The 2D/3D conundrum: An epigraphic experiment from the early days of digital epigraphy

One of the challenges of epigraphic work consists of essentially converting three-dimensional artwork into a two-dimensional representation on paper (or on-screen). This note summarizes an experiment in solving one aspect of this conversion problem.

Die Kultkammer des Ka-ni-nisut im Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien

This richly illustrated work by Regina Hölzl is dedicated to the mastaba of the royal official Kaninisut: its discovery, the purchase of the tomb’s cult chamber for the museum where it is to be visited today, and its relief decoration.

Rishi Coffin fragments from the Western Cemetery at Giza

The Harvard University – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Expedition at the Old Kingdom site of Giza has uncovered significant material from later periods of Ancient Egyptian history, including fragments of a “rishi” type coffin now preserved in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Figure 1. Plan of area north of G7110-7120; Qar(G7101) and Idu (G7102)

Figure 2. Qar (G 7101). Section from A to B

Figure 3. Qar (G 7101). Section from west to east looking south Section from south to north looking west

Figure 4. Qar (G 7101). Section from east to west looking south

Figure 5. Qar (G7101). Sections of pits G7101 A to L

Figure 6. Qar (G 7101). Section and elevation of Qar burial (G 7101 M)

Figure 7. Qar (G 7101). Walls of burial chamber of Qar (G 7101 M)

Figure 8. Qar (G 7101). Sections of pits G 7101 N to Z

Figure 9. Qar (G 7101). a. Relief of Nakhti from north of pyramid 1 a; b. Burial chamber of Nakhti, walls and sarcophagus lid (G 7101 B)

Figure 10. Idu (G7102). Section from A to F Section from south to north looking west

Figure 11. Idu (G7102). Section from north to south looking east Section from east to west looking south

Figure 12. Idu (G 7102). a. Idu false door of stela with statue; b.Text on inside of sarcophagus of Idu (G 7102C)

Figure 13. Idu (G 7102). Burial chamber of Idu. Section and plan (G 7102 C)

Figure 14. Idu (G7102). Sections and plans of G7102 A, B, D, E, F, G

Figure 15. Qar (G7101). Reconstruction of upper stairway, east wall

Figure 16. Qar (G 7101). Reconstruction of lower stairway, north wall

Figure 17. Qar (G7101). Reconsruction of lower stairway, east and south walls

Figure 18. Qar (G 7101). a. Block assigned to middle landing. 25-5-47 MFA 27.1134; b. Block assigned to upper stairway, east wall. 25-5-47 MFA 27.1130

Figure 19. Qar (G 7101). a-g. Blocks assigned to lower stairway.

Figure 20. Qar (G 7101). Court C, south wall, architrave

Figure 21. Qar (G7101). Court C, south wall, pillar and jambs

Figure 22. Qar (G 7101). a. Court C, north wall, lintel b. Room D, south wall, text over statues

Figure 23. Qar (G7101). Court C, north wall, upper half

Figure 25. Qar (G 7101). Court C, west wall, block in situ

Figure 24. Qar (G7101). Court C, north wall,lower half

Figure 26. Qar (G 7101). Room D. a. Left. south face of pillar between Court C and Room D Right. north wall east of pillar

Figure 27. Qar (G 7101). Room D. East wall

Figure 28. Qar (G7101). Room D. West wall

Figure 29. Qar (G7101). Room E. East wall

Figure 30. Qar (G 7101). Room E. North wall

Figure 31. Qar (G7101). ). Room E. South wall

Figure 32. Qar (G7101). Room E. West wall

Figure 33. Idu (G7102). Architrave

Figure 34. Idu (G 7102). Left and right jambs

Figure 35. Idu (G 7102). North wall, above and at sides of entrance

Figure 36. Idu (G7102). East wall with statue niches

Figure 37. Idu (G 7102). East wall, panel on south end

Figure 38. Idu (G7102). South wall with games and music in honor of Hathor

Figure 39. Idu (G 7102). West wall, south of stela niche

Figure 40. Idu (G7102). Stela niche

Figure 41. Idu (G7102). West wall, north of stela, with secondary false door

Figure 42. Idu (G 7102 E). Corner block assigned to middle level chamber

Figure 43. Idu (G 7102). Reconstruction by Suzanne Chapman of royal statue head 25-1-587

