Giza East Field
Map of the East Field in Giza
Mastabas to the east of the pyramid of Khufu.
The East Field is located to the east of Khufu’s pyramid and contains cemetery G 7000. This cemetery was a burial place for some of the family members of Khufu. The cemetery also includes mastabas from tenants and priests of the pyramids dated to the 5th dynasty and 6th dynasty.[1]
The East Field consists of the three Queen's pyramids and a number of mastabas labeled Cemetery G 7000. Reisner constructed a timeline for the construction of the East Field. The first two Queen's Pyramids, G 1a and G 1b, were likely started in year 15-17 of King Khufu. Usually Queen's pyramids were constructed to the south of the king's pyramid, but in this instance a quarry was located to the south and the construction of the smaller pyramids was relocated to the east of the main pyramid complex. The earliest part of the cemetery consisted of 12 mastabas which were built as double mastabas. They were laid out in three rows of four tombs:
- G 7110-7120 Kawab and Hetepheres II and G 7130-7140 Khufukhaf I and his wife Nefertkau II
- G 7210-7220 Hordjedef and his wife and G 7230-7240
- G 7310-7320 Baufra and G 7330-7340
The construction of these tombs has been dated to ca year 17-24 of the reign of Khufu. This core was then completed to create a nucleus of eight twin-mastabas by the construction of:
- G 7410-7420 Meresankh II and Horbaef and G 7430-7440 Minkhaf I
The rest of the eastern field was built around this group of eight twin mastabas. Of these the great mastaba G 7510 of king's son and vizier Ankhhaf stands out due to its size. The construction of several other mastabas can be dated to the time of King Khafra. G 7530 + 7540, the tomb of Meresankh III, contains quarry inscriptions dating to year 13 of that king. Mastaba G 7050, belonging to Nefertkau I, was built during the reign of Khafra as well. Further additions date to the end of the 4th, 5th and 6th dynasty and even later.[2]
Queen's pyramids
Pyramid G 1a was at first thought to belong to Queen Meritites I but Lehner has shown that the pyramid belonged to Hetepheres I instead. All three pyramids have a square base measuring about 45 – 49 m. on a side. The angle of inclination is about 51° 50‘ for all three.[3]
| Pyramid number | Pyramid | Name of owner | Title owner | Time Period | Comments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G 1a | .jpg) | Hetepheres I
| King's wife, king's daughter | 4th Dynasty | Wife of Sneferu and mother of Khufu. | |||||
| G 1b |  | Meritites I
| King's wife | 4th Dynasty | Wife of Khufu | |||||
| G 1c | .jpg) | Henutsen
| King's daughter | 4th Dynasty | Said to be a daughter of Khufu on a stela placed in the temple during the 26th dynasty, but more likely to be a wife. |
Shaft tomb:
| Pyramid number | Type | Name of owner | Title owner | Time Period | Comments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G 7000X | Burial Shaft | Hetepheres I
| King's Wife and King's Mother | 4th dynasty (time of Sneferu to Khufu) | Her sarcophagus (empty) and funerary equipment were found in this shaft which is located to the north-east of the Queen's pyramids. |
Cemetery G 7000
Nucleus of Cemetery G 7000
| Tomb number | Type | Name of owner | Title owner | Time Period | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G 7110 +7120 | Double-Mastaba | Kawab and Hetepheres II | Eldest king's son | 4th Dynasty (Khufu) | Son and daughter of Khufu |
