DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4195#0017
THE MASTABA OF PTAHHETEP AND AKHETHETEP.
CHAPTEE II.
THE SCENES AND INSCRIPTIONS.
15. Althougli the internal construction of
the mastabas of Saqqäreh may seem endlessly
varied, examination soon reveals an underlying
principle, in comparison with which the diver-
gences are accidental and subsidiary. A
building such as the tomb of Mera, which is
merely a rectangular shell holding a com-
plicated series of rooms, and even a second
story, is not so far distant in evolution from
the early type of mastaba as at first it seems
to be. The latter, as is well known, consisted
of a solid mass of masonry, having one or two
recesses in its eastern facade, in which the stela
or " false door" was set up, and offerings laid
for the use of the dead. For the protection of
the stela the recess was deepened, and when
the space was found inconveniently narrow
for the ceremonies it was roofed over, thus be-
coming a small inner room. Since all rites and
offerings took place before the stela, the room
containing it may be called the Chapel of the
mastaba. Next to the burial vault it is the
most essential Chamber, and in it the inscribed
door and its altar are the only essential features.
In the earlier and simpler mastabas the chapel
is of small dimensions, and is situated just
within the mass on the E. side. The false door
was always set in the W. wall, that it might
afford communication to the dead who live in
the happy West.
16. As piety took more lavish forms a more
roomy interior was needed for its display. The
chapel was set more deeply back, so that a long
corridor was frequently needed as an approach.
In some cases a hall of such size that its roof
required the support of several pillars was
added as a convenience to those who gathered
for the cult of the dead ; where present, it was
usually the first room to be entered. Sub-
sidiary Chambers for storage were also found a
necessity. But the chapel containing the stela
is still the real justification for all eise. The
suite of rooms tenninates here, and its walls
receive the most important scenes and inscrip-
tions. If the proposed subjects exceeded the
limits of the chapel, the walls of the corridor
might also be occupied; but the secondary
importance of this position is shown, not only
by the scenes portrayed, but also by the
unfinished state in which they are often found.
17. It will easily be seen from this pre-
sentation of the typical mastaba that the plan
of the tomb of Ptahhetep and Akhethetep has
not deviated essentially from the simpler form.
The somewhat intricate arrangement of the
Chambers and the stränge shape of the western
chapel may be largely due to accidental causes,
to the double burial, and to the less usual and
probably compulsory choice of the north side
for entrance. In the case of each burial the
chapel is still the all-important room above
ground, as the abandoned sculptures in the
1 Any scientific value whicli this chapter may prove to
have is largely due to siiggestions or Information gained in
frequent discussions with Mr. Griffith, wlio lias also kindly
read over my mannscript and added several interesting
references. To make particnlar acknowledgments would be
tedious, and leave many omissions. I can only say that
the reader will not easily overestimate my indebtedness.