A new tomb has been discovered in Egypt by the Waseda University expedition.
This Egyptian tomb, dating from the Ramesside period, belongs to Khosuemheb and it is located in the Khokha cementery. Interesting for our subject is a wall containing a scene of the funerary procession to the tomb and the final Opening of the Mouth Ceremony.
Scene of the Funerary Ceremony with the procession and the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony. Tomb of Khonsu-em-heb in Khoka (Luxor). Ramesside Period. Photo: http://www.luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl
From down to top we can see how the coffin is being transported on a boat, next to it a kneeling mourning woman cries the lost of the deceased. Although we cannot read yet the inscription, and taking into consideration what we have seen all along our research, we guess it is about his wife.
On the upper register a group of mourners appear making the usual Egyptian mourning gestures; it is interesting to notice the presence of men and young naked girls, but also the presence of two kneeling women who also mourn, but kneeling and in a more quite attitude.
Finally, in the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony, the standing mummy is in the middle of its resurrection process. The deceased is being assited by three main people: two priests (probably the sem priest and the lector priest) and the mourner.
Summing up, the tomb of Khonsu-em-heb seems to show a summarized version of the funerary ceremony, in which the three types of moutners are present:
The common mourners in a group, crying and screaming.
The deceased’s wife regretting her husband’s death.
The professional mourner helping in the final resurrection.
It is sure that there will be much more to say about this tomb and its decoration, but this is our first reflection just at first sight.
HAIR AND DEATH IN ANCIENT EGYPT 