Sponsored images from 
View allAll Photos Tagged serving
from Jubilate Agno
BY CHRISTOPHER SMART
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having consider'd God and himself he will consider his neighbour.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defence is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
For he is of the Lord's poor and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually—Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Ichneumon-rat very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance, which God sends from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, tho he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.
Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe und Stubaitalbahn GmbH (IVB): the tramway number 71 (built in the seventies by Lohner under Duewag license) serving the urban line 3, in front of the main railway station.
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
Córdoba, a sun-drenched Andalusian city in southern Spain, is a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its profound Moorish history, best exemplified by the stunning Mosque-Cathedral (Mezquita). With a population of over 325,000, it offers a blend of Roman, Visigothic, and Islamic heritage, featuring a labyrinthine old town, vibrant flower-filled patios, and rich, traditional cuisine. Originally a Roman colony, it later fell under Visigothic rule in the 6th century. Conquered by Muslims in the 8th century, it became the capital of the Emirate and Caliphate of Córdoba, serving as a premier center of education and learning in Europe. Following the Reconquista it became a Catholic city in 1236, blending Christian and Islamic architecture.
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
Maid Fabienne is serving dinner in her cute satin maid's uniform. She fills the plates with fried rice with vegetables and meat balls, and then pours a bit of peanut sauce on top. A typical Indonesian dish that is very popular in the Netherlands.
Adult Common Loon (Gavia immer) is busy early and often catching minnows, small fish and crayfish for two growing chicks. Here it is swimming by with a crappie for the nearby chick. Taken in Tomahawk, Wisconsin (Lincoln County) on August 10, 2014.
"The historical building of the National Museum is a monumental Neo-Renaissance palace enclosing the upper part of Wenceslas Square in Prague's Nové Město, serving as a museum. It was built in 1891 and underwent a total reconstruction between 2011 and 2018. It is a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Monument protection applies both to the architecture of the building and to the sculptural decoration of exteriors and interiors, wall paintings, artistic and craft details and the original very rich and valuable furniture.
Construction began immediately after the building permit was issued on June 27, 1885. The rough construction was completed three years later, at the end of 1888. There was a delay due to bad weather. In the same year, the interiors began to be fitted out. The ceremonial opening took place on May 18, 1891. The complete artistic decoration was not completed until 1901. The decoration was created by artists of the generation of the National Theatre, mainly sculptors Bohuslav Schnirch, Antonín Wagner and Antonín Popp and painters Vojtěch Hynais, Václav Brožík and Julius Mařák in the years 1885–1901. The construction costs were estimated (without the architect's fee, interior art decoration and furniture) at 1,740,000 guilders. In fact, they reached the level of about 2 million gold.
The National Museum in Prague (abbreviation NM, from 1848 the Czech Museum, from 1854 to 1919 the Museum of the Kingdom of Bohemia) is the most important Czech museum institution. It was founded during the reign of Francis I. in 1818 as the Wlastenské museum and consisted of private collections of the then Czech nobility. The last significant reconstruction was completed in October 2018, on the centenary of the founding of Czechoslovakia.
The New Town (Czech: Nové Město) is a quarter in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic. New Town is the youngest and largest of the five independent (from the Middle Ages until 1784) towns that today comprise the historic center of modern Prague. New Town was founded in 1348 by Charles IV just outside the city walls to the east and south of the Old Town and encompassed an area of 7.5 km²; about three times the size of the Old Town. The population of Prague in 1378 was well over 40,000, perhaps as much as twice that, making it the 4th most populated city north of the Alps and, by area, the 3rd largest city in Europe. Although New Town can trace its current layout to its construction in the 14th century, only few churches and administrative buildings from this time survive. There are many secular and educational buildings in New Town, but also especially magnificent gothic and baroque churches. These nevertheless are not the main drawing points for tourists. New Town's most famous landmark is Wenceslas Square, which was originally built as a horsemarket and now functions as a center of commerce and tourism. In the 15th century, the Novoměstská radnice, or New Town Hall, was the site of the first of the three defenestrations of Prague.
Prague (/ˈprɑːɡ/ PRAHG; Czech: Praha [ˈpraɦa]; German: Prag [pʁaːk]; Latin: Praga) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate oceanic climate, with relatively warm summers and chilly winters.
