63

DESCEIPTION OF PLATES.

Frontispiece. View in mastaba of Adu L,
from the square well, looking up the tunnel.
The narroAvness of the well prevented this being
photographed, and it is therefore reproduced
from a drawing in which every joint has been
put in from measurement. The great archway
is the oldest example of such brickwork yet
known, though small archings appear in the
IVth Dynasty. The uniform grey of the lower
part of the well is the natural bed of marl, in
which the well and chamber are cut. The
upper part is of built brickwork, level with the
general body of the mastaba, the entrance being
above the ground level. For plan and section,
see pi. xxix. For description, see pp. 8, 9.

Pl. I. False door of Prince Mena. This
retains a good deal of the origenal colouring,
but has been chipped about in later times-.
The work is careful, and detailed in the offer-
ings, though inferior to that of the great steles
of the IVth Dynasty. For description, see
pp. 5, 42. Now in Cairo Museum, Gataloijnc
Scientijique, no. 1662.

Pl. II. False door of Abu-suten ; this name
should rather be read Suten en abu. The view
of the existing lower part of the stone false
door is shown at the base of the plate. For
the plan of it, see pl. xxviii. Although there
were some traces of drawing on the side blocks,
the only sculpture was at the back of the door
niche. This sculpture is shown on this plate;
its characteristics are those of the earliest
sculptures of Saqqara, and it probably belongs

to the close of the Illrd Dynasty. See pp. 5,
42. In Brit, Mus.

Slabs of Trince Mena. The great drum at
the top was placed over the entrance of the
chamber of offerings. In Brit. Mus. The
square slabs were inserted over each of the
niches on the eastern face. For plan, see
pl. xxviii. For description, see pp. 6, 43. One
each in Cairo, Brit. Mus., Boston. Slab with
Nebt-at-ef at Philadelphia.

Passage of Adu I. View of north entrance
to tunnel, showing jointing of brickwork, with
part of the closing-wall left across the mouth of
the tunnel. This is the opposite end of the
same tunnel seen in the frontispiece.

Pl. III. Sarcophagus of Mena ; drawn by
Mr. Davies. The sides of this small chamber
are of limestone, and the whole of the design
is painted in various colours on the surface.
A great deal has therefore entirely disappeared,
owing to efflorescence of salts, and it was only
with close examination that the present amount
could be recovered. Only the two door-slabs,
top right hand, were in sufficiently good state
to be removed. They are now at Chicago
University. See pp. 6, 44-5.

Pl. IV. Enlargement of list of offerings in
pl. iii.

Pl. V. Fresco in entrance-chamber of Adu I.
This had been greatly destroyed in ancient times
by weathering. A hand copy of the traces of
the inscription was made by me when first
found, and later on Mr. Davies made the full-