Umm el-Qa'ab
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Umm el-Qa'ab (sometimes Umm el Ga'ab, Arabic: أم القعاب) is the necropolis of the Early Dynastic[1] kings at Abydos, in Egypt[2]. Its modern name means 'Mother of Pots', as the whole area is littered with the broken pot shards of offerings made in later times (see picture).
Contents |
[edit] Pre-Dynastic Tombs
- U-j – Unknown noble, but possibly Serket I from scorpion insignia found in tomb
- B1/B2 – Iry-Hor[3]
- B7/B8/B9 – Ka
[edit] First Dynasty Tombs
Known as Cemetery B, this area contains the tombs of the kings of the First dynasty of Egypt and the last 2 kings of the Second.
- B17/B18 – Narmer[4]
- B10/B15/B19 – Aha[5]
- O – Djer[6]
- Z – Djet[7]
- Y – Merneith[8]
- T – Den[9]
- X – Anedjib[10]
- U – Semerkhet[11]
- Q – Qa'a[12]
[edit] Second Dynasty Tombs
The last 2 kings of the Second Dynasty returned to be buried near to their ancestors - they also revived the practice of building mud-brick funerary enclosures nearby.
A seal found in this tomb contains the first full sentence written in hieroglyphs [14].
- V – Khasekhemwy[15]
This tomb was on a massive scale, with several interconnecting mud-brick chambers, and the actual burial chamber being constructed of dressed limestone blocks.
When excavated by Petrie, in 1901 it contained a sceptre made from sard and banded with gold, limestone vases with golden covers, and a ewer and basin of bronze.
[edit] References
- ^ [1] Tombs of kings of the First and Second Dynasty
- ^ Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, Routledge, 1999
- ^ [2] Abydos, Tomb of King Iry-Hor
- ^ [3] Narmer's Tomb
- ^ [4] Hor-Aha's Tomb
- ^ [5] Tomb O
- ^ [6] Tomb Z
- ^ [7] Tomb Y
- ^ [8] Tomb T
- ^ [9] Tomb X
- ^ [10] Tomb U
- ^ [11] Tomb Q
- ^ [12] Abydos Tomb P
- ^ [13] Peribsen' tomb
- ^ [14] Abydos Tomb V
 |
This article about Egyptology or subjects relating to ancient Egypt is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
