The Curse/Warning
The sole confidant,
the Ritualist, the Nobleman of the King. Niankhpepi he says:
"As to anyone
who will do anything evil to this Tomb of the Necropolis, who
will remove a stone from its place (the sarcophagus lid) I will
be judged with him in his august and excellent Council of the
great God of the West. I will seize his backbone like a bird,
the fear of me shall be put into him in order that those who are
living may see and will be afraid of the excellent spirits; I
am an excellent spirit; not any secret magic formula was hidden
from me, for I am a clever ritualist and a learned man."
Sadly for Niankhpepi,
all was to no avail. The tomb was violated soon after burial.
Only his disturbed skeleton and headrest and the remains of a
blue and yellow faience necklace remained, guarded by four seated
statuettes of the incumbent inscribed with the burial ritual.
The robbers had entered the burial chamber via a neighbouring
shaft in the north western corner. The tomb, which is one of my
favourite haunts, is on the north side of Unas Causeway, close
to the Tombs of Iyenhor and Niankhba. The hieroglyphs are of exceptional
quality considering their locality. If you visit this 6th Dynasty
Tomb, make sure you read the offering ritual to keep Niankhpepi's
spirit happy - I always do.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mastabas of Ny-ankh-pepi
& Others
Excavations at Saqqara 1937-1938 Volume
II
Prof Dr Selim Hassan PhD (Vienna)
ALAN
M. FILDES
