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Akhet - The Horizon

Saqqara

Saqqara:
The Step Pyramid of Djoser
Saqqara South I:
The Pyramid of Unas et al
Saqqara South II:
Mastabas and Tombs near Unas
Saqqara South III:
Pepi I & Consorts
Saqqara South IV:
Pepi II et al
Saqqara South V:
Tomb of Horemheb et al
Saqqara North I:
Pyramid of Userkaf
Saqqara North II:
Pyramid of Teti & Queens
Saqqara North III:
Mastaba of Mereruka
Saqqara North IV:
Mastaba of Kagemni
Saqqara North V:
Tomb of Ankhmahor
Saqqara North VI:
Tomb of Ptahotep and Akhethotep
Saqqara North VII:
Mastaba of Ti
Saqqara North VIII:
Early Dynastic tombs
Saqqara IX:
The Serapeum
Saqqara X:
Animal Cemeteries


Northern Saqqara III - The Tomb of Ankhmahor







Ankhmahor was a vizier (tjatey is the ancient word for that title.) in the 6th Dynasty. He was 'Overseer of the Great House' and 'First Under the King', who was King Teti. Besides, he was a Ka-priest.

Ankhmahor was buried at Saqqara, in a comparatively small tomb but with some very fine and individual reliefs on its walls. Scenes describe circumcision, mourners, craftsmen like jewellers, sculptors and metalworkers. Some of them were dwarfes.

The tomb is located close to other tombs for the officials in the 6th Dynasty, and north of the Pyramid of Teti. One enters it from the east side. Several chambers and a serdab are located here. Often the tomb of Ankhmahor goes under the name of 'The Physician´s Tomb', as there are several scenes of medicinal character.

On the first chamber there are scenes from the agricultural field. To the left is a doorway which leads to several rooms and a serdab. To the left there are scenes depicting jewellers, metalworkers and sculpting in two registers. On the other wall there are depictions of fowl netting.

There is a large hall with pillars to the north of the first room and here is also the rests of five square pillars. On the southern wall are mourners depicted; though the reliefs here are badly kept, one can still see the beauty of the motifs. On the eastern wall women dancing are to be seen. In the doorway to the pillared hall are the famous medical scenes. Here are surgical operations and also the well-known circumcision scene, done on a priest. This particular theme can also be seen much later on a wall in the Mut temple at Karnak. There is also depitctions of a foot being operated, which has led refexologists to think that their practice also was present in Ancient Egypt, which one could seriously doubt.

Sadly, the tomb is not open for visitors at this moment.






Sources:
The Complete Pyramids - Mark Lehner
The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt - Aidan Dodson
Chronicles of the Pharaohs - Peter A. Clayton
Who´s Who in Ancient Egypt - Michael Rice
Three very good links:
Saqqara Online
Egyptsites
Touregypt


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