Coffin of Keki

Rectangular wooden coffin box inscribed for Keki, a steward of Khnumhotep. Painted in polychrome with a series of monumental doorways and an eye-panel at the head end on one side. The horizontal line of hieroglyphic inscription extending along the upper edge on either side invokes Osiris. A series of four vertical columns of inscription breaks up the decoration on either side. The deities invoked are Amset, Geb, Nut, Duamutef (misspelt as Duaditef), Hapy, Anubis, Ptah-Sokar and Qebehsenuef. The head and foot ends are framed by three lines of inscription, invoking Nephthys, Servet, Neith, Isis and the Great and Little Enneads. The interior is decorated and inscribed, with articles of clothing and equipment for the deceased depicted on the sides. These include, sandals, mirrors, jewellery and staves. The inscriptions on the floor come from the group of spells known as the coffin texts, and there are other standard funerary formulae. The deities invoked are Anubis, Isis and Geb. The coffin was acquired with a lid. From Beni Hasan, tomb number 886. From Beni Hasan, cemetery below the Middle Kingdom rock-cut tombs: excavated by John Garstang of the Liverpool Institute of Archaeology, 1902-1904. On p. 46 of John Garstang, 'Burial Customs of Ancient Egypt' (London, 1904) the author describes "2 fine coffins of Keka and Nekht" found in a recess in the floor of the burial chamber of 886, covered with limestone slabs. This context may have damaged the lid of 55.82.113 so much that Garstang chose not to keep hold of it.