Prague is a political, cultural, and economic hub of central Europe, with a rich history and Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectures. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and residence of several Holy Roman Emperors, most notably Charles IV (r. 1346–1378) and Rudolf II (r. 1575–1611).
It was an important city to the Habsburg monarchy and Austro-Hungarian Empire. The city played major roles in the Bohemian and the Protestant Reformations, the Thirty Years' War and in 20th-century history as the capital of Czechoslovakia between the World Wars and the post-war Communist era.
Prague is home to a number of well-known cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe. Main attractions include Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, Petřín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the historic center of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
The city has more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. An extensive modern public transportation system connects the city. It is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University in Prague, the oldest university in Central Europe.
Prague is classified as a "Alpha-" global city according to GaWC studies. In 2019, the city was ranked as 69th most livable city in the world by Mercer. In the same year, the PICSA Index ranked the city as 13th most livable city in the world. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination and as of 2017, the city receives more than 8.5 million international visitors annually. In 2017, Prague was listed as the fifth most visited European city after London, Paris, Rome, and Istanbul.
Bohemia (Latin Bohemia, German Böhmen, Polish Czechy) is a region in the west of the Czech Republic. Previously, as a kingdom, they were the center of the Czech Crown. The root of the word Czech probably corresponds to the meaning of man. The Latin equivalent of Bohemia, originally Boiohaemum (literally "land of Battles"), which over time also influenced the names in other languages, is derived from the Celtic tribe of the Boios, who lived in this area from the 4th to the 1st century BC Bohemia on it borders Germany in the west, Austria in the south, Moravia in the east and Poland in the north. Geographically, they are bounded from the north, west and south by a chain of mountains, the highest of which are the Krkonoše Mountains, in which the highest mountain of Bohemia, Sněžka, is also located. The most important rivers are the Elbe and the Vltava, with the fertile Polabean Plain extending around the Elbe. The capital and largest city of Bohemia is Prague, other important cities include, for example, Pilsen, Karlovy Vary, Kladno, Ústí nad Labem, Liberec, Hradec Králové, Pardubice and České Budějovice, Jihlava also lies partly on the historical territory of Bohemia." - info from Wikipedia.
Summer 2019 I did a solo cycling tour across Europe through 12 countries over the course of 3 months. I began my adventure in Edinburgh, Scotland and finished in Florence, Italy cycling 8,816 km. During my trip I took 47,000 photos.
Now on Instagram.
On our Skye holiday we took a little trip into Portree. It has a colourful little harbour.
It also had a the hunger inducing smell of chips from a chip shop serving from a window hatch in these Covid times, we couldn't resist and the chips were great!
However, they put a large tent in front of the store for customers to eat in, we kept out and it did spoil the view a bit!
Taken with Fujifilm X-T2 and Canon FD 50mm F1.8 @ F1,8 I think
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
San Clemente, CA
Last November I helped work a fundraiser at a local golf course. There was a little bit of time before guests started to arrive so I pulled out my camera and took a few shots of the tables. I had never really tried something like this previously and seldom pull the camera out indoors. I may use one of these in the ad for next year's event.
The Victoria Social Club is a small members-only social club serving the village of Arksey, Doncaster. The club operates as a traditional working-class social venue offering drinks, pool and snooker, and community-focused gatherings.
The club trades under the Victoria Social Club name and is listed as operating with keg beers supplied by Samuel Smith’s in local listings. The venue functions as a private social club so bar access and some events are typically limited to members.
Facilities and atmosphere
The club provides a traditional social-club interior with a bar, snooker and pool facilities, and a quiet, no-music, no-mobile policy consistent with Sam Smith–run or Sam Smith–stocked clubs in the area. Reviews and entries in pub/club directories describe a friendly, old-school atmosphere and value pricing for drinks.
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
This limousine was once used to bring patrons to a local upscale restaurant and now sits at a junkyard.
Anfield, Liverpool.
Just finished watching Liverpool’s narrow win on penalties at Wembley. Will Jurgen Klopp be serving Champagne in the morning…?
Well hold up hunties because my 2017 coverage isn’t done yet! I had the privilege of owning a lot of dolls from Integrity Toys that I lost track of some that I bought from last year.
