the tomb of iahmes, son of psamtikseneb, at 339

THE TOMB OF IAHMES, SON OF PSAMTIKSENEB, AT SAQQARA1

Christiane Ziegler Musée du

Of the tombs recently discovered by the Mission cross-section becomes irregular. Exploration archéologique du Louvre à Saqqara, several date stopped at a depth of 3.96 m, in order to study the to the Late Period. I should like to dedicate the burials then revealed. Sand clearing in the lower study of that of Iahmes to a distinguished col- section, which likely leads to other undisturbed league and great scholar of the art of the late peri- burials, is planned for later seasons. ods. Ultimately, it is to a long-standing friend that The sand fill contained animal bones and this work pays tribute. numerous ceramic vessels, some of which were The tomb of Iahmes, son of Psamtikseneb practically complete.5 These vessel forms are found (fig. 1), was discovered in autumn 2003, during in relation to burials: Bes vases, bottles, feeders, our thirteenth excavation campaign at Saqqara.2 jugs, spindle-shaped vessels (often revealing dark It is located north of the Unas Causeway, in the marks), and torches, as well as a small lekythos northern sector of the area excavated by the mis- (fig. 2) decorated with black palm motifs on a red sion. Like numerous tombs previously discovered, background, covered with natron.6 Inside certain it is accessed via a shaft hewn into the structure of vessels were preserved traces of a substance simi- an older Old Kingdom mastaba.3 This shaft was lar to resin, with its glossy aspect and black or entirely back-filled. The rock-cut burial chamber honey color. Over 30 uninscribed stoppers also was intact, a fact rare enough to raise interest in belong to this corpus; they are fashioned from this structure. mud, covered in fabric, and occasionally retain The brink of shaft Q appeared directly under a the bindings that held them to the vessel.7 Bas- Coptic occupation layer, dated by the presence of ketry items also important in burial practices were large amphorae. Five slabs were laid on the brink, discovered in the same context: basket, papyrus covering up the entrance. The cross-section of the and reed mats, and papyrus-fiber bundles. shaft is square, 1.30 m each side.4 Along a depth Shaft Q also contained close to 300 faience of 2 meters, the walls are carefully hewn; this cor- amulets, blue turquoise or pale green in color8 responds to the preserved height of the mastaba. (fig. 3). One hundred wedjat eyes of varying types As the shaft goes deeper into the bedrock, the were discovered. Wedjat eyes with schematic

1 Translated by Caroline M. Rocheleau. of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, to whom I am 2 Mission under the directorship of Christiane Ziegler. grateful. Please see: C. Ziegler and G. Lecuyot, “Mission archéologique 7 Detailed study by N. Couton forthcoming in Ziegler et du Musée du Louvre à Saqqara. Dernières découvertes,” in al., Fouilles du Louvre. Proceedings of the Ninth International Congress of Egyptolo- 8 For this type of object common in the Late Period, gists 2, ed. J.-C. Goyon and C. Cardin (Leuven, Paris, and see: P. Germond, Le monde symbolique des amulettes égyp- Dudley, MA, 2007), 2021-2029. tiennes (Milan, 2005); M. Hüttner, Mumienamulette im 3 Mastaba Q was already buried when the tomb of Iahmes Totenbrauchtum der Spätzeit (Vienna, 1995); C. Andrews, was planned, as is shown by the level of the brink at +3.60 Amulets of Ancient (London, 1994); B. Schlick-Nolte, m. Liebighaus-Museum Alter Plastik (Melsungen, 1990); C. 4 The architectural study was conducted by J.-P. Adam Müller-Winkler, Die Ägyptischen Objekt-Amulette (Frei- and shall be published in C. Ziegler et al., Fouilles du Louvre burg and Göttingen, 1987); E. Acquaro, Amuleti Egiziani ed à Saqqara, vol. 2, Les tombeaux de Basse Époque (Leuven, Egittizanti del Museo Nazionale di Cagliari, Studi Fenici 10 expected early 2009). (1977); G. Reisner, Amulets II, Catalogue général des antiqui- 5 Detailed study by G. Lecuyot forthcoming in Ziegler et tés du Musée du Caire (, 1958); W.M. F. Petrie, Amulets al, Fouilles du Louvre. (London, 1914); G. Reisner, Amulets I, Catalogue général des 6 Dated to circa 420 BC by my colleague Martine Deno- antiquités du Musée du Caire (Cairo, 1907). yelle, chief curator at the Musée du Louvre’s Department 340 christiane ziegler

Fig. 1. Saqqara, Tomb of Iahmes. Plan of tomb. Fig. 2. Lekythos.

Fig. 3. Amulets.