DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4202#0029
-20
DESHASHEH.
CHAPTER V.
TOMBS WITH DISSEVERED BODIES.
(31.) These tombs Ave group here in classes,
as in the previous chapter, in order that the
comparisons may be more readily made.
M. Portions dissevered, 116, 22, 28, 143, G4.
N. Mostly dissevered, 21, 27.
0. Completely dissevered, rccomposed for
burial, 23, 113, 115, 78, 142.
P. Completely dissevered, buried irregularly,
2G, 31, 94, 1.
Uncertain, 19.
M. Bodies with portions dissevered. 116. The
tomb of Mera was one of the very few which
contained any inscription. The coffin was
badly made of very irregular pieces of wood,
with hollows stuffed with rag, and the whole
plastered over. The inscriptions arc in blue
upon it, and are given on pi. xxviii. Mera was
a priestess of Hathor, with the unusual title
" royal noblewoman." Some offerings upon
tables are roughly drawn on the inner side of
the coffin ; at the head are figured the vases
of the seven sacred oils; at the feet are four
granaries with the names and amounts of corn
written upon them, five withdrawing places are
shown, and a fifth name is written on the fourth
granary. Just above the head was a solid block
head-rest (pi. xxxiv. 4), painted and grained,
and with a line of inscription of name and titles
written upon it. The unusual painted board
(pi. xxvii.) stood upright on edge by the coffin,
leaning against it, and with a string still in
place by which it had been hung up. This
painted board, with figures of servants preparing
the food, and of boats, seems to be a substitute
for the wooden models of the same subjects
which arc so often found in tombs of this
age. The inscription on it is important, as
giving the early form of the name of Memphis,
men, pyramid determinative, and nefer. Two
pairs of sandals were found (pi. xxxiv. 5, 6),
models made in wood. A pair in the coffin
were painted white and had a back strap ; a
larger pair outside the foot of the coffin had
no back straps.
The position of the body Avas very strange
(see pi. xxxv.). The head faced Avest, the chest
Avas doAvmvards, the left humerus out of place
across the body, but the blade-bone in place
unmoved, the radius and ulna Avere hoAvcver in
place straight doAvn as if the humerus Avas in
position. The thighs Avere crossed, front down,
and the shins turned up at right angles Avith the
feet pressed against the coffimlid. The body
Avas dried, and skin Avas stiff on the joints. The
posture is most strange, and looks as if it had
been turned over while still fresh by laying
hold of the feet ; and as the lid Avas shifted five
inches south, no fastening pins in place, it
might seem as if it had been plundered. But, on
the other hand, a complete and unbroken cloth
lay spread completely over the body, and if
plunderers had attacked it, they Avould hardly
have spread a cloth over it so carefully, Avhile
they left the feet stickkig up in the air. It is a
strange case, but seems as if the humerus had
been dissevered at the burial.
22. Body in a finely made Avoodcn coffin, in
chamber quite intact, at bottom of a deep avcII.
The Avood Avas much rotted OAvin«; to the amount
of air and the damp, and the sides had collapsed
and the lid fallen on the body. I Avas the only
" '" -" -~ --
DESHASHEH.
CHAPTER V.
TOMBS WITH DISSEVERED BODIES.
(31.) These tombs Ave group here in classes,
as in the previous chapter, in order that the
comparisons may be more readily made.
M. Portions dissevered, 116, 22, 28, 143, G4.
N. Mostly dissevered, 21, 27.
0. Completely dissevered, rccomposed for
burial, 23, 113, 115, 78, 142.
P. Completely dissevered, buried irregularly,
2G, 31, 94, 1.
Uncertain, 19.
M. Bodies with portions dissevered. 116. The
tomb of Mera was one of the very few which
contained any inscription. The coffin was
badly made of very irregular pieces of wood,
with hollows stuffed with rag, and the whole
plastered over. The inscriptions arc in blue
upon it, and are given on pi. xxviii. Mera was
a priestess of Hathor, with the unusual title
" royal noblewoman." Some offerings upon
tables are roughly drawn on the inner side of
the coffin ; at the head are figured the vases
of the seven sacred oils; at the feet are four
granaries with the names and amounts of corn
written upon them, five withdrawing places are
shown, and a fifth name is written on the fourth
granary. Just above the head was a solid block
head-rest (pi. xxxiv. 4), painted and grained,
and with a line of inscription of name and titles
written upon it. The unusual painted board
(pi. xxvii.) stood upright on edge by the coffin,
leaning against it, and with a string still in
place by which it had been hung up. This
painted board, with figures of servants preparing
the food, and of boats, seems to be a substitute
for the wooden models of the same subjects
which arc so often found in tombs of this
age. The inscription on it is important, as
giving the early form of the name of Memphis,
men, pyramid determinative, and nefer. Two
pairs of sandals were found (pi. xxxiv. 5, 6),
models made in wood. A pair in the coffin
were painted white and had a back strap ; a
larger pair outside the foot of the coffin had
no back straps.
The position of the body Avas very strange
(see pi. xxxv.). The head faced Avest, the chest
Avas doAvmvards, the left humerus out of place
across the body, but the blade-bone in place
unmoved, the radius and ulna Avere hoAvcver in
place straight doAvn as if the humerus Avas in
position. The thighs Avere crossed, front down,
and the shins turned up at right angles Avith the
feet pressed against the coffimlid. The body
Avas dried, and skin Avas stiff on the joints. The
posture is most strange, and looks as if it had
been turned over while still fresh by laying
hold of the feet ; and as the lid Avas shifted five
inches south, no fastening pins in place, it
might seem as if it had been plundered. But, on
the other hand, a complete and unbroken cloth
lay spread completely over the body, and if
plunderers had attacked it, they Avould hardly
have spread a cloth over it so carefully, Avhile
they left the feet stickkig up in the air. It is a
strange case, but seems as if the humerus had
been dissevered at the burial.
22. Body in a finely made Avoodcn coffin, in
chamber quite intact, at bottom of a deep avcII.
The Avood Avas much rotted OAvin«; to the amount
of air and the damp, and the sides had collapsed
and the lid fallen on the body. I Avas the only
" '" -" -~ --