as the ka-servant or ka-priest, this title is almost omnipresent in Old Kingdom tombs. His main function was to satisfy the necessities of his deceased lord by providing his funerary cult with all kinds of offerings. However, in order to ensure the proper functioning of the cult and its supply, they also developed functions in the management of the properties allotted to its finance. The service of the ka was considered by ancient Egyptians as a communitarian system composed of several members, including women also. This circumstance makes the Hmt-kA one of the few female ritualists in the Old Kingdom. In this paper, I have aimed to shed light upon the position of the female ka-servants in relation to their male counterparts. By using both iconographic and textual sources, the paper aims at understanding what women’s means of access to the ka-servant office were, what responsibilities they held and what rights they enjoyed. The most limited occurrence of the Hmt-kA in the sources seems to reveal a preference for men above women, and an assistance role for the latter. Despite this situation, we also find evidence of females reaching powerful positions inside the hierarchical structure of the ka-service, consequently one can suggest that, once inside the institution, women had similar rights to those of men.

7

Hetepuni, kněz ze dvora princezny Šeretnebtej

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Dulíková V., Arias Kytnarová K., Cílek V.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2014

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issue 13

38-48

EN

During the autumn excavation season of 2013, archaeological work in the tomb complex of princess Sheretnebty (AS 68) continued. A false door was found in the filling of shaft 8 in Sheretnebty’s courtyard. The limestone stela (75 × 49 × 11 cm) belonged to a certain Hetepuni, a hemnetjer- priest of Khentytjenenet, wab-priest of the two hundred of the pyramid Men-nefer-Meryre (Pepi I), great wab-priest and overseer of the department of tenant-landholders of the Great House. The entire decoration of the false door – the hieroglyphic inscriptions, figural representation, lines and a hint of a wooden door with a crossbar in the central niche – was painted in black. At first glance the execution of the hieroglyphs looks neat and calligraphic; a further examination has revealed a substitution of some similarly looking signs. Originally, the whole surface of the stela had been whitewashed. The white colour has the basic composition of pure gypsum, but parts containing powdered barite were found as well (Tab. 1). At least 15 layers of white coating, which indicate repeated whitewashing, were observed. The length of time this activity had been taking place can be estimated at 20 to 60 years. It is probable that the false door was originally placed above the shaft into which it was thrown. A man 40–60 years old was buried in a rectangular burial pit in the burial niche of this shaft. Whereas no remains of burial equipment were found in the burial niche, the filling of the shaft contained fragments of pottery vessels. The majority of analogies to particular vessels are associated with the Sixth Dynasty, especially with Pepi I, however some of them have survived until the reign of Pepi II. Following its analysis, Hetepuni’s false door, whose features date it to the late Sixth Dynasty or the First Inter - mediate Period, illustrates not only the development at the Abusir necropolis but also serves as a probe into one of the burial complexes at Abusir South, i.e. the tomb cluster called the complex of princess Sheretnebty.

8

The Old Kingdom “kohl-pot” and its reinterpretation

88%

Jirásková L.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2016

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issue 17

47-51

EN

The article aims to interpret the so-called “kohl pot” in the Old Kingdom. There are only several vessels of this type that have been discovered and published so far. All of them come from burial contexts, and although some of them have been described as cosmetic jars, there is no reason as to why. The author of the present study has arrived at another interpretation based on the archaeological contexts of the vessels and on iconography. The position of the vessels in burial chambers, as well as their depictions in the Old Kingdom reliefs, rather point to their usage by ancient scribes as water pots.

9

Djedkare’s pyramid complex: Preliminary report of the 2016 season

88%

Megahed M., Jánosi P., Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

37-52

EN

The article presents the results of the 2016 archaeological season of the Egyptian mission in the pyramid complex of King Djedkare in South Saqqara. The works focused on the western part of the causeway where remains of a drainage was documented, and on the storerooms situated to the south of the entrance passage. During this work, also the north side of the so-called southern massive was cleaned. Besides the funerary temple, also the private cemetery located to the south-east of it started to be documented in this season. A mud brick structure, MS 1, was cleaned; it consisted of six shafts with vaulted burial chambers. Only one of the chambers (in shaft 5) was cased with limestone slabs, which bear a well preserved painted decoration. This burial chamber belonged to Pepyankh Setju and can be dated to the late Sixth Dynasty. Another part of the work in 2016 concentrated inside the pyramid of the king. The consolidation and restoration works were carried out in the burial apartments, concentrating on the missing part of the eastern wall of the antechamber and the core behind it.

