Mena Papyrus

The Mena Papyrus is an ancient Egyptian document dating back to the Old Kingdom period, specifically the reign of King Pepi I of the 6th Dynasty (around 2332–2283 BCE). It is named after its owner, an official named Mena and is one of the oldest surviving papyri from ancient Egypt.

The papyrus is currently housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and measures 214 cm in length and 40 cm in height. It is written in hieratic script, a cursive form of hieroglyphic writing used for administrative and business purposes.

The Mena Papyrus contains several texts related to the administration of the royal palace and the management of the kingdom's resources, including lists of goods and commodities and instructions for their distribution and storage.

Overall, the Mena Papyrus provides valuable insights into the political and economic organization of ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom period and sheds light on the complex bureaucratic system that underpinned the functioning of the royal court.

How to explore the Menkaure Papyrus?

• Visit the Egyptian Museum, home to a vast collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt, including the Menkaure Papyrus. You can see the document in person and learn more about its historical significance.
• If you can read the hieratic script on the document, then you will observe that the text of the Menkaure Papyrus includes a detailed inventory of the offerings and provisions made to the pharaoh's cult, including food, drink, clothing, and other items. It also mentions the priests and officials responsible for overseeing the cult and distributing the offerings. It also includes information about the duties of officials and scribes and details about the construction of the king's pyramid and the administration of the cult of the god Osiris.
• Visit the Valley Temple of Menkaure's pyramid, which is an ancient Egyptian temple complex located near the Giza Pyramids in Egypt. The temple was used for various rituals associated with the cult of the pharaoh Menkaure, including the mummification process and the burial of his remains. The temple walls are decorated with intricate reliefs depicting scenes of daily life in ancient Egypt, as well as scenes of the pharaoh and his gods.