Magnificent Burial Chamber Of Idy, Ancient Egyptian Priestess Of Goddess Hathor Discovered In Asyut

Conny Waters - AncientPages.com - Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in the necropolis of Asyut, Egypt, unearthing a magnificent burial chamber. This ancient grave belongs to Idy, an Egyptian priestess and daughter of regional governor Djefaihapi I.

Her resting place was found in a previously inaccessible section of his monumental tomb dating back to around 1880 B.C. The discovery was led by Professor Jochem Kahl from Freie Universität Berlin and marks the culmination of twenty years of fieldwork by an international team.

Idy's burial chamber when it was discovered. Credit: Andrea Kilian, © Jochem Kahl, The Asyut Project.

A female figurine was found inside the burial chamber. Credit: Tina Beck-Hasselbach, © Jochem Kahl, The Asyut Project.

Credit: Susen Döbel, © Jochem Kahl, The Asyut Project.

Idy's inscriptions reveal her role as a priestess of the goddess Hathor and her title "Lady of the House," indicating her prominent family background. Her grave was located in a side chamber sealed off by a quarry stone wall within Djefaihapi I's tomb, about fourteen meters deep. Although thieves ransacked the chamber in antiquity, most of Idy’s grave goods remain intact.

Idy’s beautifully decorated coffins are among the most impressive finds in the burial chamber.
Image Credit: Susen Döbel, © Jochem Kahl, The Asyut Project

Among the significant finds are two intricately decorated coffins made from imported wood that nest within each other. These coffins feature detailed images and texts depicting the deceased's journey into the afterlife.

The decorations surpass those on comparable objects from that period, showcasing exceptional quality similar to those at her father's tomb. Notably, these include religious Coffin Texts, offering lists, and titles that provide new insights into women's roles and knowledge transfer in ancient Egypt.

Representation of Idy in the tomb of her father Djefai-Hapi I. ritz Barthel, © Jochem Kahl, The Asyut Project.

Among the grave goods discovered are wooden figurines, a dagger, pharaonic insignia, and food offerings. An inscribed chest also contained canopic jars, which were used to store Idy’s vital organs—such as her liver, spleen, lungs, and intestines—during the mummification process. The remnants of Idy’s garments and her bones, partially damaged by looters, offer an initial glimpse into her life and health. Preliminary examinations suggest that Idy was approximately forty years old at the time of her death.

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Idy’s father Djefaihapi I held significant reverence in antiquity; his tomb played a crucial role in ancient Egypt's cultural memory for over 2000 years. His rock-cut tomb dates back to around 1880 BCE and measures eleven meters high, twenty-eight meters deep, and seventy meters wide. It is adorned with exquisite paintings and relief inscriptions.

Written by Conny Waters - AncientPages.com Staff Writer