King Pepy II’s doctor

February 15, 2025
This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 147


Subscribe now for full access and no adverts

The beautifully painted tomb of the Chief Palace Physician Tetinebfu from the Old Kingdom reign of Pepy II (c.2278-2184 BC) has been discovered at Saqqara by a joint French–Swiss mission. The mud-brick-lined mastaba was looted in antiquity, but the walls remained intact. The carved and painted reliefs depict funerary scenes, and scenes of Tetinebfu carrying out his medical duties. His full titles, found on his stone sarcophagus, show he was also a priest of the scorpion goddess Serket, Chief Dentist, and Director of Medicinal Plants.

The newly discovered Old Kingdom tomb of Chief Physician Tetinebfu at Saqqara.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / All images: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

By Country

Popular
UK • Italy • Greece • Egypt • Turkey • France

Africa
Botswana • Egypt • Ethiopia • Ghana • Kenya • Libya • Madagascar • Mali • Morocco • Namibia • Somalia • South Africa • Sudan • Tanzania • Tunisia • Zimbabwe

Asia
Iran • Iraq • Israel • Japan • Java • Jordan • Kazakhstan • Kodiak Island • Korea • Kyrgyzstan •
Laos • Lebanon • Malaysia • Mongolia • Oman • Pakistan • Qatar • Russia • Papua New Guinea • Saudi Arabia • Singapore • South Korea • Sumatra • Syria • Thailand • Turkmenistan • UAE • Uzbekistan • Vanuatu • Vietnam • Yemen

Australasia
Australia • Fiji • Micronesia • Polynesia • Tasmania

Europe
Albania • Andorra • Austria • Bulgaria • Croatia • Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • England • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Gibraltar • Greece • Holland • Hungary • Iceland • Ireland • Italy • Malta • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Scotland • Serbia • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Turkey • Sicily • UK

South America
Argentina • Belize • Brazil • Chile • Colombia • Easter Island • Mexico • Peru

North America
Canada • Caribbean • Carriacou • Dominican Republic • Greenland • Guatemala • Honduras • USA

Discover more from The Past

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading