 Meir, graves of the A group, Egypt | ||
| Meir Necropolis · مقابر مير | ||
| Governorate | Asyūṭ | |
|---|---|---|
| height | 63 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The necropolis, the ancient Egyptian cemetery, from Meir (Arabic:مقابر مير, „Mair Cemetery“, In dialect Maqābir Mēr spoken) is an archaeological site in Middle Egypt in the governorate Asyūṭ on the west bank of the Nils. Here are the graves of the princes, mayors and priests of Qusae from the Old and Middle Kingdom. The cemetery is after the village about 5 kilometers northeast Meir named. Due to the high quality of the wall representations in the tombs, this site is of general interest.
background
Meir is the one graveyard of the princes, mayors and priests of Qusae (ancient Egyptian Qjs, today el-Qūṣīya, 14th Upper Egyptian Gau) and their family members and servants, primarily of the 6th and 12th dynasties. Rock graves were created for the former, shaft graves were dug for the servants. The reliefs in the graves of the 12th dynasty are among the most important representatives of flat art (especially graves B1 and B2).
Five groups of graves are found over a length of about 1.5 kilometers (from north to south): Group A (graves of the 6th - 11th dynasty), B (graves of the 12th dynasty), C (graves of the late 12th century). Dynasty), D (graves of the 6th dynasty) and E (graves mainly of the 6th dynasty). Tombs of the New Kingdom are believed to be on the east bank of the Nile. The oldest grave is that of Ni-anch-Pepi-Kem (grave A1).
getting there
By train
You can also take the train from Luxor or Cairo out Mallawī or el-Minyā to reach. The journey time of the express trains from Cairo to Mallawī is a good four hours.
In the street
The journey can be from Mallawī or from el-Minyā can be done out with a taxi. In el-Qusiya (Arabic:القوصية, al-Qūṣīya), about 50 kilometers south of Mallawī, turn off the main road to go west. On the road leading south to Deir el-Muḥarraq a small asphalt road leads west into the desert to the necropolis.
Those arriving by taxi should inform the driver that they want to go to the ancient Egyptian cemetery and not to the village of the same name.
By bus
Getting here by public transport is difficult. Of Mallawī buses run to el-Qusiya. From here you can take a shared taxi to Meir.
mobility
The climb to the tombs is a little difficult as it has to be done in sandy soil.
Tourist Attractions
Two graves of the A group (6th dynasty) and four graves of the B group (12th dynasty) are accessible to the visitor. These graves are among the most important of these necropolis. It is recommended, if necessary, to take a flashlight with you for the graves of group A, even if these graves now have electric lighting. Opening times: 9 am-5pm. Admission price: LE 40, for foreign students LE 20 (as of 11/2019).
The graves are about one kilometer from the edge of the fruiting land and 400 meters from the ticket booth. Groups of graves A and B are about 300 meters away.
Tombs of the Old Kingdom, A group
The two graves in the center of the A group form the double grave complex of Ni-anch-Pepi-Kem and his son Pepi-anch. You enter the graves through grave 1 (A2). This group of tombs is stylistically very different from those of the 12th Dynasty. The reliefs are painted, the colored actors are shown on a blue background.
Tomb of Pepi-anch, A2
Grave 1: grave of Pepi-anch, Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, head of the prophets, son of Ni-anch-Pepi-Kem, time of Pepis II., Grave A2. This complex grave complex consists of eight rooms. In the first room behind the entrance there are depictions of the grave lord with entourage, of gift bearers and numerous handicraft and agricultural scenes. The adjoining room in the north is undecorated. To the east is the Serdab, the chamber for the Ka statue of the deceased. In the lower part there are about 250 representations of the tomb lord with his titles. In the upper part you can see ink drawings of the ship crossing to the west bank of the Nile to the cleaning tent (west journey), of herds of cattle and furniture and food for the grave lord. From the first room one reaches another large, decorated hall in the west, on the north side of which there are two undecorated rooms, one with the grave shaft, and on the west side of which there is the passage to his father's grave (grave A1). On the walls of this hall there are depictions of boat trips, from agriculture, fishing and bird trapping and handicrafts, the grave lord catching fish and birds, the grave lord receiving gifts and the grave lord in a sedan chair. In the north-east corner of this hall there was another room with depictions of men at slaughter, the list of victims and the grave lord at the dining table or when receiving gifts.
Tomb of Ni-anch-Pepi-Kem, A1
Grave 2: grave of Ni-anch-Pepi-Kem, ruler of Upper Egypt, chancellor of the king of Lower Egypt, ruler of the prophets, time of Pepis I, grave A1. This tomb is usually reached through that of his son, so don't forget to take a look at the decorated entrance at the beginning or end of your visit. The tomb consists of a large vestibule, in the rear part of which there are three pillars decorated with the image of the tomb lord. On the west side of the hall there are facade steles and sacrificial boards, the rear part of the hall is decorated with depictions of the grave lord and offerers, fish and bird catching scenes. The three adjoining rooms at the back are almost undecorated, while two unfinished statue niches can be seen in the western room.
Tombs of the Middle Kingdom, Group B
If you start with the southernmost grave (grave 6), you experience an increase in importance with each grave. One of the most unusual representations in graves 3 and 4 (graves B1 and B2) is that of the emaciated so-called yes- Shepherds with well-fed cattle. The interpretation is controversial; some scholars recognize this as the burial master's care for Bedouins.
