Abydos in the Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1700 BC) and Second Intermediate Period

Abydos became in the Middle Kingdom the main cult centre for worshipping Osiris. The tomb of Djer was treated as one of his tombs. Many people - including the king - wanted to be close to the god in the Underworld. Therefore many people set up stelae or small chapels in Abydos. There is also a vast cemetery in which people were buried.

stelae

Tombs of the Middle Kingdom (about 2025 - 1700 BC)

tomb 291	tomb 355	tomb 817	tomb 838	tomb 840

Tombs of the Second Intermediate Period (about 1650-1550 BC)

tomb 4	tomb D21

other Middle Kingdom tombs: tomb 53B, tomb 105, tomb 835

Abydos in the Middle Kingdom, further reading:

• O'Connor 1999 (summary on the chapels and cenotaphs)
• Simpson 1974 (the authors reassembles groups of stelae - and other objects which once belonged to different chapels in Abydos; with many photographs)
• Simpson 1995 (excavation report of parts of the cemetery of Abydos)

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