Meir Monumental Tombs

Meir Monumental Tombs, carved into a mountain, were built for noble families. Meir Monumental Tombs are found 65km from Asyut. These tombs, carved into a mountain, were built for noble families. They feature detailed carvings showing daily life from that time, along with images of rituals, furniture, and hunting activities.

Meir tombs are very important for history because they offer a lot of details about how ancient Egyptians buried their dead and what they believed. These tombs were made to be forever homes for those who passed away, showing the ancient Egyptians' faith in life after death. They were richly decorated with paintings on the walls and included items for the deceased to enjoy in the afterlife.

Meir has not received much archaeological focus since Aylward Blackman published the tombs for the Egypt Exploration Fund in 1914, followed by Sayed Pasha Kabasha's excavations in 1919. Reisner noted model boats found at Meir, and Daressy studied the coffins. The area has been hard for tourists to access, but recently, some tombs have been cleared and opened for visitors. The cemetery features many significant rock-cut tombs from Dynasty VI and Dynasty XII, showcasing unique painted scenes known for their realistic style. Numerous tombs depict detailed scenes of everyday life, including various industries and sports, and exhibit a distinct local artistic style.

What are some of the key archaeological discoveries that have been made at the Meir tombs?

• Tomb of Niankh-hpepy (Meir A-1)  

Niankh-hpepy, also called ‘Hepi the Black,’ had a grand tomb that shows his high rank as Chancellor of Pepi I during Dynasty VI. The tomb has four rooms. In the first and biggest room, Niankh-hpepy and his wife are shown receiving gifts like cattle, birds, and food, while also watching fishing and hunting activities. On the western wall, there is a stela with an offering slab in front of it. Niankh-hpepy’s tomb has many shafts for the burials of his family.

• Tomb of Pepyankh (Meir A-2)

Pepyankh, the son of Niankh-hpepy, was known as ‘Heni the Black’. His tomb, which is next to his father's, is larger and features many images showing different industries and the gathering of crops like grapes, grain, and flax. On the left wall of the western chamber, there are scenes of offerings that lead into a long corridor and a room with a big burial shaft. On the right wall, Pepyankh is depicted in a palanquin, shaded by a fan-bearer, with his pet dog and monkey above. A small offering chamber at the back has a false door. The central chamber, the first one you see when entering, shows the tomb owner performing his duties, with scribes, a secretary, and attendants checking the workshops. The eastern chamber features funeral scenes and a serdab with images of the deceased on the walls.

• Tomb of Senbi (Meir B-1)  

This tomb is one of the most famous at Meir. Senbi was the Nomarch and ‘Overseer of Priests’ during Amenemhet I's reign in Dynasty XII, and his father was Ukhhotep. Inside the tomb, there are many offering scenes, although some are quite damaged, along with scenes of farming and production. The best-preserved manufacturing scene shows vase-making. Senbi is also depicted in an impressive hunting scene in the desert with his dogs. On both sides of the chapel's front walls, there are two basins used for offering rituals. A raised central path leads to a niche for a statue at the back.

• Tomb of Ukhhotep (Meir B-2)  

Ukhhotep, the son of Senbi (B-1), held important titles like ‘Great Chief of the Nome’, ‘Overseer of Priests of Hathor of Cusae’, and ‘Overseer of Priests of the Lady of All’ during the reign of Senwosret I in Dynasty XII. The tomb features reliefs that show scenes similar to those of his father, including offerings and activities in marshes. It also displays a wide range of wildlife in hunting scenes, depicted in a realistic and colorful way. The tomb seems to have been left unfinished at the time of Ukhhotep's death, with some figures only roughly outlined in red paint. On the southern wall, there are images of cattle, and the herdsmen appear thin, likely suggesting a famine during that time. The paintings in this tomb are particularly bright and striking.

Restoration work on the tombs at Meir started in 1997. Several tombs have had their walls strengthened and the reliefs brought back to their original bright colors. Currently, at least nine out of a planned seventeen tombs are open to visitors. New stairways have been built for easier access, along with a small coffee shop and restrooms. In the past, the tombs were often targeted for illegal digging, as well as legal excavations that allowed artifacts to be taken abroad. Some of these items have been returned, and many are now displayed in a small museum in Mallawi, including a limestone statue of Pepyankh and his wife from tomb A-2.