The rock-cut tomb of Irukaptah, Ṣaqqārah, Egypt

"Irukaptah, the libationer and butcher of the king's repast, lived in the second half of the Fifth Dynasty. His rock-cut tomb, located immediately south of the causeway of Unas, has fourteen niches holding statues of the deceased cut into three walls. Atop the east wall there is a sequence of scenes showing butchery. One of the butchers skins an ox with a knife, another cuts into the entrails and uncovers the ribs, while a third holds the animal's rear legs." [Zahi Hawass, 2003: The Treasures of the Pyramids. White Star Publishers]. "Saqqâra (Ṣaqqārah) is a large necropolis south of Cairo and west of ancient Memphis. It was the necropolis of ancient Memphis; has remains of several pyramids from 5th and 6th dynasties and the famous Step Pyramid, the earliest true pyramid in Egypt, built for King Zoser (Djoser) of the 3rd dynasty ca. 2630 BC by his prime minister Imhotep. It is not to be confused with the modern town of the same name." [The J. P. Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographical Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from January 8, 1947 to end of June 1947.