THE TRANSVERSE CHAMBER (continued)

Continuing the description of the first (transverse) chamber, the area is now that of the northern wing, with its three walls.

THE NORTH WING

Situated to the right on entry, this part of the chamber, like the southern end, consists of two long decorated walls and a narrower end wall, although this end is shorter, it is also wider than the other. The side walls are approximately 3.96m long, the north end wall being 1.96m in width and all having a height of just over 2m.
The west wall, of this northern end of the chamber, has survived much better than its counterpart at the other end. Whilst some of the scenes of the south end of this chamber refer to the civil duties of Menna, those of this north area have a definite funerary and ritual character.

The east (entry) wall

This section of the east wall is edged with the usual rectangular design borders and lower bands, but here the frieze is of a different design (see ), and this time it is positioned above the standard border.
The scenic decoration of this wall is effectively divided into two registers, the upper one being twice the height of the other. This upper register is further divided into two scenes, thus creating three in total:

The right-hand area of the top register is the largest and is associated with the image of Menna and his wife, pictured at far right, with the area behind them being further sub-divided.

The left-hand part of this top register is also devoted to another image of Menna and his wife.

An independent register occupies the lower area of the wall decoration.

Upper register - right

Positioned next to the entry passageway, the scene portrays two large figures of Menna with his wife standing behind him. As can be seen from the image right, the wall is in a very damaged condition, but it is obvious that the faces of the two of them were removed deliberately. A large are of text has also been removed at far right of that which remains. They stand in front of a large pile of food offerings, placed on a mat, below which are three pedestal altars, also piled with offerings. Before Menna, at a smaller scale, is a young man who presents him with a tall pointed offering on a dish.
Menna and his wife are dressed as in so many other scenes. He holds in his raised hands two small pedestals, on top of which are his offerings of birds, two on the one in his right hand and one on the other, emitting from them the fumes of incense. In her right hand, placed alongside her body, she holds a bouquet of which the colours are almost lost. Also in this hand, she also holds a gold sistrum. In the other, held to her breast, she holds a menat-necklace.
The remaining text, above the couple, states: "to make an offering (of) every good and pure thing, divine perfume, many altars of incense [to Amon-Ra], king of the gods, to Harakhty, to Osiris, lord of eternity, to Hathor, lady of the western mountain, by the Overseer of the field-workers […], the Overseer of the Domains of the Lord of the two lands [Menn]a, justified". All that remains of the text in front of his wife identifies her as: "His sister, lady of the house [… Henuttawi, justified…]".

Behind the couple, the register is sub-divided and in which are shown two processions consisting of two sons, three daughters and also servants. These bring further offerings.

Upper sub-register. This contains nine male characters in total, the first one of which is Menna's son, identified as: "The scribe of the grain [of Amon]", his name being lost in the damage after the text. He utters the words, which are written in front of him: "Lo, I bring you all kinds of beautiful flowers, the fruit of Amon". With his right hand he holds a large a large offering of different grains on a stand. His left hand holds a large array of flowers and fruit, which extend down to the floor (see ). He is followed by eight servants, two of which are probably of a higher status, indicated by their clothing and black hair, the others are shaven headed and only wear kilts. All eight carry offerings of grain, flowers, grapes and geese, which they hold by their legs (see photos of and ).

Lower sub-register. In this sub-register are ten females (see also a ).

On the right are shown three of Menna's daughters. The first two (right to left), Uy and Nofera (almost totally lost), who both carry a sistrum and a menat-necklace, are identified, in very badly damaged columns of text in front of them, as: "The lady of the house, chantress [of Amon]". The third daughter is "His daughter, his beloved, Kasi". She holds in her raised right hand three lotus blossoms and two buttons, the stems of which are wrapped around her hand.

The three daughters are followed by seven maidservants.
All of the females, including the three daughters, are dressed identically, wearing a long wig, decorated with a headband with a lotus at the front. This lotus has disappeared from the first maidservant and the next to last. All wear a broad golden necklace, and have a slim white dress. The left shoulder and arm are covered by an ample sleeve, whilst the other shoulder remains uncovered. With the exception of the fourth servant, they all have large golden earrings.
Between them they carry a large variety of flowers, fruits and other items. In fact, three of them hold golden sistrums in their raised right hand. At the rear, this one holds over her shoulder green stems of papyrus umbels.

Upper register - left

At the left side of this top register is a single scene of Menna and his wife, seated, receiving offerings from a man with shaven head. This is possibly their son. Above them is a white square which was possibly prepared to receive a list of offerings, such as the one found on the north wall of chamber 2 (see ). There is also a large area above both the couple and the man to accept several columns of text, though not even the outline edges have been produced.

The seats of Menna and his wife rests on a green reed mat, bound at the ends and middle with yellowish reeds. The two chairs are of a different colour, that of Menna being black (possibly painted thus) and that of Henuttawy being a natural pale colour. Although portrayed one behind the other, they were almost certainly positioned side-by-side. Under the wife's chair can seen the palette and the scribal materials of Menna.

The face of Menna has once again been removed and also part of his left arm. He wears the usual black wig on which is placed a fragrant cone of grease. On his upper half he wears a short-sleeved shirt, which appears in a dark yellow colour. He also wears a long semi-transparent garment over a knee-length white kilt, both held at the waist by a striped yellow belt. He is adorned with a broad necklace, on his right wrist he has a bracelet, whereas that on his left wrist has almost been destroyed. On the left arm can be seen an armlet, placed at the end of his sleeve. With his lowered left hand, he tightly holds upright a bouquet composed of lotus blossoms and buttons. His right hand is raised, to hold to his nostrils the bouquet which is extended to him by the young man who stands in front of him.

