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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 28 January 1999 Issue No. 413 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 28 January 1999 Issue No. 413
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Focus Economy Opinion Culture Features Living Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters
Restoration in Abusir photo: Khaled El-FiqiUnveiling Abusir
By Nevine El-ArefAbusir, the necropolis of the Fifth Dynasty, is now being prepared to receive visitors after being closed for years. The site, which is located between the Pyramids of Giza and the equally frequented monuments of Saqqara, will now extend the tourist attractions of the Giza Plateau, which spans the area from north Giza to Meidum in the south. Previously, Abusir was difficult to access from the main road and could only be reached by riding or walking across the desert. But now, said Zahi Hawwas, director-general of the Giza Plateau, the entire necropolis has been restored, the surrounding roads have been paved and signposts have been installed along the roads leading to it. A parking area, a ticket kiosk, toilets and other services for visitors have been provided.
"Abusir is the site of the forgotten kings of the Fifth Dynasty," said Hawwas, explaining that despite the size of their monuments, these kings do not have the fame of their predecessors from the Fourth Dynasty, the builders of the Giza Pyramids.
Abusir comprises about a dozen pyramids that kings and queens of the Fifth Dynasty built for themselves, as well as the Sun Temples they built in honour of their father, the sun god.
"The four pyramids belonging to kings Sahure, Neferirkare, Neferfre and Newuerre are the only ones that will be opened to the public, but people can look only from the outside. No one is allowed to enter these pyramids," said Hawwas.
He explained that Sahure's complex, with its upper temple, causeway and remains of the double entrance Valley Temple, along with a subsidiary pyramid to the south, is very well-preserved. Sahure is the second king of the Fifth Dynasty. Restoration work on the complex included the partial removal of the sand covering the causeway of the pyramid, clearing the way for visitors. Fallen limestone blocks from the funerary temple have been returned to their original positions and two columns of the colonnaded courtyard have been restored.
Hawwas said that the unfinished pyramid of Neferfre is also remarkable, explaining that in this pyramid area, the Czechs found the third royal group of statues of the Old Kingdom. Complete portraits of another king, Raneferef, were found, including a beautiful one of him sitting on his throne and holding a mace, the symbol of power, in his right hand. "Statuettes of Egypt's enemies have also been found inside the hypo-style hall of the funerary temple," said Hawwas.
Neferirkare complex is also of great importance, featuring a great collection of papyri with unusual reliefs of Bedouin tribes and the representation of a ceremonial ritual.
Among the monuments to be opened is the tomb of a high official named Ptahshepses, which is the largest non-royal mastaba in Egypt. It is a remarkable hybrid structure that combines a private tomb and a royal mortuary temple. Two huge limestone columns located at the tomb's entrance have been reconstructed to their original six-metre height and a new wooden roof has been built to cover the structure. Minor restoration work has also been carried out in the tomb's sarcophagus chamber, especially the reliefs decorating the walls.
Hawwas described the tomb as a vast architectural complex which reveals conflict within the ruling dynasty and the deepening economic crisis in Egypt during the Fifth Dynasty.
Abusir has many other tombs which will be off-limits to visitors till late next year when further restoration work is scheduled to be completed. These tombs were only recently discovered and are intact. The tombs belong to Iufaa, the lecture priest and controller of the palace during the 20th Dynasty and Udjahorresnet, a Saite official who later served the Persian conquerors, Cambuses and Darius.
