Seshemnefer III

Seshemnefer III "Ṡshm-nfr" was vizier, during the era of King Nyuserre Ini, ruler of the 5th dynasty. He was the third generation in the family line and had his own tomb, G 5170 on the west side of Khufu's pyramid. Information about his life and family has been drawn from the decoration in his tomb and the documented history of his ancestors too. The original dimensions of the building were disturbed by later reconstructions, firstly by the addition of the southern side of the cult serdab in the part connected to the mastaba of Rawer I, Seshemnefer's son. From the spacious columned portico (5.8 × 2.8 m) there was an entrance to the sacrificial chamber in the shape of the letter "L" (3.64 × 1.43 m) with two false doors on the west, as well as a large serdab on the south side. The southern burial chamber is located in a shaft, where there is also a massive sarcophagus. The northern shaft was completed to a depth of 3.2 m and the sarcophagus was built directly into the rock in the chamber.

Chapel From the chapel, a group of maidservants bring gifts from the estates of noble kings. The preserved decoration of the chapel talks about the life of Seshemnefer and his family and the preparation for the departure to the underworld with full material security, members of his family, his servants. Numerous inscriptions list his numerous functions in the royal administration. Some functions express his active powers as a vizier, 100px others numerous and often recurring, are rather symbolic of his social status. These are, Chief justice and vizier, Overseer of scribes of the king's documents, Overseer of all works of the king, Privy to the secret of all decrees of the king, Overseer of the two houses of weapons. The south wall depicts him seated, supervising the preparations for the ceremony, at his feet are his three sons with the scribe's sign, the third on the right Nfrsshmptah. His mind is entertained by a dancers group 18px, accompanied by music on harps 22px. A similar scene is on the east wall, above, scribes recording supplies under the supervision of Seshemnefer, who leans on the staff of the magnate. whose interior decoration has been preserved, provides data that fits into the overall picture of the character and historical development of government structures.

Seshemnefer family The development of social and administrative structures, inextricably linked to the development of the economy and with deeply rooted religious rituals, in the 4th dynasty reached the stage of forming family and power relations outside the circle of exclusively members of the monarch's family. The development of social structures in the 4th dynasty, which was completed during the implementation of complex construction and logistical projects on the Giza plateau, was based on the central power of the king and his closest officials in the established administrative system. In the later period of the 5th dynasty, the monarch asserted his power by applying marriage unions of his descendants with non-royal officials of a central administration. The importance of several dignitaries and their families was than strengthened through marriages with royal daughters, most likely in the middle of the 5th dynasty. The social and political position of these men was strengthened, they became privileged. Each such union can be considered as evidence of the connection between the king and the dignitary and a reflection of the gradual transformation of the distribution of power. This was a new type of social relationship, not documented before the 5th Dynasty. The changes that took place in the middle of the 5th Dynasty also affected the country's administrative system. Kinship with the king was also a decisive factor in inheriting offices, positions, and professions, so-called nepotism.

Seshemnefer I The first relevant tomb of the family is G 4940 in the western burial ground, located in the first group behind tomb G 4000 described in more detail by Reisner. The chapel was decorated with figurative reliefs depicting Seshemnefer and his family, servants in the traditional ritual of preparing for the afterlife. On the west wall, in the upper register, are his numerous titles, and in the niche by the sacrificial table with his wife Imendjefes, there are again inscriptions of owner’s titles. or also in tomb Merib G 2100-I and Kagemni, all dated to the same period late 4th dynasty up to en early 6th dynasty, approximately.

So Seshemnefer I could be a server as a priest and a temple administrator here.

Seshemnefer II He had a similar high social standing as his father. The tomb G 5080 is situated in the second row of the west cemetery behind G 2000.

TITLESNoteTag|The most prominent

Gallery Symbolic barges in other mastabas with striking similarity and iconographic depiction, all dating at the end 4.th dynasty

Note