DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4222#0013
CHAPTER I.
THE SITE OF THE ROYAL TOMBS.
3. The general periods of the different
groups of tombs can be readily distinguished
by the change in the character of the objects
found in them. In the sealings, for instance,
there is a class of animal-figure seals which are
closely like the later prehistoric work; these are
only found commonly in the B group of tombs,
few in the tomb of Zer, fewer still in that of
Zet. On the other hand, the seals of Perabsen
and Khasekhemui are more nearly like those of
the IVth Dynasty: and those of Perabsen are
intermediate between the earlier style and that
of Khasekhemui. From the objects alone,
therefore, it is clear which are the earliest and
which the latest tombs ; while the relative posi-
tions on the ground show in most cases the
order betweeen these limits. It is evident that
the earliest royal tombs are the easternmost of
the larger ones, and that the progress was to the
west, planting the tombs alternately north and
south of the middle line. Even without any
internal evidence of the order of certain kings,
we should place the groups in this general
succession.
4. When we examine the details, the rela-
tive order is more closely fixed by the presence
of re-used vases of a king in the tomb of a
later king. So that if we ignore all historical
lists we can restore the order of the tombs in
the following manner, referring to the letters
shown in pi. lviii. :—
. ^ | by style of Qrder B j by re-use
( sealings, Z 3 of vase.
%.)
Y by sealings, between Z and T.
X } by re-use of vases.
Q by position after U.
Raneb \
I by re-use
\ of vases.
P
V
Neteren
Perabsen
latest, by sealings.
Hence the order of the tombs is in a line
westward from B to Y ; then alternate on each
side of Y are T, X, and U ; Q is placed further
west of U ; and then, after a pause, comes P on
the opposite side, and then V again opposite
to P.
In this order we have not fixed the place of
the separate kings of the B group, nor that of
Hotepahaui, except that he is shortly before
Perabsen. But so far we have been inde-
pendent of the historical lists.
5. In the first volume of Royal Tombs we
have already shown how this order of the tombs
agrees with those which can be identified in the
lists. Two more such identifications can now
be added ; for on seal 109 we read Zer—-Ta,
and similarly on seal 2 (vol. i.) we read Zet—
Ath, thus corresponding to the Teta and Ateth
of Sety's list. Of the tombs placed in order
above Ave can then identify
0 Zer—Ta=Teta, 2nd king,
Z Zet—Ath=Ateth, 3rd,
Y
T Den—Setui=Hesepti, 5th,
X Azab—Merpaba=Merbap, 6th,
U Mersekha—Shemsu=Semempses, 7th,
b 2"
THE SITE OF THE ROYAL TOMBS.
3. The general periods of the different
groups of tombs can be readily distinguished
by the change in the character of the objects
found in them. In the sealings, for instance,
there is a class of animal-figure seals which are
closely like the later prehistoric work; these are
only found commonly in the B group of tombs,
few in the tomb of Zer, fewer still in that of
Zet. On the other hand, the seals of Perabsen
and Khasekhemui are more nearly like those of
the IVth Dynasty: and those of Perabsen are
intermediate between the earlier style and that
of Khasekhemui. From the objects alone,
therefore, it is clear which are the earliest and
which the latest tombs ; while the relative posi-
tions on the ground show in most cases the
order betweeen these limits. It is evident that
the earliest royal tombs are the easternmost of
the larger ones, and that the progress was to the
west, planting the tombs alternately north and
south of the middle line. Even without any
internal evidence of the order of certain kings,
we should place the groups in this general
succession.
4. When we examine the details, the rela-
tive order is more closely fixed by the presence
of re-used vases of a king in the tomb of a
later king. So that if we ignore all historical
lists we can restore the order of the tombs in
the following manner, referring to the letters
shown in pi. lviii. :—
. ^ | by style of Qrder B j by re-use
( sealings, Z 3 of vase.
%.)
Y by sealings, between Z and T.
X } by re-use of vases.
Q by position after U.
Raneb \
I by re-use
\ of vases.
P
V
Neteren
Perabsen
latest, by sealings.
Hence the order of the tombs is in a line
westward from B to Y ; then alternate on each
side of Y are T, X, and U ; Q is placed further
west of U ; and then, after a pause, comes P on
the opposite side, and then V again opposite
to P.
In this order we have not fixed the place of
the separate kings of the B group, nor that of
Hotepahaui, except that he is shortly before
Perabsen. But so far we have been inde-
pendent of the historical lists.
5. In the first volume of Royal Tombs we
have already shown how this order of the tombs
agrees with those which can be identified in the
lists. Two more such identifications can now
be added ; for on seal 109 we read Zer—-Ta,
and similarly on seal 2 (vol. i.) we read Zet—
Ath, thus corresponding to the Teta and Ateth
of Sety's list. Of the tombs placed in order
above Ave can then identify
0 Zer—Ta=Teta, 2nd king,
Z Zet—Ath=Ateth, 3rd,
Y
T Den—Setui=Hesepti, 5th,
X Azab—Merpaba=Merbap, 6th,
U Mersekha—Shemsu=Semempses, 7th,
b 2"