10

Short contribution on the past desert edge landscape at (Lake) Abusir, Egypt

88%

Toonen W., Odler M., Arias K., Krejčí J., Brůna V., Bárta M., Willems H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2020

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issue 25

103-110

EN

A geological survey of ten boreholes was carried out at the desert edge near Abusir to investigate the location and age of former lakes. These environments are suggested to have played an important role in the symbolic landscape of ancient Egypt by connecting the realms of the living and the dead. Based on our research, it can be excluded that an Old Kingdom lake was present at the investigated zone near Abusir, as the local subsoil was dominated by colluvial, aeolian and prehistorical fluvial deposits typical for the wadi and desert edge setting. Yet, all boreholes featured a distinct layer of degraded mud brick that was interpreted as a large platform or multiple features of Old Kingdom age. Potentially, these features were tied to boat-landing places, which could imply that a lake existed at the wadi-floodplain interface, not far from the investigated zone.

11

The Nile Delta during the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods. Preliminary remarks on the evolution of settlement landscape

88%

Małecka-Drozd N.

Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean

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2020

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vol. 29(2)

13-58

EN

The 3rd millennium BC appears to be a key period of development of the historical settlement landscape in ancient Egypt. After the unification of the country, the process of disappearance of the predynastic socio-political structures and settlement patterns associated with them significantly accelerated. Old chiefdoms, along with their centres and elites, declined and vanished. On the other hand, new settlements emerging in various parts of the country were often strictly related to the central authorities and formation of the new territorial administration. Not negligible were climatic changes, which influenced the shifting of the ecumene. Although these changes were evolutionary in their nature, some important stages may be recognized. According to data obtained during surveys and excavations, there are a number of sites that were considerably impoverished and/or abandoned before and at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. On the other hand, during the Third and Fourth Dynasties some important Egyptian settlements have emerged in the sources and begun their prosperity. Architectural remains as well as written sources indicate the growing interest of the state in the hierarchy of landscape elements and territorial structure of the country.

12

Some newly uncovered blocks from the tomb of Rashepses at Saqqara

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El-Tayeb H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

124-134

EN

The tomb of the Vizier, Rashepses, located in Saqqara to the north of Netjerykhet’s pyramid complex, belongs among the large and complex mastabas of the late Fifth Dynasty. The paper presents some of the decorated blocks which were uncovered during the exploration of the tomb by the Egyptian mission. These blocks include architectural components with the inscribed titles and name of the tomb owner, a fragment of a scene of the tomb owner at the offering table and a fragment of scenes showing the netting of birds and gathering papyrus.

13

Damage and repair of the Old Kingdom canopic jars – the case at Abusir

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Jirásková L.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2015

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issue 15

76-85

EN

Archaeological excavations in the Abusir South officials’ tombs have revealed several sets of canopic jars that bear traces of large surface damage and plaster patches filling the holes and chippings. Deeper research into the canopic jars of the Old Kingdom unearthed during earlier excavations in the area of Abusir yielded more examples, and therefore questions arose concerning the origins of this damage and subsequent repair. The author of the present study brings to light the so far recognized evidence and outlines several paths of interpretation. The quality of limestone used for the production of all these canopic jars was not the reason for this damage, which would have occurred during the production process. Therefore, the author comes to the conclusion that they must have been used in a kind of pre-burial activity, most probably connected with mummification. Such activity thus caused the surface chippings, and the jars must have been restored (in one case twice). Later on, the jars were put into the burial apartment – all probably empty, as a symbol of post mortal treatment of the body, which probably did not include evisceration.

