The new kingdom tombs in Saqqara
The
desert area that extends southward from the floor of the pyramid of
Unas at Saqqara North had been neglected as an important source of
archaeological interest since Karl Lepsius recorded some monuments
standing there in 1843. By
the 20th century, they had disappeared and there was no visible
structures remaining until the British archaeologist Geoffrey Martin has
noticed some large rectangular depressions in the sand and the presence
of a few worked stone pieces scattered here and there.
.jpg "Eastern Unas floor in New Kingdom tombs") |
| Eastern Unas floor in New Kingdom tombs |
Early
explorers had collected many antiques New Kingdom Saqqara, which
eventually found their way into museums around the world, although their
exact origin is generally unknown. Thebes
had been the royal necropolis for most of the new Kingdom period, with
members of the elite Theban tombs to be buried in the West Bank near
their pharaohs. Memphis
took second place as the capital of the country, but was still the
center of administration for all of Egypt and the servants and officials
who lived around palaces and religious institutions were mostly buried in the necropolis of Saqqara.Dr.
Martin, who had worked in the necropolis of Saqqara animals during the
1960s, decided to investigate the area south of the road. In
1975, armed with an old map drawn by the surveyor Lepsius, he formed a
joint expedition of the Egyptian Exploration Society and the Museum of
Leiden to start searching for the tomb of Maya, watching the treasure of
Tutankhamun eighteenth Dynasty. What he actually found was not the tomb of Maya. The
team missed the Maya monument by a matter of meters and in case of a
more down prices - the lost tomb of Tutankhamun regent, General
Horemheb.
Following seasons were spent investigating the areas adjacent to the monument of Horemheb, which is probably the most important New Kingdom tombs in the necropolis. More tombs of the era were found in 1986 by Dr. Martin initial goal was achieved with the discovery of the tomb of Maya in the tomb-shaft of an adjacent structure. Saqqara New Kingdom tombs, unlike their counterparts in Thebes, typically consist of autonomous tomb chapels, temples in miniature effect, over a complex of burial chambers carved into the rock that are accessible through deep wells. The walls of the chapel were decorated with limestone reliefs, painted in bright colors on plaster. The tombs can be divided into three main types of construction - a unique chapel simple parts, worship hall flanked by chapels and an open and complex "temple shrine" dedicated to the highest court of the elite.
Following seasons were spent investigating the areas adjacent to the monument of Horemheb, which is probably the most important New Kingdom tombs in the necropolis. More tombs of the era were found in 1986 by Dr. Martin initial goal was achieved with the discovery of the tomb of Maya in the tomb-shaft of an adjacent structure. Saqqara New Kingdom tombs, unlike their counterparts in Thebes, typically consist of autonomous tomb chapels, temples in miniature effect, over a complex of burial chambers carved into the rock that are accessible through deep wells. The walls of the chapel were decorated with limestone reliefs, painted in bright colors on plaster. The tombs can be divided into three main types of construction - a unique chapel simple parts, worship hall flanked by chapels and an open and complex "temple shrine" dedicated to the highest court of the elite.
2.jpg "The tomb of Horemheb (First courtyard )") |
| The tomb of Horemheb (First courtyard ) |
The
necropolis of the New Kingdom has provided a rich source of information
for the citizens of Memphis and their families during this period and
was the cause of much excitement among archaeologists and students of
Egyptology. Several other teams have since conducted excavations in the region. Between
1977 and 1988, a team from the University of Cairo, headed first by
Soad Maher Sayed Tawfik then discovered rows of important tombs along
the eastern edge of the cemetery, the excavation of about 35 graves in the area of the Monastery of Apa Jeremias. Since
the 1980s, the French Archaeological Mission Bubastieion under the
direction of Alain Zivie worked to clear the tomb of Aper-el, the vizier
of Lower Egypt under Amenhotep III and Akhenaten whose rich burial was
discovered by Zivie in 1987. The
Royal Ontario Museum also worked on the documentation of all objects in
Saqqara that are scattered around the world, providing a framework for
the many artifacts that have so far been no provenance. Archaeologists shipping Leiden are also ongoing to clear the tombs of officials of Memphis.The
following is a brief description of New Kingdom tombs found since 1975
in chronological order of their discovery or authorization.Tomb of General Horemheb
Horemheb built a tomb for himself at Saqqara, he was a general and regent of the young Tutankhamun. He
was later to be buried in the royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings at
Thebes (KV57) after passing Ay as the last pharaoh of the eighteenth
dynasty, leaving his great Saqqara tomb for the burial of his first wife
and his anonymous second wife Queen Mutnodjmet.
