During the late Middle Kingdom (about 1850-1700 B.C.E.), ancient Egyptian women of high standing were interred with lavish ornamentation and carefully gathered possessions. Buried near the pyramids of kings, women with royal connections or great wealth and status were surrounded by fine pottery and vessels for sacred oils, bedecked with gold and precious stones, and honored with royal insignia and marks of Osiris. Their funerary possessions include jewelry imported from other ancient lands and gold-handled daggers and claspless jewelry made only to be worn in the tomb.
Extensively illustrated with archival images and the author's own drawings, Tomb Treasures of the Late Middle Kingdom describes and compares the opulent tombs of eminent and royal women. In addition to the ornaments, many of which are considered masterpieces of Middle Kingdom craft, Egyptologist Wolfram Grajetzki examines the numerous grave goods, artifacts of daily life, and markers of social status that were also placed in tombs, presenting a more complete picture of funerary customs in this period. By considering celebrated examples of female burials together for the first time, Tomb Treasures of the Late Middle Kingdom sheds new light on the role and status of women in the royal court and explores how the gendered identity of those women was preserved in the grave.

With detailed illustrations and archival images, Egyptologist Wolfram Grajetzki describes and compares the opulent tombs of eminent and royal women from the late Middle Kingdom, shedding new light on how the gendered and social identities of these women were viewed in the court and preserved in the grave.

About the Author
Wolfram Grajetzki is Honorary Research Associate at the Institute of Archaeology of University College London and author of several books, most recently Court Officials of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom.

Reviews
"A wonderful work. . . . Wolfram Grajetzki provides a fascinating glimpse of female burials and funerary culture of the late Middle Kingdom." * Danijela Stefanovi, University of Belgrade *



Book Information
ISBN 9780812245677
Author Wolfram Grajetzki
Format Hardback
Page Count 288
Imprint University of Pennsylvania Press
Publisher University of Pennsylvania Press