So who do you think is my pick for the best doll from Poppy Parker’s The Swinging London Collection??? *drum roll* It’s Sunny Slickers Poppy Parker! I’m really glad I pre-ordered this doll. I really do. Because if I have to limit the number of Poppy Parkers per collection each year this would be my top pick. The AA Poppys have been serving it up! Each one of them. Sunny Slickers is just fun and whimsical. She is a ray of sunshine! She reminds me of Mattel’s Silkstone Fuchsia N’ Fur Francie that they could swap fashions.
In the past Integrity Toys could not afford to include a working umbrella on their dolls and in the last year that has changed. I’m glad that they’re still moving on up in giving us top-of-the-line innovative products that we don’t usually see from other toy companies. On a side note Sunny Slicker’s umbrella is different from the umbrella that came with American Horror Story’s Fiona Goode. The canopy on this is a little bit wider and the handle is a different sculpt as well. I have to say though this umbrella seems out of scale for Poppy maybe because she’s petite that it looks even more out of scale for her. I keep on thinking this would look perfect for the 16” Clear Over Here Poppy Parker with the raincoat. As I let her hold Fiona Goode’s umbrella though I feel it’s just the right size for her. Maybe it’s just the width of the canopy of her own umbrella that’s throwing me off. While I’m on the topic of accessories I really wish IT would create hand sculpts that can hold umbrellas and other accessories in Poppy Parker/The Industry size and in Fashion Royalty/NU.Face size. They made hand sculpts for Jem/ Color Infusion that can hold microphones and umbrellas but they’re too big to be used for other lines with dolls that have smaller hands.
While I think she’s one of the best dolls from the collection, one thing that concerned me is that she is the third AA Poppy Parker in a row with pink lipstick but I’m glad that David Buttry changed it up with Shining in the Starlight Poppy Parker from the 2017 Fashion Fairytale Convention and the upcoming Hold That Tiger! Poppy Parker who I… um… regret not pre-ordering (How dare I???). The pigtails on this doll are reminiscent of The Dynamite Girls’ Heat Wave Aria who like Poppy Parker had a retro theme. The parting of the hair goes from end to end from front to back. So take the hair down at your own risk ‘cause gurl it could look ugly! I’m impressed with the quality and the attention to detail on this doll. The only flaw I see is that the left eye on mine has only one catch light dot when it’s supposed to have two like the right one. Although I don’t mind as it makes her somehow unique.
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
OSR's St Thomas local w/ OSR 182 RS18u, finishing up the industry work and then running around and heading back up towards Woodstock
The Pear Tree public house and its fascinating 1899 extension. Built at Collins Green adjacent to the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, replacing an adjacent public house of the same name. more than likely to serve, not only the locals but, the weary traveller who would have alighted from the station which 2F34 13.47 Liverpool Lime Street to Warrington Bank Quay is passing through. The station had opened by 1831,and the original Pear Tree is clearly marked on the 1846 six inch map. The pub has out lasted the station which was closed, pre Beeching, on 2 April 1951, mid point in the many B.R. closures seen in the north west during 1951.
Located on the West side of Joliet, Illinois, this lovely old building long served the Catholic nuns of the order of Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, serving as their Motherhouse. Having three great aunts that were nuns in this order, I was fortunate to have visited this building in the past. It's good to see it renovated, and being used by the students of the University.
Motherhouse Renovation
The University of St. Francis purchased the historic Motherhouse, home to its founders the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, at 520 Plainfield Road in 2004. Built in 1881, the Motherhouse was the first home to the university and has again become a center of campus activity.
The first renovations, completed in fall 2005, created classroom and state-of-the-art laboratory space for the College of Nursing and Allied Health, along with conference space and student housing.
In fall 2007, student center spaces and additional student housing opened. The student center space includes a game room, Three Oaks Bistro sandwich/coffee shop, the Fireside Lounge and a cyber café.
The Three Oaks Bistro, named for the tree that greets visitors at the quad entry to the Motherhouse, is open to the community.
Students can study at tables, work on computers or gather in groups to watch television in the Fireside Lounge and cyber café.
The residence hall space is particularly exciting, with many rooms having uniquely shaped windows, some like the gothic-shaped window seen in the USF logo. Amenities include modern bathrooms, laundry facilities and study and lounge spaces on each floor. All rooms have wireless Internet connection. The residence hall space includes three apartments, nine single rooms, 15 double rooms, three suites and one triple room.