14

Objev pohřební komory hodnostáře Nefera

75%

Bárta M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2014

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issue 13

3-6

EN

During the spring season of 2014 in Abusir, the Czech mission focused on further archaeological exploration of the tomb complex of Nefer, dating to the second half of the Fifth Dynasty. Working inside his rock-cut chapel, two more shafts (out of four) were explored. Shaft 1, located in the southernmost part of the room, belonged to Nefer himself. The shaft opening corresponds with the principal false door of the room, that of Nefer. The shaft is 6 m deep, with a buri - al chamber opening to the south. The room was entered from the north. The entrance was originally blocked by a wall built of smaller and larger limestone chips, limestone blocks and mud bricks joined with mud mortar. The wall was broken by ancient tomb robbers in the eastern part. The burial chamber was found with the ceiling largely collapsed. Thus it was impossible to work inside the chamber but for a few hours. Therefore only very few measurements could be taken. The room measures roughly 3.67 × 2.25 m in ground plan. Most of the room was occupied by a large limestone sarcophagus (its chest mea - suring 2.25 × 1.05 × 0.75 m). Inside the sarcophagus, a completely destroyed burial was found, pushed to the south part of the sarcophagus (380/AS68/2014). It belonged to amale person of about 40–60 years of age. From the buri - al equipment, only a group of miniature model vessels made of limestone was found, consisting of 70 plates and 16 cups. Shaft 4, which is 4.5 m deep, is located close to the entrance into the chapel. The east wall of the shaft was shaped into a “manoeuvring recess” across the last 1.90 m of its length and so cut away the corner of the west wall of the shaft above the entrance into the burial chamber. The burial chamber is located to the west of the shaft and was found sealed with an intact stone wall. The burial chamber itself measures 2.96 × 2.14 × 0.80 m and it is orientated in the north-south direction. Most of the space was taken up by a limestone sarcophagus which is 2.50 m long, 1.10 m wide and 0.80 m high (chest). Remains of very limited intact burial equipment were discovered during the course of archaeological documentation inside the chamber. It consisted of four canopic vessels originally placed on the southern end of the sarcophagus lid (388/AS68/2014). These were originally placed in a wooden box which was found completely decayed. Due to post-depositional processes, one canopic vessel and two lids were found in the fill on the south side of the sarcophagus. Apart from this, only one beer jar was found lying on the floor of the chamber, in the southwest corner, and some small fragments of miniature copper vessels originating from the fill of the chamber could be documented. Since the sarcophagus was found sealed, it was officially opened in collaboration with the representatives of the Saqqara Inspectorate of Antiquities, the director Mr. Allah Shehata and chief inspector Mr. Sabri, on March 19. After the lid was pushed aside, a well preserved skeleton (not a mummy) (389/AS68/2014) was discovered inside. It belonged to an anonymous official of 40–60 years of age. He was lying in an outstretched position, head to the north. Along his eastern side a decayed wooden stick could be seen. Otherwise only small faience amulets and tiny pieces of golden foil were found. The faience amulets were found on the ankles and wrists of the deceased and included three different shapes, very close to the hieroglyphic signs “n”, “r” and “nb”.

15

Exploration of structures AS 66 and AS 69 in Abusir South: Preliminary report on the 2015 and 2016 seasons

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Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

66-80

EN

The paper presents preliminary results of the exploration of another part of the Abusir South non-royal cemetery. Structures AS 66 and AS 69 were partly uncovered in the spring season of 2012 during the exploration of the tomb complex of Princess Sheretnebty, AS 68. During the fall season of 2015 and fall season of 2016, the structures were explored and documented, revealing a mastaba, AS 69, above the rock-cut tombs of Sheretnebty (AS 68c) and Nefer (AS 68d) and an enigmatic area, AS 66, above the rock-cut tombs of Duaptah (AS 68a) and Shepespuptah (AS 68b), which appears not to have been a tomb but perhaps an enclosed open area.

16

Abusir 3D survey 2015

75%

Kawae Y., Yasumuro Y., Kanaya I., Dan H., Chiba F.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2016

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issue 17

3-11

EN

In 2015, in collaboration with the Czech Institute of Egyptology, we, a Japanese consortium, initiated the Abusir 3D Survey (A-3DS) for the 3D documentation of the site’s pyramids, which have not been updated since the time of the architectural investigations of Vito Maragioglio and Celeste Rinaldi in the 1960s to the 1970s. The first season of our project focused on the exterior of Neferirkare’s pyramid, the largest pyramid at Abusir. By developing a strategic mathematical 3D survey plan, step-by-step 3D documentation to suit specific archaeological needs, and producing a new display method for the 3D data, we successfully measured the dimensions of the pyramid in a cost-effective way.

17

Djedkare’s pyramid complex: Preliminary report of the 2017 season

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Megahed M., Jánosi P., Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2018

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issue 21

34-44

EN

During the fieldwork in the pyramid complex of King Djedkare in the 2017 season, the Egyptian mission focused on consolidation works inside the pyramid and on the exploration and documentation of the south-eastern part of the king’s funerary temple. The consolidation works in the substructure of the pyramid focused on the north walls of the antechamber and the burial chamber. The south-eastern part of the funerary temple (T.h) had suffered heavily from stone reuse in later periods, and almost nothing survived of its original architecture. The preserved foundation blocks nevertheless revealed the ground plan of several long rooms and a corridor. The external enclosure wall of the funerary temple had been entirely dismantled in this area, but its foundation survived further east along the south massif (T.i area).