3.jpg) |
| Relief and stele of General Horemheb |
His
grave was dug in four seasons between 1975 and 1978 by the expedition
of Geoffrey Martin, revealing a vast complex built in three stages of
construction, which looks like a cult or mortuary temple. The
tomb is approached via a pylon after massive columns and a paved yard,
but most of the original reliefs here have been destroyed.
4.jpg "Reliefs in the tomb of Horemheb") |
| Reliefs in the tomb of Horemheb |
A living statue and second courtyard lead to three chapels at the rear of the structure. Remaining
wall reliefs have provided archaeologists with a huge amount of
information about the historical situation at the end of the eighteenth
dynasty, and in particular the military career of Horemheb. The
tomb of Horemheb was beautifully restored with many reliefs replica
cast from blocks in museums, but is not yet generally open to visitors. The first pylon and the courtyard were investigated by the Mission Leiden in the 2004-2005 season.
Tomb PaserThe monument Paser is located immediately west of the tomb of Horemheb and was discovered and excavated in 1980 by the team of Geoffrey Martin. Paser, who was a supervisor manufacturers and royal scribe during the reign of Ramses II, came from a family of well-known Memphite. A large stele Paser was in the collection of the British Museum since 1835 and a replica now stands in the grave. His tomb was a fairly simple type, suggesting that its owner was middle-grade rather than a high official and was unfinished at his death. It is known that enrollment Paser had a brother Tjuneroy whose tomb has not been found yet.Tomb of RaiaSmall tomb of Raia was also discovered in 1980 and is adjacent to the south wall of the courtyard of Paser. Raia held the title of "head of Singers" in the temple of Ptah and Memphite was probably a contemporary of Paser Although the tomb-chapel is tiny -. Consisting of only one room with two pillars - the decor in a well preserved almost complete form was extremely instructive. An exquisite marquetry of a human face has been found with other grave goods in the burial pit of the tomb of Raia.Tomb of Tia and TiaThe tomb of a princess named Ramesside Tia was discovered in 1982 by the EES-Leiden team. Tia was the sister of Ramses II and married to an administration official high status also named Tia. Their tomb is located next to the monument of Horemheb and consists of a paved courtyard leading through a gateway to a massive tower courtyard open colonnades. The underground burial chambers are accessible by a deep well in west wall of the courtyard. A door in the west wall leads to an antechamber with the remains of two columns and a cult-Chapelle, where fragments of a huge stele was found. The worship hall and chapel were mostly destroyed in antiquity, but the remaining walls are decorated with scenes from the royal family. Another room, known as the Apis chapel, once containing a statue of the bull Apis, adjacent to the south wall of the hall and it is better preserved with many reliefs, particularly animals carved in the style of Old Empire. Another interesting feature of the tomb was a small pyramid preserved part (mock) built behind the hotel room supply, which can be echoed "pyramid tombs" at Thebes. The capstone of the tomb of Tias was introduced in England in 1722, recorded in scientific journals of the time, but has since been lost.Tomb IurudefThis tree tomb was discovered in 1984 during excavations in the tomb of Tias. Iurudef was first seen in the royal tomb, the ritual officiant "Journey to Abydos in funeral scenes and seems to have been a trusted steward and scribe in the house of the princess and her husband. It must hold a privileged position to have a tomb in such a large tomb tree and when it was examined it revealed two entries rooms full of coffins. The tree was re-authorized in the next season, down to additional levels and produce a wealth of funerary equipment Iurudef including shawabties in the names of his wife and other family members. A stele Iurudef now in the Oriental Museum at Durham University suggests that it must have been placed in a chapel of the royal tomb and if the owner would have earned profits of funeral offerings to the royal couple.Tomb KhayKhay was a technician, a Memphis official during the reign of Ramses II, whose title was "prospector Lord of the Two Lands." Its small tomb-chapel behind the monument Tia Tia was discovered by the team of Dr. Martin in 1986. The south room of the chapel depicts scenes of precious gold workshops Memphis showing Khay oversee the merger of gold and craftsmen at work while other walls of the tomb-chapel illustrate mainly funerary rites.Tomb PabesPabes (or Pabasa) had one falls behind that of his father Khay, which was discovered at the same time. The tomb poorly preserved and has three bedrooms, the main bedroom is a worship room with the remains of a monument against the wall. In the northern room is an interesting scene describing the arsenal Memphite (the location at this time is unknown) where