Meir lies at the edge of the cultivation, about 50km north-west of
Asyut. The modern town of el-Qusiya, about 8km to the east of Meir,
probably derives its name from the ancient Qis, classical Cusae during
Graeco-Roman times. Although Qis was capital of the 14th Upper
Egyptian nome, there are few remaining traces of the ancient town. It
was in the necropolis at Meir that the provincial rulers, or nomarchs
of the region were buried in tombs high in the hillside, with the more
humble population further down the slope. |
Meir has had little archaeological attention since the tombs were
first published by Aylward Blackman for the Egypt Exploration Fund in
1914 and then excavated by Sayed Pasha Kabasha in 1919. Reisner
described model boats found at Meir and Daressy produced a study of
the coffins. Since then the area has been fairly inaccessible to
tourists but recently several of the tombs have been cleared and
opened to visitors. The cemetery has many important rock-cut tombs
dating to Dynasty VI and Dynasty XII, containing unusual painted
scenes, characterised by their naturalistic qualities. Many of the
tombs contain highly detailed scenes of daily life, including
industries and sports and have a distinct local style.
Tomb of Niankh-hpepy (Meir A-1)
Niankh-hpepy was also known by the name of 'Hepi the Black' and his
large tomb reflects his important status of Chancellor of Pepi I
during Dynasty VI. The tomb contains four chambers. In the first and
largest of these Niankh-hpepy and his wife are depicted receiving
offerings of cattle, birds, animals and food and observing fishing and
fowling, with the preparation of the catch. On the western wall of the
tomb there is a stela with an offering slab in front. There are many
shafts in Niankh-hpepy’s tomb, for the burials of his family.
Tomb of Pepyankh (Meir A-2)
Pepyankh was the son of Niankh-hpepy and was called 'Heni the Black'.
His tomb, which adjoins that of his father, is larger, and contains
many scenes with details of industries and the harvesting of various
crops, including grapes, grain and flax. On the left-hand wall of the
western chamber are offering scenes which follow the owner into a long
corridor and a room with a large burial shaft. On the right-hand wall
Pepyankh is seen in a palanquin, shaded by a fan-bearer, accompanied
by his pet dog and monkey in registers above. Another small offering
chamber to the rear contains a false door. The central chamber (the
first when entering the tomb) depicts the tomb-owner carrying out his
duties, with scribes, secretary and attendants inspecting the
workshops. The eastern chamber contains funeral scenes and a serdab
with portrayals of the deceased on the walls.
Tomb of Senbi (Meir B-1)
This is perhaps one of the best known tombs at Meir. Senbi held the
hereditary position of Nomarch and 'Overseer of Priests' during the
reign of Amenemhet I of Dynasty XII, and his father was called
Ukhhotep. His tomb contains many scenes of offerings, though some are
now badly damaged, as well as agricultural and manufacturing scenes.
The best preserved of the manufacturing scenes include vase-making. He
is also shown in a spectacular desert hunting scene, accompanied by
his dogs. At either side against the front walls of the chapel are two
basins which would have been used during the offering rituals. A
raised central aisle leads through the tomb to a statue niche at the
rear.
Tomb of Ukhhotep (Meir B-2)
Ukhhotep was the son of Senbi (B-1) and held the hereditary titles of
'Great Chief of the Nome', 'Overseer of Priests of Hathor of Cusae'
and 'Overseer of Priests of the Lady of All', during the Dynasty XII
reign of Senwosret I. Reliefs in the tomb include scenes similar to
those of his father, with offerings and marsh activities. A great
variety of wildlife is depicted in hunting scenes in a lifelike and
colourful manner. The tomb was apparently unfinished at the owner’s
death and there are some figures which are roughly sketched in red
paint. On the southern wall there are scenes of cattle whose herdsmen
look emaciated, probably indicating a famine during this period. The
paintings in this tomb are unusually vivid.
Tomb of Ukhhotep (Meir B-4)
Another tomb at Meir belongs to a man named Ukhhotep, a son of
Ukhhotep and Mersi and he held similar titles of Nomarch to the
previous Ukhhotep during mid-Dynasty XII. His tomb is a much more
complex structure however, with a raised central aisle leading to a
statue niche with an elaborate ‘palace façade’ decoration. The
wall-scenes in the tomb are of similar themes to other Middle Kingdom
tombs at Meir and include fishing and agricultural scenes, and
industries. On the end wall on the left-hand side of the chapel the
extended family of Ukhhotep are represented in seven registers. At the
rear of the chapel to the right there is an offering chamber which
contains texts of offering list rituals and a false door flanked by
images of the tomb-owner.
Restoration of the tombs at Meir began in 1997 and several tombs have
now had the walls consolidated and the reliefs restored to their
original bright colours. At least nine of the tombs are open to
visitors from a total of seventeen which are planned. New stairways
have been constructed, making access easier, as well as a small
coffee-shop and toilets. In the past the tombs at Meir have been prone
to illicit digging as well as legal excavations, which at the time
allowed the artefacts to be taken out of the country. Some of these
have been returned and with many others are now on display in the
small museum at Mallawi, including a limestone seated statue of
Pepyankh and his wife from tomb A-2. |
