Newly uncovered relief fragments of Queen Setibhor: A queenly decorative theme with unusual features

The work that has recently been carried out at Djedkare’s royal cemetery at South Saqqara has brought to light new evidence from the pyramid complex of Queen Setibhor, the wife of King Djedkare. Located to the north east of the king’s pyramid, this monument is of particular interest for its unusual architectural fea tures. The newly uncovered evidence makes it possible to bring the discussion on this extraordinary queen slightly further, focusing not only on the monument’s architecture but also on the remains of its decorative programme. This article presents some of the newly uncovered relief fragments from the queen’s pyramid complex. The reliefs, which very likely come from the portico, belonged to a decorative theme showing the queen, whose figure is not preserved, with her female attendants and female offering bearers. Other similar depictions are attested in smaller fragments from other parts of the queen’s monument. Parallels to this de piction can be found in other monuments of Old Kingdom queens, indicating that such a decorative theme was one of the usual queenly decorative programmes. The relief fragments also provide new evidence on the titles and epithets of Queen Setibhor, above which a winged solar disc with two uraei was carved. This evidence further underlines the exceptional role played by Queen Setibhor in the late Fifth Dynasty.