the goods are being unloaded from ships. Pabes seems to have been a merchant.Tomb of RamoseRamose held a military title at the end of the eighteenth dynasty and was a contemporary of General Horemheb. His tomb largely destroyed behind that of Tia Tia and north of monuments and Pabes Khay, but his plan shows that originally consisted of an outdoor courtyard, a courtyard with the tree main burial chamber and offer flanked by side chapels. This is from the tomb of Ramose tree that access was finally gained the much sought Maya tomb in 1986. A stele of Ramose was in the Museum of Berlin since the 1820s has been identified as probably from the tomb.Tomb of Maya and MerytEleven years after the EES-Leiden Mission first began their search for the tomb of Maya, it was discovered at the end, in 1986, through a tunnel of thieves in the cage burial in the tomb of Ramose. Reaching the underground parts of the neighboring tomb, Geoffrey Martin has faced. . . a room full of reliefs painted in rich golden yellow. " The team was then able to locate and identify the court and chapels of the long lost tomb of Maya Lepsius in 1987 and subsequent seasons, revealing the remains of magnificent painted reliefs. Maya, Tutankhamun's treasurer, died during the reign of Horemheb, and Meryt was his wife. Although many reliefs were looted, there are beautiful representations of Maya and his wife worshiping Osiris limestone tower, and burial chambers Maya is considered worship the gods whose figures are painted in golden yellow. A beautiful pair of statue of Maya and Meryt whose description by looking Lepsius first inspiration for Dr. Martin's tomb was found face against the ground in the yard and is now in the Museum of Leiden. Blocks from the courtyard, had been removed for reuse, especially in the monastery of Apa Jeremias, eventually finding their way into museums around the world. Hopefully they (or at least replicas) will eventually be returned to their place of origin. The underground chambers of the tomb of Maya were also richly decorated, although in a very damaged state. Work is in progress on the reconstruction and restoration of the reliefs of the burial chambers of the tomb below the second court in a more stable stratum. Pylon Maya was recently consolidated with modern mudbrick.Tomb of Aper-elThe entrance to the tomb of Aper-el is the cliff below the Department of Antiquities at Saqqara nursing home, in an area known as el-Abwab Qotat (doors Cats) where hundreds of mummified cats were buried in graves earlier. Excavations Alain Zivie with the French Archaeological Mission of Bubasteion revealed the tomb of Aper-el (or Aperia), vizier under Amenhotep III and Akhenaten, during their search for cat-burials in 1987. A vast funerary complex on four levels was subsequently cleared and the lower level, the funeral apartments Aper-el, Tauret his wife and their son Huy was found to contain a large part of their funerary treasure, including the mummified bodies of the family still in their coffins beautiful - an amazing find for Egyptian archeology and art history. The discovery was of great importance, not only because of revealed treasures, but because the paintings illustrate the art at the time of Akhenaten, Amarna or not Thebes, but from Memphis who had remained main administrative capital of Egypt. Another exciting discovery that has emerged in the 1994-5 season was a portrait in bas-relief of the god Osiris, flanked by Isis and Nephthys in a cult niche. The portrait of Osiris was carved over representations disfigured Aper-el and his family in the niche and it is thought to be quite new at Saqqara. During the same season, the French mission discovered an unusual pair well preserved statue of a granary supervisor Merysekhmet and his wife in a nearby New Kingdom tomb, also said to be the first time that such statues were carved rock been found at Saqqara.Tomb IniuiaIn 1993, south of the tomb of Horemheb, shipping Leiden discovered the tomb of Iniuia, who held the title "Overseer of cattle of Amun" and was "Chief Steward" during the reign of Tutankhamun . The superstructure of the tomb consists of a single court with a chapel at the west end which is passed to form a small pyramid, the point is now in the Louvre. Another vaulted chapel northeast contains well-preserved paintings Iniuia offering to Osiris and other deities. Accessible from the courtyard burial pit contained more intrusive burials of the Late Period and leads to two bedrooms. The sarcophagus Iniuia, probably here, was removed to the Louvre in the early 19th century.Tomb of paymentThe tomb of wages was found in the necropolis of Saqqara New Kingdom by the shipping Leiden in 1994. He was the father of Raia, an army officer, whose tomb was discovered in 1980 and further excavation of the monument of the former, it was discovered that Raia had adapted the grave of his father for his own funeral adding a second courtyard and new gateway to the original structure. The compensation securities were "Overseer of cattle in the temple of