Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 30, 2026

TT280

Tomb TT280, located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian noble Meketre who was chancellor and chief steward during the reign of Mentuhotep II and Mentuhotep III, during the Eleventh Dynasty.

Last revised
Jun 30, 2026
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Theban tomb TT280
Burial site of Meketre
Double entrance of the tomb in the hill with its causeway at the forefront
TT280
Coordinates25°44′08″N 32°36′15″E / 25.73542366°N 32.60415148°E / 25.73542366; 32.60415148
LocationSheikh Abd el-Qurna, Theban Necropolis
Discovered1895
Excavated byGeorges Daressy (1895)
Herbert Winlock (1920)
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TT281

Tomb TT280, located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian noble Meketre who was chancellor and chief steward during the reign of Mentuhotep II and Mentuhotep III, during the Eleventh Dynasty.1

Discovery and excavation

Floor plan and section of the tomb. source ↗

The tomb was discovered in 1895 by Georges Daressy. It had been plundered in ancient times, but when Herbert Winlock excavated it in 1920, an undisturbed room containing several models was discovered.2 These models cover daily life at the estate of the Vizier Meketre.

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Meketre
in hieroglyphs
Era: New Kingdom
(1550–1069 BC)

Models

This tomb contained many models:

  • In the Cairo Museum: two canoes with draw-net, Boat with paddles, and Meketre and son Antef under canopy, sailing-boat with Meketre under canopy, Kitchen tender, Sailing-boat with wicker cabin, Sailing-boat, house in garden, Carpenter's shop, Spinning and weaving, Inspection of cattle, Female offering-bringer with drink.3
  • In the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: rowing-boat with musicians and kitchen tender, Rowing-boat, Sailing boat with Meketre and son Antef under canopy, Boat with paddles, Boat with paddles, men harpooning fish, and Meketre and son Antef seated on deck, Female offering-bringer with food, Four male and female offering bringers in procession, Cattle in stable, Slaughterhouse, Granary, Brewers and Bakers, House in garden.3
Bibliography

Bibliography

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Roehrig, Catherine H. (2002). "Life along the Nile: Three Egyptians of Ancient Thebes". The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin. 60 (1): 1–56. doi:10.2307/3258908. JSTOR 3258908.
  2. Spaull, C. H. S. (1956). "Review of Models of Daily Life in Ancient Egypt from the Tomb of Meket-Rē' at Thebes". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. 42: 124–125. doi:10.2307/3855141. JSTOR 3855141.
  3. Porter and Moss, Topographical Bibliography: The Theban Necropolis, pp. 47–49
External links