Plate I. a. Site of mastabas, looking southwest. Qar on right center, Idu to left. Mastaba of Kawab (G7110-7120) center rear. Subsidiary pyramid

Plate II. a. Mastaba complex of Qar, looking south. Descending stairs, serdab beneath measuring stake, shaft G7101 M to rear of measuring stake

Plate II. b. Qar, looking north. Court C in foreground, upper stairs top left

Plate III. a. Qar, looking southeast.jpg

Plate III. b. Qar, looking northwest

Plate IV. a. Qar, relief assigned to west wall of corridor, middle landing of stairs. 25-5-44; MFA 27.1134

Plate IV. b. Qar, relief in situ, east wall of corridor, lower landing of stairs

Plate IV. c. Qar, relief in situ, south wall of corridor above doorway to Court C

Plate V. a. Qar, relief assigned to upper stairs. 25-5-47, 6; MFA 27.1130

Plate V. b. Qar, relief assigned to lower stairs, north wall. 23-5-45 ; Boston

Plate V. c. Qar, relief, stairs(?), 25-5-57; Boston

Plate V. d. Qar, relief block, stairs (?); 25-5-59

Plate V. e. Qar, relief of boatmen, stairs (?). 25-5-5; MFA 27.1129

Plate V. f. Qar, relief assigned to lower stairs, south wall, right end. 25-5-46 ; Boston

Plate V. g. Qar, relief assigned to lower stairs, south wall. 25-5-48; Boston

Plate VI. a. Qar, Court C, looking south, statue niche on left

Plate VI. b. Qar, Court C, looking south; south wall with chamber D beyond

Plate VII. a. Qar, Court C, north wall with procession scene and doorway from corridor

Plate VII. b. Detail of scene above doorway

Plate VIII. a., b., c. Qar, Court C, north wall with Qar seated before offerings (above) and procession with sarcophagus (below)

Plate IX. a. Qar, Court C, west wall, relief block in situ

Plate IX. b. Qar, Court C, east wall, statue in niche

Plate IX. c-f. Qar, Court C, architrave support, east jamb, east face, central pillar, east face (on left), central pillar, north face (on righ

Plate X. a. Qar, Room D, central pillar, north face

Plate X. b. Qar, Room D, north wall, east end

Plate XI. a. Qar, Room D, south wall with statues in niche and text above

Plate XI. b. Qar, Room D, east wall with doorway to Room F

Plate XI. c. Qar, Room D, west wall with entrance to Room E

Plate XII. a. Qar, Room D, west wall, left (south) side

Plate XII. b. Qar, Room D, west wall, right (north) side

Plate XII. c. Qar, Room E, east wall, left (north) side

Plate XII. d. Qar, Room E, east wall, right (south) side

Plate XIII. a. Qar, Room E, north wall, left (west) side

Plate XIII. b. Qar, Room E, north wall, right (east) side

Plate XIII. c. Qar, Room E, south wall, left (east) side

Plate XIII. d. Qar, Room E, south wall, right (west) side

Plate XIV. a. Qar, Room E, west wall, stela

Plate XIV. b. Qar, Room E, west wall, left of stela

Plate XIV. c. Qar, Room E, west wall, right of stela

Plate XIV. d. Fragment of head of alabaster statue of Cheops(?) with falcon at rear

Plate XV. a. Idu, vestibule with architrave as found, looking south on street 7100

Plate XV. b. Idu, lower level court (vestibule), with architrave, looking south

Plate XV. c. Idu, lower level court (vestibule), architrave

Plate XVI. a. Idu, lower level court, east wall, steps, obelisk

Plate XVI. b. Idu, lower level court, west wall, obelisk, serdab slot. Bricks on right are modern

Plate XVI. c. Idu, middle level court, with western chamber on right

Plate XVI. d. Idu, north jamb, entrance to offering chamber

Plate XVI. e. Idu, south jamb, entrance to offering chamber

Plate XVII. a. Idu, architrave, left side

Plate XVII. b. Idu, architrave, right side

Plate XVIII. a. Idu, north wall complete

Plate XVIII. b. Idu, north wall, top (tympanum)

