Tomb N13.1 of the Nomarch Iti-ibi(-iqer) at Asyut

Description

One of the important outcomes of the long-term Egyptian-German co-operation in archaeological fieldwork at the necropolis of Asyut is the discovery of Tomb N13.1 in 2005. The tomb was discovered by the members of The Asyut Project while surveying the necropolis of Asyut for the purpose of mapping. Tomb N13.1 belongs to the late First Intermediate Period/early Eleventh Dynasty Siutian Nomarch Iti-ibi(-iqer). This discovery is the only available source of information introducing the then unknown Siutian nomarch Iti-ibi(-iqer). It provides us with a possible evidence connecting the well-known Siutian family of nomarchs, who ruled Asyut during the later part of the First Intermediate Period, i.e., Khety I, Iti-ibi and Khety II, and the celebrated nomarch Mesehti, owner of the two sets of model-soldiers representing Egyptian spearmen provided with shields (Cairo CG 258) and Nubian archers (Cairo CG 257), in addition to the two coffins (Cairo CG 28118, 28119). The tomb's decoration is one of the best preserved late First Intermediate Period/early Eleventh Dynasty tombs known to us up to date. Ist iconographic details present one of the earliest known examples of a fabulous creature in a hunting scene in a private tomb and the earliest known example of goddess Sekhet dominating a fowling scene in a non-royal context. Mahmoud El-Khadragy, now Professor Emeritus of Egyptology, Faculty of Archaeology, Sohag University, participated as field director of The Asyut Project for eleven seasons of fieldwork between 2003 and 2014. Cover Title Pages Content Preface and acknowledgments 1. Introduction 1.1 Conducted fieldwork 1.2 Epigraphic conventions 1.3 Method of description 2. The tomb owner in his social and historical setting 2.1 The tomb owner as the head of an extended household 2.1.1 Possible subsidiary burials in the forecourt 2.1.2 Individuals named in the tomb – subordinates and family 2.2 The tomb owner in his historical setting 2.2.1 Sequence of local nomarchs 2.2.2 Approximation to a chronological placement of the tomb 3. Architectural features 4. Coloring and execution of the decoration 4.1 Colors of hieroglyphs 4.2 Anomalies in the orientation of signs 4.3 Colors of the representations 5. Representations and inscriptions 5.1 The entrance 5.2 The northern wall NI.1 – The tomb owner, family members and possibly a biographical inscription NII.1 – Inspecting cattle and military scenes NIII.1 – Senebti(-iqeret) offers the mni͗.t-necklace and sistrum to Iti-ibi(-iqer) NI.2 – Grain storage and river-faring ships 5.3 The western wall Inscription line framing top of WIX, ledge of niche and WIII WI–WIII – Tomb owner sitting below canopy watching butchers, offering bearers, musicians and cranes being fed WIV – Offering scenes and offering list (northern part) WV–WVII – False door and offering scenes WV.1–4 – Offerings, offering table scene, slaughter of an ox, offering bearers (northern part)? WVI.1 – False door WVII.1–4 – Offerings, offering table scene, slaughter of an ox, offering bearers (southern part) WVIII – Offering scenes and offering list (southern part) WIX – Watching fighting bulls and woodworking? 5.4 The southern wall SI.1 – Commemorating Khety II SII.1 – Fowling in the marshes with the goddess Sekhet SIII.1 – Fishing scene SIII.2 – The desert hunt SI.2 – Tilling, sowing and tree felling SI.3 – (Force-)feeding of cattle and fording scenes SI.4 – Bread and beer production 5.5 The eastern wall EI.1 – Soldiers EI.2 – Harvest of flax and grain EI.3 – Offering bearers and threshing EII.1–7 – Offering bearers and fishing 5.6 The pillars Pillar A Pillar B 6. History of later usage of the tomb Bibliography List of figures List of plates Figures Plates