The Tomb of Qar (G 7101) At Giza

by Jimmy Dunn

Meryrenefer was an official during Egypt's 5th Dynasty, probably during the reign of Pepi II. He was the "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. However, he is better known to us as Qar (or Kar). He was married to Gefi, who was a "Prophetess of Hathor".

Qar's mastaba tomb (G 7101) is located in the Eastern Cemetery at Giza. It lies to the east of the pyramid belonging to Queen Hetepheres and next to her tomb-shaft, sitting side by side with the mastaba of Idu. There may have been a relationship between these two men, but if so, the relationship is unclear.

Left: Men towing the funerary boat of Qar just inside the entrance to the main room
Right: Qar seated in a niche on the east wall of the main room

This tomb consists of a stairway leading to a small entrance corridor followed by the main or first room, which is in turn flanked on the west by an offering hall and on the east by an annex or storage room. Many references refer to the main room as actually being two courts separated by the pillars, with court C being the northernmost followed by court D.

Within the main room there is one single freestanding pillar and two engaged pillars. These pillars support an architrave which is richly worked in incised hieroglyphs. On the face of the pillars the Qar is depicted in various stages of his life. Just within the main room on the north wall we find two processions of men towing the funerary boat containing Qar's sarcophagus toward his tomb. The wall to the right of the entrance depicts the funerary rites, with Qar seated at a table to receive offerings. The text in the upper register may be translated as, "true scribe of the god's document, Idu". In the lower register, the "overseer of ka-priests, Nakhti" is shown pouring a libation.

Looking through the pillars from court C into Court D of the main room

He is shown in a similar manner with his wife on the western wall, with offering lists and illustrations of the funeral procession. The purification tent and embalming-house are the focus of the ceremonies. At the rear of the first chamber there is a series of lovely statues depicting the deceased and his family, including his young son, sculpted in high relief. Another statue of Qar sitting in a niche adorns the eastern wall, where there are more offerings depicted.

Left: Qar, as depicted in polychrome on the jambs of the door that leads to the Offering Hall
Right: A seated Qar next to the entrance to the Offering Hall

Near the southwest corner of the first room is the entry to a second room that has been termed an offering chamber. In the doorway to this room are more polychrome bas-reliefs of the deceased, and within, the false door of Qar is set into the western wall with scenes of offering-bearers and offerings to either side. This tomb contains excellent examples of artwork that distinguish the latter Old Kingdom from the early Old Kingdom. Here, as well as in the tomb of Idu and others, the human figure is depicted with wide eyes, pinched torsos and minimal musculature, which differs, at times, dramatically from early representations. Such differences are very often essential to Egyptologists when dating new discoveries.

Resources:

Archives