St. Joseph Chapel was updated with paint and air conditioning. It was rededicated on Founders’ Day Opening Mass, Sept. 5, 2007. A meditation space for multi-denominational use is located near the chapel along with University Ministry offices.
Work remains to be completed on the center of the second floor, which will house office space and a heritage room.
LSRC 303 and 4303 head past Lafarge SW1200 020 on their way into Lafarge to retrieve loads of cement and flyash empties.
« If you appreciate my work and would like to support me becoming an independent photographer, become a Patreon supporter at www.patreon.com/alexdehaas, or buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/alexdehaas :) »
24/7 live-in maid sissy barbie in the servant's quarters wearing an oh so sissy baby pink satin uniform trimmed with white satin and lace. The details of the uniform were designed by Mistress Lady Penelope who sissy barbie is proud to serve.
She fantasised about being a maid for years before 2011 when she submitted to Mistress Lady Penelope for maid training. Mistress had been expertly training sissy maids for many years before that. Mistress expertly moulded her and graciously gave her the name Sissy Barbie for which Barbie is truly grateful. She feels it is a huge honour to be named after Mistress' favourite doll and for Mistress to choose what she is to wear just as Mistress did as a girl for her plastic dolly.
At the very first maid training session, Barbie learned to love humiliation much to her surprise. Barbie also learned to love her Mistress and it to make pleasing her Mistress her highest priority, to put serving her Mistress at the centre of her existence, the thing which gives her life meaning.
The devotion of a maid to her Mistress is a one way thing, the maid expects nothing in return, her only pleasure is vicarious, either for the pleasure Mistress gets from Barbie's service or when Mistress chooses to relate her successes and pleasure she has felt when away from Barbie.
Barbie knows she has been manipulated into feeling the way she does, she adores being controlled, her submissive feelings are wonderful to her, she is truly humble, respectful and obedient and when she does wrong she accepts her punishment in the knowledge that it is given to make her a better maid.
sissy barbie feels it was a great honour to be allowed to become Mistress Lady Penelope's 24/7 live-in maid. It is her dream come true.
sissy barbie adores being controlled, everything she wears was designed or chosen by Mistress Lady Penelope, she was taught how to apply her make-up by Mistress Lady Penelope, she stands the way she has been trained to, she smiles as she has been trained to, she dust the way she has been trained to, the lamp she dusts was chosen by her Mistress. Where she lives belongs to Mistress Lady Penelope. There is almost nothing left of the person who submitted to Mistress Lady Penelope all those years ago and that is wonderful.
sissy barbie hates punishment but accepts it is Mistress Lady Penelope's right to discipline her whenever Mistress decides to do so. Being dressed as a female, especially as a lowly maid, does affect her thinking, making her feel more submissive. Being locked in a maid uniform and a chastity belt makes her humble, totally lacking masculinity. Her enforced feminity is governed by Mistress Lady Penelope who's authority lies in the custody of the keys to the locks.
If you are interested in maid training, look at Mistress Lady Penelope's excellent free web site
You can make an appointment with Mistress Lady Penelope by calling 07970183024
Saqqara is an Egyptian village in Giza Governorate, that contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty, serving as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. Saqqara contains numerous pyramids, including the Step pyramid of Djoser, sometimes referred to as the Step Tomb, and a number of mastaba tombs. Located some 30 km (19 mi) south of modern-day Cairo, Saqqara covers an area of around 7 by 1.5 km (4.3 by 0.9 mi).
Saqqara contains the oldest complete stone building complex known in history, the Pyramid of Djoser, built during the Third Dynasty. Another sixteen Egyptian kings built pyramids at Saqqara, which are now in various states of preservation. High officials added private funeral monuments to this necropolis during the entire Pharaonic period. It remained an important complex for non-royal burials and cult ceremonies for more than 3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic and Roman times.
North of the area known as Saqqara lies Abusir, and south lies Dahshur. The area running from Giza to Dahshur has been used as a necropolis by the inhabitants of Memphis at different times, and it was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. Some scholars believe that the name Saqqara is not derived from the ancient Egyptian funerary deity, Sokar, but from a local Berber tribe called Beni Saqqar.
