Exploring the Tomb of Irukaptah: The King's Butcher and His Eternal Legacy in Saqqara

The Tomb of Irukaptah, also known as Khenu or Iru-kaptah, is located in the necropolis of Saqqara and dates back to the 5th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (c. 2494–2345 BCE). Irukaptah held the title of the "Butcher of the King" and "Overseer of the Butchers of the Great House," which reflects his high-status role in providing for the royal household, especially in matters related to food supply and offerings.
Irukaptah's tomb is designed as a mastaba, a traditional flat-roofed tomb common for the nobility during the Old Kingdom. The tomb is renowned for its detailed and well-preserved reliefs, particularly those that depict scenes from daily life related to butchery and the preparation of offerings.

The walls show scenes of cattle being slaughtered and prepared, along with various stages of meat processing.

The tomb highlights the importance of food and offerings in ancient Egyptian belief systems. The butcher's profession was vital not only in daily life but also in death, where ensuring the deceased had access to food was central to their journey in the afterlife.