Tomb of Idu: Meretites (photo)

The tomb of Idu, numbered G 7102 in the Eastern cemetery, lies to the east of the tomb of Qar and to the north of the much older mastaba of prince Kawab. Only a few remnants of the tomb’s masonry are preserved today above ground. Detail of the north part of the west wall in the offering chamber shows Idu’s wife Meretites kneeling next to his muscular leg. She is depicted in smaller scale than her husband, as was usual in Old Kingdom relief sculpture. The smaller scale does not suggest the wife was unimportant in the life of Idu. It is simply that the artistic canon of the time had the central figure of the scenes, the tomb owner, depicted larger than any other figure in the tomb. The caring husband-wife relationship is expressed in this scene by the tender touch with which she holds her husband’s leg. The face and the body of Meretites are carefully carved. A long black ribbon decorates her hair. She wears a simple white dress with shoulder straps and is adorned with a wide collar, bracelets and anklets. The hieroglyphs above her head read: “His beloved wife Meretites”.