The Mastaba of Queen Mersyankh III by Dows Dunham; William Kelly SimpsonReview by: Carl E. DeVriesJournal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 97, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 1977), pp. 589-590Published by: American Oriental SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/598662 .

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Reviews of Books Reviews of Books

constitute the bulk of the plates. The photographs come from a variety of sources, but in spite of the diversity of origin they are uniformly excellent, a very fine col- lection of Abydene material.

Simpson next discusses the sources of the documents, i.e., of the inscribed objects. The main source is the

catalogue by Mariette of the monuments of Abydos and the appropriate volumes of the Cairo Catalogue General, supplemented by the catalogues of the great museums of

Europe which contain pertinent material, along with a

catalogue of auction sales of d'Athanasi and Anastasi

(1837, 1857). The author outlines the history of the archeological

exploration of the terrace and discusses the topography of the site with respect to the original location of the monuments recovered. He remarks that most of the stelae and offering tables appear to have come from the

vicinity of Kom el Sultan in work carried out by Mariette, who was absent from the dig much of the time.

Simpson follows this by a treatment of the inscriptions, in particular the m'h't-formula of the stelae, translating m'h't as "offering chapel," but indicating that the word has other meanings as well. It is interesting that the texts frequently mention the specific area in which a stela was erected.

The monuments relevant to Simpson's study are listed under the designation ANOC (Abydos North Offering Chapel), a descriptive term which denotes a group of two or more objects assignable to an individual or a family. The order of the entries appears to be arbitrary, but the

plates roughly follow the ANOC arrangement. This useful list is well-documented and is also provided with

helpful comments. There is also a list of Abydene monu- ments by their present locations in museums, alphabetical- ly arranged, and a listing of stelae datable to the 12th Dynasty but from various sites, grouped chronologically by reigns. An index of "owners" of the monuments is provided, with the names given in transliteration and

accompanied generally by one title. The various lists and the plates constitute the working core of the volume.

Although many of the answers to the stated questions are not indicated in this volume (and possibly some of the answers may always elude us because of the character and amount of the evidence), Simpson has done well to formulate the questions as a guide for investigation and by assembling the documents he has made much of th source material readily available for other scholars.

CARL E. DEVRIES ORIENTAL INSTITUTE,

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Mastaba of Queen Mersyankh III. By Dows DUNHAM AND WILLIAM KELLY SIMPSON. (Giza Mastabas, Vol.

constitute the bulk of the plates. The photographs come from a variety of sources, but in spite of the diversity of origin they are uniformly excellent, a very fine col- lection of Abydene material.

Simpson next discusses the sources of the documents, i.e., of the inscribed objects. The main source is the

catalogue by Mariette of the monuments of Abydos and the appropriate volumes of the Cairo Catalogue General, supplemented by the catalogues of the great museums of

Europe which contain pertinent material, along with a

catalogue of auction sales of d'Athanasi and Anastasi

(1837, 1857). The author outlines the history of the archeological

exploration of the terrace and discusses the topography of the site with respect to the original location of the monuments recovered. He remarks that most of the stelae and offering tables appear to have come from the

vicinity of Kom el Sultan in work carried out by Mariette, who was absent from the dig much of the time.

Simpson follows this by a treatment of the inscriptions, in particular the m'h't-formula of the stelae, translating m'h't as "offering chapel," but indicating that the word has other meanings as well. It is interesting that the texts frequently mention the specific area in which a stela was erected.

The monuments relevant to Simpson's study are listed under the designation ANOC (Abydos North Offering Chapel), a descriptive term which denotes a group of two or more objects assignable to an individual or a family. The order of the entries appears to be arbitrary, but the

plates roughly follow the ANOC arrangement. This useful list is well-documented and is also provided with

helpful comments. There is also a list of Abydene monu- ments by their present locations in museums, alphabetical- ly arranged, and a listing of stelae datable to the 12th Dynasty but from various sites, grouped chronologically by reigns. An index of "owners" of the monuments is provided, with the names given in transliteration and

accompanied generally by one title. The various lists and the plates constitute the working core of the volume.

Although many of the answers to the stated questions are not indicated in this volume (and possibly some of the answers may always elude us because of the character and amount of the evidence), Simpson has done well to formulate the questions as a guide for investigation and by assembling the documents he has made much of th source material readily available for other scholars.

CARL E. DEVRIES ORIENTAL INSTITUTE,

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Mastaba of Queen Mersyankh III. By Dows DUNHAM AND WILLIAM KELLY SIMPSON. (Giza Mastabas, Vol.

