TT51 ~ Tomb of Userhat

This picture shows the entrance to the tomb of Userhat which is below the current ground level and set in a courtyard with three other tombs but only Userhat is open to visitors.

Though this tomb is not far from the road it is an infrequently visited tomb yet the man with the keys - known as a gafir - is always close by.

As you enter the tomb there is a very colourful transverse hall and just to the right is this painting of Userhat shown wearing a cheetah skin and followed by one of his wives. Userhat is making offerings to Osiris, the god of gods.

Fragrances were very important to the ancient Egyptians and equally so on their journey to the afterlife as we can see here with scented oils being poured from the bottle in the right hand (represented by the wavy lines) along with a sweet aroma from the incense burner in the left hand. Frankincense or myrrh from the cup in the middle would be sprinkled over the hot coals that were placed in the far end to release their smell.

Osiris, the god of gods, is seen here seated with Anubis, the jackal headed god of the dead behind him. In front stands the Ibis headed god Thoth, the scribe.

On the left there are two priests shown dressed in leopard skins performing purification rites whilst women of the family grieve.

The wearing of animal skins was obviously very much in fashion at the time of Userhat's death as it is featured extensively throughout the tomb.

The ceiling is extremely colourful with a line of hieroglyphs running through the middle.

On leaving the first area where there is so much colour you enter this much larger pillared chamber where there is no colour at all. It was never decorated just covered in white plaster mixed with straw, the rock here is of very poor quality. You walk past two columns on each side that support this area before you reach the burial chamber at the far end which can be seen clearly in the next picture.

This view looks down into the burial chamber at the very far end of the tomb of Userhat.