The earliest burials of nobles can be traced back to the First Dynasty, at the northern side of the Saqqara plateau. During this time, the royal burial ground was at Abydos. The first royal burials at Saqqara, comprising underground galleries, date to the Second Dynasty. The last Second Dynasty king, Khasekhemwy, was buried in his tomb at Abydos, but also built a funerary monument at Saqqara consisting of a large rectangular enclosure, known as Gisr el-Mudir. It probably inspired the monumental enclosure wall around the Step Pyramid complex. Djoser's funerary complex, built by the royal architect Imhotep, further comprises a large number of dummy buildings and a secondary mastaba (the so-called 'Southern Tomb'). French architect and Egyptologist Jean-Philippe Lauer spent the greater part of his life excavating and restoring Djoser's funerary complex.
Nearly all Fourth Dynasty kings chose a different location for their pyramids. During the second half of the Old Kingdom, under the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, Saqqara was again the royal burial ground. The Fifth and Sixth Dynasty pyramids are not built wholly of massive stone blocks, but instead with a core consisting of rubble. Consequently, they are less well preserved than the world-famous pyramids built by the Fourth Dynasty kings at Giza. Unas, the last ruler of the Fifth Dynasty, was the first king to adorn the chambers in his pyramid with Pyramid Texts. During the Old Kingdom, it was customary for courtiers to be buried in mastaba tombs close to the pyramid of their king. Thus, clusters of private tombs were formed in Saqqara around the pyramid complexes of Unas and Teti.
From the Middle Kingdom onward, Memphis was no longer the capital of the country, and kings built their funerary complexes elsewhere. Few private monuments from this period have been found at Saqqara.
During the New Kingdom, Memphis was an important administrative and military centre, being the capital after the Amaran Period. From the Eighteenth Dynasty onward, many high officials built tombs at Saqqara. While still a general, Horemheb built a large tomb here, although he later was buried as pharaoh in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes. Other important tombs belong to the vizier Aperel, the vizier Neferronpet, the artist Thutmose, and the wet-nurse of Tutankhamun, Maia.
Many monuments from earlier periods were still standing, but dilapidated by this period. Prince Khaemweset, son of Pharaoh Ramesses II, made repairs to buildings at Saqqara. Among other things, he restored the Pyramid of Unas and added an inscription to its south face to commemorate the restoration. He enlarged the Serapeum, the burial site of the mummified Apis bulls, and was later buried in the catacombs. The Serapeum, containing one undisturbed interment of an Apis bull and the tomb of Khaemweset, were rediscovered by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette in 1851.
During the periods after the New Kingdom, when several cities in the Delta served as capital of Egypt, Saqqara remained in use as a burial ground for nobles. Moreover, the area became an important destination for pilgrims to a number of cult centres. Activities sprang up around the Serapeum, and extensive underground galleries were cut into the rock as burial sites for large numbers of mummified ibises, baboons, cats, dogs, and falcons.
Saqqara and the surrounding areas of Abusir and Dahshur suffered damage by looters during the 2011 Egyptian protests. Store rooms were broken into, but the monuments were mostly unharmed.
During routine excavations in 2011 at the dog catacomb in Saqqara necropolis, an excavation team led by Salima Ikram and an international team of researchers led by Paul Nicholson of Cardiff University uncovered almost eight million animal mummies at the burial site next to the sacred temple of Anubis. It is thought that the mummified animals, mostly dogs, were intended to pass on the prayers of their owners to their deities.
In July 2018, German-Egyptian researchers’ team head by Ramadan Badry Hussein of the University of Tübingen reported the discovery of an extremely rare gilded burial mask that probably dates from the Saite-Persian period in a partly damaged wooden coffin. The last time a similar mask was found was in 1939. The eyes were covered with obsidian, calcite, and black hued gemstone possibly onyx. "The finding of this mask could be called a sensation. Very few masks of precious metal have been preserved to the present day, because the tombs of most Ancient Egyptian dignitaries were looted in ancient times." said Hussein.