| G 7130 +7140 |  Double-Mastaba | Khufukhaf I and his wife Nefertkau | King's Son | 4th Dynasty (Khufu) | Son of Khufu. |
| G 7210 +7220 | Double-Mastaba | Hordjedef and his wife | King’s son of his body, Count, Keeper of Nekhen, etc. | 4th dynasty (time of Khufu) | Son of Khufu |
| G 7230 +7240 | Double-Mastaba | 4th dynasty (time of Khufu) | |||
| G 7310 +7320 | Double Mastaba | Bauefre/Babaef | King's son | 4th dynasty | Son of Khufu. It is possible that Bauefre and Babaef are one and the same person. Some texts attribute the tomb to Bauefre, others to Babaef. |
| G 7330 +7340 | Double-Mastaba | Middle or late 4th Dynasty | |||
| G 7430 +7440 (LG 61) | Double-Mastaba | Minkhaf I | Kinig's son and Vizier | 4th dynasty | Minkhaf was a son of Khufu |
| G 7410 +7420 | Double-Mastaba | Meresankh II and Horbaef | Meresankh: King's daughter, King's wife; Horbaef: King's Son | End of 4th dynasty | A daughter Nebtitepites is mentioned in the chapel. |
The later additions to the cemetery:
| Tomb number | Type | Name of owner | Title owner | Time Period | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G 7011 | Stone-Mastaba | Khnumwer | |||
| G 7050 | Stone-Mastaba | Nefertkau I | King's daughter | 4th dynasty | Daughter of Sneferu. Mother of Nefermaat II and grandmother of Sneferukhaf. |
| G 7060 (LG 57) | Stone-Mastaba | Nefermaat II | King's Son and Vizier | 4th Dynasty (Khafre) | Son of Nefertkau I |
| G 7070 (LG 56) | Stone-Mastaba | Sneferukhaf | Treasurer of the King of Lower Egypt, Herdsman of Apis, etc. | Mid 4th to 5th dynasty | Son of Nefermaat II |
| G 7101 | Stone-Mastaba | Merirenefer called Kar | Overseer of all works, he who is at the head of the king, true royal document scribe in the presence, etc. | 6th dynasty (Pepi I or later) | |
| G 7102 | Stone-Mastaba | Idu | Overseer of the great chapel, overseer of scribes of the meret-serfs, etc. | 6th dynasty (Pepi I or later) | |
| G 7111 | Stone-Mastaba | Late 4th to early 5th dynasty | |||
| G 7112 | Mud-brick mastaba | 5th dynasty (reign of Niuserre) | |||
| G 7121 | Stone-Mastaba | 4th dynasty? | Ushabti fragments inscribed for the High Priest of Ptah in Memphis, named Pahemnetjer, were found. | ||
| G 7133 | Stone-Mastaba | Minankh | Royal acquaintance | Late 4th dynasty | Khufukhaf I is mentioned in the tomb. |
| G 7142 | Mud-brick mastaba | 5th to 6th Dynasty (?) | Names of Nabeni and Nebuka appear on lintel. | ||
| G 7145 +7147 | Double-Mastaba | The mastaba had 7 burial shafts | |||
| G 7148 +7149 | Double-Mastaba | The mastaba had 5 burial shafts | |||
| G 7150 |  Stone-Mastaba | Khufukhaf II and his wife Khentkaues | Khentkaues is a King’s daughter of his body | 5th dynasty (time of Niuserre) | Possibly a son of Khufukhaf I |
| G 7152 | Stone-Mastaba | Sekhemankhptah | Late 5th or 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7211 | Stone-Mastaba | There are 16 burial shafts. Attested are Mereru and Ipty (on a lintel reused in roofing of shaft G 7214 B) and Inkaf (judge, inspector of scribes shaft G 7214 A) | |||
| G 7214 | Stone and brick Mastaba | Kaemankh | Late Dynasty 5 or Dynasty 6 | ||
| G 7215 | Rock-cut tomb | Bendjet? | 6th dynasty? | Bendjet is the daughter of Idu (G 7102) and likely the sister of Qar (G 7101). Nebit, wife of Qar is attested on a doorjamb. The names of Nebenheb, Nedjfu are inscribed on a headrests. Mentioned in inscriptions are Nefrethakhufu (named Sherit?) and Wabha | |
