The Mastaba of Nefermaat

Located at Meidum is an oddly formed pyramid that scholars cautiously believe was begun by Huni, the last king of the Third Dynasty, and then "transformed" by Sneferu, the first king of the Fourth Dynasty. The pyramid got its unusual shape because of renovation to its original form. It began as a step pyramid of seven stacked levels, each one smaller than the level beneath. Sneferu tried adding a second "coat" of rock that would smooth the sides, thus creating a "true" pyramid, like those at Giza. Unfortunately, much of this outside covering slid off, giving the pyramid its distinctive and peculiar look.

North of the pyramid are mastabas (tombs) for princes and dignitaries of the Fourth Dynasty. One such mastaba belongs to Nefermaat, the son of Sneferu. In 1892, English Egyptologist William M. Flinders Petrie discovered a relief fragment which depicts a hunting scene. A dog has grabbed the tail of a jackal or fox before it.

Notice the long legs, upright ears, thin build, and tightly curled tail, all traits of the basenji. Typical too is its behavior—chasing to catch anything that moves in front of it.

The method of decoration in this piece is experimental. According to Egyptian Treasures from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, "The shapes of the figures were first incised in the limestone, and these were subsequently filled with coloured paste." Then the problems began: "As it dried, the paste tended to fall out, and perhaps this was the reason why inlaid wall decoration was eventually abandoned."