In September 2018, several dozen cache of mummies dating 2,000 years back were found by a team of Polish archaeologists led by Kamil Kuraszkiewicz from the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the University of Warsaw. The Polish-Egyptian expedition works under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw. Investigations were carried out for over two decades in the area to the west of the Djoser Pyramid. The most important discoveries include the tomb of vizier Merefnebef with a funerary chapel decorated with multi-colored reliefs, which was uncovered in 1997. as well as the tomb of courtier Nyankhnefertem uncovered in 2003. The expedition also explored two necropoles. Archaeologists revealed several dozen graves of noblemen from the period of the 6th Dynasty, dating to the 24th–21st century BC, and 500 graves of indigent people dating approximately to the 6th century BC – 1st century AD. Most of the bodies were poorly preserved and all organic materials, including the wooden caskets, had decayed. The tombs discovered most recently (in 2018) form part of the younger, so-called Upper Necropolis.
The research of the Polish-Egyptian expedition also focuses on the interpretation of the so-called Dry Moat, a vast trench hewn around the Djoser Pyramid. The most recent discoveries confirm the hypothesis that the Dry Moat was a model of the pharaoh's journey to the netherworld, a road the deceased ruler had to follow to attain eternal life.
In November 2018, an Egyptian archaeological mission located seven ancient Egyptian tombs at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara. Three of the tombs were used for cats, some dating back to the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, while one of four other sarcophagi was unsealed. Among the dozens of cat mummies were 100 wooden and gilded statues of cats and one in bronze dedicated to the cat goddess Bastet, and funerary items dating back to the 12th Dynasty. Another of the seven tombs belongs to Khufu-Imhat, the overseer of buildings in the royal palace.
Also in November 2018, a collection of rare mummified scarab beetles was unearthed in two sarcophagi, one of which was decorated with paintings of large black beetles.
Also in November 2018, the Egyptian government announced the discovery at Saqqara of a previously unknown 4,400-year-old tomb. It belongs to Wahtye, a high-ranking priest who served under King Neferirkare Kakai during the Fifth Dynasty, and his wife, four children and mother. The tomb is about 33 feet (10 meters) long by 10 feet (3.0 meters) wide and has five burial shafts and a basement. It contains more than fifty sculptures, and is painted with scenes of the family, wine and pottery making, musical performances, sailing, hunting, and furniture making.
On 13 April 2019, an expedition led by a member of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Mohamed Megahed, discovered a 4,000-year-old tomb near Egypt's Saqqara Necropolis. Archaeologists confirmed that the tomb belonged to an influential person named Khuwy, who lived in Egypt during the 5th Dynasty. "The L-shaped Khuwy tomb starts with a small corridor heading downwards into an antechamber and from there a larger chamber with painted reliefs depicting the tomb owner seated at an offerings table", reported Megahed. Some paintings maintained their brightness over a long time in the tomb. Mainly made of white limestone bricks, the tomb had a tunnel entrance generally typical for pyramids. Archaeologists say that there might be a connection between Khuwy and pharaoh because the mausoleum was found near the pyramid of Egyptian Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi, who ruled during that time.
In October 2019, a cache of 30 coffins with mummies was discovered, at the time Egypt's largest in more than a century and the first cache to be discovered by a solely Egyptian mission. The coffins were stacked on top of each other and arranged in two rows about three feet below the sandy surface. The first coffin's head was partially exposed in the sand, which led to the cache's discovery. Two of the coffins belonged to children, a rare occurrence in archaeology. Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that one could identify the mummy's gender by the shape of the hands on the coffin, open hands being female and hands balled into fists being male. The colors of the coffin inscriptions---made from limestone, red oak, turquoise, and other natural stones mixed with egg whites—stayed intact, and the mixture of egg yolk and candle wax spread over the coffins to make them shine was still visible, making this a unique find.
On April 28, 2020, archaeologists announced they had found a 30-foot-deep (9 meter) burial shaft containing five limestone sarcophagi, four wooden coffins with human mummies, and an array of other artifacts. Among them were 365 faience ushabti and a small wooden obelisk about 40 centimeters tall that had been painted with depictions of Horus, Isis and Nepthys.
In September 2020, a 36-foot (11-meter) deep burial shaft revealed almost 30 sarcophagi that had remained completely sealed since their interment.
