The descriptions and
illustrations are taken from Excavations At Giza VI,
(1934-1935)
by Dr. Selim Hassan -
Cairo 1951
(Excavations of the Faculty of
Arts, Fouad I University.
Published by Service des
Antiquities de L'Egypte).
The text may be found from p55
onwards.
The reliefs shown here are to be found in the main chapel of the mastaba
of Princess Hemet-Ra. The chapel roof is supported by four pillars which
are aligned on a north-south axis. Hassan tells us that the northernmost
pillar is unfinished and undecorated, but that the other three pillars
are well-finished and decorated with reliefs of Princess Hemet-Ra, her
family and assistants. Hassan documented the faces of the these pillars,
referring to them as the first pillar, second pillar and southern
pillar. It is these descriptions that are quoted below. Unfortunately, I
have been unable to determine the names of the Princess's family and
assistants from my reference material. Omissions are noted as "[...]".
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The First Pillar, The
Eastern Face (Fig.39)
The
scene is bordered on its right and left sides by a frame of rectangles
coloured light blue and dark yellow alternately. The princess is shown
in a standing attitude with her right hand placed open upon her breast,
and her left arm hanging by her side. She wears a long black wig, a
broad necklace and bracelets, and is clad in a close-fitting garment of
a dark green colour. Above her head is a horizontal row of coloured
hieroglyphs, reading: "The King's Daughter of His Body, Hemet-Ra".
In front of her are two
vertical rows of hieroglyphs, reading:
(1) "The
Possessor of Honour in the Presence of Her Father." (2) "The Priestess of […], Hemet-Ra."
Below this inscription is
the figure of the Overseer of the Ka servants, one […]. This official,
while on a smaller scale than the figure of the Princess, is yet
represented on a larger scale than any other priest depicted in this
tomb. This may be due to the importance of his position.
He is shown in a walking attitude, his left hand clasping a roll of
papyrus in his bosom, and his right arm hanging by his side, with the
hand closed upon the unknown object.
Above his head is a horizontal row of hieroglyphs, reading: "The
Honoured by His Master". In front of him is a vertical row of
hieroglyphs, reading: "The Steward, the Overseer of the Ka servants, […]
The Second Pillar, The
Eastern Face (Fig.40)
Princess Hemet-Ra is shown in the same attitude in which she appears
upon the first pillar. Her wig is painted black, and she wears two
necklaces, one of the "dog-collar" type, and the other a "usekh collar".
Wide bracelets and anklets adorn her wrists and ankles. She wears a long
tight rule [robe?], upheld by variegated
coloured
braces, and entirely covered by a net-work of red and green beads, which
were presumably sewn onto the fabric of the garment. Above her head a
horizontal row of hieroglyphs reads:
"The King's Daughter of His Body, Hemet-Ra".
In front of the Princess are
three superposed registers, in which are depicted five of her children,
three sons and two daughters.
In the top register is represented a man. He is in a walking attitude,
facing the Princess; he carries a roll of papyrus in his right hand,
while his left hand rests closed upon his chest. In front of him a
vertical row of hieroglyphs reads:
"Her son, the King's Relative […]".
In the second register are
the figures of two more men, both of whom are represented in a walking
attitude, facing the Princess, the left hand placed closed upon their
chests, and the right arm hanging at the side. In front of the
right-hand figure is a vertical row of hieroglyphs reading:
"Her Son, the King's Relative […]".
In front of the second man
is inscribed vertically:
"Her son, the King's Relative […]".
In the third register are
the figures of two women; both are represented standing, the left hand
placed open upon the breast, and the right arm hanging by the side. They
wear long wigs, two necklaces, and long, tight robes; the right-hand
figure also wears anklets. In front of this latter figure a vertical row
of hieroglyphs reads:
"Her daughter,
the King's Relative, […]".
In front of the second
figure is inscribed:
"Her daughter,
the King's Relative, […]".
Behind the legs of Princess
Hemet-Ra is the figure of yet a third daughter. She is similarly clad to
her sisters, and embraces her mother's legs with her right arm, while
the left arm hangs at her side. Above her head is inscribed: "Her
daughter, […]".