Skip to main content

Limestone blocks with autobiographical inscription of Nekhebu

Object(s) photograph: Site: Giza; view: G 2381

Twelve fragments of limestone with autobiographical inscription of Nekhebu; eight vertical columns and one horizontal line above seated figure in sunk relief [GLYPHS]. Illustration: No

Details

  • ID
    HUMFA_13-1-547
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Classification
    Architectural elements-Relief
  • Findspot
    G 2382 [(originally thought to be a tomb, but now known to be a jumbled deposit of limestone blocks from other nearby tombs)], [Senedjemib complex] court, [originally from G 2381]
  • Material
    Limestone
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Object Ownership Information
    MFA accession numbers: 13.4331.1–13.4331.18
  • Period
    Old Kingdom, Dynasty 6
  • Date of Register Entry
    December 1912
  • Owner
    Merptahankh-meryre Nekhebu (G 2381)
  • Remarks
    More than twelve blocks (or fragments of blocks) have been identified as belonging to this inscription. MFA 13.4331 (overall): consists of autiobiographical inscription of Nekhebu (13-1-547) and spear fishing scene from adjoining wall (13-1-549). Autobiographical inscription (13-1-547) composed of blocks and fragments of blocks accessioned as MFA 13.4331.1, MFA 13.4331.2, MFA 13.4331.3, MFA 13.4331.4, MFA 13.4331.5, MFA 13.4331.6, MFA 13.4331.7, MFA 13.4331.8, MFA 13.4331.9, MFA 13.4331.10, MFA 13.4331.11, MFA 13.4331.12, MFA 13.4331.13, MFA 13.4331.14, MFA 13.4331.15, MFA 13.4331.16, MFA 13.4331.17, MFA 13.4331.18. End faces of some corner blocks of this inscription (13-1-547) have parts of spear fishing scene (13-1-549) from adjoining wall; these include: MFA 13.4331.8, MFA 13.4331.13, MFA 13.4331.15, MFA 13.4331.17.
  • Problems/Questions
    MFA accession numbers verified

Tombs and Monuments 2

  • G 2381

    • Site Name Western Cemetery

  • G 2382

    • Site Name Western Cemetery

Published Documents 5

Unpublished Documents 5

Full Bibliography

  • Brovarski, Edward. "A Second Style in Egyptian Relief of the Old Kingdom." In Stephen E. Thomson and Peter Der Manuelian, eds. Egypt and Beyond. Essays Presented to Leonard H. Lesko upon his Retirement from the Wilbour Chair of Egyptology at Brown University June 2005, Providence: Department of Egyptology and Ancient Western Asian Studies, 2008, pp. 57-59, notes 51 and 53, pls. IIb, III.

    Brovarski, Edward. "The Senedjemib Complex at Giza: An Interim Report." L'Égyptologie en 1979. Axes prioritaires de recherches, tome II. Colloques Internationaux du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique No. 595. Paris: Éditions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1982, p. 116.

    Dunham, Dows. "The Biographical Inscriptions of Nekhebu in Boston and Cairo." Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 24 (1938), pp. 1-8, pl. I.1, II.

    Sethe, Kurt. Urkunden des Alten Reichs. Erster Band. Urkunden des Ägyptischen Altertums Abteilung 1, Hft. 1-4. Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung, 1903/1933, pp. 219-221 [48 (139)].

    Smith, William Stevenson. Ancient Egypt as Represented in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1960 (6th ed.), pp. 55, 63.

People 1

Ancient People

  • Merptahankh-meryre Nekhebu (G 2381)