On 3 October 2020, Khalid el-Anany, Egypt's tourism and antiquities minister announced the discovery of at least 59 sealed sarcophagi with mummies more than 2,600 years old. Archaeologists also revealed the 20 statues of Ptah-Soker and a carved 35-centimeter tall bronze statue of god Nefertem.
On 19 October 2020, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of gilded, wooden statues and more than 80 coffins in three burial shafts. Officials believed the coffins contain senior officials and priests from the 26th Dynasty.
In November 2020, archaeologists unearthed more than 100 delicately painted wooden coffins dating to the 26th Dynasty and 40 statues of the local goddess Ptah Soker. Other artifacts discovered include funeral masks, canopic jars and 1,000 ceramic amulets. “This discovery is very important because it proves that Saqqara was the main burial of the 26th Dynasty,” said Zahi Hawass, an Egyptologist and Egypt's former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs.
In January 2021, the tourism and antiquities ministry announced the discovery of more than 50 wooden sarcophagi in 52 burial shafts which date back to the New Kingdom period, each around 30 to 40 feet deep, and a 13 ft-long papyrus that contains texts from Chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead. The papyrus scroll belonged to a man named Bu-Khaa-Af, whose name is written on it, on his sarcophagus, and on four ushabtis. Excerpts from the Book of the Dead were also painted onto the surface of other coffins. Also found in the shafts were wooden funerary masks, board games, a shrine dedicated to god of the dead Anubis, bird-shaped artifacts and a bronze axe. A limestone stelae dated to the reign of Ramesses II was found in one of the shafts, depicting the overseer of the king's military chariot Kha-Ptah and his wife Mwt-em-wia worshipping Osiris and sitting with six of their children.
Also in January 2021, a team of archaeologists led by Zahi Hawass found the funerary temple of Naert or Narat and three warehouses made of bricks attached to the southeastern side for storage of temple provisions, offerings and tools. Researchers also revealed that Narat's name was engraved on a fallen obelisk near the main entrance. Previously unknown to researchers, Naert was a wife of Teti, the first king of the sixth dynasty.
In November 2021, archeologists from Cairo University discovered several tombs, including that of Batah-M-Woya, chief treasurer during the reign of Ramesses II, and of a military leader named Hor Mohib.
In March 2022, five 4000-year-old tombs belonging to senior officials from the Old Kingdom and First Intermediary Period were discovered. On 30 May 2022, 250 sarcophagi and 150 statuettes were displayed at Saqqara, dated back to the Late Period more than 2,500 years ago, in addition to a 9-meter-long papyrus scroll which could be a depiction of a chapter of the Book of the Dead.
In May 2022, the discovery of the nearly 4,300-year-old tomb of an ancient Egyptian high-ranked person who handled royal, sealed documents of pharaoh was announced. According to University of Warsaw’s Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, the elaborately decorated tomb belonged to a man named Mehtjetju who served as a priest and an inspector of the royal property. Kamil O. Kuraszkiewicz, expedition director stated that Mehtjetju most likely lived at about the same time, at some point during the reigns of the first three rulers of the Sixth Dynasty: Teti, Userkare and Pepy I.
In January 2023, Zahi Hawass announced the discovery of four tombs at Saqqara including a 4,300-year-old mummy to a man named Hekashepes covered with gold, in addition to finds date back to the 5th and 6th dynasties, such as a priest inspector named Khnumdjedef, secret keeper called Meri and a judge and writer named Fetek.
🎉🎶 You're Invited! 🎶🎉
Get ready to groove to the electrifying beats of DJ Sang at DecadencE! 🎧
🎵 DJ Sang is serving up some "Fish n Chips - Electro(dirty)swing vibes!" 🐟🍟
📍 WHERE: The Sinners of the Catacombs of DecadencE 🎶
📅 WHEN: Wednesday, March 6th, 1 PM - 3 PM SLT 🎵
📚✨Facebook : Follow the Event
🎩 Dress to impress in your finest dance attire and don't forget your dance shoes and flapper hat! 💃🎩
🎉 Plus, join us to celebrate the closing of the exhibition of Karma Weymann's 'Bad Karma Comics'! 📚✨
✨ Let's make memories on the dance floor! See you there! ✨
🚖 Taxi: maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Secret%20Sanctuary/150/115... 🚖
Follow us in FB : www.facebook.com/DecadencE.SL