Neferuptah pyramid
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The Neferuptah pyramid is the tomb of the ancient Egyptian princess Neferuptah , a daughter of Amenemhet III. , the sixth ruler of the 12th Dynasty . Since the superstructure is practically completely destroyed and because of the unusual construction of the burial chamber, it is however controversial whether the structure is actually a pyramid. The tomb is in Hawara , about two kilometers south of her father's pyramid . It was discovered by Labib Habachi in 1936 and excavated by Nagib Farag in 1955 .
The pyramid
From the actual superstructure of the grave, Habachi could only make out a few clay structures, in the middle of which he found a grave chamber . The side length of the structure was about 45 m, the original height is estimated at almost 30 m. If it were actually a pyramid, it would have been unusually large compared to other queen pyramids.
The burial chamber
In the center of the clay structures is the burial chamber, which at the time of its discovery was still covered with seven large limestone blocks. Its walls are also made of limestone. Another block divides the chamber into two unequal sections. A monumental sarcophagus was found in the larger, southern part, and several grave goods in the smaller northern part.
In addition to the burial chamber, no other rooms could be found, and there was no evidence of an access corridor. Such a construction is extremely unusual for a pyramid, which is why the possibility is also being considered that the grave superstructure was actually a mastaba .
Found objects
The coffins
The monumental stone sarcophagus of Neferuptah is made of red granite and is now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo . It is 3.06 m long and 1.54 m wide. The coffin tub is 1.52 m high, the lid measures another 79 cm. The lower third of the coffin tub is decorated with a circumferential relief that represents a palace facade . A sacrificial formula is engraved on the outside left .
Over the millennia, groundwater had penetrated the sarcophagus and its contents had sintered to an unrecognizable mass on the ground. However, since some fragments of immortal material were preserved, the contents of the sarcophagus could be reconstructed. Inside was a box-shaped wooden coffin, of which only a few parts of the decoration have survived. These are, on the one hand, fragments of sheet gold , which were originally used to decorate inscription bands, and, on the other hand, fragments of glass and silver that belonged to two udjat eyes , as are typically found on the left outside of contemporary coffins.
The innermost coffin was anthropoid (human-shaped), but has not been preserved because it was also made of wood. As with the middle coffin, its existence can only be reconstructed through the tiniest fragments: These are small pieces of silver that held the coffin lid and pan together, a so-called seweret pearl , as found on the neck of comparable anthropoid coffins, and other pearls that could be reconstructed into a collar that was once attached to the chest of the coffin.
More finds
On the inner coffin there were originally several weapons and staffs made of decorated wood. Numerous pearls once belonged to a scourge , the head of a club made of alabaster has been preserved, two eyes made of rock crystal probably adorned a what scepter , a symbol of luck and well-being.
Like the wood, the mummy of Neferuptah had completely dissolved, but its jewelry was well preserved. One of the most outstanding pieces is a neck collar, the end pieces of which are made of gold and represent two falcon heads. The pearls on the neck collar are made of gold, green feldspar and carnelian . Neferuptah also wore pearl necklaces around his neck, around his arms and around his legs, as well as a belt made of faience pearls.
Two silver vases were found outside the sarcophagus. Another was in the northern part of the burial chamber, where an alabaster sacrificial table was also found, which is almost identical to one in the Hawara pyramid of Amenemhet III. discovered offering table, which was originally also intended for Neferuptah. Three beer mugs and several ceramic bowls were found next to the offering table.
literature
- Nagib Farag, Zaky Iskander: The Discovery of Neferwptah. Cairo 1971.
- Wolfram Grajetzki: The grave of the king's daughter Neferuptah near Hawara. In: Sokar. No. 9, 2004, pp. 49-53.
