A French team working in Egypt since 1989 has made a new find in the el-Shawaf area of South Saqqara, by unearthing the last resting place of a Queen estimated to be over 4000 years old by the name of Queen Behunu. She was thought to be one of the wives of King Pepi II, of the Sixth Dynasty, whose pyramid is nearby.
The Sixth Dynasty ruled Egypt from 2374 BC to 2192 BC. Pepi II is said to have been the longest reigning pharaoh of all, as he rose to power at age 6, though the length of his reign differs depending on the authority quoted, with the longest at 94 years. The real people in power in the beginning of his reign were his mother and uncle. An alabaster statue from that era depicts his mother Ankhenesmerire I with little Pepi II sitting on her lap.
Queen Behunu’s sarcophagus was a rare pink granite 2.6 metres tall engraved with her different titles, but unfortunately for researchers the mummified remains of the Queen within had been destroyed over time, and there was little remaining of the burial objects found in the 33 by 16 foot chamber.
What was of most interest, however, was the discovery of two inner walls that revealed beautiful hieroglyphics engraved on the white stone. They were identified as belonging to the category of writing called “The Pyramid Texts”, which were special prayers to protect the dead and to ensure safety in the afterlife used in royal tombs during the 5th and 6th dynasties.
The Ancient Egyptians normally sent the departed to the after-world very well equipped, with perfumes, gold, jewels and various ornaments. One of their most interesting ritual practices was providing help to the newly deceased in the form of small figurines, known as shabti, ushabti and shawabti that were meant to serve the dead as deputies who would do the farm labor for him or her in the afterlife.
Since beginning their work in Egypt this very successful French team has located 7 pyramids belonging to Queens of the reigns of Pepi I and Pepi II, led by team leader Philippe Collombert who is professor of Egyptology at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Source: Gordon Moyes