DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4657#0016
1
THE TOMB OF HEN-NEKHT.
II
beads of glaze. In the large room (/) also, were a
couple of unworn examples of the crescent flints of
which numerous specimens from the neighbourhood
are pictured on Pl. XV. These two from within the
tomb appear separately in the left hand photograph
at the bottom of the same plate.
33. Of the sealings represented on Pls. VIII.-X.
(which though done with care are not exact facsimiles),
those numbered 1-6 and No. 11 were all impressed
upon the conical caps of mud which covered vessels
of such forms as 21, 29 (Pl. XXXI.). The smaller
impressions on hard black clay, similar to some on
Pl. X., were in the main the sealings of vessels of
alabaster.
The one sealing of Per-ab-sen, No. 8 on Pl. X.,
which occurred in one instance only, was found in the
small remote ante-chambers on the eastern side. The
sealings of Hapi-n-maat were eight in all, and occurred
both in the stairway and in the passage e f. Of the
nine different sealings bearing the royal name Neter-
Khet, there were numerous instances of each kind in
the different parts of the tomb. The first one, for
example, giving suten bity title, occurred on twenty
to thirty pieces, while fragments bearing the Ka-name
numbered more than a hundred.
34. The quantity of alabaster recovered from the
chambers was so great that it has been found im-
possible up to the time of publication to work through
and sort it. Doubtless at some future time it will be
found desirable to publish a few addenda to the types
pictured on PL. XII.-XIV. In making this selection,
however, an attempt was made to leave no con-
spicuous type unrepresented, and to reproduce ex-
amples of those which in form or in quality differed
from one another, whether among those vessels which
were found entire or those which were found in frag-
ments and are here in part restored.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TOMB OF HEN-NEKHT. K 2.
[With Pls. XVIL, XXIII.]
35. On a mound just to the north of the tomb
last described, from which it is separated by some
300 metres, was found the ruined superstructure
of a tomb built upon a similar principle ; it proved
to be the burial place of a king whose name is
new to history, tentatively read during the excava-
tion Hen-Nekht, and now by Professor Sethe Sa-
Nekht. In detail of its construction it showed some
marked differences from the larger tomb to which it
is near. It consisted essentially of two parts alike,
with common superstructure, each with its own stair-
way and set of chambers underground. The one
group to the north was supplementary and empty ;
its portcullis had never been lowered, nor its purpose
fulfilled. But the stairway of the central and deeper
portion was barred with two great slabs, and in the
chambers was found the funeral furniture of a man
whose bones and coffin'remained in one of the larger
rooms.
36. The superstructure of this tomb was not, ap-
parently, a mastaba of ordinary character. Though
so ruinous that it was difficult to discern more than
its outline amid the mass of brick-work, yet it had
seemingly been built up originally in steps, after the
manner shown in the photographs of its eastern side,
on Pl. XVIL Its analogy with the form of the step
pyramid at Saqqara is striking. The whole rested
upon a low platform of brick laid upon the desert.
On the east there was some sign of an ancient path-
way leading towards but not up to the building.
/ At the southern end two narrow walls, projecting
perpendicular to the face, enclosed between them (as
may be seen in the plan on PL. XVIII.) a recess the
use of which was not apparent. A smaller enclosure,
built of a single thickness of bricks in the angle formed
where the easterly wall joined the main building,
was found to contain deposits of various forms of
pottery. The divisions marked E F on the plan
represent the position occupied by the rising portion
of the steps, as illustrated by the section C D.
37. The main passage begins to descend at the
point a, which is somewhat confused; then turns
southward at b, descending from that point below
the desert level. At c it is blocked by a great mass
of stone, neatly fitted into position, as shown in the
photograph on Pl. XVIL It was found by excava-
tion from within that this stone covered the mouth o
an arched passage, which led down from this point to
the well beyond, where another slab d further barred
the way. This stone was of great size, being 17 feet
high and 8 to 9 feet wide, with a thickness in places
of 2 feet. By scraping a hole under its middle,
leaving the outer edges resting upon the sand, it was
possible to creep through, and so enter the chambers
beyond. These are outlined by a white line in the
plan, and their vertical depth is shown on the section
A B below.
38. After entering, the passage widens out, and is
c 2
THE TOMB OF HEN-NEKHT.
