Decorated burial chamber of Meru (TT 240) at North Asasif: some remarks on the layout

Abstract

The paper offers some preliminary considerations concerning the distribution, composition, and orientation of the elements comprising the decoration of the burial chamber of Meru, TT 240. The tomb, situated within the North Asasif slope, dates to the last phase of the reign of Mentuhotep II Nebhepetra. The repertoire of the decorative elements found in Meru’s burial chamber may be traced back to the Old Kingdom, while some peculiarities in their distribution and orientation seem to be a consequence of introduction of the Pyramid Texts, a post-Old Kingdom novelty in the decoration of a non-royal burial space.

Keywords

• Theban Necropolis
• North Asasif
• Old Kingdom
• Middle Kingdom
• Sixth Dynasty
• Eleventh Dynasty