An Egyptian archaeological mission led by Dr. Mostafa Wazir, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities has discovered an Old Kingdom tomb of a lady called “Hetpet” who was a top official in the royal palace during the end of the fifth Dynasty.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
The tomb was found during excavation work carried out in Giza western cemetery, which houses tombs of the Old Kingdom’s top officials discovered by previous archaeological missions since 1842.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
The newly discovered tomb of “Hetpet” has the architectural style and the decorative elements of the fifth Dynasty with an entrance leading to an “L” shape shrine with a purification basin.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
On its western rare end there is a rectangular arcade lined with incense and offering holders. There is also a naos with a yet missing statue of the tomb’s owner.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
The tomb has very distinguished wall paintings in a very good conservation condition depicting “Hetpet” standing in different hunting and fishing scenes or sitting before a large offering table receiving offerings from her children.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
Scenes of reaping fruits, melting metals and the fabrication of leather and papyri boats as well as musical and dancing performances are also shown on walls.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
Among the most distinguished paintings in the tomb are those depicting two monkeys in two different positions. Monkeys were domestic animals at the time.
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| Credit: Ministry of Antiquities |
The first scene shows a monkey reaping fruits while the second displays a monkey dancing in front of an orchestra.
Similar scenes are found in other tombs. The first one is painted on the wall of a 12th Dynasty tomb of “Khnoum Hetep II” in Beni Hassan in Menia Governorate and the second is found in an Old Kingdom tomb of “Ka-Iber” in Saqqara but it displays a dancing monkey in front of a guitarist not an orchestra.
Source: Ministry of Antiquities [February 04, 2018]