    • Type Owner
    • Remarks Owner of G 2381, buried in sloping-passage shaft G 2382 A. Son of Khnumenti (?) (owner of G 2374). Father of Merptahankh-meryre Ptahshepses Impy, Sabuptah Ibebi, and Tjemat; Nekhebu identified variously as [jmj-r kAt jmj-r kAt nbt nt nswt jmj-r wpwt nswt mnnfr-mrjra ppj jmj-r xntjw-S mnnfr-mrjra ppj jmj-r qdw aA dwAw mtj n sA mDH nswt mDH nswt qdw mDH nswt qdw m prwj Hrj-sStA n wabtj xrp SnDt nbt Xrj-Hb Xrj-Hb Hrj-tp Xrj-tp nswt sm smr watj smsw snwt sHD qdw Sps nswt qdw n aSAt qdw m prwj kAwtj] overseer of works, overseer of all royal works, overseer of royal commissions of the pyramid of Pepi I, overseer of palace attendants of the pyramid of Pepi I, overseer of builders, assistant of (the god) Duau, regulator of a phyle, royal carpenter, royal architect, royal architect in the two houses, secretary of the two wabets, director of every kilt, lector-priest, chief lector-priest, royal chamberlain, sem-priest, sole companion, elder of the snwt-house, inspector of builders, noble of the king, ordinary builder, builder in the two houses, workman. Appears in chapel relief and wall paintings: 1) relief scene (13-3-545 = MFA 13.4335) probably from lintel depicting six standing figures (three facing right, three facing left) of Nekhebu holding staff and scepter with columns of hieroglyphic text between figures identifying Nekhebu with his names, titles, and honorific epithets; 2) painted scene (13-1-546 = MFA 13.4339) of at least three registers depicting Nekhebu striding to right with name and titles in black in front of each figure; 3) autobiographical inscription of Nekhebu (13-1-547 = MFA 13.4331) with eight vertical columns and one horizontal line of text above seated figure of Nekhebu (facing left); 4) autobiographical inscription of Nekhebu (13-1-548 = MFA 13.5969 + Cairo JE 44608) with ten vertical columns and one horizontal line of text above seated figure of Nekhebu (facing right); 5) relief scene (13-1-549 = MFA 13.4331 + possibly one fragment from 13-1-558a = MFA 13.5975) from wall adjoining autobiographical inscription (13-1-547) depicting Nekhebu spear fishing in marsh; 6) relief scene (13-1-550 = MFA 13.4351) depicting figure of Nekhebu (facing right, only top of head preserved) with five vertical columns of inscription (above) and offering list (in front); 7) two door jambs (13-1-551: left jamb = MFA 13.4348; right jamb = MFA 13.4349) depicting standing figures of Nekhebu with accompanying inscription; 8) relief scene (13-1-553 + 13-1-556j + 13-1-558i = MFA 13.5834) depicting aging Nekhebu kneeling in boat in marsh; 9) relief scene (13-1-554 = MFA 13.4349) from section of facade adjoining right door jamb (13-1-551) depicting registers of Nile boats, on one boat in middle register (MFA 13.4349.2) seated figure of Nekhebu faced by his wife Hatkau playing harp; 10) relief scene (13-1-555 = MFA 13.4346 + possibly 13-1-558d = MFA 13.5974) depicting seated figure of Nekhebu (facing right) and three registers of offering bearers (facing left) leading cattle and gazelle; 11) relief scene (13-1-555 + 13-1-556 + 13-1-558o = MFA 13.5830) depicting Nekhebu seated in carrying chair; 12) relief scene (13-1-556d + 13-1-558j = MFA 13.5934) depicting seated figure of Nekhebu (facing right) and two registers of family members and offering bearers (facing left); 13) relief scene (13-1-556l + 13-1-558k = MFA 13.5935) depicting seated figure of Nekhebu (facing left) with vertical columns of inscription above; 14) relief scene (13-1-558l = MFA 13.5936) depicting seated figure of Nekhebu (facing right) with vertical columns of inscription above (original position to left of section of facade with ceremonial dancers and offering bearers MFA 13.4348). Chapel almost completely destroyed with most blocks and fragments of relief and inscription found scattered in Senedjemib Complex court (G 2382). Fragmentary limestone seated statue (12-12-14 + 12-12-22 = MFA 13.3161a-b) inscribed for Nekhebu, identified as [smr watj mDH qd nswt m prwj] sole companion, royal architect in the two houses; fragments found scattered in Senedjemib Complex court (G 2382). Fragmentary limestone seated statue (12-11-26) inscribed for Nekhebu, identified as [smr watj mDH qd nswt m prwj] sole companion, royal architect in the two houses; fragments found scattered in G 2370 and Senedjemib Complex court (G 2382). Fragment of limestone seated statue (12-12-595 = MFA 13.3159) inscribed for Nekhebu, identified as [smr watj mDH qd nswt m prwj] sole companion, royal architect in the two houses; found in debris west of G 2381 A. Fragmentary incomplete limestone seated statue (12-11-58 + 12-12-176a = MFA 13.3149a-c), preserved fragments uninscribed, attributed to Nekhebu; fragments found scattered in G 2381. Fragment of limestone seated statue (12-12-9 = MFA 13.3156), preserved fragment uninscribed, attributed to Nekhebu; found in Senedjemib Complex court (G 2382). Fragment of limestone seated statue (12-12-16 = MFA 13.3154), preserved fragment uninscribed, attributed to Nekhebu; found in G 2381. Limestone obelisk (12-12-23 = MFA 13.4353 deaccessioned = Memphis 1981.1.5) inscribed for Nekhebu, identified as [jmj-r kAt nbt nt nswt smr watj] overseer of all royal works, sole companion; found in Senedjemib Complex court (G 2382). Fragments of diorite offering table (12-12-20 = MFA 13.3143a-b) inscribed for Nekhebu; found in Senedjemib Complex court (G 2382).