Behind Menna, but actually seated to his right, is his wife. In her right hand she holds a bouquet like that of her husband, only slightly smaller. Her left arm, which cannot be seen, would have passed behind Menna and her hand would have rested on his shoulder. Her long black wig is fringed with long plaits, held in place by a headband with lotus flower, which droops downwards, at the front. On top of the wig, like Menna, she also has a fragrant cone. Attached to her right ear can be seen a large gold earring, part of which is covered by a strand of the wig. Her multicoloured necklace is larger than that of Menna. She also has armlets and a bracelet on her right arm and wrist. Her slim fitting dress consists of a yellow upper part and a white lower half. The upper section is heavily pleated.

In front of Menna and his wife stands the young man with a shaven skull. As already stated, this is probably one of his sons. Over his white kilt, which overlaps at the front, he wears a white semi-transparent short-sleeved garment. With his raised hands, he offers a multicoloured bouquet, which Menna supports to his nostrils.

Bottom register

This register is occupied by 17 people, who can be divided into 4 groups. Unfortunately, the only colour photo available is of the left-hand side. However, information about the colours is available. The right-hand side of the register is very damaged. Starting from the right, these are:

A group of four men.

At far right, four men bring various items towards what was possibly a pile of what could be burnt offerings; this is now almost totally lost along with part of the image of the first of the men. The first three have dark red flesh, but the one at the rear has yellow. They all wear a short white kilt, fastened with a belt.
The first man has his right hand raised, holding a bouquet of which only traces of colour now exist (blue and red). The man behind him carries a dish and an oval shaped vessel. The two at the rear, walk with a stride greater than the first two. The first of these carries a yoke on his shoulders, supported by his left hand. From this are suspended two trays including a tall pink vessels on one and a yellow the other. With his right hand he holds long papyrus sheaves against his shoulder. It is difficult to see what the last man carries on his shoulder.

A group of three women.

Next are three women, chantresses, who are portrayed standing and clapping their hands and singing a song to accompany the burning of the offerings. The rear-most of these three women is almost lost (even when the tomb was originally photographed a century ago), due to a long gap in the plaster, which extends the whole height of the wall. This was possibly due to a fracture in the wall. From the best preserved face of the one in the middle, they all appear to have negroid features: a flat nose and full lips. They all wear a skull cap and a short-sleeved pink garment with a long white skirt.
Several columns of text extend in front, above and behind them, painted in dark blue. This is in a very poor condition, but it has been suggested that it gives the words to the song they sing: "Beautiful day! The mountain is opened, the seal broken. The doors of your house are open. The incense reaches to heaven. You have made your offering. The doors are opened. Your offering is accepted. My lord, lord of the burnt offering, something beautiful which (the tomb-owner) did daily for you, for which you must […] show him every favour."

An uncertain group.
This consists of two figures, facing each other, who are either independent of those on either side of them or they are the musicians of the three women. This latter thought seems more probable due to the fact that the text over the women extends above these two men. The detail is almost lost, but the one on the left squats on the floor and possibly plays a harp. The one standing, facing him could be his friend or his accompanist. He wears a pink shirt and a white kilt with a belt.

Slaughtering an ox.

The next scene is one of slaughtering or sacrificing of a white ox with black spots. This animal has been placed on the ground. To the right of it, its legs are held by a man wearing only a short white kilt. To the left of the animal, another standing man places his leg on the animal. He stretches his arms out in front of him, but whether he holds something in them is now unknown because his hands have been lost. There is now no sign of any accompanying text.
Above this scene, placed on a thick line to separate it, the area is occupied by six small baskets of offerings.

The final group of six men.

Concluding the register, six men walk forwards carrying more offerings. They all wear short black wigs, except for the fourth from the right, who seams to have a shaven head. All are identically dressed in a short white kilt. From right to left, the men carry the following:
• The first man holds in front of him, in his right hand, a small basket containing three lotus umbels and in the other hand a bouquet. These cannot be seen in the accompanying photograph. It is also possible that he held some birds over his forearm.
• The second holds with his left hand a red goblet, whose contents form a round white heap. Only just visible, due to the damage, are some birds which are suspended from a cord which passes around the same hand. With his right hand, which holds a securing rope, he has control of a young speckled calf, which walks at his side.
• The next in line holds over his shoulders a beautiful pink gazelle. He clutches the paws of this with his right hand, held to his chest. His left hand controls the head of the animal.
• The fourth man, the bold one, stoops slightly. Over his right shoulder, now almost lost, he holds a bouquet of flowers and the green leaves, grasped in his right hand. With his left hand holds some long stems of papyrus whose umbels touch the upper limit of the register with the stems reaching to the floor.
• The next to last man also holds long stems of papyrus or lotus with his left hand. With his other hand, he holds a yellow tray, which is piled with cuts of meat on top of which are clusters of grapes.
• Finally, the one who brings up the rear of this procession, carries a bouquet of flowers over his right shoulder. From his left hand are suspended, as with the second man, some birds, whilst he also supports with this hand a red bowl, also piled with white offerings.