The Tomb of Akhethotep and Ptahotep is a double tomb situated about 500 m southwest of the Djoser complex. It is generally believed that Ptahotep was the son of Akhethotep. The main part of it belongs to Akhethotep, who was a vizier (tjatey) during the time of Unas and Djedkare-Isesi. They both held a number of titles, Ahkethotep was called "Chief Justice and Overseer of the Pyramid Towns and Inspector of Priests at the Suntemple of Niuserre. Ptahotep had the titles "Chief Justice and Vizier, Inspector of the Priests of the Pyramids of Menkaure and Djedkare-Iseis", and "Inspector of the Waeb Priests of the pyramid of Niuserre".
Entrance to the tomb.
Akhethotep
You enter the tomb from the northern side through a pillared portico, which leads into a corridor where the reliefs are unfinished. This corridor leads into a large hall with four pillars. In the western wall is a door leading into a chapel for Akhethotep. Here are many interesting reliefs, like Akhethotep seated, men bringing papyrus, boatmen, herdsmen, boatbuilding and more. On the south wall are scetched out men bringing offerings but the reliefs are not finished. On the east wall is Akhethotep´s false door with three jambs. With this offering chapel, there is also a serdab.
Akhethotep. Relief from the tomb.
Ptahotep
From this chapel, on the southwestern side, an entrance leads to the part which belongs to Ptahotep. Inside, he is depicted seated while his servants bring forward dogs and also a monkey, which often were kept as pets. Following are registers where offerings are brought. Here are also musicians, a harpist and a singer, and there are dwarfes making jewellery. On the east wall are some rather unusual reliefs for which this tomb is reknown. They show children playing, papyrus gathering, building papyrus boats, hunting in the desert, making ropes, fishing and catching birds. Over it all, we see Ptahotep and a young son watching. Many animals are depicted in this tomb; desert animals like hyenas, lions, leopards and others. There are antelopes, porcupines and birds, and also domestic animals.
Ptahotep smelling the good scent from an unguent jar.
On the west wall is Ptahotep´s false door where on its left side the tomb owner is shown being carried in his sedan chair. Above the lintel is a list of festivals. There are offering lists and priests and their helpers. Ptahotep is also depicted sitting, dressed in an animal skin and smelling a bottle of perfume. But the northern side of the door has no inscriptions.
In the burial chamber of Ptahotep there was found his sarcophagus with his name and titles inscribed. But the chamber is not as interesting or decorated as the chapel room. There were also some fragments from other burials during the 5th and 6th Dynasty.
You can usually visit the tomb, the author has done it, but it is not allowed to take photos inside any of the tombs any longer.
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