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Black granite sarcophagus and lid of Meresankh III

Object(s) photograph: Site: Giza; view: G 7530-7540

Black granite sarcophagus and lid of Meresankh III; decorated and inscribed. Illustration: No

Details

  • ID
    GEM_45475
  • Department
    Grand Egyptian Museum
  • Classification
    Tomb equipment-Coffins and sarcophagi
  • Findspot
    G 7530-7540: pit G 7530 A
  • Material
    Granite
  • Dimensions
    Height: 81 cm; lid: 16 cm Width: 90 cm Length: 218 cm Weight: 4131 kg
  • Credit Line
    Grand Egyptian Museum
  • Journal d'Entree number
    EMC_JE_54935a
  • Cairo Special Register number
    EMC_SR_2/14695
  • Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts excavation number
    HUMFA_27-6-20
  • Journal d'Entree number
    EMC_JE_54935b
  • Object Ownership Information
    In the collection of: Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM_45475, formerly EMC_JE_54935)
  • Period
    Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, reign of Khufu
  • Date of Register Entry
    06/05/1927
  • Owner
    Meresankh III (G 7530-7540)

Tombs and Monuments 1

Published Documents 4

Full Bibliography

  • Callender, Vivienne G. and Peter Jánosi. "The Tomb of Queen Khamerernebty II at Giza." Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo 53 (1997), p. 18.

    Dunham, Dows, and William Kelly Simpson. The Mastaba of Queen Mersyankh III (G 7530-7540). Giza Mastabas 1. Boston, Museum of Fine Arts, 1974, pp. 21, 23, fig. 14, pl. 15a-d.

    Flentye, Laurel. "The Mastaba of Meresankh III (G 7530/7540) in the Eastern Cemetery at Giza: An Archaeological and Art Historical Analysis." Bulletin of the Egyptian Museum 3 (2006), p. 72.

    Reisner, George A. "The Tomb of Meresankh, a Great-Granddaughter of Queen Hetep-Heres and Sneferuw." Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 25, No. 151 (October 1927), p. 78, fig. 20.

People 1

Ancient People

  • Meresankh III (G 7530-7540)

    • Type Owner
    • 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).