Pharaoh sarcophagi were PLAINER than noble mastaba coffers: Khufu's thin, plain box vs mastaba coffins with elaborate palace facade carvings. Royal lids often featured bosses removed — a technique mastaba coffers typically did not employ. Why did kings get less than their officials?
Pharaoh sarcophagi simpler than mastaba coffers in Old Kingdom
EgyptGeneral
Site mentioned
Key facts
- Great Pyramid (Khufu) sarcophagus is famously simple, uninscribed, and unadorned
- Pharaoh sarcophagi from Khufu to end of Old Kingdom all had bosses removed from lids
- Royal sarcophagi featured dovetail cuts for lids and various locking mechanisms with pin holes
- Mastaba sarcophagi typically retained bosses, had no dovetail cuts, and no pin locks
- Mastaba coffers often featured elaborate palace facade carvings in granite - a highly extravagant choice
- Custom practice of inscribing name on stone coffers existed during Khufu's reign but not used in pyramids until Pharaoh Teti (6th Dynasty)
- Khufu's sarcophagus was thin and plain; Khafre's larger but still plain; Menkaure's was a rare masterpiece
- Later kings like Pepi I, Merenra, and Pepi II finally obtained sarcophagi with size and finish expected of a king
- Evidence suggests Old Kingdom sarcophagi were not standardized - design choices were personal preference or tradesmen skill
- This pattern may relate to sarcophagi originally being temporary resting places rather than eternal tombs
Sources
isida-project.ucoz.com
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lah.ru
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academia.edu
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