Amun" and "overseer of the harem of Memphis' during the reign of Tutankhamun. Wall reliefs depict Pay Repyt and his wife with their families. The burial chamber wage was found to contain seven burials, perhaps including own mummy's tomb owner.Tomb of MaiaThe French mission has recently approved several New Kingdom tombs at the site known as the gateway to the Cats. The most important of them, discovered by Alain Zivie in 1997, was the tomb of a woman named Maia (or Mayet) who held a high position in the court, widely regarded as one of the nurse to Tutankhaten child (later Tutankhamun). If this is the case, then this lady is perhaps the nurse depicted carrying a baby in a mourning scene in the royal tomb at Amarna. In one scene in the tomb Saqqara, Maia is represented with a baby on her lap, while a dog is under his chair. The relationship of women to Tutankhamun could be interpreted in the hieroglyphic text as either "Nurse Tutankhaten" or "foster mother Tutankhaten." The excavations are continuing in the tomb of Maia and we hope that it will eventually shed light on the early life Tutakhamun and events at the end of the Amarna period.Tomb MeryreIn February 2001, a joint Egyptian-Dutch team announced the discovery of the tomb of Meryre, High Priest of Memphis during the reign of Amenhotep III and Akhenaten. It seems that Meryre changed its name Mery-Neit during the reign of Akhenaten, and given the supervisor of the god Aten, "titles and" Supervisor fields of Aten ", suggesting that there may be Aten had a Temple in Memphis. It is hoped that the tomb reliefs reveal information about the Amarna period early in Lower Egypt, which is so far not well documented, although the name and picture of Akhenaten has been removed from the tomb.Tomb MeryneithTo the east of the tomb of Horemheb, eighteenth dynasty tomb Meryneith was searched from 2001 to 2003 by the Mission Leiden. Meryneith began his career under Akhenaten as "representative of the temple of Aten" and "Scribe of the temple of Aten in Akhetaten" and continued under Tutankhamun. He was also appointed as high priest in the temple of Aton and the temple of Neith.Tomb PtahemwiaThe latest discovery in this area by the National Museum of Antiquities and the University of Leiden was in 2007 when they found the remains of the tomb of Akhenaten Ptahemwia the Royal Butler. The tomb was found in the east of the tomb of Meryneith. This excavation will provide even more rare and valuable the Amarna period information.Tomb RayaA new tomb dating from the Amarna period was recently discovered by Alain Zivie in the area of the cliff later reused as a cemetery cat. The tomb belongs to a scribe who worked in the temples of the Aten in Memphis and Aketaten. The scribe seems to have two names, and Raya Hatyiay, probably an indication of a name change during the Amarna period. The tomb decoration, which is typically colorful and naturalistic runs in the Amarna style with extreme form of art used in the latter part of this period. Many scenes show themes pre-dating from the Amarna period, including daily life and funerary scenes depicting traditional representations of deities, which could suggest that the old forms of worship had not entirely disappeared outside Akhenaton. The tomb is well preserved with high quality reliefs reminiscent of some of the outstanding works of art seen at Amarna.New Kingdom tombs around the pyramid of TetiThe mission of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, during routine excavation work around the pyramid of Teti at Saqqara, announced in 2002 the discovery of seven mud-brick tombs and a capstone, dating from the New Kingdom. Each of the tombs, which are supposed to belong to the priests and high-ranking officials, consists of an entrance hall, an open courtyard containing a burial pit and a vaulted chapel at the rear. Artifacts found so far include statues and steles, amulets and scarabs and more significantly a limestone capstone of the tomb Thener, a scribe in the temple of Ptah. Other owners of newly discovered tombs are named as Djehotemheb, Neferrenpet, Hewi and Ptahmose. In one of two unidentified graves of ceramic cartridge has been dated to the reign of Seti I.Tomb IsnofretWaseda University Institute of Egyptology have recently announced the discovery of an unknown New Kingdom tomb in North Saqqara beyond the Serapeum. The news comes close to that of Khaemwaset, a son of Ramses II, was found to contain a broken limestone sarcophagus painted a bright blue and INSCIBED with the name of a lady Isnofret. Dr. Sakuji Yoshimura, head of the Japanese mission, says the lady is posssibly Khaemwaset daughter, who is known to have had a daughter by that name. Three human bodies were also found in the tomb. The XIX Dynasty tomb structure, built in the shape of a pyramid with a tower and courtyard with columns, is typical of the style New Kingdom, apart from its unusual orientation north-south instead of east-west . Waseda found many tombs and graves from the beginning of their mission in Egypt 40 years ago.