Plate XIX. a. Idu, north wall, panels right of entrance, top

Plate XIX. b. Idu, north wall, panels right of entrance, bottom, and east wall to right

Plate XX. a. Idu, north wall, panels left of entrance, top

Plate XX. b. Idu, north wall, panels left of entrance, center

Plate XX. c. Idu, north wall, panels left of entrance, bottom

Plate XXI. a. Idu, east wall, north section

Plate XXI. b. Idu, east wall, central and south section

Plate XXI. c. Idu, east wall, north section, detail

Plate XXI. d. Idu, east wall, statues north to south

Plate XXI. e. Idu, east wall, statues north to south

Plate XXII. a. Idu, east wall, statue of Qar

Plate XXII. b. Idu, east wall, statue 2

Plate XXII. c. Idu, east wall, statue 3

Plate XXII. d. Idu, east wall, statue 4

Plate XXIII. a. Idu, east wall, statue 5

Plate XXIII. b. Idu, east wall, statue 6

Plate XXIII. c. Idu, east wall, south panel, top

Plate XXIII. d. Idu, east wall, south panel, bottom

Plate XXIV. a. Idu, south wall, left part, registers 1 and 2

Plate XXIV. b. Idu, south wall, left part, registers 2, 3, 4

Plate XXV. a. Idu, south wall, top right section

Plate XXV. b. Idu, south wall, registers 5, 6, 7 (right)

Plate XXVI. a. Idu, south wall, left, registers 4, 5, 6, 7

Plate XXVI. b. Idu, south wall, right, registers 4 5, 6, 7

Plate XXVII. a. Idu, west wall, left of niche, top left

Plate XXVII. b. Idu, west wall, left of niche, top right

Plate XXVIII. a. Idu, west wall, left of niche, top right

Plate XXVIII. b. Idu, west wall, left of niche, middle right

Plate XXVIII. c. Idu, west wall, Ieft of niche. bottom right

Plate XXIX. a. Idu, west wall, niche with statue

Plate XXIX. b. Idu, west waIl, niche, looking southwest

Plate XXIX. c. Idu, west wall, offering slabs in front of niche and secondary niche

Plate XXIX. d. Idu, west wall, niche, false door tablet, detail

Plate XXX. a. Idu, west wall, south side of niche, top

Plate XXX. b. Idu, west wall, south side of niche, center

Plate XXX. c. Idu, west wall, north side of niche, top

Plate XXX. d. Idu, west wall, north side of niche, bottom

Plate XXXI. a. Idu, west wall, right of niche, top left

Plate XXXI. b. Idu, west wall, right of niche, left section, lower part

Plate XXXII. a. Idu, west wall, right of niche, top left

Plate XXXII. b. Idu, west wall, right of niche, offering list

Plate XXXIII. a. Idu, west wall, right of niche, right end with secondary niche

Plate XXXIII. b. Idu, west wall, right of niche, right end with secondary niche, bottom part

Plate XXXIV. a. Corner block, left side from pit of G 7102 E, with representation of Idu’s [son] Qar; small fragment with titles from same location

Plate XXXIV. b. Corner block, right side, with titles

Plate XXXIV. c. Block found north of pyramid 1 a (24-12-135), Nakhti, perhaps Qar’s brother

Plate XXXIV. d. Block possibly from Qar and Idu complex

The Mastabas of Qar and Idu G 7101 and 7102 - Digitally Revised and Enhanced Edition

The chapter by chapter web version of the book, The Mastabas of Qar and Idu, written by William Kelly Simpson in 1976, with contributions or drawings by Dows Dunham, Suzanne Chapman, Hansmartin Handrick, Alexander Floroff, Timothy Kendall, Nicholas Thayer, and Lynn Holden. Based upon the excavations and recording of George Andrew Reisner, Alan Rowe, William Stevenson Smith, and T. R. D. Greenlees. Museum of Fine Arts-Harvard University Expedition.

Digital recording of faded color traces on certain slab stela originated from the Giza Plateau

Tomb of Queen Meresankh III – A 3D tour through the Old Kingdom mastaba at Giza

Queen Meresankh III is the owner of the 4th Dynasty mastaba G7530-7540, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved tombs in the Eastern Cemetery of Giza, Egypt. Meresankh was the granddaughter of king Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid, and the wife of king Khafre.