I). Pp. v + 25, with frontispiece (in color), five

plans, 20 plates and 16 figures (line drawings). Bos- ton: MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. 1974.

This volume initiates a new series of Museum of Fine Arts Publications, Giza Mastabas, but in essence it

represents another step in the long process of getting into

published form the immense amount of archeological material accumulated by the far-sweeping excavation

undertakings of George Andrew Reisner, who himself, in his Development of the Egyptian Tomb down to the Accession of Cheops, envisioned a series of volumes on the mastabas and their chapels. It also brings to fruition the unstinting and devoted labors of William Stevenson Smith and is a further tribute to the genius of Dows Dunham, who seems to have clearcut rapport with ancient material in the form of excavators' Nachlisse and whose skill in handling such records is witnessed by his production of the monumental series on Nubian

archeology. In the Preface and General Comments, William Kelly

Simpson excellently sketches the description of the mastaba. A more complete and detailed description follows, the work of Dows Dunham, whose lucid state- ments permit one to follow the plates with a minimum of confusion and a maximum of clarity.

Mersyankh III (Meresankh) was a daughter of Prince Kawab (a son of Khufu) and Hetepheres II (a daughter of Khufu and half-sister of Kawab). The double mastaba G7530-7540 probably was made by Hetepheres, who pro- vided it with a chapel and decorated and inscribed it for her daughter, Mersyankh.

Simpson emphasizes the unusual or unique features of the mastaba. Among these are the prominent role of the female members of the nobility during the Old

Kingdom, the location of the tomb chapel underground, beneath the mastaba, a wide employment of rockcut

statuary, carved from the living rock of the walls, and the artistry and fine state of preservation of painted reliefs, along with the unusual fact that the names of two of the craftsmen appear on the walls.

"The best preserved tomb chapel in the Eastern

Cemetry at Giza" contains some beautifully cut and

painted reliefs which are excellently preserved. Among the subjects are scenes of daily life (unfortunately not in as good condition as some of the other representations) which in the opinion of the reviewer are among the most interesting features of the tomb, not only because of the content but because of the details of the sculpture and painting. On Plates IIIa-IV and Fig. 4, there may be singled out in register three the balding heads of herdsmen 3 and 4 (from the left), the emaciated appearance of herdsman 3, and the unusual garment worn by the fourth

I). Pp. v + 25, with frontispiece (in color), five

plans, 20 plates and 16 figures (line drawings). Bos- ton: MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS. 1974.

This volume initiates a new series of Museum of Fine Arts Publications, Giza Mastabas, but in essence it

represents another step in the long process of getting into

published form the immense amount of archeological material accumulated by the far-sweeping excavation

undertakings of George Andrew Reisner, who himself, in his Development of the Egyptian Tomb down to the Accession of Cheops, envisioned a series of volumes on the mastabas and their chapels. It also brings to fruition the unstinting and devoted labors of William Stevenson Smith and is a further tribute to the genius of Dows Dunham, who seems to have clearcut rapport with ancient material in the form of excavators' Nachlisse and whose skill in handling such records is witnessed by his production of the monumental series on Nubian

archeology. In the Preface and General Comments, William Kelly

Simpson excellently sketches the description of the mastaba. A more complete and detailed description follows, the work of Dows Dunham, whose lucid state- ments permit one to follow the plates with a minimum of confusion and a maximum of clarity.

Mersyankh III (Meresankh) was a daughter of Prince Kawab (a son of Khufu) and Hetepheres II (a daughter of Khufu and half-sister of Kawab). The double mastaba G7530-7540 probably was made by Hetepheres, who pro- vided it with a chapel and decorated and inscribed it for her daughter, Mersyankh.

Simpson emphasizes the unusual or unique features of the mastaba. Among these are the prominent role of the female members of the nobility during the Old

Kingdom, the location of the tomb chapel underground, beneath the mastaba, a wide employment of rockcut

statuary, carved from the living rock of the walls, and the artistry and fine state of preservation of painted reliefs, along with the unusual fact that the names of two of the craftsmen appear on the walls.

