DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4195#0031
22
THE MASTABA OF PTAHHETEP AND AKHETHETEP.
are perhaps in close family as well as local
connection, have much similarity of construc-
tion. All are furnished with that pillared hall
which only the wealthiest could afford.1 A
comparison of the plan of our mastaba with
that of D 62 appears to establish the primary
importance of the south chapel. When, how-
ever, it is remembered that the entrance to
our mastaba is on the north, the Situation is
reversed. The pillared hall is not entered from
the outside, as is usual, but is approached by
a corridor, so as to give it what it lacked, an
eastern entrance. The chapel of Akhethetep
thus corresponds in Situation with the inscribed
Chamber of D 62. In any case the principal
Chamber is likely to be in a direct line from
the entrance (so D 63). By the blocking of
the corridor, and the formation of an eastern
doorway to the hall, the western chapel
becoraes the natural terminus. Had the
passage to the S. chapel been direct, as in the
tomb of Thy, the case would have been different.
This evidence is very strongly supported by
the decoration of the corridor in honour of
Akhethetep. It is somewhat curious that
Ptahhetep, who seems less high in position
than his father, should have the decorated false
door which Borchhardt considers to be a mark
of rank. But it is not clear what evidence
can be drawn from the differences which mark
the two burials.
40. As the name Akhethetep is rare, it
is very probable that the official of that name
under Unas, who is buried in another part of
the necropolis, is the son of Ptahhetep II. He
has eleven titles which his predecessor bore,
thus strengthening the cumulative evidence for
the order given above. Interesting also is the
double burial recorded by Mariette under C 6
1 Pillared halls occur in the tombs of Thy, who is probably
a connection; Kay (D 19); Ptahhetep (C 7) ; and Mera
(Darbssy, Le Mastuba de Mera).
and 7 (also in a mastaba Avith pillared hall).
Here a Ptahhetep is interred with his father (?)
Ptahhetep-desher. He also has a son Ptah-
hetep, but as the date of the family is not
known a connection can only be hazarded. It
is worth mentioning that the deformed cow-
herd who is pictured in the chapel of Ptah-
hetep (Bam., PL xxxi.) appears also in this
tomb and in that of Tepemankh.2 Neither can
we identify the famous moralist Ptahhetep
with any of that name whose tomb has been
discovered, since the connection with the royal
house to which he lays claim is nowhere
mentioned. More cannot be said than that
Ptahhetep I. approximately coincides in date,
and that his tomb, by Mariette's account, would
do honour to the highest in the land. At
any rate, the author of the proverbs probably
belonged to the family, so that we may claim
in Akhethetep and Ptahhetep two members of
one of the most exalted houses of the period,
which out of its wealth, piety, and wisdom has
made very important additions to our know-
ledge of the attainments of the Old Kingdom in
art and the philosophy of life.
Proportions of the Human Figure.
41. We see in several parts of the tomb
the parallel red lines which the artist drew at
proportionate distances in order that he might
more easily and accurately sketch in a succes-
sion of figures in the same attitude (cf. Pls.
iv. and viii.). They are best preserved in the
chapel of Akhethetep (v. PI. xvii.). The pro-
portions in this instance do not differ by
much more than one per cent. from those
observed in the grave of Manefer at Gizeh,3
3 L. I)., ii. 103. Mau., Mast., p. 197.
3 L. D., Text, i., p. 233, where the measurements quoted
are given.
THE MASTABA OF PTAHHETEP AND AKHETHETEP.
are perhaps in close family as well as local
connection, have much similarity of construc-
tion. All are furnished with that pillared hall
which only the wealthiest could afford.1 A
comparison of the plan of our mastaba with
that of D 62 appears to establish the primary
importance of the south chapel. When, how-
ever, it is remembered that the entrance to
our mastaba is on the north, the Situation is
reversed. The pillared hall is not entered from
the outside, as is usual, but is approached by
a corridor, so as to give it what it lacked, an
eastern entrance. The chapel of Akhethetep
thus corresponds in Situation with the inscribed
Chamber of D 62. In any case the principal
Chamber is likely to be in a direct line from
the entrance (so D 63). By the blocking of
the corridor, and the formation of an eastern
doorway to the hall, the western chapel
becoraes the natural terminus. Had the
passage to the S. chapel been direct, as in the
tomb of Thy, the case would have been different.
This evidence is very strongly supported by
the decoration of the corridor in honour of
Akhethetep. It is somewhat curious that
Ptahhetep, who seems less high in position
than his father, should have the decorated false
door which Borchhardt considers to be a mark
of rank. But it is not clear what evidence
can be drawn from the differences which mark
the two burials.
40. As the name Akhethetep is rare, it
is very probable that the official of that name
under Unas, who is buried in another part of
the necropolis, is the son of Ptahhetep II. He
has eleven titles which his predecessor bore,
thus strengthening the cumulative evidence for
the order given above. Interesting also is the
double burial recorded by Mariette under C 6
1 Pillared halls occur in the tombs of Thy, who is probably
a connection; Kay (D 19); Ptahhetep (C 7) ; and Mera
(Darbssy, Le Mastuba de Mera).
and 7 (also in a mastaba Avith pillared hall).
Here a Ptahhetep is interred with his father (?)
Ptahhetep-desher. He also has a son Ptah-
hetep, but as the date of the family is not
known a connection can only be hazarded. It
is worth mentioning that the deformed cow-
herd who is pictured in the chapel of Ptah-
hetep (Bam., PL xxxi.) appears also in this
tomb and in that of Tepemankh.2 Neither can
we identify the famous moralist Ptahhetep
with any of that name whose tomb has been
discovered, since the connection with the royal
house to which he lays claim is nowhere
mentioned. More cannot be said than that
Ptahhetep I. approximately coincides in date,
and that his tomb, by Mariette's account, would
do honour to the highest in the land. At
any rate, the author of the proverbs probably
belonged to the family, so that we may claim
in Akhethetep and Ptahhetep two members of
one of the most exalted houses of the period,
which out of its wealth, piety, and wisdom has
made very important additions to our know-
ledge of the attainments of the Old Kingdom in
art and the philosophy of life.
Proportions of the Human Figure.
41. We see in several parts of the tomb
the parallel red lines which the artist drew at
proportionate distances in order that he might
more easily and accurately sketch in a succes-
sion of figures in the same attitude (cf. Pls.
iv. and viii.). They are best preserved in the
chapel of Akhethetep (v. PI. xvii.). The pro-
portions in this instance do not differ by
much more than one per cent. from those
observed in the grave of Manefer at Gizeh,3
3 L. I)., ii. 103. Mau., Mast., p. 197.
3 L. D., Text, i., p. 233, where the measurements quoted
are given.