Doors, Entrances and Beyond... Various Aspects of Entrances and Doors of the Tombs in the Memphite Necropoleis during the Old Kingdom

Doors are more than just physical barriers; they can also signify the crossing of a boundary between two worlds. The entrance into the chapel is particularly significant, as it acts as a barrier between the living and the dead. Porticos, false doors, niches, and mastaba chapel entrances are all interconnected in their function as barriers, with the entrance into the chapel being the most important. The decoration of the corridor walls adds a guiding and explanatory function, with the main themes being the tomb owner standing or seated with or without family members. Decreasing tomb dimensions correlate with the decreasing size of the chosen decoration themes, and a change of decoration themes took place due to the changing mode of supply of the k3 of the deceased.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2021
Publisher: Archaeopress

Doors, as much as physical barriers, hold a profound significance beyond their function of sealing entrances and exits. They serve as symbolic markers that signify the crossing of boundaries between two worlds. This is particularly true in the case of the chapel door, which stands as a threshold between the realm of the living and the realm where the living and the dead coexist. Within the chapel, a false door serves as a barrier between the world of the living and that of the dead.

When examining doors from a holistic perspective, Doors, Entrances, and Beyond... proposes that porticos, false doors, niches, and mastaba chapel entrances are interconnected in their role as a barrier between two worlds. Among these, the entrance into the chapel holds the utmost importance. The various elements of the entrance serve multiple functions, including signaling, identifying, inviting, and, in some instances, warning. However, once one steps inside the entrance, the corridor walls' decoration assumes a guiding and explanatory role. The primary themes depicted in this decoration revolve around the tomb owner, either standing or seated with or without family members, and supporting figures.

Over time, there has been a correlation between decreasing tomb dimensions and the shrinking size of the chosen decoration themes. At the same time, a change in decoration themes occurred on both the corridor walls and the false door, which can be attributed to fluctuations in the supply of the k3, or funerary goods, for the deceased.

In conclusion, doors, as physical and symbolic gateways, transcend their mere utility. They embody the crossing of boundaries, the interplay between life and death, and the transformation of spaces. The chapel door, in particular, stands as a testament to the complex interplay between the mortal and divine, offering a glimpse into the realms beyond our own.

Weight: 746g
Dimension: 206 x 289 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789698718