4000-Year-Old Tomb of Vizier Mehu Reopens in Saqqara

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has reopened the Tomb of Mehu in Saqqara, a monumental mastaba from the early 6th Dynasty (c. 2350–2190 BCE), after extensive restoration. Discovered in 1940 by Zaki Saad, the tomb had been inaccessible to the public until now. The opening ceremony in early September was led by Egyptologist Khaled El-Anany, head of the ministry, alongside Zahi Hawass, Minister of Immigration Nabila Makram, and 12 foreign ambassadors. The tomb belonged to Mehu, a Supreme Judge and Vizier under Pharaoh Teti I and possibly Pepi I, and also served as burial for Meryreankh and Hotepka, likely his son and grandson. Its architecture includes an antechamber, long corridor, central room, two offering halls, a serdab, and an internal court with a portico. The tomb is renowned for its painted bas-reliefs depicting daily life, such as flute players, mongoose hunting, crocodiles, fishing, ships, blacksmiths, and acrobatic dances. Mehu is shown hunting and traveling by boat. The false door is painted in bronze and gold tones. The tomb was first studied in depth by Hartwig Altenmüller in 1998, with photographs by Dieter Johannes of the German Institute. The restoration has revived the original vibrant colors.