The classical private tombs on the West
Bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes)
are referred to as being T-shaped, particularly those located on the slopes of
Sheikh Abd el-Qurna in the area known as the Tombs
of the Nobles. Repeatedly, we find an entrance corridor or a courtyard that
leads into a wide vestibule, with another short corridor that leads into a long
chapel, often with a small niche at its rear. The Tomb of Menna (TT 69) is
completely classic in this regard.
Menna held the title, "Scribe
of the Fields of the Lord of the Two Lands of Upper and Lower Egypt", as
well as field overseer of Amun. However, these were probably not two separate
positions. He probably supervised temple owned agricultural
lands which were dependencies of state granaries. He is thought to have
worked for the Temple of Amun
at Karnak, supervising the
measuring of fields, inspected the work on the land, prosecuted defaulters and
recorded the crop yield. He lived during the 18th Dynasty and probably worked
under both Tuthmosis
IV and Amenhotep III.
An interesting aspect of this tomb is the details that Egyptologists can
gleam from subtle differences in the artwork. Private tombs often reflect the
style imprinted by the current pharaoh. For example, Tuthmosis IV favored lean
female figures in artwork, while Amenhotep III was more prone to voluptuous
curves. Also, Tuthmosis IV preferred almond shaped eyes with relatively round
pupils that barely touch the lower lid, while Amenhotep III's females had
closed, slanted, almond shaped eyes with pupils that touch almost half of the
upper eyelid. Egyptologists are actually able to date tombs to various
pharaohs from these differences.
Menna's wife, Henuttawy (Henut-taui), may also have been literate, as
we find a scribal palette depicted under her chair in several tomb scenes. We
know that Menna and Henuttawy probably had several sons, one of which followed
in his profession, as well as three daughters, including one, Amenemwaskhet, who
was a lady-in-waiting in the court of the pharaoh.
 
Menna's tomb is often a favorite of tourists, because of the sophisticated
paintings and the decorative program that is one of the most complete in the
Theban necropolis. Menna's family is prominent in these decorations, and
many of the scenes are very touching. As might be expected, agriculture is
also extensively documented.
Entering the tomb and making a left turn in the vestibule, we first find four
registers with different stages of reaping and of the wheat harvest. These
activities are carried out under the
supervision of scribes who record the
yield. On the next shorter wall, we find a scene of Menna and Henuttawy
before a table of offerings. They are worshiping the god, Osiris,
who is seated on a throne inside a chapel.
On the rear left wall of the vestibule are fragmentary scenes of the deceased
and his wife at the funeral banquet, while on the right rear wall are scenes of
the couple receiving offerings along with a list of the ritual offerings. On the
next wall (the western wall) of the vestibule is a painting of a stele divided
into three registers. In the upper register, we find Re-Harakhty, along
with the main gods of the funeral cult. The middle register is a double
representation of Menna and Henuttawy who are seated, and in the lower register
the couple is shown in an act of worship. The right front wall of the vestibule
has various offering scenes.
Entering the Chapel, on the long right wall we first find scenes of bearers
of offerings and the funeral procession, followed by the deceased being judged
by Osiris. At the back on the
short wall is the niche for statues of the
deceased and his wife. Note the lack of a false door often found in other
tombs.
The right wall of the chapel is probably the most interesting within this
tomb. The opening scenes of this wall depict a young daughter of Menna picking lotus
flowers while another carries lotus flowers and the birds that they have
caught. The next scene is well known, showing the natural bounty to be
found in the marshes among the papyrus and lotus plants. Swarming with
life, we find flocks of birds intermingled with butterflies, as well as nests
with eggs. There is also a cat and rodent who appear to be after the bird's
eggs.
The next scene is very much like one found in the tomb
of Nakht (TT
52). This leads us to believe that the same artist worked in both tombs,
probably early in the reign of Amenhotep III. It is a double scene, showing
Menna standing on a papyrus fishing boat. His wife and sons are also
present. On the right, Menna is shown harpooning two fish, while on the
left, he is shown with a throwing stick used for hunting birds.

The final scene is in several registers. The top register depicts a
pilgrimage to Abydos with a
fleet of boats returning to Thebes. In the lower registers we find scenes
dedicated to the rites carried out before the mummy, with the "Opening
of the Mouth" ceremony being prominent.

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