The Ministry of Antiquities in Egypt has today opened to visitors several of the New Kingdom tombs at Saqqara which were excavated by the EES/Leiden mission, directed for the EES by Professor Geoffrey Martin, in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Most belong to the ‘Amarna Period’ and date to the reigns of Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, Ay or Horemheb.
The tombs that have been opened belong to several Eighteen Dynasty officials: Horemheb (before he became king); Maya, Tutankhamun’s Treasurer; Ptahemwia, the Royal Butler, and a harem official of the reign of Tutankhamun, Pay and his son Raia. Also opened was the tomb of Tia, Overseer of the Treasury in the reign of Ramesses II. For a press report of the opening ceremony see here.
The excavations of these, and other important and finely decorated tombs at Saqqara, are being published by the Society and Leiden in a series of volumes, of which several are available at the EES on-line shop:
The Tomb of Maya and Merit I by Geoffrey Martin will be published by the EES later this year and can be sponsored by making a donation here. Donors who give £50 or more will be credited in the book and anyone who donates more than £300 will receive a complimentary copy.
Scene from the tomb of Maya and Merit