Revealing the mystery of the Sarcophagus and coffins of Maiherpri; A new publication

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Tourist Guiding Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels-Helwan University

Abstract

The funerary furniture of Maiherpri,[i] is a perfect example for the private elite funerary furniture of the New Kingdom. The good state of preservation for these exceptional pieces makes it easier to study the careful wooden crafts and the multiple techniques of the furniture constructions and assembling like, dovetail joints, mortise- tenon as well as wooden and metal pins. Not only the Sarcophagus and coffins’ shape, inscriptions and decorations helped to identify the complementary era as the mid- Eighteenth dynasty but also, the usage of precious material pointed at the owner’s wealth and social status. Finally, the breaks on the top of the coffins’ heads along with other coffins of the same period offer a documentation of tomb robbery motivations.



[i] Maiherpri is the owner of KV36. He lived during the New Kingdom and he held a number of titles like: the fan bearer of the right side of the king, the child of El Kap and the follower of the king in the Northern Foreigner lands. See P. PIACENTINI, The Valley of the Kings Rediscovered: The Victor Loret Excavation Journals (1898-1899) and other manuscripts,( Milan,2005), 56-57. His full titles are mentioned in his papyrus. See G.  DARESSY, Catalogue Général des Antiquités Égyptiennes du Musée du Caire N° 24001-24990 Fouilles de la Vallée des Rois (1898-1899), (Cairo, 1902), 54.

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