Inside the burial chamber in the Pyramid of Unas decorated with Pyramid Texts, mid-24th century BC, Saqqara.

The Pyramid Texts are the oldest religious writings known to exist. They were first recorded in the pyramid of Unas, last king of Egypt’s 5th Dynasty, and are called “Pyramid Texts” because they were carved in columns on the inner walls of the pyramid.

Pyramids before Unas’ appear to have been undecorated on the inside. As the name suggests, these texts were reserved for the royal dead, and do not seem to have been available to the administrative elite for use in their tombs.

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Relief on the sarcophagus of Kawit, queen consort of king Mentuhotep II, one of the most noteworthy in terms of the low-relief sculpture in the Theban court, from her tomb (DBXI.9), Deir el-Bahari, Thebes.

Middle Kingdom, 11th Dynasty, ca. 2061-2010 BC. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 47397

Sarcophagus lid of the Vizier Sasobek

Late Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664-610 BC. Now in the British Museum, EA17

The lid is finely carved, showing the deceased wearing wig, beard and collar and with two vertical registers of hieroglyphic offering texts, surmounted by a figure of Nut. “It may have been found in Sais, the city from which Psamtik’s family came.

The sarcophagus is one of the finest examples of its type, and very well preserved. While many anthropoid (human-shaped) sarcophagi have rather exaggerated features, Sasobek’s face is naturalistic (although not a portrait) and serene. Sasobek holds the djed pillar representing the god Osiris in one hand and the tyet knot of the goddess Isis in the other."

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The sarcophagus chamber in the Pyramid of Unas; some of the Pyramid Texts can be seen written on the gable.

The Pyramid Texts are the oldest religious writings known to exist. They were first recorded in the pyramid of Unas, last king of Egypt’s 5th Dynasty, and are called “Pyramid Texts” because they were carved in columns on the inner walls of the pyramid.

Pyramids before Unas’ appear to have been undecorated on the inside. As the name suggests, these texts were reserved for the royal dead, and do not seem to have been available to the administrative elite for use in their tombs.

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Sarcophagus of Pa-nehem-isis

Ptolemaic Period, ca. 305-30 BC. From Saqqara necropolis. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. INV 4

The sarcophagus of the priest Pa-nehem-isis [Pnehmêse] is a remarkable example from the Ptolemaic Period, with its large face and its profusion of inscriptions and images, covering the whole surface. The figures have been carved in the hard stone with great precision.

The deceased is wearing the tripartite wig and a broad collar. No other part of the mummy's body has been indicated.

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Sarcophagi lined next to the Temple of Hathor at Dendera.

Detail of the chest of the sarcophagus of the Vizier Gemenefherbak, protected by a winged scarab, a personification of the reborn morning sun.

Made of graywacke. Late Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664-525 BC. Now in the Egyptian Museum of Turin. Cat. 2201 Read more

A general view of a sarcophagus in a tomb in the El-Assasif necropolis, 2018

Photo: Samer Abdallah