"The best preserved tomb chapel in the Eastern

Cemetry at Giza" contains some beautifully cut and

painted reliefs which are excellently preserved. Among the subjects are scenes of daily life (unfortunately not in as good condition as some of the other representations) which in the opinion of the reviewer are among the most interesting features of the tomb, not only because of the content but because of the details of the sculpture and painting. On Plates IIIa-IV and Fig. 4, there may be singled out in register three the balding heads of herdsmen 3 and 4 (from the left), the emaciated appearance of herdsman 3, and the unusual garment worn by the fourth

589 589

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Journal of the American Oriental Society 97.4 (1977) Journal of the American Oriental Society 97.4 (1977)

man. Among the artisans depicted on the east wall, south of the entrance (Plates IIIb, V; Fig. 5), the metal smelters (?) of register five may attract attention to an early craft which usually is associated with industrializa- tion.

The plates are reasonably good, but they vary in quality and the mat finish lessens the striking quality of a glossy print. Anyone who has tried his hand at photographing reliefs in Egyptian tombs and temples understands the problems. It is difficult to get even lighting from the proper angle and with the correct degree of intensity. The description follows the plates and drawings very well but in col. 2 of page 5 the reference to Plate VII is an error for Plate VI.

Generally, the translations are well done, but there are a few niceties that may escape someone not conversant with hieroglyphs. The same Egyptian word may be translated differently, even in the same title; e.g., both "director" (middle, col. 1, pl. 16) and "controler" [sic] (top. col. 1, page 18) are hrp. "Traders" is a somewhat unusual interpretative rendering of hkfw (bottom, col. 1, p. 18).

The publication also includes a catalog of objects found in the tomb, with appropriate plates and drawings. Particular attention is given to the sarcophagus and Dr. Douglas E. Derry contributed a note on the skeletal remains. An appendix provides a convenient list of names and titles of persons represented in the scenes, with the locations of the inscriptions.

The first of a new and useful series, this volume con- tinues the tradition of fine publications of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

CARL E. DEVRIES ORIENTAL INSTITUTE,

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

man. Among the artisans depicted on the east wall, south of the entrance (Plates IIIb, V; Fig. 5), the metal smelters (?) of register five may attract attention to an early craft which usually is associated with industrializa- tion.

The plates are reasonably good, but they vary in quality and the mat finish lessens the striking quality of a glossy print. Anyone who has tried his hand at photographing reliefs in Egyptian tombs and temples understands the problems. It is difficult to get even lighting from the proper angle and with the correct degree of intensity. The description follows the plates and drawings very well but in col. 2 of page 5 the reference to Plate VII is an error for Plate VI.

Generally, the translations are well done, but there are a few niceties that may escape someone not conversant with hieroglyphs. The same Egyptian word may be translated differently, even in the same title; e.g., both "director" (middle, col. 1, pl. 16) and "controler" [sic] (top. col. 1, page 18) are hrp. "Traders" is a somewhat unusual interpretative rendering of hkfw (bottom, col. 1, p. 18).

The publication also includes a catalog of objects found in the tomb, with appropriate plates and drawings. Particular attention is given to the sarcophagus and Dr. Douglas E. Derry contributed a note on the skeletal remains. An appendix provides a convenient list of names and titles of persons represented in the scenes, with the locations of the inscriptions.

The first of a new and useful series, this volume con- tinues the tradition of fine publications of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

CARL E. DEVRIES ORIENTAL INSTITUTE,

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

An Outline of the Late Egyptian Verbal System. By PAUL JOHN FRANDSEN. Pp. 329 + xix. Copenhagen: AKADEMISK FORLAG. 1974. 120,00 d. kr.

This "outline" is an extremely useful contribution to the field of Late Egyptian grammar, ably accomplishing Frandsen's aim: "an up-to-date account of those parts of Erman's Neudgyptische Grammatik that have become most obsolete."l He follows Cerny's definition of Late Egyptian, limiting it to non-literary texts, in hieratic, largely 20th dynasty. He has incorporated all recent work pertaining to Late Egyptian, putting the work of Polotsky, and especially Groll, into conventional ter- minology and within the standard organizational frame-

1 P. v.

An Outline of the Late Egyptian Verbal System. By PAUL JOHN FRANDSEN. Pp. 329 + xix. Copenhagen: AKADEMISK FORLAG. 1974. 120,00 d. kr.

