THE MORTUARY CHAPEL OF UKHHOTEP SON OF IMA (A. NO.3) AT MEIR

Abstract

This article investigates the mortuary chapel of Ukhhotep son of Iam (A. No.3.) at Meir.Our information about Middle Egypt comes primarily from the cemeteries of the wealthy princes and mayors who were associated with political and religious centers of its administrative regions, or nomes; especially at Qaw el-Kebir, el-Rifa, Asyut, el-Bersha, Beni Hasan. El-Qusiya is another important site which is located almost 50km north-west of Asyut. It was the cult center of Hathor. It was the capital of the Fourteenth nome of Upper Egypt. Meir was its necropolis. This nome was rich. Its rulers maintained a considerable state of nobility. They were a class of the mayors (nobility qrHt) which is reflected on their burials. Meir necropolis lies at the edge of cultivation. The tombs were cut into the rock cliffs. These tombs are characterized by the absence of portico on the façade. The chapel of Ukhhotep son of I am (A. No.3)is the focus of this article. It is located up on the cliff of Meir. The chapel has not been studied in details. I aim at providing the full history and description. The date of the chapel could be the time of Senwosert I

Keywords

• meir
• cemeteries
• offerings
• mortuary
• chapel
• hathor
• ukhhotep
• ritual
• tomb