18

The household of an Egyptian dignitary – the case of Ptahshepses

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Nováková V.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

95-109

EN

The Old Kingdom tomb images have been frequently studied, especially on the basis of their orientation and content in relation to tomb architecture; and also theoretical and methodical aspects of their interpretation have been scrutinized. This paper aims to focus on the specific sociological perspective of the tomb reliefs, which has not yet been elaborated. The author of this study concentrates on the identified individuals in the tomb of Ptahshepses – a vizier from the time of Nyuserre and husband of his daughter, Khamerernebty. An analysis of the titles given to particular persons portrayed on the walls, as well as an examination of the social hierarchy reflected in the scenes, was undertaken in order to reconstruct the vizieral household/court and to present possible interpretations of its composition. The data from a large corpus of mason’s marks preserved herein, which includes personal names and titles, is also taken into account, enabling to record a more complex and precise image of the society at that time.

19

The tomb of Khuwy at Djedkare’s royal cemetery at South Saqqara. Preliminary report on the 2019 spring season

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Megahed M., Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2019

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issue 23

37-48

EN

The royal necropolis surrounding the pyramid complex of Djedkare at South Saqqara is largely unexplored. In the 2019 spring season, the Egyptian mission uncovered a large mastaba in the north-east part of the necropolis. This tomb belonged to Khuwy, and it boasts some features with royal connotations, including an altar with two Sn-symbols, the plan of the substructure reflecting the royal pyramids, and mummification of the body of the owner. In addition, the tomb provides us with one of the earliest attested decorated burial chambers, specifically the antechamber in the substructure. The wall paintings, which are very well preserved, comprise many motifs related to the provisioning of the deceased, as attested in later Old Kingdom examples of decorated burial chambers. Besides this, however, these paintings include some themes uncommon in substructures at that time, namely the tomb owner sitting at an offering table and sailing boats. The uncovered evidence seems to point to a late Fifth Dynasty date of the tomb (perhaps Djedkare/Unas) and indicates a high social status of the tomb owner, Khuwy, who was highly likely very close to the royal family.

20

A preliminary report on the excavations of tomb AS 91 at Abusir South (autumn season 2016)

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Peterková Hlouchová M., Bělohoubková D., Sůvová Z., Havelková P.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

53-65

EN

This article summarises the excavations of tomb AS 91, uncovered during the autumn season of 2016 at AbusirSouth. The mastaba was highly damaged and its superstructure had almost completely disappeared. Three shafts were detected in the mastaba core. Shafts 1 and 2 were rather shallow, but to the contrary, Shaft 3 was considerably deeper, and at its bottom, an unfinished burial chamber was hewn. The burial had been looted, but a few fragmentarily preserved human bones, a fairly high number of animal remains, and even two Barn Owl skeletons were collected there. The archaeological report is supported by an archaeozoological analysis of the animal remains and by an anthropological study of the fragmentary human bones.

Refine search results

Tomb of the chief physician Shepseskafankh

Kanopy v době Staré říše

Saqqara 2012 and 2015: inscriptions

The Polish archaeological survey in the north-eastern part of the Nile Delta (season 2010) – the pottery from Tell el-Murra and Tell Abu el-Halyat

Sculptures from the pyramid complex of Djedkare Isesi at South Saqqara. A preliminary report

Some notes on the female ka-servant in the Old Kingdom

Hetepuni, kněz ze dvora princezny Šeretnebtej

The Old Kingdom “kohl-pot” and its reinterpretation

Djedkare’s pyramid complex: Preliminary report of the 2016 season

Short contribution on the past desert edge landscape at (Lake) Abusir, Egypt

The Nile Delta during the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods. Preliminary remarks on the evolution of settlement landscape

Some newly uncovered blocks from the tomb of Rashepses at Saqqara

Damage and repair of the Old Kingdom canopic jars – the case at Abusir

Objev pohřební komory hodnostáře Nefera

Exploration of structures AS 66 and AS 69 in Abusir South: Preliminary report on the 2015 and 2016 seasons

Abusir 3D survey 2015

Djedkare’s pyramid complex: Preliminary report of the 2017 season

The household of an Egyptian dignitary – the case of Ptahshepses

The tomb of Khuwy at Djedkare’s royal cemetery at South Saqqara. Preliminary report on the 2019 spring season

A preliminary report on the excavations of tomb AS 91 at Abusir South (autumn season 2016)