Mastaba of Kagemni
Mastaba of Kagemni was one of Teti’s chancellors. Lepsius discovered it in 1843, and fifty years later, Jaques Morgan conducted further excavations.
The Mastaba of Kagemni is also known by the name Memi.
He started his career as a dignitary under Pharaoh Djedkare-Isesi 5th dynasty. During the reign of King Unas, he received the titles of judge and governor.
Under King Teti of the 6th Dynasty, he rose to the position of vizier and highest judge of the country.
The inscriptions on his mastaba contain about fifty other titles.
As vizier and chosen one of the pharaoh, he received permission to build a grave in the cemetery nearby
the pyramid of King Teti. Mastaba of Kagemni was married to Princess Sesheshet-Nebtynubkhet,
a daughter of Teti. She is depicted in the grave at his side. In the same scene we also see their son Tetianch.
The great tomb is located opposite the pyramid of Teti, next to the mastaba of Mereroeka.
mastaba is square, with sides of about 32 meters. The first layer and the door are built with limestone from the area.
the rest of the facade consists of large blocks of limestone, probably from the Tura quarry,
south of present-day Cairo in Helwan on the right bank of the Nile.
The blocks, measuring 50 centimeters wide, 50 centimeters thick, and about 2 meters long, consist of brick.
Sometimes the whole is finished so neatly that the seams are not visible under the reliefs.
The original covering layer of limestone tiles has been lost. The walls have not remained completely undamaged anywhere,
although the rear spaces are better preserved than the first.
Eight rooms feature beautiful high relief decorations. Additionally, there are five undecorated storage rooms.
Many decorations show sacrificial processions, working in the fields and livestock breeding.
The fishing scenes are among the most beautiful scenes in the tomb. A number of features are special about this mastaba.
The serdab, the chamber where the ka statue stood, is completely closed off from the rest of the tomb.
Usually the serdab is provided with a ‘window’ through which the statue can look out.
There is also a heavenly staircase, the function of which is not yet known, which leads to the roof and there are two boat-shaped rooms, reminiscent of King Unas’ boat wells. According to archaeologists, it is unlikely that there were boats inside.
The scenes in the mastaba of Kagemni mainly contain the most beloved scenes in the Old Kingdom,
namely, of hunting and fishing in the marshes, of agriculture and of offering sacrifices.
The first room contains the scenes that take place outside. Deeper in the mastaba are the scenes of the funeral ritual.
The reliefs contain titles of the scenes, a description of the offerings and their origin,
the lively discussions between the servants and the titles of Kagemni.
extremely detailed reliefs featured bright colors against a gray-black background
Open areas, like behind the doors, were painted red with black dots to simulate granite.
Opposite the entrance, Kagemni sits in a large papyrus boat as he supervises fishing in the swamp.
The area is teeming with fish. The swamps also provide shelter for hippos and crocodiles, as evidenced by the scene in which a hippo attacks a crocodile. You can also find beautiful images of dragonflies, grasshoppers, frogs and floating water lilies here.
In the next three-pillared room are images of Kagemni overseeing the shepherds in the swamps.
A flock crosses a ford with the first shepherd armed with a stick,
with which he encourages the animals to enter the water. A second shepherd carries a small calf over his shoulders.
Below it, two boys are milking cows. The last boy tries to stop the calves
still want to go to their mother to drink.
Someone else, seated on a papyrus chair, weans a piglet from mouth to mouth while a comrade
holding a bowl with the liquid food.
The north wall is decorated with two symmetrical scenes of Kagemni, hunting and fishing in the swamp between thick, tall papyrus stems. Birds fly between the plants, and many fish inhabit the water. Men in small boats hunt hippos with harpoons and clubs. The large animals writhe and roar in pain.
This room also contains images of male dancers, female acrobats and women clapping their hands.
Various funeral and sacrificial scenes adorn the following rooms.
Servants carry some of Kagemni’s funerary objects and six men pull a sled carrying
the shrine containing the ka statue of Kagemni.
A procession of offering bearers with fruit, birds, vases with flowers and leaves and baskets full of loaves,
meat and vegetables make their way to Kagemni.
There are also images of aviaries, scenes about catching birds in a net and
the forced feeding of geese.
A partially preserved register depicts the fattening of hyenas.
cooperation of two men is required to feed these animals. one holds the animal by the legs while the other stuffs the food into his mouth.
Another register depicts the breeding of cattle in the stables.
The walls of the burial chamber and those of the niche on the west side where the sarcophagus is located,
The images of sacrifices and inscriptions, including a long list of offerings, decorate them.
Kagemni’s name and titles adorn the sarcophagus.
Robbers shifted the lid by lifting it and dropping it again.
Inside, they found a severely damaged wooden coffin, with the lid and sides fallen on Kagemni’s body.
The mummy, already damaged in antiquity, lay lavishly wrapped in linen with its head to the north.
Two large alabaster neck braces and at least three staves and wooden ceremonial sceptres still surrounded it.
Kagemni was a vizier during the early part of the reign of King Teti of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. Kagami’s wife Princess Se sheshet-Nebty Nukhet was a daughter of King Teti.
Kagemni had a large number of titles. He was overseer of the two houses of gold and a singer of the two treasuries. He has also held various religious positions, including that of High Priest Re and Stolist of Min.
Other duties were related to the royal palace: supervisor of the two rooms of the king’s decoration,
director of the houses of the White and Red Crown, keeper of the head ornaments.
Kagemni also holds as vizier the positions of supervisor of the scribes of the king’s documents,
supervisor of all the king’s works and supervisor of the six great courts.
The burial chamber contained a stone sarcophagus with a wooden coffin inside and the mummy.
