DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49512#0147
GRAVES SUBSIDIARY TO THE ROYAL TOMBS OF DYNASTY I AT ABYDOS 115
chief harem. The western grave is the largest in the cemetery and is followed by 4 other large graves.
The rest of the row consists of 2 small graves, a large N-S grave, and 6 small N-S graves. The remaining
50 graves must represent lesser harem and palace services. The cemetery presents the smallest total
floor area of the 8 upper cemeteries at Abydos (75-66 sq. m.), less even than the cemetery of Giza V
(149-36 sq. m.), and exceeds only the area of the valley cemetery of Merneith (59-53 sq. m.).
The subsidiary cemetery of Semerkhet shows a radical change in that the rectangle is placed in
contact with the main tomb. It is naturally in the cemetery of Wedymuw that a similarity is to be
sought. Group Semerkhet b (E) appears to correspond roughly with Wedymuw a (S); Semerkhet c (N)
with Wedymuw b (E); Semerkhet d (W) with Wedymuw c (N), and Semerkhet a (S) with Wedymuw d
(W). The 6 large graves in b (E), of which 3 are very large compartment graves (3-2-3-04 sq. m.), seem
to present the chief harem and have 10 small graves attached to them. Group a shows 10 large N-S
graves at right angles and may be compared with the 4 graves in group Wedymuw d.
The subsidiary graves of Qay-'a are arranged similarly close to the main tomb, but the groups are
single rows and the northern row (d) is wanting. There are only 26 graves, but the number and size
of the large graves is notable. The largest graves are W 1, 2, and 4 in d; W 1 and 6 in a; and E 5 in b.
The very large grave W 2 contained the stela of the harem-official Sabef, who was probably buried in
this or one of the adjacent tombs. The graves on the south and east are probably those of members
of the harem with the chief ladies in S 1 and 6 and in E 5. The W row (d) probably contained the
male officials and attendants.
f. Summary of Evidence in regard to Subsidiary Cemeteries
To sum up the evidence rescued by Petrie from the devastation of Amelineau, the royal cemeteries
present the following characteristics :
Narmer: cemetery of single tombs on unified plan; probably contains lesser harem, children, servants,
and harem officials, but perhaps princes and high administrative officials. No wzZz-burials.
Zer: cemetery of trench graves in separate blocks (groups) containing great and lesser harem, harem
retinue, female and male servants in service groups. Service companies.
Zet: similar to Zer, but omits groups of service companies and adds household officials (?) group e and
group d.
Wedymuw: hollow rectangle, distant from main tomb; chief harem, lesser harem, harem servants,
and officials.
Az-ib: hollow rectangle as Wedymuw but irregular; apparently similar, but contains only small graves
(64 in number).
Semerkhet: hollow rectangle in close contact with main tomb; probably covered by superstructure of
main tomb; harem and palace officials and servants (68 in number).
Qay-'a: like Semerkhet; 26 in number.
The cemeteries of the valley shrines of Zer and Zet differ essentially from the upper cemeteries. The
graves are in hollow rectangles distant from the shrine and the graves are parallel to the shrine, like
the cemeteries of the queen’s tombs:
Zer: Valley cemetery; hollow rectangle with as many large graves as the upper cemetery of Zer; graves
appear to be of certain important persons flanked by small graves of persons apparently subsidiary
chief harem. The western grave is the largest in the cemetery and is followed by 4 other large graves.
The rest of the row consists of 2 small graves, a large N-S grave, and 6 small N-S graves. The remaining
50 graves must represent lesser harem and palace services. The cemetery presents the smallest total
floor area of the 8 upper cemeteries at Abydos (75-66 sq. m.), less even than the cemetery of Giza V
(149-36 sq. m.), and exceeds only the area of the valley cemetery of Merneith (59-53 sq. m.).
The subsidiary cemetery of Semerkhet shows a radical change in that the rectangle is placed in
contact with the main tomb. It is naturally in the cemetery of Wedymuw that a similarity is to be
sought. Group Semerkhet b (E) appears to correspond roughly with Wedymuw a (S); Semerkhet c (N)
with Wedymuw b (E); Semerkhet d (W) with Wedymuw c (N), and Semerkhet a (S) with Wedymuw d
(W). The 6 large graves in b (E), of which 3 are very large compartment graves (3-2-3-04 sq. m.), seem
to present the chief harem and have 10 small graves attached to them. Group a shows 10 large N-S
graves at right angles and may be compared with the 4 graves in group Wedymuw d.
The subsidiary graves of Qay-'a are arranged similarly close to the main tomb, but the groups are
single rows and the northern row (d) is wanting. There are only 26 graves, but the number and size
of the large graves is notable. The largest graves are W 1, 2, and 4 in d; W 1 and 6 in a; and E 5 in b.
The very large grave W 2 contained the stela of the harem-official Sabef, who was probably buried in
this or one of the adjacent tombs. The graves on the south and east are probably those of members
of the harem with the chief ladies in S 1 and 6 and in E 5. The W row (d) probably contained the
male officials and attendants.
f. Summary of Evidence in regard to Subsidiary Cemeteries
To sum up the evidence rescued by Petrie from the devastation of Amelineau, the royal cemeteries
present the following characteristics :
Narmer: cemetery of single tombs on unified plan; probably contains lesser harem, children, servants,
and harem officials, but perhaps princes and high administrative officials. No wzZz-burials.
Zer: cemetery of trench graves in separate blocks (groups) containing great and lesser harem, harem
retinue, female and male servants in service groups. Service companies.
Zet: similar to Zer, but omits groups of service companies and adds household officials (?) group e and
group d.
Wedymuw: hollow rectangle, distant from main tomb; chief harem, lesser harem, harem servants,
and officials.
Az-ib: hollow rectangle as Wedymuw but irregular; apparently similar, but contains only small graves
(64 in number).
Semerkhet: hollow rectangle in close contact with main tomb; probably covered by superstructure of
main tomb; harem and palace officials and servants (68 in number).
Qay-'a: like Semerkhet; 26 in number.
The cemeteries of the valley shrines of Zer and Zet differ essentially from the upper cemeteries. The
graves are in hollow rectangles distant from the shrine and the graves are parallel to the shrine, like
the cemeteries of the queen’s tombs:
Zer: Valley cemetery; hollow rectangle with as many large graves as the upper cemetery of Zer; graves
appear to be of certain important persons flanked by small graves of persons apparently subsidiary