An inscription graven upon the lintel in large readable characters, commemorated the name and rank of the owner.

His portrait, either sitting or standing, was carved upon the jambs; and a scene, sculptured or painted on the space above the door, represented him seated before a small round table, stretching out his hand towards the repast placed upon it.

A flat slab, or offering table, built into the floor between the two uprights of the doorway, received the votive meats and drinks.
[Illustration: Fig.

125 .-- Plan of chapel in mastaba of Ptahhotep, Fifth Dynasty, Sakkarah.] [Illustration: Fig.

126 .-- Stela in tomb of Merruka (Fifth Dynasty, Abusir): a false doorway containing the statue of the deceased.] The general appearance of the recess is that of a somewhat narrow doorway.
As a rule it was empty, but occasionally it contained a portrait statue of the dead standing with one foot forward as though about to cross the gloomy threshold of his tomb, descend the few steps before him, advance into his reception room or chapel, and pass out into the sunlight (fig.