EntryThe New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara is not yet open to visitors as the excavations are still ongoing. It is possible to visit the graves selected with special permission.
Tomb PaserThe monument Paser is located immediately west of the tomb of Horemheb and was discovered and excavated in 1980 by the team of Geoffrey Martin. Paser, who was a supervisor manufacturers and royal scribe during the reign of Ramses II, came from a family of well-known Memphite. A large stele Paser was in the collection of the British Museum since 1835 and a replica now stands in the grave. His tomb was a fairly simple type, suggesting that its owner was middle-grade rather than a high official and was unfinished at his death. It is known that enrollment Paser had a brother Tjuneroy whose tomb has not been found yet.Tomb of RaiaSmall tomb of Raia was also discovered in 1980 and is adjacent to the south wall of the courtyard of Paser. Raia held the title of "head of Singers" in the temple of Ptah and Memphite was probably a contemporary of Paser Although the tomb-chapel is tiny -. Consisting of only one room with two pillars - the decor in a well preserved almost complete form was extremely instructive. An exquisite marquetry of a human face has been found with other grave goods in the burial pit of the tomb of Raia.Tomb of Tia and TiaThe tomb of a princess named Ramesside Tia was discovered in 1982 by the EES-Leiden team. Tia was the sister of Ramses II and married to an administration official high status also named Tia. Their tomb is located next to the monument of Horemheb and consists of a paved courtyard leading through a gateway to a massive tower courtyard open colonnades. The underground burial chambers are accessible by a deep well in west wall of the courtyard. A door in the west wall leads to an antechamber with the remains of two columns and a cult-Chapelle, where fragments of a huge stele was found. The worship hall and chapel were mostly destroyed in antiquity, but the remaining walls are decorated with scenes from the royal family. Another room, known as the Apis chapel, once containing a statue of the bull Apis, adjacent to the south wall of the hall and it is better preserved with many reliefs, particularly animals carved in the style of Old Empire. Another interesting feature of the tomb was a small pyramid preserved part (mock) built behind the hotel room supply, which can be echoed "pyramid tombs" at Thebes. The capstone of the tomb of Tias was introduced in England in 1722, recorded in scientific journals of the time, but has since been lost.Tomb IurudefThis tree tomb was discovered in 1984 during excavations in the tomb of Tias. Iurudef was first seen in the royal tomb, the ritual officiant "Journey to Abydos in funeral scenes and seems to have been a trusted steward and scribe in the house of the princess and her husband. It must hold a privileged position to have a tomb in such a large tomb tree and when it was examined it revealed two entries rooms full of coffins. The tree was re-authorized in the next season, down to additional levels and produce a wealth of funerary equipment Iurudef including shawabties in the names of his wife and other family members. A stele Iurudef now in the Oriental Museum at Durham University suggests that it must have been placed in a chapel of the royal tomb and if the owner would have earned profits of funeral offerings to the royal couple.Tomb KhayKhay was a technician, a Memphis official during the reign of Ramses II, whose title was "prospector Lord of the Two Lands." Its small tomb-chapel behind the monument Tia Tia was discovered by the team of Dr. Martin in 1986. The south room of the chapel depicts scenes of precious gold workshops Memphis showing Khay oversee the merger of gold and craftsmen at work while other walls of the tomb-chapel illustrate mainly funerary rites.Tomb PabesPabes (or Pabasa) had one falls behind that of his father Khay, which was discovered at the same time. The tomb poorly preserved and has three bedrooms, the main bedroom is a worship room with the remains of a monument against the wall. In the northern room is an interesting scene describing the arsenal Memphite (the location at this time is unknown) where the goods are being unloaded from ships. Pabes seems to have been a merchant.Tomb of RamoseRamose held a military title at the end of the eighteenth dynasty and was a contemporary of General Horemheb. His tomb largely destroyed behind that of Tia Tia and north of monuments and Pabes Khay, but his plan shows that originally consisted of an outdoor courtyard, a courtyard with the tree main burial chamber and offer flanked by side chapels. This is from the tomb of Ramose tree that access was finally gained the much sought Maya tomb in 1986. A stele of Ramose was in the Museum of Berlin since the 1820s has