Unknown

 

[Unknown]

 

“Found poem for New Year”

 

to facilitate contact

between the world of the living

and that of the dead, these tombs

 

painted limestone only traces of pigment

originally vibrantly blue green red black

and yellow are now visible

 

men harvesting, donkeys carrying crops

to the granary, beer and bread

magically supplied to the deceased

 

the location of the king’s tomb was

unfortunately not recorded

most of the superstructure was moved

 

originally most likely erected at Saqqara

its exact location

remains unknown

 

not much is known about himself either

except what is recorded

on the tomb’s walls

 

the offerings are for the couple

but also for their children

at the funerary banquet

 

who are enjoying themselves

with large heaps of food

surrounded by musicians and dancers

 

some names are carved in stone

other children were also named but

inscription is not visible anymore

 

Found poem for New Year: Marie Vandenbeusch, “In focus: the Mastaba of Urirenptah and Khentkaus”, in ‘Pharoah’, NGV and the British Museum, 2024, pp. 174-177. Image taken at NGV St. Kilda Road: detail of the wall from the mastaba tomb, 5^th Dynasty, c. 2494-2345 BCE, Saqqara, Egypt, in the ‘Pharoah’ exhibition.