The Art of Ancient Egypt | Publications for Educators | Explore & Learn

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Looking down into the tomb of Perneb
Photograph by the Egyptian Expedition, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1913

The area that the archaeologists were examining in this image is the entrance courtyard of the tomb, shown here with two doors and a window opening into the offering hall of the tomb. In the center of the flat roof is an opening that resembles the top of a chimney but that is actually the top of the burial shaft, which descended fifty-five feet to the burial chamber. Study the plan of Perneb's tomb to better visualize the layout.

When the mummy of Perneb and the possessions that were to accompany him in the afterlife had been placed in the burial chamber, the shaft was filled and sealed to hide its location from grave robbers. After the expedition photographer took this record shot, the archaeologists finished clearing away the sand that had accumulated around the tomb.

Notice: the layout of the tomb

Discuss: why the offering room has a window, why the body was hidden so far underground

See also:

The tomb of Perneb
View of Saqqara

Index of all works of art covered in this site.

Photograph Credits