been identified as probably from the tomb.Tomb of Maya and MerytEleven years after the EES-Leiden Mission first began their search for the tomb of Maya, it was discovered at the end, in 1986, through a tunnel of thieves in the cage burial in the tomb of Ramose. Reaching the underground parts of the neighboring tomb, Geoffrey Martin has faced. . . a room full of reliefs painted in rich golden yellow. " The team was then able to locate and identify the court and chapels of the long lost tomb of Maya Lepsius in 1987 and subsequent seasons, revealing the remains of magnificent painted reliefs. Maya, Tutankhamun's treasurer, died during the reign of Horemheb, and Meryt was his wife. Although many reliefs were looted, there are beautiful representations of Maya and his wife worshiping Osiris limestone tower, and burial chambers Maya is considered worship the gods whose figures are painted in golden yellow. A beautiful pair of statue of Maya and Meryt whose description by looking Lepsius first inspiration for Dr. Martin's tomb was found face against the ground in the yard and is now in the Museum of Leiden. Blocks from the courtyard, had been removed for reuse, especially in the monastery of Apa Jeremias, eventually finding their way into museums around the world. Hopefully they (or at least replicas) will eventually be returned to their place of origin. The underground chambers of the tomb of Maya were also richly decorated, although in a very damaged state. Work is in progress on the reconstruction and restoration of the reliefs of the burial chambers of the tomb below the second court in a more stable stratum. Pylon Maya was recently consolidated with modern mudbrick.Tomb of Aper-elThe entrance to the tomb of Aper-el is the cliff below the Department of Antiquities at Saqqara nursing home, in an area known as el-Abwab Qotat (doors Cats) where hundreds of mummified cats were buried in graves earlier. Excavations Alain Zivie with the French Archaeological Mission of Bubasteion revealed the tomb of Aper-el (or Aperia), vizier under Amenhotep III and Akhenaten, during their search for cat-burials in 1987. A vast funerary complex on four levels was subsequently cleared and the lower level, the funeral apartments Aper-el, Tauret his wife and their son Huy was found to contain a large part of their funerary treasure, including the mummified bodies of the family still in their coffins beautiful - an amazing find for Egyptian archeology and art history. The discovery was of great importance, not only because of revealed treasures, but because the paintings illustrate the art at the time of Akhenaten, Amarna or not Thebes, but from Memphis who had remained main administrative capital of Egypt. Another exciting discovery that has emerged in the 1994-5 season was a portrait in bas-relief of the god Osiris, flanked by Isis and Nephthys in a cult niche. The portrait of Osiris was carved over representations disfigured Aper-el and his family in the niche and it is thought to be quite new at Saqqara. During the same season, the French mission discovered an unusual pair well preserved statue of a granary supervisor Merysekhmet and his wife in a nearby New Kingdom tomb, also said to be the first time that such statues were carved rock been found at Saqqara.Tomb IniuiaIn 1993, south of the tomb of Horemheb, shipping Leiden discovered the tomb of Iniuia, who held the title "Overseer of cattle of Amun" and was "Chief Steward" during the reign of Tutankhamun . The superstructure of the tomb consists of a single court with a chapel at the west end which is passed to form a small pyramid, the point is now in the Louvre. Another vaulted chapel northeast contains well-preserved paintings Iniuia offering to Osiris and other deities. Accessible from the courtyard burial pit contained more intrusive burials of the Late Period and leads to two bedrooms. The sarcophagus Iniuia, probably here, was removed to the Louvre in the early 19th century.Tomb of paymentThe tomb of wages was found in the necropolis of Saqqara New Kingdom by the shipping Leiden in 1994. He was the father of Raia, an army officer, whose tomb was discovered in 1980 and further excavation of the monument of the former, it was discovered that Raia had adapted the grave of his father for his own funeral adding a second courtyard and new gateway to the original structure. The compensation securities were "Overseer of cattle in the temple of Amun" and "overseer of the harem of Memphis' during the reign of Tutankhamun. Wall reliefs depict Pay Repyt and his wife with their families. The burial chamber wage was found to contain seven burials, perhaps including own mummy's tomb owner.Tomb of MaiaThe French mission has recently approved several New Kingdom tombs at the site known as the gateway to the Cats. The most important of them, discovered by Alain Zivie in 1997, was the