Skip to main content

The funeral procession in the tomb of userehat

during the celebration of the ritual of the opening of the mouth, performed by a sem-priest dressed of a leopard skin. He has survived the damage and is attended by a lector-priest. In front of them are the necessary implements for the ritual and the chest which contained them, as well as offerings and traditional aromatics. Behind the two priests are the mourners, whose representations have not been finished. Nevertheless, the group of three crouching women, who hold their left hands on their heads (a gesture signifying that they cover themselves with dust), present a certain something which draws attention to them  Several more female mourners stand behind them.

Behind them arrives the long procession. It is necessary to understand that it is on the path leading to the tomb, and that close to it, small light buildings would have been constructed to place the offerings. These are displayed above the procession depicted in the two registers.

The first six men carry on their shoulders a yoke which they support with their right hand. At either end is a white basket. In their left hand they hold a jar . Above the second and third man is represented a pond with lotus flowers.
Behind the six porters, are (four?) oxen, which assist three men to pull a sledge. Two drovers direct the animals. The first drover carries a vessel containing water, perhaps intended to ease the runners of the sledge.










Immediately on top of the sledge is a representation of a sacred barque, on which rests the coffin of Userhat, containing his mummy; this is in a catafalque whose roof has the shape of a primitive sanctuary of the Old Kingdom. A red and white striped canvas is stretched over it. (Note the amazing ability in ancient Egyptian art and representation, for the deceased to be in two places at once. Also we have no knowledge of a representation with this colourful motif in any other tomb.) The catafalque is watched over at the front and at the rear by two goddesses, each holding a papyrus stem; These are of course Isis and Nephthys, who watch over the deceased, the new Osiris, as they did for their brother, husband and lover, Osiris himself.
Six colleagues of Userhat follow the sledge, to which it is necessary to add the five mentioned previously on the adjacent section of the north wall  All are hold their right wrist with their left hand.

Directly below the sledge, in the same area as the stored offerings of the middle register, five men pull a smaller sledge on which is the chest containing the canopic jars. These contain the mummified viscera of the deceased. This is really the continuation of the upper register.
Behind the sledge with the canopic jars are two servants, who belong to the beginning (left) of the register below. On the adjacent north wall (as previously mentioned) are two registers of women who all hold their bent left arm with their right hand . Their identity is unknown and certainly not specified, but in any case, these are ladies of quality, who could be relatives of the deceased or his wife. They certainly belong somewhere in the procession, but where exactly?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tomb of Pabasa (TT279)

Pabasa, who was also called Pabes, has a large tomb at Asasif, just outside the entrance to Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri. Like Ankh-hor, who held this important title after him, he was the ‘Chief Steward of the God’s Wife Nitocris’ (Neitiqert) during the reign of Saite king Psamtek I.  Pabasa’s tomb still has a large mudbrick superstructure. A steep flight of stairs leads down to the entrance of the subterranean levels and on the lintel above the doorway is a fine relief of a barque, adored by the souls of Pe and Nekhen, by the God’s Wife, Nitocris and by the deceased.  A small vestibule leads to a larger pillared sun court. The vestibule shows scenes of Pabasa’s funeral procession, including mourners and the ‘Abydos Pilgrimage’. There is a long text of Pabasa and depictions of his son, Thahorpakhepesh, who acted as sem-priest at his father’s funeral.  On the inner lintel of the entrance to the court, a relief shows Osiris and Re-Horakhty, in the cent...
Post a Comment
Read more

Visite au quartier des potiers à Fustat

Visite au quartier des potiers à Fustat Eau, terre et feu, font la passion du potier Les poteries sont toujours là pour parler au cœur de l'homme, lui renvoyer le geste éternel de la main qui modèle, façonne, pétrit et décore. La tradition du travail de la terre se perpétue, en Egypte, grâce à des maîtres potiers ou des céramistes, qui reprennent souvent les techniques ancestrales. Le quartier des potiers au Caire, tout près de Salah Salem (quartier de Fustat), est un centre important de production d'objets en terre cuite et en argile. Découvrez au fil d'une rapide visite des lieux, ces nombreux artisans, leurs ateliers primitifs et les salles d'exposition de leurs produits, qui ne sont que les trottoirs mi-pavés, mi-détruits. Ils créent de nouveaux pots culinaires, des objets décoratifs d'une grande variété, d'inspiration classique et résolument moderne, du même coup. Plus qu'aucune activité de l'homme, la poterie est conservatrice de la mém...
Post a Comment
Read more

US authorities return eight stolen ancient Egyptian artifacts

US authorities agreed to return eight ancient Egyptian artifacts stolen and illegally smuggled out of the country. Today, upon his arrival from the United States, Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim announced that US authorities agreed to return eight ancient Egyptian artefacts stolen and illegally smuggled out of the country. The objects are to arrive next month. The pieces include the upper part of a painted anthropoid wooden sarcophagus from the Third Intermediate period depicting a face of a woman wea ring a wig decorated with coloured flowers. Two linen mummy wrappings covered with plaster and bearing paintings showing winged amulets pushing the sun disc are also among the artefacts. Hieroglyphic text showing the name and titles of the deceased are also found on the plaster cover. The third piece is a cartonage painted mummy mask from the Third Intermediate period while the fourth and fifth items are Middle Kingdom wooden boats. The other three items are lim...
Post a Comment
Read more