Tomb of Idy

Idy was an Egyptian man who lived and died within the 6th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, c. 2345-2181 B.C. He was a nomarch (provincial governor of the varied nomes of Egypt, similar to a local administrator or perhaps a modern local councillor or possibly mayor type figure). He held titles such as Royal Treasurer and was also a Lector Priest.

Lector Priest: “The carrier of the Book of Ritual”

A Lector Priest ẖrj-ḥꜣb (kheri-hab); translation: “The carrier of the Book of Ritual“, was essentially a reciter of spiritual importance. During rituals of varied types (festivals, temple, funerary, protective, etc.), the Lector Priest would recite the sacred prayers and spells. Such a man would hold respectable and admired nobility within his community, as he would be vastly educated in the spiritual aspect of Egyptian life and afterlife, and even perform rituals of magical (heka: ḥkꜣ(w) ) and help with matters of spiritual importance.

Abydos is where Idy’s 6th Dynasty tomb was found. Within the tomb were magnificent items that were related to his role as Lector Priest, such as various peices of ritual equipment.

Including…

☥ an eight columned funerary tablet made from limestone, which was used for the Opening of the Mouth ceremony with seven oil wells.

Tablet for seven oils. British Museum. EA6123

Oil tablet engraved with the names of the seven sacred oils used for embalming and religious rites. The depressions on the tablet were meant to hold a drop of each of the oils.

☥ … various vessels and funerary tools, such as the peseshkef. A peseshkef was a knife used within the Opening of the Mouth ceremony, a funerary ritual that was to induce life into the spirit of the deceased. It is thought the peseshkef was placed upon the deceased’s body in order to spiritually reanimate the mummified remains before the final entombment.