Egypt opens tomb dating back to 6th dynasty for tourists

CAIRO - 8 September 2018: For the first time since it has been discovered in 1940, a tomb belongs to an pharonic animal hunter called Mehu, was opened for the tourists in the city of Saqqara, Giza, announced the Ministry of Antiquities in a statement on Saturday.

The tomb dates back to the era of King Pepi I, the third king of the Sixth dynasty of ancient Egypt [c. 2325–c. 2150 bce]. It was unearthed by Egyptian mission led by Egyptologist Zaki Saad, the statement said.

Before being opened by Mustafa Waziri Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Minister of Migration Nabila Makram , the tomb underwent to restoration works, the statement added.


One of the tomb's chambers - Photo taken by the Ministry of the Antiquities

“The tomb is one of the most beautiful in Saqqara Necropolis because it still keeps its vivid colour and distinguished scenes. Among the strangest scenes is the one depicting the marriage of crocodiles with the existence of a turtle,” said Waziri.

The drawings on the tomb’s walls depict Mehu’s activities of hunting animals and fishing. The drawings also showed “harvesting scenes, cooking and dancing acrobatic dance, which was not previously shown in Saqqara before the sixth Dynasty,” said the statement.

The tomb doesn't belong only to Mehur himself but also to his family members, the statement quoted Director General of Sakkara archeological site Sabri Farag.

The newly-inaugurated tomb has a long narrow corridor with six burial chambers. The walls of Mehu’s burial chambers were inscribed with 48 names and titles he held such as “the scrub of the royal documents, the vizier and Head of the Juries,” the statement said.

Also the tomb has burial chambers for his son Mery Re Ankh and grand-son Hetep Ka II. The son, who was an overseer of Buto region [Tell El Fara'in], held 23 titles and names inscribed on his burial chamber, the statement added.

“Mehu’s grandson lived during the reign of king Pepi II and painted his false door inside the pillars hall of Mehu. He held 10 titles among the holder of the Director of the palace,” the statement read.