Mastaba of Hesy-Re, Ancient tomb in Saqqara, Egypt
The Mastaba of Hesy-Re is a tomb structure at Saqqara measuring roughly 43 meters long and 5 meters tall, built from baked mudbrick with white limestone plaster inside. The layout includes a corridor opening into an anteroom with decorative carving, which connects to a statue chamber designed to hold stone figures of the deceased.
This burial monument dates to the Third Dynasty, a period when tomb construction techniques were rapidly developing. The discovery of the site in the mid-1800s provided scholars with key evidence about early Egyptian building practices and artistic traditions in the pyramid age.
The wooden panels depict Hesy-Re at different life stages performing rituals and seated at offering tables, with inscriptions of his titles and role in ancient Egyptian society. These images reveal the daily duties and status of an official during the early pyramid age.
The site is best visited during daylight when light enters the chambers and makes the carved panels easier to see. Wear comfortable shoes and be ready for uneven surfaces inside the burial rooms.
The wood panels lining the walls are made from imported Lebanese cedar, a material that has survived remarkably well since the Third Dynasty. This early use of foreign timber reveals that Egyptian builders already relied on long-distance trade networks to source quality materials.
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