tour 14 of 14
Egypt in the Old Kingdom
Limestone relief slab from the tomb of Rehotep
In order to gain power the priests of different
cities developed individual theologies, each one aiming to place
their own god as the centre of the creation of the universe. Iunu
(Greek: Heliopolis), situated near modern Cairo, emerged as an
important spiritual and political centre, centred on the cult of
Atum, who became equated with the sun-god Re. The city's
cosmogony (creation myth) and Great Ennead (grouping of nine gods)
- Atum,
Shu,
Tefnut,
Geb,
Nut,
Osiris,
Isis,
Nephthys
and
Seth -
remained influential for many
centuries.
This slab comes
from the tomb of Rehotep, a son of the Fourth-Dynasty king Sneferu,
who served as a high priest at Heliopolis. Rehotep married Princess
Nefret, and their twin
mastabas
were built near the Meydum pyramid. Stunning limestone statues of
the pair are now in the Cairo Museum. The British Museum contains
this fragment of an offering niche or
false
door from the
tomb.
Rehotep is seated in
front of a table of bread, above which are inscribed the names of
some important offerings, such as incense, eye-paint, wine and
dates. To the right of that is a list of linen, surmounted by three
hawks. Other offerings are named at the
bottom.