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Vol.27.p.154

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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 154

Sunday, October 27, 1935 (continued)

Today in the afternoon The High Commissioner (Sir Miles Lampson) and Lady Lampson visit the Camp. The Mudir and Mrs. Reisner went to the excavations and showed the High Commissioner the excavations and the MERESANKH III tomb. After that they came to the Camp and had their tea with Mrs. Reisner.

Monday, October 28, 1935

Work on
(1) G 2197 B, C, D

(1) G 2197
G 2197 B: In shaft. Down 3 meters. Sand, limestone debris and dubsh. Chamber I appears on north in shaft C. Lined with. It was roofed with stones. Roof not gone, only one stone from the roof not gone (the door lintel). No blocking. Chamber I not yet cleared. Not reached the rock in shaft.

G 2197 C: In shaft. It is north of B and south of D. Lined with dubsh above. The building gone on south and north, between this shaft and shaft D. In shaft chamber I of G 2197 B appears. Down 2.1 meters. Limestone debris and dubsh. Not reached the rock in shaft, and not reached the chamber.

G 2197 D: In shaft. It is north of C. It is at the end of the mastaba. On north lined with dubsh above, only on south the building between this shaft and C gone, and rock below. Down 3.9 meters. Excavated before 2.3 meters. Limestone debris, dubsh and sand. Not reached the rock in shaft, and not reached the chamber.

Tuesday, October 29, 1935
Day of rest.

Wednesday, October 30, 1935

Work on
(1) G 2197 B, C, D, W, X, Y, Z

(1) G 2197
G 2197 B: In shaft and chamber. Total depth 4.2 meters. Limestone debris, black debris, potsherds and dubsh. Chamber I cleared which appears in shaft C. Open and empty. Drawing.

[ILLUSTRATION]

G 2197 C: In shaft. Total depth 3.2 meters. Limestone debris, dubsh and black debris. We exposed that it has no chamber only the chamber of B, which we excavated before. The chamber was in the shaft before. We removed it now.

microfilm: end page 154

Details

  • Classification
    Documentation-Expedition diary pages
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Display Page Dates
    10/27/1935; 10/28/1935; 10/29/1935; 10/30/1935
  • Mentioned on page
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942
    Mrs. Mary Reisner, American
    Meresankh III (G 7530-7540)
    Sir Miles and Lady Lampson (the High Commissioner)
  • Translator
    Mahmud Said Ahmed [Diraz]
  • Author
    Mohamed Said Ahmed [Diraz]

Tombs and Monuments 1

  • G 2197

    • Site Name Western Cemetery

Published Documents 2

People 5

Ancient People

  • Meresankh III (G 7530-7540)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Remarks Owner of G 7530-7540.Granddaughter of King Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid, and wife of either Khafre or Menkaure. Her unique underground chapel (labeled G 7530-7540) preserves beautifully carved and painted scenes of the queen and her royal family, as well as servants, artisans, and funerary priests. The scenes also depict the sort of rich burial goods that would have been placed in Meresankh’s tomb: statues and fine furniture; boxes containing food, clothing, and jewelry; even a representation of the black granite sarcophagus that was actually found in situ in her burial chamber. Chapel entrance architrave, jambs, reveals and drum inscribed for Meresankh, idenitifed as [mAAt Hr stX wrt Hts nbwj xt Hr wrt Hst DHwtj smrt Hr mrt=f sAt nswt n Xt=f Hmt nswt mrt] seer of Horus and Seth, great one of the hetes-scepter of the Two Lords, khet-priestess of Horus, great of praises of Thoth, companion of Horus, his beloved, king's daughter of his body, beloved king's wife; in situ in G 7530-7540. Appears in chapel relief of main room: seated holding lotus (south wall); standing with her mother (east wall), idenitifed as [wrt Hts] great one of the hetes-scepter; on pillars (north wall), idenitifed as [tjst Hr] intimate(?) of Horus; seated at offering table, standing north of false door and on central pillar, and with her mother and son (west wall), idenitifed as [Hm-nTr DHwtj wrt Hts nbtj Hm-nTr bApf Hm-nTr HwtHr nbt jwnt smAwt mrjj nbtj] priestess of Thoth, great one of the hetes-scepter of the Two Ladies, priestess of Bapef, priestess of Hathor Mistress-of-Dendera, consort of him who is beloved of the Two Ladies; in situ in G 7530-7540. Also appears on all walls of offering (west) room; in situ in G 7530-7540. Architrave on north wall of north room inscribed for Meresankh; uninscribed statues may also represent Meresankh (along with other female family members); in situ in G 7530-7540. Black granite sarcophagus (Cairo JE 54935) inscribed for Meresankh, idenitifed as [xrp sSmtjw SnDt] director of butchers of the 'Acacia House'; in situ in burial chamber of G 7530-7540. Incomplete limestone statue of Meresankh (MFA 30.1457) and pair statue of Meresankh and Hetepheres II (MFA 30.1456); found displaced in debris of main room. Mother ([mwt=f] his mother) of Nebemakhet (owner of G 8172 = Lepsius 86). Appears in relief of inner chapel (above doorway in eastern wall), identified as [mAAt Hr stX wrt Hts wrt Hst Hmt nswt] seer of Horus and Seth, great one of the hetes-scepter, great of praises, king's wife; in situ in G 8172. Also mentioned in the tomb of her steward Khemetnu (owner of G 5210).

Modern People

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1867–1942
    • Remarks Egyptologist, archaeologist; Referred to as "the doctor" and "mudir" (Arabic for "director") in the excavation records. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Mahmud Said Ahmed [Diraz]

    • Type Translator
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Diary translator. Son of Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Head Reis 1908-1926). Brother of Mohammed Said Ahmed (Head Reis 1936-1939). Family name, Diraz, was supplied by Said Ahmed Said's grandsons in 2006.

  • Mohamed Said Ahmed [Diraz]

    • Type Author
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1936–1939. Son of Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Head Reis 1908-1926) and brother of Mahmoud Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Translator) and Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]. Family name, Diraz, was supplied by Said Ahmed Said's grandsons in 2006.

  • Mrs. Mary Reisner

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American
    • Remarks Wife of Dr. George Reisner, mother of Miss Mary Reisner.

Groups 1