serdab
E586169
A serdab is a small sealed chamber in ancient Egyptian tombs that housed statues of the deceased, allowing their spirit to receive offerings through small openings.
Statements (46)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
ancient Egyptian tomb element
ⓘ
architectural feature ⓘ |
| accessForOfferings | offerings placed outside, spirit accesses through openings ⓘ |
| accessType | not normally entered by the living ⓘ |
| architecturalPosition |
often adjacent to the offering chapel
ⓘ
often near the north or east side of the tomb core ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
ancestor worship
ⓘ
funerary cult ⓘ ka (vital spirit) ⓘ offering rituals ⓘ |
| category |
Egyptian funerary architecture
ⓘ
archaeological feature ⓘ |
| communicationMode | visual and spiritual contact through openings ⓘ |
| contains |
ka statue
ⓘ
statue of the deceased ⓘ |
| etymologyLanguage | Arabic NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| etymologyMeaning | cellar or underground chamber ⓘ |
| feature |
hidden from public view
ⓘ
sealed chamber ⓘ small openings or slits ⓘ |
| foundAt |
Abusir necropolis
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Giza necropolis NERFINISHED ⓘ Saqqara necropolis NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| function |
enable the spirit of the deceased to receive offerings
ⓘ
house statues of the deceased ⓘ provide a place for the ka statue ⓘ |
| iconographyContext |
elite non-royal tombs
ⓘ
royal tombs ⓘ |
| locatedInContextOf | ancient Egyptian tomb ⓘ |
| material | stone ⓘ |
| orientation | often oriented to allow statue to face rituals or processions ⓘ |
| preservationState | often discovered intact with statues ⓘ |
| relatedConcept |
false door
ⓘ
offering chapel ⓘ tomb statue ⓘ |
| religiousBeliefContext | ancient Egyptian belief in the afterlife ⓘ |
| ritualPurpose |
ensure continued existence of the deceased in the afterlife
ⓘ
receive prayers and offerings on behalf of the deceased ⓘ |
| securityFeature | sealed to protect statues from damage ⓘ |
| timePeriodOfUse |
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
New Kingdom of Egypt NERFINISHED ⓘ Old Kingdom of Egypt NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| typicalLocation |
mastaba tomb
ⓘ
pyramid complex ⓘ |
| usedInCulture | ancient Egypt ⓘ |
| visibilityFromOutside | statues may be glimpsed through slits ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.