Unis-Pyramid Cemetery at Saqqara
By Anneke Bart
Pyramid of Unis
A shared mastaba of Queen Khenut and Queen
Nebet, Queens related to King Unis. Possibly his wives. Their
shared mastaba was investigated in 1990's?
Unis was the last Pharaoh of the fifth dynasty. It
is not known who his parents were. Unis followed Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi
the throne. Unis may have been the father of the King's Son Unis-ankh
tomb chapel is at the Field Museum in Chicago.
Unis is known to have had several daughters:
Hemetre called Hemi (buried in Saqqara), Khentkaues (buried at
Saqqara), and Iput whose husband Teti would follow Unis on the throne.
Other possible daughters include Nefertkaues,
Neferut and Sesheshet called Idut.
A wonderful site with photographs is this following page:
The author includes this map of the Unis pyramid
and cemetery. Follow the link above to see the original clickable map.
The original map - which is of much higher quality than the one shown
- can be found at the original site: http://egyptphoto.ncf.ca/unas%20map.jpg
with photographs of some of these structures can be found here:
MASTABA TOMBS NEAR THE PYRAMID OF UNAS
The numbering below corresponds to the numbering
used in Kanawati's book . Dr. Kanawati gives a much more detailed
description of the tombs and their owners, explains the reason for the
dating of the individuals to a certain time period, and gives many more
of the numerous titles that these people carried. Furthermore, Dr
Kanawati discusses the apparently
turbulent times of Unas, Teti and Pepi I. Pharaoh Teti may well have
assassinated and there are further indications of power struggles at
The other people listed are also known to have
at the Unis cemetery at Saqqara.
1. Akhethetep, also called Hemi, Time of
Unis (late period?).
Chief Justice, Vizier, etc.
This mastaba is relatively large. The names
Akethetep and Hemi have been deliberately erased. His sarcophagus was
also adapted for Nebkauhor.
Reused by Nebkauhor, also called Idu,
eldest king's son of his body.
2. Hermeru, also called Merery, Time of
Unis - Pepi I
Overseer of the guards, Guard and priest of
etc. Hermeru is described as honored before the King of Upper and Lower
Unis. There is no deliberate damage to the tomb, but the work did
come to a sudden halt. One of the false doors belonged to his wife
3. Ihy , Time of Unis (late period?)
Vizier, Overseer of the two granaries, Overseer
of the two treasuries, etc.
Reused by Idut, also called Seshseshet,
King's daughter of his body. Her attendant was named Teti-ankh, and
many daughters of Teti carried the name Seshseshet so she may have been
a daughter of Teti. On the other hand, the proximity of her tomb to the
pyramid of Unis may mean that she's Unis' daughter.
Irukaptah called Khenu
Head of the Butchers of the Great House, Wab
priest of the King.
4. Iy, Time of Unis - Pepi I
Overseer of the Palace Guards, Guard of Pepi I's
pyramid, priest of Unis' pyramid.
Possibly the son of Niankhpepy. The decoration
tomb was stopped abruptly.
5. Iyenhor, Late Unis - Early Pepi I
Royal chamberlain, Companion of the House,
Overseer of the department of the palace guards.
Iynefert called Shanef, Time of Unis
Vizier, Iynefert's tomb is located near that of
Mehu, Unis-ankh and Ihy
Time of Unis - Pepi I
Mehu's tomb is located near that of Iynefert, Unis-ankh and Ihy
6. Niankh-khnum, also called Khenemi and Imi,
Possibly time of Pepi I
Royal chamberlain of the Palace, Superintendent
of the palace guards.
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. Mid 5th
Prophets of Ra in the Sun temple if Niuserre,
Head of the Manicurists of the Great House.
7. Niankh-Pepi, Time of Unis - Pepi I
His name is thought to replace that of a man
called Ptahhetep. The name of the wife and children remains the same.
This may mean
that Ptahhetep was allowed to rename himself in honor of King Pepy.
was Overseer of the Palace Guards, Guard of Pepi I's pyramid, etc. His
was named Iy.
8. Niankh-Pepi, also called Heap., Time
His earlier name was Sebekhotep. Royal
chamberlain, Overseer of the palace guards, etc.
9. Niankh-Ptah, also called Ithi, Time of
Teti - Pepi I ?
Royal chamberlain, Overseer of the palace
The tomb owner sits on a chair inscribed with the names of Niuserre,
Isesi, Unis, and Teti. Hence Niankh-Ptah may have served even before
10. Tjetju, Time of Unis - Pepi.
Overseer of the palace guards, priest of the
pyramids of Unis and Pepi I, etc.
Unis-Ankh, Time of Unis
Probably a son of Unis. Overseer of Upper Egypt,
Priest of Maat, etc.
His tomb is located near that of Iynefert, Mehu
Bibliography / Suggested Reading:
 A. Dodson and D. Hilton, The Complete
Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004
 N. Kanawati, M. Abder-Raziq, The Unis
Cemetery at Saqqara II: The Tombs Of Iynefert And Ihy (reused by Idut)
(The Australian Centre for Egyptology), 2004
 N. Kanawati, Conspiracies in the
Egyptian Palace: Unis to Pepi., 2003
 Ann McFarlane The Unis Cemetery at
The Tomb of Irukaptah , 2000