This "outline" is an extremely useful contribution to the field of Late Egyptian grammar, ably accomplishing Frandsen's aim: "an up-to-date account of those parts of Erman's Neudgyptische Grammatik that have become most obsolete."l He follows Cerny's definition of Late Egyptian, limiting it to non-literary texts, in hieratic, largely 20th dynasty. He has incorporated all recent work pertaining to Late Egyptian, putting the work of Polotsky, and especially Groll, into conventional ter- minology and within the standard organizational frame-

1 P. v.

work. However, he does not just pull together other people's ideas, but he comments on them and adds ideas of his own. In addition, his introduction contains a very useful series of definitions of various linguistic terms which have come into Egyptological literature and which he uses. The discussion of the Late Egyptian verbal system is divided into four basic sections-conjugation patterns, the "that"-form (or "emphatic" form), wn/wnn, and the converter lw. The section on conjugation pat- terns is subdivided into initial and non-initial patterns, the former including sentence conjugations and impera- tives, the latter including what Frandsen calls non-initial main sentences, clause conjugations, and the conjunctive. This format makes it easy to find his discussion of any given construction. These discussions are clear and logical, including both form and function and paying attention to the typical Late Egyptian feature of extensive use of particles and to their influence on the clauses of which they are a part. An especially useful feature of the book is the extensive citation of examples, copied in a very legible hand and clearly translated. Thus the "outline" is an extremely useful reference work, especially for the beginner who needs to learn the basics of the Late Egyptian verbal system, but also for the more advanced student who comes across a specific problem or who wants to know Late Egyptian parallels or equivalents for constructions or usages found in other stages of Egyptian. It will probably be the standard reference on the Late Egyptian verbal system for years to come.

Frandsen's discussions show both comprehension and insight. The following, relatively minor, points are not intended as a criticism of the book as a whole but as part of a continuing dialogue over certain as yet unresolved questions of Late Egyptian grammar. The reviewer's major criticism is that, by defining a conjugation pattern as a "closed prosodic unit in which an actor expression and a verbal form combine,"2 he has ruled out of discus- sion clauses with adverbial predicates, which occur in Late Egyptian in both present and future tense clauses. This is unnecessary since the clauses with adverbial predicates are constructed following the same rules as those with "verbal" predicates.3 The only place Frandsen deals with adverbial predicates is in the section discussing

2 P. ix, 3. 3 This is true not only of the main clause forms, but

also of circumstantial and relative forms. E.g., the tables of participial and relative forms (par. 117) give three separate forms for the "First Present," with infinitive, stative, and adverbial predicate, rather than one form, with three possible types of predicate. Examples with adverbial predicate in the future are ignored in the tables.

work. However, he does not just pull together other people's ideas, but he comments on them and adds ideas of his own. In addition, his introduction contains a very useful series of definitions of various linguistic terms which have come into Egyptological literature and which he uses. The discussion of the Late Egyptian verbal system is divided into four basic sections-conjugation patterns, the "that"-form (or "emphatic" form), wn/wnn, and the converter lw. The section on conjugation pat- terns is subdivided into initial and non-initial patterns, the former including sentence conjugations and impera- tives, the latter including what Frandsen calls non-initial main sentences, clause conjugations, and the conjunctive. This format makes it easy to find his discussion of any given construction. These discussions are clear and logical, including both form and function and paying attention to the typical Late Egyptian feature of extensive use of particles and to their influence on the clauses of which they are a part. An especially useful feature of the book is the extensive citation of examples, copied in a very legible hand and clearly translated. Thus the "outline" is an extremely useful reference work, especially for the beginner who needs to learn the basics of the Late Egyptian verbal system, but also for the more advanced student who comes across a specific problem or who wants to know Late Egyptian parallels or equivalents for constructions or usages found in other stages of Egyptian. It will probably be the standard reference on the Late Egyptian verbal system for years to come.

Frandsen's discussions show both comprehension and insight. The following, relatively minor, points are not intended as a criticism of the book as a whole but as part of a continuing dialogue over certain as yet unresolved questions of Late Egyptian grammar. The reviewer's major criticism is that, by defining a conjugation pattern as a "closed prosodic unit in which an actor expression and a verbal form combine,"2 he has ruled out of discus- sion clauses with adverbial predicates, which occur in Late Egyptian in both present and future tense clauses. This is unnecessary since the clauses with adverbial predicates are constructed following the same rules as those with "verbal" predicates.3 The only place Frandsen deals with adverbial predicates is in the section discussing

2 P. ix, 3. 3 This is true not only of the main clause forms, but

also of circumstantial and relative forms. E.g., the tables of participial and relative forms (par. 117) give three separate forms for the "First Present," with infinitive, stative, and adverbial predicate, rather than one form, with three possible types of predicate. Examples with adverbial predicate in the future are ignored in the tables.

590 590

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