Though relatively small, there are some impressive tombs south
of the processional ramp of Unas at
Saqqara, almost all of
which are rock cut, dug into the limestone rock of the
plateau. They all date to the 5th Dynasty and before the reign
of Unas. Discovered by Ahmed Moussa between 1964 and 1972,
they all have somewhat similar layouts and consist of usually
a single room. They mostly were owned by relatively low
ranking individuals who lived in the court and functioned as
officials, craftsmen, royal hairdressers and manicurists.
However, their vivid, well-preserved colors make them worth a
visit.
 One Such tomb is that of Neferherenptah. His title was
"Head of the Hairdressers of the Great House", and
he was the father of a judge and scribe
named Ptahshepses.
The tomb itself is popularly referred to as "the Bird
Tomb", due to several depictions within it.
Among these tombs is that of Neferherenptah, who's tomb is
located several dozen meters west of the mastaba of
Mehu, in a
slightly more elevated position. This tomb, like the others in
this sector of Saqqara, has only a single chamber, which is
accessed by way of a modern stairway located directly below
the processional ramp of the Unas
Pyramid. Its  construction must have
actually been abruptly interrupted by the construction of the
processional ramp of Unas, which makes it possible to date the
tomb to the period immediately preceding the king's ascent to
the throne, around 2310 BC.
Just inside the entrance to the tomb, on the right hand
wall, are five registers of reliefs, some of which are
unfinished, depicting men tending cattle, preparing food and
the mating and calving of cattle. They also reveal scenes of
milking a cow, which are rare, and servants bringing wine-jars
as offerings to the ka of
Neferherenptah.
 On the rear wall there are unfinished depictions which have
been sketched out in red orchre and finished in charcoal.
These scenes were intended to be cut in relief, but this
carving was never performed. Here, the scenes are of
additional agricultural activities, including men picking
sycamore figs, netting and caging birds, including pigeons,
fruit-picking, gardening and perhaps the plowing of fields.
There is also a scene of men picking and treading upon grapes
for the production of wine. In the garden scenes, one may
clearly make out the watering and harvesting of onions. One
register also depicts huge, rounded baskets of fruits and
vegetables that have been gathered by the servants, while
another man is seen carrying papyrus stalks in his arms. Here,
we also find, high on the wall, the beautiful representation
of a bird hunt, with a flock of birds rising into the air from
a papyrus thicket, which gives the tomb its popular
name.
Also on the left hand side of the rear wall is an
unfinished and uninscribed false
door.
Ground Plan of Tomb
References:
| Title |
Author |
Date |
Publisher |
Reference
Number |
| Atlas of Ancient
Egypt |
Baines, John;
Malek, Jaromir |
1980 |
Les Livres De
France |
None Stated |
| Illustrated
Guide to the Pyramids, The |
Hawass, Zahi;
Siliotti, Alberto |
2003 |
American
University in Cairo Press, The |
ISBN 977 424 825
2 |
| Treasures of the Pyramids,
The |
Hawass, Zahi |
2003 |
American University in Cairo
Press, The |
ISBN 977 424 798 1 |
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