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A Dutch-Italian team has discovered a new tomb at Saqqara, belonging to a man named Panehsy who was associated with the Temple of Amun in the early part of the Ramesside Period. The tomb is in the form of a small temple measuring 13 by 8 metres, with a monumental entrance opening on to acourtyard with a colonnade portico, and three chapels on the west side. A shaft at the centre leads to a number of underground burial chambers.
Scenes carved into limestone slabs set as orthostats show images of Panehsy’s funeral, including a scene of Panehsy and his wife Baia, a singer of Amun, being offered libations. This ritual was usually performed by the eldest son; here it is carried out by a priest, suggesting the couple did not have children.
The team also discovered four smaller funerary chambers to the east of Panehsy’s tomb, including the chapel of craftsman Yuyu, who was responsible for the production of gold foil for the pharaoh, and the chapel of an unknown man shown with his family in a deeply carved scene.
All images: copyright of the Ministry for Tourism and Antiquities
