The False Door of Shendua Discovered Recently at Saqqara

Document Type : research articles

Author

Egyptology Dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Damietta Univ., Egypt.

Abstract

This article concerns an inscribed limestone false door discovered recently in an Old Kingdom tomb at Saqqara. The false door is described architecturally; the texts and the scenes are explained. The commentary pays attention to the name, epithets, titles, Htp di nzwt formula, prt-xrw formula, xA offering list, and the figures of the deceased. The place of discovery, titles and epithets of the tomb owner, Htp di nzwt formula, prt-xrw formula, architectural features and the decoration of the false door are the methods of dating this door. Twenty-one features for dating the false door were introduced. It includes a new name and a new kilt for individuals, not attested before in the Old Kingdom. Through discussions, these questions were answered when Shenduai was born, lived and died, why he built his tomb in Unas’ cemetery and did not build it in Pepy II’s cemetery, why it was not in the original planning of the cemetery, and why only one offering formula came on the false door

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