Qar (also known as Meryrenefer) was buried to the east of Queen Hetepheres pyramid in the Great Pyramid complex. He was an official of the sixth dynasty, probably during the reign of Pepi I. His titles included “Overseer of the Pyramid Towns of Khufu and Menkaure” the “Inspector of wab-priests of the Pyramid of Khafre” and “Tenant of the Pyramid of Pepi I“. His wife, Gefi, was a “Prophetess of Hathor“. Qar is thought to be either the father or the son of Idu, the occupant of tomb G7102.
It is likley that his tomb was constructed as a mastaba, but as the superstructure is almost entirely ruined with only a single course of masonry remaining, this cannot be confirmed. His tomb is composed of a stair leading to a small entrance corridor followed by the main chamber, flanked on the west by an offering hall and on the east by a storage room. The main room is divided into two courts (labelled C and D) separated by one freestanding pillar and two engaged pillars. Qar is depicted on the pillars at different stages of his life.
On the walls his funerary procession is depicted along with offering scenes. At the far end of court D sit four beautiful statues of the deceased and his family. Another statue of Qar was placed in the niche in the eastern wall. Within the offering chamber there are more offering scenes and a False Door set into the western wall.
The artistic style clearly dates the tomb to the latter part of the Old Kingdom, as Qar and his family are depicted with wide eyes and slim bodies with a hint of musculature on the torso.
Bibliography
- Bard, Kathryn (2008) An introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
- Simpson, William Kelly (1976) The Mastabas of Qar and Idu
- Snape, Steven (2010) Ancient Egyptian Tombs: The Culture of Life and Death
Copyright J Hill 2016