tomb of a woman named Maia (or Mayet) who held a high position in the court, widely regarded as one of the nurse to Tutankhaten child (later Tutankhamun). If this is the case, then this lady is perhaps the nurse depicted carrying a baby in a mourning scene in the royal tomb at Amarna. In one scene in the tomb Saqqara, Maia is represented with a baby on her lap, while a dog is under his chair. The relationship of women to Tutankhamun could be interpreted in the hieroglyphic text as either "Nurse Tutankhaten" or "foster mother Tutankhaten." The excavations are continuing in the tomb of Maia and we hope that it will eventually shed light on the early life Tutakhamun and events at the end of the Amarna period.Tomb MeryreIn February 2001, a joint Egyptian-Dutch team announced the discovery of the tomb of Meryre, High Priest of Memphis during the reign of Amenhotep III and Akhenaten. It seems that Meryre changed its name Mery-Neit during the reign of Akhenaten, and given the supervisor of the god Aten, "titles and" Supervisor fields of Aten ", suggesting that there may be Aten had a Temple in Memphis. It is hoped that the tomb reliefs reveal information about the Amarna period early in Lower Egypt, which is so far not well documented, although the name and picture of Akhenaten has been removed from the tomb.Tomb MeryneithTo the east of the tomb of Horemheb, eighteenth dynasty tomb Meryneith was searched from 2001 to 2003 by the Mission Leiden. Meryneith began his career under Akhenaten as "representative of the temple of Aten" and "Scribe of the temple of Aten in Akhetaten" and continued under Tutankhamun. He was also appointed as high priest in the temple of Aton and the temple of Neith.Tomb PtahemwiaThe latest discovery in this area by the National Museum of Antiquities and the University of Leiden was in 2007 when they found the remains of the tomb of Akhenaten Ptahemwia the Royal Butler. The tomb was found in the east of the tomb of Meryneith. This excavation will provide even more rare and valuable the Amarna period information.Tomb RayaA new tomb dating from the Amarna period was recently discovered by Alain Zivie in the area of the cliff later reused as a cemetery cat. The tomb belongs to a scribe who worked in the temples of the Aten in Memphis and Aketaten. The scribe seems to have two names, and Raya Hatyiay, probably an indication of a name change during the Amarna period. The tomb decoration, which is typically colorful and naturalistic runs in the Amarna style with extreme form of art used in the latter part of this period. Many scenes show themes pre-dating from the Amarna period, including daily life and funerary scenes depicting traditional representations of deities, which could suggest that the old forms of worship had not entirely disappeared outside Akhenaton. The tomb is well preserved with high quality reliefs reminiscent of some of the outstanding works of art seen at Amarna.New Kingdom tombs around the pyramid of TetiThe mission of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, during routine excavation work around the pyramid of Teti at Saqqara, announced in 2002 the discovery of seven mud-brick tombs and a capstone, dating from the New Kingdom. Each of the tombs, which are supposed to belong to the priests and high-ranking officials, consists of an entrance hall, an open courtyard containing a burial pit and a vaulted chapel at the rear. Artifacts found so far include statues and steles, amulets and scarabs and more significantly a limestone capstone of the tomb Thener, a scribe in the temple of Ptah. Other owners of newly discovered tombs are named as Djehotemheb, Neferrenpet, Hewi and Ptahmose. In one of two unidentified graves of ceramic cartridge has been dated to the reign of Seti I.Tomb IsnofretWaseda University Institute of Egyptology have recently announced the discovery of an unknown New Kingdom tomb in North Saqqara beyond the Serapeum. The news comes close to that of Khaemwaset, a son of Ramses II, was found to contain a broken limestone sarcophagus painted a bright blue and INSCIBED with the name of a lady Isnofret. Dr. Sakuji Yoshimura, head of the Japanese mission, says the lady is posssibly Khaemwaset daughter, who is known to have had a daughter by that name. Three human bodies were also found in the tomb. The XIX Dynasty tomb structure, built in the shape of a pyramid with a tower and courtyard with columns, is typical of the style New Kingdom, apart from its unusual orientation north-south instead of east-west . Waseda found many tombs and graves from the beginning of their mission in Egypt 40 years ago.
EntryThe New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara is not yet open to visitors as the excavations are still ongoing. It is possible to visit the graves selected with special permission.
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