The Edfu Necropolis
Located on the southwestern edge of Tell Edfu were the tombs and funerary monuments of the local elite used from the late Old Kingdom (Dynasties 5-8, 2494-2160 BCE) through the end of the Second Intermediate Period (Dynasties 15-17, 1650-1550 BCE). The cemetery contains numerous mudbrick mastaba tombs built during Dynasties 5 and 6 of the Old Kingdom. Mastaba, from the Arabic word for “bench”, is a type of tomb composed of an underground burial chamber covered by a rectangular superstructure that served as a place where offerings to the deceased could be made. Old Kingdom mastabas at Edfu were usually made of mudbrick and had sloping walls. The mastabas at Edfu were laid in rows, with an approximate north-south orientation. The largest and richest tombs were found in the eastern and northwestern portions of the necropolis, while the poorer tombs lie in the southwest. One of the most prominent tombs was that of Isi, a local governor of Edfu who was worshipped as a local saint after his death (see below).
During the First Intermediate Period (Dynasties 9-11, 2160-2055 BCE), a town wall was built across the cemetery, cutting it in two and preventing further expansion to the east toward the settlement. During the Middle Kingdom (Dynasties 11-14, 2055-1650 BCE) and early Second Intermediate Period (Dynasty 15-17, 1650-1550 BCE), multiple burials in subterranean and vaulted tombs filled the cemetery. An important collection of funerary stelae from this time period has been recovered, some inscribed with biographical inscriptions detailing the lives of the local elite. The latest interments in the necropolis are dated to the late Second Intermediate Period (Dynasty 17, 1580-1550 BCE)-early 18th Dynasty (ca. 1550-1425 BCE, New Kingdom), but it is difficult to know whether the burial ground was abandoned after that, as the southern, northern and western extensions of the cemetery have been destroyed by sebakh digging and are covered by the later town.
Meet Isi, the Governor of Edfu
Isi’s tomb, which dates to the early Dynasty 6 (ca. 2345-2323 BCE, Old Kingdom), was discovered and excavated during the 1920’s and 30’s by French and Polish archaeologists. Isi started his career in the capital of Memphis under Kings Djedkara Isesi and Unas (the last two kings of Dynasty 5) before being appointed governor of Edfu by King Teti (Dynasty 6). As the local governor, Isi went by the title ‘Great Overlord of the nome of Edfu’. The tomb of Isi’s son Qar, also called Pepy-Nefer, who would take over his father’s position in Edfu, was also discovered. Upon his death, Isi was deified and worshipped as a local saint. Many stelae dedicated to him were placed in close proximity of his mastaba tomb by worshippers during the Middle Kingdom (Dynasties 11-14, 2055-1650 BCE) and Second Intermediate Period (Dynasties 15-17, 1650-1550 BCE).
