Das Grab des Gaufürsten Amenemhet(Jmnjj)in Beni Hassan oder Der Versuch einer Symbiose

Since they have been known in public, the Middle Kingdom rock tombs
of Beni Hassan have always attracted visitors and admirers alike.
This might come about due to their exposed position in the eastern
cliffs of Middle Egypt high upon the river Nile. Among them some of
the finest private tomb chapels of the Middle Kingdom are
contained. This relates to the splendour of their architecture as
well as to some of the finest mural paintings and inscrip-tions
which ever became known out of Ancient Egypt. BH 3, which is very
elegant in style and impressive in its lavishness of colours, being
the tomb of the overseer of the Eastern Desert, Khnumhotep II. and
the latest decorated tomb chapel in the row, dating from the time
of Senwosret II. (about 1880 B.C.) has in many cases been
considered the most fascinating of the all of them. The thesis
presented focuses mainly on BH 2, tomb of the nomarch of the
Oryx-nome, Amenemhet, called Jmnjj from the time of Senwosret I.
(1956-1910 B.C.). BH 2 is the second youngest of the decorated
tombs in the row and is equally well performed in its decoration as
in its architecture. The main purpose of this study was to make
obvious the "bridge function" of BH 2 as a link and – at the same
time – as a separator between the earlier – decorated – tombs of
Beni Hassan and BH 3, originating in the preservation and transfer
of motives as well from the mural paintings as from the
inscriptions of the earlier tombs into the composi-tion of
Jmnjj('s) own tomb chapel, thus shaping a symbiotic relationship of
old an new. The methods chosen to achieve this goal: First there
had to be held a well-grounded analysis of all the earlier tombs
concerning the composing elements of their tomb chapel decoration
in comparison to the tomb chapel decoration of BH 2. Then an
interpretation was attempted, concerning which composing elements
were again used or not used in BH 2, drawing the conclusion, that
the owner of the tomb chose certain motives for the mere purpose of
legiti-mating. BH 2 represents the search for credentials, a man
appointed to his position by the King has to make obvious, if he
simultaneously wishes to trace his roots and to show his loyalty to
the King.