mastabas

Mastabas are one of the earliest forms of royal and elite tomb architecture in ancient Egypt. They are rectangular, low, flat-roofed structures with sloping sides built of mudbrick or stone, set above an underground burial chamber reached by a vertical shaft. The tomb typically comprises a subterranean burial chamber with the deceased’s body, a serdab—a sealed room containing a statue of the occupant—and a mortuary chapel above or adjacent where offerings could be prepared and presented. A false door in the chapel wall allowed the ka and spirit to interact with the living and receive offerings.

Mastabas originated in the Early Dynastic period and remained common through the Old Kingdom. They served as the preferred tomb form for kings, royal family members, and high officials. The surface of the mastaba often included inscriptions and scenes that identified the deceased and documented offerings.

Over time, the plan evolved. In the 3rd Dynasty, Imhotep's design for Djoser's funerary complex at Saqqara featured a stepped pyramid built from stacked mastabas, marking a shift toward monumental pyramid building. In the later Old Kingdom, some royal tombs at Giza and elsewhere retained mastaba forms but adopted stone construction and greater subterranean complexity, culminating in the true pyramidal monuments.

The term mastaba is borrowed from Arabic, meaning bench; archaeologists use it for its characteristic bench-like profile, though ancient Egyptians did not use this word for their tombs.