352 Salt PapyrusSalt Papyrus This is an Egyptian account from the
Nineteenth Dynasty (1307–1196 B.C.E.), discovered in
DEIR EL-MEDINA. A petition from a worker named Ame-
nakhte is included in this document. He wrote about
another worker, Paneb, and his numerous crimes, expect-
ing some sort of redress in the local court system.
See also “THE ELOQUENT PEASANT OF HERAKLEOPOLIS”;
LEGAL SYSTEM.
Samto-wetefnakht(fl. seventh century B.C.E.)Trade
and mayoral official of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty
He served PSAMMETICHUS I (r. 664–610 B.C.E.) as the
mayor of HERAKLEOPOLISand as “the master of shipping.”
His family had a firm grip on the Nile TRADE. When
NITOCRIS(2), the princess of the royal house, sailed to
Thebes to be adopted as the GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN,or
Divine Adoratrice of Amun, she traveled on one of
Samto-wetefnakht’s ships.
Sanakhte See NEBKA.
Sanctuary of Ptah It was a site at Thebes, on the
western shore between DEIR EL-MEDINAand the VALLEY OF
THE QUEENS, dedicated to the god PTAH. Small shrines and
votive stelae honoring Ptah were erected in this district
by the pharaohs of the Nineteenth Dynasty (1307–1196
B.C.E.) and the Twentieth Dynasty (1196–1070 B.C.E.).
Saqqara A site west of MEMPHISon the edge of the
LIBYAN DESERT, part of the necropolis area of the capital,
Saqqara contains important historical and archaeological
monuments and extends from ABU ROWASHto MEIDUM.
This necropolis was named after the god SOKARof Mem-
phis, a deity of the dead, and holds 4,000 years of build-
ing projects by the Egyptians.
The STEP PYRAMID of DJOSER(r. 2630–2611 B.C.E.)
dominates the site. The Step Pyramid was designed by
IMHOTEP, the vizier of Djsoer, as an advanced MASTABA
tomb, having six separate such tombs placed one on top
of another to form a pyramid. These six tiers rose almost
200 feet on a 500-foot base. This pyramid dominates a
vast mortuary complex enclosed in a mile-long wall that
stood over 30 feet high. Chapels, temples, galleries, and
tombs were part of the design.
The pyramidal complex of UNIS(r. 2356–2323 B.C.E.)
is also in SAQQARA, complete with a long causeway lead-
ing to the mortuary temple and to a valley temple. This
complex was fashioned out of limestone slabs and is
designed to follow the general terrain. Carved scenes of
daily life decorate the causeway and the ceiling was
starred. The mortuary temple has a granite gateway and
inscriptions. The floors are alabaster, with limestone
walls and granite columns.
A partial inscription of the mortuary temple states
that Prince KHA’EMWESET(1), a son of RAMESSES II (r.
1290–1224 B.C.E.), restored the site in the Nineteenth
Dynasty. The pyramid of Unis, called “Beautiful Are the
Places of Unis,” was fashioned out of limestone and
encased in Tureh limestone. A limestone plug originally
sealed the pyramid at ground level. A corridor leads to a
vestibule and portcullises, connected to another corridor
and antechamber and a burial chamber. A black granite
SARCOPHAGUSwas discovered in this chamber, which had
alabaster and limestone walls, painted blue and inscribed
with the PYRAMID TEXTS. The valley temple of Unis is now
partially hidden by a modern access road. This complex
is also believed to have covered earlier gravesites.
Near Unis’s pyramid the graves of his family were
erected as well. The tombs of Queens KHENUTand NEBET
were erected north of the funerary temple. A relief
depicts Khenut in a seated position, smelling a LOTUS.
Unis’s daughter, Idut, was buried nearby in a tomb origi-
nally fashioned for the viceroy of the reign, Ihuy. Other
sites, including the Tomb of the Birds, are also in the
area.
The pyramid complex of SEKHEMKHET(r. 2611–2601
B.C.E.) of the Third Dynasty is southwest of Unis’s com-
plex. An unfinished STEP PYRAMIDis included in the
design, containing an unused alabaster sarcophagus. A
wooden sarcophagus containing the remains of a small
child was discovered there as well.
Yet another complex in Saqqara belongs to USERKHAF
(r. 2465–2458 B.C.E.), a pyramid located in the corner of
Djoser’s complex of the Step Pyramid. This was called
“Pure Are the Places of Userkhaf.” Modern names for the
tomb include the “Scratched Pyramid” and “El-Harem el-
Mekharbesh.” It was constructed out of limestone, faced
with higher quality Tureh stone. This is in ruins only, sur-
rounded by a tenemos wall, a paved causeway, and a por-
tico with red granite columns. The mastaba of
AKHETHOTEPand PTAH-HOTEP(2) is located close by.
Also near these complexes are tombs of prominent
Egyptian officials of several historical periods. NIANKH-
KHNUMand Khnumhotep were buried in a mastaba called
the “Tomb of the Hairdressers” or the “Tomb of the
Two Brothers.” MERERUKA’s mastaba, shared with his wife
and son, and the tomb of KAGEMNIare near the pyramid
of Teti. Beyond is the Street of Tombs and the mastaba
of Ti.
The pyramidal complex of TETI(r. 2323–2291 B.C.E.)
of the Sixth Dynasty overlooks the scene on the edge of
the plateau of Saqqara. The pyramid of Teti was called
“the Place of Teti, Son of Ré, Is Enduring Forever.” The
structure was faced with limestone, and the entrance was
blocked by a chapel that was added later and by a sloping
passage. The burial chamber contained a wooden sar-
cophagus and the ceiling was painted blue and decorated
with stars. The walls were inscribed with the PYRAMID
TEXTS. A mortuary temple contained niches and a small
sanctuary and was set against the face of the pyramid.
Teti’s cult flourished for centuries at this complex. The