Nag' El Mashayikh: the Ramesside tombs

The author discusses the only two decorated tombs of the Ramesside tombs in the cliffs of Nag' el-Mashayikh (the ancient Bḥdt-iꜢbtt / Lepidotonpolis), 45 km south of Sohag: 1) The most significant is the tomb of Anhurmose, High Priest of Onuris. The most characteristic features of this tomb are: (a) the special prominence given by the tomb owner to his wife Sekhmetnefret; (b) the general design of the tomb as a place where the deceased and his wife could worship and be in the presence of the gods for all eternity, the tomb also functioning as a temple; (c) the chief feature of the tomb is its extensive autobiographical inscription, which is quite unusual for the Ramesside period; 2) the tomb of Imiseba, the Chief Steward in the Domain of Khons. Although the inscriptions in this tomb are not as interesting or extensive as those in the tomb of Anhurmose, the reliefs show some unusual themes, depicting agricultural activities. (OEB)