Senbi's grave, B1
Grave 3: Senbi, Gaufürst, head of the prophets, Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, time of Amenemhet I, grave B1. This grave consists of a large hall with a statue niche on the back wall, the two pillars were added during the reconstruction of the grave. On the southern entrance wall, the grave master is depicted hunting the desert. On the south wall you can see the grave lord in front of shepherds, butchers, sacrificial bearers, priests, fighting bulls, men jumping over bulls and a calving cow. The back wall shows hardly any decorations. The north wall shows the grave lord at a party with dancers and musicians, in front of gift bearers, wrestlers, fishing in the marshes and bringing birds and other depictions of agriculture. Remains of craft scenes can be seen on the northern entrance wall.
Ukh-hotep's tomb, B2
Tomb 4: Ukh-hotep, Gaufürst, Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, head of the prophets of Hathor, time of Sesostris ’I, tomb B2. This tomb consists of a large hall with two pillars and a statue niche on the back wall. On the southern entrance wall you can see two men with donkeys, on the (left) southern wall the grave lord hunting the desert, lists of sacrifices, gift bearers and shepherds. On the back wall you can see the grave lord and his wife at festival, bullfighting and gift-bringing scenes, in the niche the grave lord, his wife and gift-bringing are depicted. On the (right) north wall, the grave lord and his wife are shown in front of victims, shepherds, musicians, before the papyrus harvest, bird trapping and boat building. On the northern entrance wall, the grave master and his wife are shown in front of servants.
Senbi's tomb, B3
Grave 5: Senbi, son of Ukh-hotep, hereditary prince, head of the prophets, time of Sesostris ’I. to Amenemhet II., Grave B3. This tomb consists of a larger vestibule with four pillars and an adjoining sarcophagus hall. Only a few places are decorated: On the south wall you can find the stele of his sister Mersi and on the back wall the lettered door to the next hall.
Ukh-hotep's tomb, B4
Grave 6: Ukh-hotep, Gaufürst, head of the prophets of Hathor, time of Amenemhet II, grave B4. This grave consists of a large pillarless hall, the statue niche of which on the rear wall is given a kind of shrine by two walls extending into the room. Another hall can be reached in the northwest of the hall. All the walls of the tomb are decorated: the southern entrance wall contains remains of handicrafts. On the south wall you can see the grave lord with his family catching fish and birds and men catching fish with the net. The southern rear wall bears a list of 59 guest princes, who are probably the (fictional) ancestors of the tomb lord. The shrine in front of the niche shows scenes of slaughter and offering gifts; the niche itself has inscriptions and a false door painted on it. The north wall shows the grave lord in front of musicians and scenes of the herding, bringing and counting of cattle. The remains of a hunting scene can be seen on the northern entrance wall. The rear hall mainly shows the grave lord and his wife, priests, victims, men at slaughter, cooks and men with trays of food. The rear wall contains the false door stele.
accommodation
Accommodation options exist in el-Minyā or Asyūṭ.
trips
You can visit the Meir Necropolis with the des El-Muḥarraq monastery connect.
literature
Generally
- : Meir. In:Bard, Kathryn A. (Ed.): Encyclopedia of the Archeology of Ancient Egypt. London, New York: Routledge, 1999, ISBN 978-0-415-18589-9 , P. 487 f.
Egypt Exploration Society excavations
- : The rock tombs of Meir; Vol. 1: The tomb-chapel of Ukh-Hotp’s son Senbi. London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1914, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt; 22nd.
- : The rock tombs of Meir; Vol. 2: The tomb-chapel of Senbi’s son Ukh-Hotp (B, No. 2): with two appendisees on hieroglyphs and other details in B, Nos. 1, 2, 4. London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1915, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt; 23.
- : The rock tombs of Meir; Vol. 3: The tomb-chapel of Ukh-Hotp son of Ukh-Hotp and Mersi (B, No. 4). London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1915, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt; 24).
- : The rock tombs of Meir; Vol. 4: The tomb-chapel of Pepi'onkh the middle son of Sebkhotpe and Pekhernefert (D, No. 2). London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1924, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt; 25th.
- : The rock tombs of Meir; Vol. 5: The tomb-chapels A, no 1 (that of Ni-'ankh-Pepi the Black), A, no 2 (that of Pepi'onkh with the "Good Name" of Ḥeny the Black), A, no 4 (that of Ḥepi the Black), D, no 1 (that of Pepi), and E, nos 1-4 (those of Meniu, Nenki, Pepi'onkh and Tjetu). London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1953, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt; 28.
- : The rock tombs of Meir; Vol. 6: The tomb-chapels of Ukhḥotpe son of Iam (A, no 3), Senbi son of Ukhḥotpe son of Senbi (B, no 3), and Ukhḥotpe son of Ukhḥotpe and Ḥeny-ḥery-ib (C, no 1 ). London: Egypt Exploration Society, 1953, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt; 29.
Macquarie University digs
- : The cemetery of Meir; 1: The tomb of Pepyankh the Middle. Oxford: Aris and Phillips, 2012, Reports / The Australian Center for Egyptology, Sydney; 31, ISBN 978-0-85668-845-4 .
- : The cemetery of Meir; 2: The tomb of Pepyankh the Black. Oxford: Aris and Phillips, 2014, Reports / The Australian Center for Egyptology, Sydney; 34, ISBN 978-0-85668-841-6 .
- : The cemetery of Meir; 3: The tomb of Niankhpepy the Black. Oxford: Aris and Phillips, 2015, Reports / The Australian Center for Egyptology, Sydney; 38, ISBN 978-0-85668-856-0 .
- : The cemetery of Meir; 4: The tombs of Senbi I and Wekhhotep I. Oxford: Aris and Phillips, 2017, Reports / The Australian Center for Egyptology, Sydney; 41, ISBN 978-0-85668-847-8 .
