Tomb stelae (tombstones) – Egypt in South Africa

Egypt in
South Africa

Iziko Slave Lodge

Apart from the coffin, another important feature was the stela or tombstone. The name and titles of the deceased were written on the stela. Nobody had access to the tomb of the dead person; so people could visit a stela, much like we would go to a cemetery today. The relatives of the dead Egyptians brought offerings to the stela on certain special days.

Read more about the Middle Kingdom Stela compiled by Boshoff & Grajetski.

Tomb stela, presumably from the Middle Kingdom. (c) Iziko Photo Archives

Images are from the Egyptian Collection found in the Iziko Slave Lodge and Photo Archives of Iziko.
Maps and images marked MACU were supplied by the Department of Ancient Studies, University of Stellenbosch.
Special thanks to Anlen Boshoff, ex-curator of antiquities at Iziko, Esther Esmyol, curator at Iziko, and the Department of Ancient Studies, University of Stellenbosch.