| G 7244 +7246 | Double-Mastaba | Khuenptah | 5th Dynasty | Khuenptah's mother Intkaes and wife Khenut are mentioned. | |
| G 7248 | Stone and rubble mastaba | Mestju ? | ka-priest | Dynasty 5 or Dynasty 6 | Mestju may not be the actual owner. He is the owner of a false door which depicts him with his wife Nebuhetep and a daughter Khenut. |
| G 7249 | Stone and brick Mastaba | Menib | 4th or 5th dynasty | ||
| G 7331 +7332 | Double-Mastaba | ||||
| G 7350 | Stone-Mastaba | Hetepheres II (?) | End of 4th dynasty | Kawab, Djedefre and Hetepheres II are mentioned in inscriptions. | |
| G 7391 | Stone-Mastaba | Iteti and his wife Senetankh | 5th dynasty | Mentioned in the tomb are Iteti's sons Washkakhafre, Iteti, and Werkaukhafre, and a daughter named Autib. Also shown are his brother Khafreankh and sister Rudj. | |
| G 7411 | Stone-Mastaba | Kaemtjenenet and his wife Hathornefer | 5th dynasty | ||
| G 7413 | Rock-cut tomb, stone casing | Niankh-Khufu | |||
| G 7432 | Stone-Mastaba | Qar | Late 5th dynasty | ||
| G 7509 | Shafts only | Meresankh Isi | |||
| G 7510 | Stone-Mastaba | Ankhhaf and wife Hetepheres | Ankhaf: King's Son and Vizier | 4th dynasty | Hetepheres was a daughter of Sneferu and Hetepheres I |
| G 7511 | Stone-Mastaba | Ptolemaic Period | Shabtis inscribed for Djedhor and Isetreshet | ||
| G 7512 | Mud-brick mastaba | Maakheru | 5th - 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7521 | Mud-brick mastaba | 'Nihetep-ptah Hepi | Inspector of palace attendants of the Great House | Wife: Imty, sisters: Inty, Teti and Meresankh. Sons: Sesiheryib, Sesikhemetnu, Sesiwer. Daughters: Wehemre, Shefetnet, Henenti and Nebet. | |
| G 7523 | Stone-Mastaba | Sedaf Iby | Overseer of the Two Houses, director of the broad hall | 5th - 6th dynasty | |
| G 7524 | Stone-Mastaba | Kay | Judge and administrator, preeminent of place, overseer of commissions | 26th dynasty | |
| G 7530 +7540 | Stone-Mastaba | Meresankh III | King's daughter | Late 4th dynasty | Meresanch was a daughter of Kawab and wife of king Khafre. Graffiti with mention of years were found in the tomb.[4] |
| G 7550 (LG 58) | Stone-Mastaba | Duaenhor | King's son | 4th dynasty | |
| G 7560 | Stone-Mastaba | Middle or late Dynasty 4 | |||
| G 7631 | Stone Mastaba | Ninefer | 5th - 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7632 | Stone-Mastaba | Late Period | People attested in the tomb are: Nesiptah, Tashamsha, Wahibre, Ahmose, Ankhenes-(?), Hetepef-hesu-(?), Psamtik-seneb, Wadjetirdis, Ankhtef, and Isiskhebit. | ||
| G 7650 | Stone-Mastaba | Akhethotep and his wife Meritites II | Akhethotep: director of the palace Meritites: King's daughter of his body | 4th dynasty | Meritites was a daughter of Khufu. |
| G 7660 (LG 59) | Stone-Mastaba | Kaemsekhem | King's Son | Late 4th dynasty | Son of Kawab |
| G 7690 | Stone-Mastaba | Iui | Inspector of ka-priests | Old Kingdom | |
| G 7710 | Rock-cut tomb, Stone casing | Iby | Royal acquaintance, juridical scribe, secretary, etc. | 5th - 6th dynasty | |
| G 7711 | Rock-cut tomb | Khnumdjedef | King's son | 5th - 6th dynasty | |
| G 7721 | Rock-cut tomb | Kakherptah | 5th dynasty | ||
| G 7750 | Stone-Mastaba | Mid to late 4th dynasty | Sons of the owner named Khenuka and Kamenekh are mentioned. | ||
