Serdab

The Serdab (Arabic سرداب Sirdāb, DMG Sirdāb, subterranean vaults, cellars ', ancient Egyptian: pr - tw.t, " Statue House " ) is part of many private tombs of the ancient Egyptian third through sixth dynasties. Much like the false door he should serve to secure the continued existence of the deceased by the Ka - statue of grave Lord kept here, and he can often be found behind the false door. But the Serdab is not a basic component of the graves, but only found in tombs of ( higher-ranking ) administration officials and members of the royal family ( princes and princesses ) - and he probably expresses as well as their social positions.

Occurrence

The Serdab does not exist in royal tombs - apart from the exception that there is a similar space in the North Temple of the Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara with its now located in Cairo seated statue - but this is probably a statue shrine.

Even if the Serdab mostly in mastabas was used, it is also found in some rock tombs. Mainly, this grave ingredient in the necropolis of Giza ( over 400 burials ) and Sakkara distributed, it is also found in those of Abusir, Dahshur, Meidum, Abu Roasch, Deschascha, Meir, Qau al - Kabir, Abydos, Dendera, Elkab, Edfu and Aswan ( Abu al- Hawa Qubbet ). However, the dissemination outside the Memphite necropolis mainly to the sixth dynasty is limited.

Description

The Serdab is an above - or underground, closed space inside the tomb. Only holes or slots in the wall connecting the Serdab to the input area or with the cult chamber, at the west or south wall it is located. In the period that the Serdabs he was mostly not yet planned an integral part of the tomb, but was grown.

In addition to statues and servant statues in food preparation, models, stelae, vessels, and offering tables and / or victim pools are housed, etc. Artefacts in Serdab sometimes. In general, the Serdab is not decorated; there are only about eight exceptions, which are restricted to the sixth dynasty.

Function

The holes or slots can have an important function: the Ka, the soul of the deceased is through them can escape and the statue can thus participate in the cult action in the sacrifice room. The Serdab has therefore probably both a protective and a cult function for the Ka - statue.

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