II
beads of glaze. In the large room (/) also, were a
couple of unworn examples of the crescent flints of
which numerous specimens from the neighbourhood
are pictured on Pl. XV. These two from within the
tomb appear separately in the left hand photograph
at the bottom of the same plate.
33. Of the sealings represented on Pls. VIII.-X.
(which though done with care are not exact facsimiles),
those numbered 1-6 and No. 11 were all impressed
upon the conical caps of mud which covered vessels
of such forms as 21, 29 (Pl. XXXI.). The smaller
impressions on hard black clay, similar to some on
Pl. X., were in the main the sealings of vessels of
alabaster.
The one sealing of Per-ab-sen, No. 8 on Pl. X.,
which occurred in one instance only, was found in the
small remote ante-chambers on the eastern side. The
sealings of Hapi-n-maat were eight in all, and occurred
both in the stairway and in the passage e f. Of the
nine different sealings bearing the royal name Neter-
Khet, there were numerous instances of each kind in
the different parts of the tomb. The first one, for
example, giving suten bity title, occurred on twenty
to thirty pieces, while fragments bearing the Ka-name
numbered more than a hundred.
34. The quantity of alabaster recovered from the
chambers was so great that it has been found im-
possible up to the time of publication to work through
and sort it. Doubtless at some future time it will be
found desirable to publish a few addenda to the types
pictured on PL. XII.-XIV. In making this selection,
however, an attempt was made to leave no con-
spicuous type unrepresented, and to reproduce ex-
amples of those which in form or in quality differed
from one another, whether among those vessels which
were found entire or those which were found in frag-
ments and are here in part restored.
CHAPTER IV.
THE TOMB OF HEN-NEKHT. K 2.
[With Pls. XVIL, XXIII.]
35. On a mound just to the north of the tomb
last described, from which it is separated by some
300 metres, was found the ruined superstructure
of a tomb built upon a similar principle ; it proved
to be the burial place of a king whose name is
new to history, tentatively read during the excava-
tion Hen-Nekht, and now by Professor Sethe Sa-
Nekht. In detail of its construction it showed some
marked differences from the larger tomb to which it
is near. It consisted essentially of two parts alike,
with common superstructure, each with its own stair-
way and set of chambers underground. The one
group to the north was supplementary and empty ;
its portcullis had never been lowered, nor its purpose
fulfilled. But the stairway of the central and deeper
portion was barred with two great slabs, and in the
chambers was found the funeral furniture of a man
whose bones and coffin'remained in one of the larger
rooms.
36. The superstructure of this tomb was not, ap-
parently, a mastaba of ordinary character. Though
so ruinous that it was difficult to discern more than
its outline amid the mass of brick-work, yet it had
seemingly been built up originally in steps, after the
manner shown in the photographs of its eastern side,
on Pl. XVIL Its analogy with the form of the step
pyramid at Saqqara is striking. The whole rested
upon a low platform of brick laid upon the desert.
On the east there was some sign of an ancient path-
way leading towards but not up to the building.
/ At the southern end two narrow walls, projecting
perpendicular to the face, enclosed between them (as
may be seen in the plan on PL. XVIII.) a recess the
use of which was not apparent. A smaller enclosure,
built of a single thickness of bricks in the angle formed
where the easterly wall joined the main building,
was found to contain deposits of various forms of
pottery. The divisions marked E F on the plan
represent the position occupied by the rising portion
of the steps, as illustrated by the section C D.
37. The main passage begins to descend at the
point a, which is somewhat confused; then turns
southward at b, descending from that point below
the desert level. At c it is blocked by a great mass
of stone, neatly fitted into position, as shown in the
photograph on Pl. XVIL It was found by excava-
tion from within that this stone covered the mouth o
an arched passage, which led down from this point to
the well beyond, where another slab d further barred
the way. This stone was of great size, being 17 feet
high and 8 to 9 feet wide, with a thickness in places
of 2 feet. By scraping a hole under its middle,
leaving the outer edges resting upon the sand, it was
possible to creep through, and so enter the chambers
beyond. These are outlined by a white line in the
plan, and their vertical depth is shown on the section
A B below.
38. After entering, the passage widens out, and is
c 2