Gisr el-Mudir  (Arabic:جسر المدير, "bridge of the chief") also known as the  Great Enclosure , is one of the oldest known stone structures in Egypt, located at Saqqara only a few hundred metres west of the Step Pyramid and the Buried Pyramid. The function of the space is not yet clear. Description The structure consists of a rectangular wall oriented north-south and measuring about 650 by 350 metres. The walls consist of two outer walls made of roughly hewn limestone about 15 metres apart; the space between them is filled with crushed stone, gravel and sand. In the northwestern corner, the walls survive to a height of 4.5 to 5 metres (over 15 courses of stone). The style of construction suggests an original height of around 10 metres. In the south the state of preservation is clearly worse than in the north. Since the west wall of the structure is 30 metres shorter than the east, the south wall probably consisted...

   register 1 - four individuals pulling a rope-drawn sledge laden with four very large jars. The scene is described in the text above them. It reads:  "A boon which the king gives, a boon which Anubis gives, thousand of all (sorts of) ointments for T, N". - register 2 - two large chests are transported on poles by by four men. Again, the scene is described in the text above them, of which very little now exists. In front of them, the wall is occupied by processions of servants transporting various goods towards Mereruka ( see ww-2 ) : In the bottom register : - three men, each carry two bands of material. - seven men follow holding the vases of various shapes, all containing oils. - The remains (due to the ancient damage) of four chests, each being carried on poles by two men. The scene is described in the text above them, the latter part of which is missing. It reads:  "Bringing the first class royal linen and clothing, the first class ointments, which ar...

   stela or false door, in  limestone .  The upper portion is almost entirely destroyed. On the usual display area, in the middle, can be seen the deceased seated in front of a table of offerings , on top of which is the usual display of many upright half-loaves. Below the table are two vessels on top of a box. On the lower lintel, beneath the small scene, are several of his titles and his name   "Meri" , written on two lines of text. Below this, and extending across the width of the inner door section, is a cylindrical drum contains just his title of   "Sole companion"   and again just   "Meri". Three long texts (the inner two are of two columns each, the outer is of three columns), located at either side of the central narrow door, list many of his titles, each side enumerated in the same way . many of the titles are repeated; each set ending with both of his names. At the bottom of each set of text lines is the standing figure of Mereruka, faci...

  parade of servants with various items : livestock, birds, food and drink. They are grouped in threes in each register,   images of the deceased and one of his wife. In this scene Mereruka wears sandals, whilst elsewhere in this chamber he is bare-footed. It should also be noted that here, as in the two occurrences on the south wall, Seshseshet stands in front of him (in diminutive scale) grasping his front stepping leg. On the north wall she stands behind him at a similar size to her husband. a census of domesticated animals is carried out, which include oxen, goats and gazelles. In the lower register, the census is written down by four scribes, with an attending scribe standing behind them. In front of them another scribe, probably more senior, presents the lists to Mereruka. The deceased and his wife stand to the right of the scene. Only the last part of the column of text remains in front of them, which states: "… from his settlements of Lower and Upper Egypt". On th...

  On the left side  is represented a large bed with lion's feet. The upper part of the scene is missing. Next to the small boards forming the edge are shown two men spreading the linen . Next to the bed (but displayed below it), five attendants (originally seven) wait with their arms across their chest. These all hold the title of  "the overseer of linen" . Mereruka moves toward the bed, holding his wife by the hand; they are followed by twelve men, four in each sub-register. The twelve men hold the arms across their chest. Their names, which were drawn in ink, have become erased. Originally there were probably more than just there three surviving sub-registers. The group of men behind the couple stand with their backs to similar groups of five females who attend Mereruka's wife in the next scene . The central scene  shows Seshseshet playing the harp for her husband; both are squatting on a couch and Mereruka holds in his hand a small stick and a fly swatter . Repres...

  The deceased is shown seated on a chair, , holding his staff of office. At his feet squats the diminutive figure of his wife. The front upper part of the portrayal is badly damaged. Behind him, in what was originally five sub-registers (the upper one almost totally lost) are attendants with the title  "servant of the Ka" , four to each register. This title is held by priests given the task of attending the funerary cult. In front of him is first a column of text  "Observing the jubilation of the one honoured by the king, Mereruka, his good name is Meri" , then five sub-registers of servants carrying food offerings (six in each register). Towards the left, the upper row is damaged, along with the leftmost servant of the next row down. In the top two registers, the servants bring a variety of fowl and joints of meat; whilst in the bottom three registers, the offerings are carried in panniers suspended from poles across the shoulders. Again, these porters carry the t...

    Mereruka accompanied by his wife (at similar height) followed by several registers of scribes and servants  . Watetkhethor holds her husband's wrist, both facing north. Together they are receiving fish and birds brought to them by fishermen and fowlers of registers facing them. This central area of the wall is divided into several registers and is related to the image of Mereruka and his wife. In the lowest two registers, fish are shown in great detail being netted. Above these two registers is one showing the catch being carried towards the deceased. This register has only survived at its lower edge.  The only indication of fowling is the small surviving part a register at the far upper left of this central area and the partial text placed in front of Mereruka. The fishing scene shows the various methods which the Egyptians practised, from the use of a simple line to the large-scale use of nets and baskets ( . The scene also shows a large variety of fish in exqu...

  three rows of three servants (only the lower two are complete) bearing offering.  The scene is that of the punishment of village leaders for the non payment of taxes. These headmen have been brought before local tax officials and flogged, the whipping post being shown at the right end of the scene.  Scribes located at the left end of the scene record the evidence, . Everyone in the scene is named and their official titles given, the wrong-doers will be remembered for eternity. The next section of the wall  shows Mereruka, in an ankle length dress, accompanied by his wife (at a much small scale, behind him). They look north, towards a scene where mortuary priests (on several sub-registers) offer food before statues of Mereruka . Almost the whole of the lower two registers have survived. Just behind the statues is the entry to chamber A6. On the final decorated section of this wall, at the north end, Mereruka again stands facing the entry to chamber A6. The smaller i...