The unfinished tombs at Meir and Beni Hassan: Lack of filial affection or disastrous conditions in Egypt? | ||||
Shedet | ||||
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 02 July 2025 | ||||
Document Type: research articles | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/shedet.2025.276825.1239 | ||||
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Author | ||||
Rehab Ismail ![]() | ||||
Member of the Australian Expedition at Beni Hassan | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Despite the strong filial affection, clearly attested in tombs at middle Egypt, some tombs at Meir and Beni Hassan were abandoned in hugely unfinished conditions. An analysis of the data from these tombs, most of which belonged to top officials including provincial governors, suggests that the owners had a short period in office and died at a relatively young age and before completing the work on their tombs. The examination of evidence, both from scenes as well as human remains, indicates that hostilities did not end with the unification of the land in the latter part of the Eleventh Dynasty, but continued into the earlier part of the Twelfth, resulting in many deaths. In addition to external wars, fighting was also between neighbouring Egyptian provinces. With the involvement of the nomarchs in the fighting, and their early death, many were unable to fulfill their filial obligations by completing their fathers’ tombs. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Unfinished tombs; provincial governors; Meir; Beni Hassan; filial affection | ||||
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