| G 7757 | Stone-Mastaba | Kheperre | General (Overseer of the army) | Ptolemaic Period | His mother Tashereteniset was buried here as well. The sarcophagus is now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.[5] |
| G 7760 (LG 60) | Stone-Mastaba | Mindjedef | King's Son | 4th dynasty | Mindjedef is a son of Kawab |
| G 7772 | Stone-Mastaba | 5th dynasty | |||
| G 7788 | Stone-Mastaba | 18th dynasty | |||
| G 7792 | Stone-Mastaba | 26th dynasty | Ushabtis were found with names: Wahibre, Denitptah, Denitenkhonsu, Tasheri-ihet, and Patjenef. A statue of Osiris is now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.[6] | ||
| G 7803 | Rock-cut tomb | 5th - 6th dynasty | Graffiti mentioning dates were found in the tomb.[7] | ||
| G 7809 | Mud-brick, rubble mastaba | Reti | royal acquaintance, overseer of ka-priests | 5th Dynastie | |
| G 7810 | Stone-Mastaba | Djati | King's son | Late 4th or early 5th dynasty | |
| G 7814 | Rock-cut tomb | Kaaper | 5th - 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7815 | Rock-cut tomb | Hapennebti | 5th - 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7820 | Stone-Mastaba | Nefertkau III and her husband Iynefer | Late 4th or early 5th dynasty | Nefertkau may be a daughter of Meresankh II | |
| G 7821 | Rock-cut tomb | Neferseshemptah Sheshi and his wife Meresankh | royal acquaintance, steward of the Great Estate | 5th - 6th dynasty | |
| G 7822 | Rock-cut tomb | Mesu and his wife Neferdjes | 5th - 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7836 | Rock-cut tomb | Nebtyherkaus | 5th dynasty | ||
| G 7837 +7843 | Rock-cut tomb | Ankhmare | First half of 5th dynasty | Two separate mastabas were combined into one.[8] | |
| G 7851 | Rock-cut tomb | Wermeru and his wife Isutkau | Royal wab-priest, priest of Heka, priest of Snefru, priest of Khafre | Late 5th - 6th dynasty | |
| G 7911 | Mud-brick mastaba | Nikhasutnisut | Scribe, ka-priest | 5th - 6th dynasty | |
| G 7946 | Mud-brick mastaba | Nefu and his wife Khenmetsetju | 5th - 6th dynasty | ||
| G 7948 (LG 75) | Rock-cut tomb | Khafreankh and his wife Nikahor | Dynasty 5 or later |
References
- ↑ Porter, Bertha and Moss, Rosalind, Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Reliefs and Paintings Volume III: Memphis, Part I Abu Rawash to Abusir. 2nd edition (revised and augmented by Dr Jaromir Malek, 1974). Retrieved from gizapyramids.org
- ↑ George A. Reisner, A History of the Giza Necropolis I, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1942, pp 70-74, Retrieved from Giza Digital Library: History of the Giza Necropolis Series
- ↑ Verner, Miroslav. The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. Grove Press. 2001 (1997). pp 210-212, 462, ISBN 0-8021-3935-3
- ↑ William Stevenson Smith: Inscriptional Evidence for the History of the Fourth Dynasty. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Bd. 11, Chicago 1952, Fig. 7 (PDF; 2,5 MB)
- ↑ Dows Dunham: The Bulletin of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Bd. 30, Boston 1932, S. 90
- ↑ Dows Dunham: The Bulletin of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Bd. 29, Boston 1931, S. 26
- ↑ William Stevenson Smith: Inscriptional Evidence for the History of the Fourth Dynasty. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Bd. 11, Chicago 1952, S. 128, Fig. 8 (PDF; 2,5 MB)
- ↑ Reisner, Giza Necropolis I, S. 238-239, 314