Rare images of the life of the nobility of ancient Egypt were found in the pyramid

Photo: St. J. Seidlmayer/DAIK

In the pyramidal necropolis of Dahshur, located near Cairo, archaeologists have discovered colorful paintings depicting everyday life in ancient Egypt.

Dahshur is a large necropolis of the pharaohs, known for the oldest, largest and best-preserved pyramids in Egypt.

The tomb, which is also called a mastaba, was found by the Egyptian-German archaeological mission, writes CNN.

Made of unfired mud bricks, the rectangular mastaba measures approximately 8 meters by 12 meters. It consists of seven burial pits, as well as one pit for ceramic bowls and other objects used in funerary rituals.

According to the inscriptions on the massive limestone door, the tomb belonged to a man named Seneb-nebef, who served in the administration of the residents of the palace district, as well as to his wife Idut.

The shape of the mastaba, as well as the inscriptions, images and pottery found inside, suggest that it dates to the late 5th or early 6th Dynasty, around 2300 BC.

The expedition was led by Stefan Seidlmaier, former director of the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin.

“The corridor and the cult room were decorated with elaborate paintings on clay plaster, a rarity for the Dashur necropolis. Despite the extensive destruction, many images have survived, including the tomb owner and his wife in front of the offering table.

There are also scenes from everyday life – donkeys at the threshing floor, ships on the Nile, a market square and servants bringing gifts for the funeral cult.” – said Stefan Seidlmayer.

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the inscriptions indicate that the tomb’s owner “held several positions in the royal palace in the tenant administration” and his wife “held the titles of Hathor Priestess and Lady Sycamore.”

The German Archaeological Institute in Cairo has been excavating in Dahshur since 1976. In the initial stages, they focused on the pyramids of King Snefer from the Old Kingdom and King Amenemhet III from the Middle Kingdom.

However, recent excavations have focused on the graves of the great statesmen, priests and administrators of the same eras.

Seidlmeier and his team will continue to excavate the site in an attempt to uncover more of the area’s secrets.– said the statement of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt.

We will remind, in Italy discovered a copper age necropolis with 22 tombs.