The mastaba of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep

 

Calling this the east "wall" is a slight exaggeration because it is somewhat limited in its expanse, due to the fact that the two entrances, which connect with the preceding chamber (which are further broadened by the recesses for the doors), lie either side of it. Therefore, it consists only of the central pillar (width: 0.90m; height: 1.94m) and a lintel (height: 0.16m) extending over the pillar to the entire chamber width. The lintel was already damaged in ancient times, presumably during the late period, so that today its original decoration is no longer discernible. Only the tall image field of the pillar remains today (width: 0.78m; height: 1.14 m), and even this had to be reconstructed from single blocks scattered around the offering chamber.

This area is bordered by the conventional colour ladder. The other remaining colour at this end of the offering chamber belongs to the recesses for the two doorways. These were painted red. The recesses over the doorways, however, vanished along with that of the original lintel.

The image field shows a representation of the two deceased embracing. A similar picture is located on the opposite west wall so that a correspondence exists between these two representations.

As with the previous scene of embrace, on the other side of this pillar, Niankhkhnum stands in front of Khnumhotep and again facing north. Both deceased face each other so closely that their noses touch. Their names are drawn in vertical lines behind each of the deceased.

The mastaba of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep

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 The mastaba of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep