Press Release
from the Giza Plateau
Mr. Farouk Hosni, Minister of Culture and Prof. Dr. Gaballa Ali Gaballa have opened to the public ten tombs dated to the Old Kingdom, the Queens pyramids of Khufu (Cheops) and the third pyramid of Menkaure.
I. The tombs
The first group of the tombs are located on the west side of the Great Pyramid.
There are four tombs:
1- The tomb of Senedjem -ib - Inty who was the vizier, chief justice and
over- seer of all the king's work. The tomb has very important daily life scenes, such as
fishing scenes, offering bearers, agriculture scenes.
2- Tomb of Khnum- Inty it is located near the first tomb and the owner
was a royal scribe, overseer of the granary and of all the kings work. The tomb contains
funeral scenes and offering scenes.
3- Tomb of Akhet-Mehu
this tomb contains scenes of daily life and religious scenes.
4- Tomb of Senedjem-ib -Mehu he was the chief justice, vizier and the
royal architect in the two houses.
The tombs were discovered sixty years ago by George Reisner from fine arts and were in a
bad condition.
The tombs were restored by adding the missing pillars. Inscribed blocks were restored on
the walls. Ceilings were put above the tombs for protection. Also an electrical system was
installed. The floors were protected by wood. The tombs date to Dyn.5 about 4200 years
Tombs on the south of the causeway of Khafre.
There are ten tombs are located in this area. Most of these tombs were covered with sand
and were completely hidden until Selim Hassan's excavations in the 1930's. Excavation were
started to clean the area and to begin the restoration of these tombs. Lighting was
installed, the inscriptions were restored, and the tomb walls were reinforced.
Tomb of Debehen
He was the lector priest and the overseer of the divine places of the great palace.
Debehen left inscription in the tomb relating that he met King Menkaure during his
inspection in the area. He asked the king for permission to build a tomb for himself. Then
the king ordered the overseer of all his works to cut limestone from the royal Quarry at
Tura to build his tomb. Debehen recorded this event on his tomb. There are very
interesting scenes on this tomb of the funeral of a nobleman.
Tomb of Iwm-Min
He was the eldest son of king Menkaure, vizier and Judge. This tomb has a unique
architecture style.
II. The Pyramid of Menkaure
The third pyramid was closed for a year. The following work was done:
1- The walls were chemically cleared.
2- The weak parts in the wall were restored with mortar.
3- The kings burial chamber was cleaned of the graffiti that left by visitors.
4- The six chapels were cleaned from the salt and restored by mortar (lime and sand).
5- The pyramid walls were consolidated.
6- A ventilation system was installed inside the pyramid. Air circulation is now being
renewed every two hours.
7- Salt was removed from the walls and humidity was reduced.
8- The electrical system was updated.
III. The Queens Pyramids
Three Queens pyramids were located on the east side of the pyramid of Khufu. The one in
the north belonged Queen Hetep-heres, Khufu's mother, the second pyramid belong to Queen
Merit-it-Is, Khufu's wife and the third
for Queen Henutsen, Khufu's wife.
The exterior masonry of pyramids was restored. We returned the fallen stones again.
Inside, black spots were cleaned from the chamber walls. An electrical system was
installed. This is the first time that pyramids of Queens have been opened to the public.
Dr. Zahi Hawass
Director General of the Giza Pyramids.