At first, this consisted of only a few words; but towards the time of the Sixth Dynasty (as where Una recounts his public services under four kings), these few words developed into pages of contemporary history.

With the beginning of the New Empire, tableaux and inscriptions combine to immortalise the deeds of the owner of the tomb.
Khnumhotep of Beni Hasan records in full the origin and greatness of his ancestors.

Kheti displays upon his walls all the incidents of a military life--parades, war-dances, sieges, and sanguinary battle scenes.

In this respect, as in all others, the Eighteenth Dynasty perpetuated the tradition of preceding ages.

Ai, in his fine tomb at Tell el Amarna, recounts the episode of his marriage with the daughter of Khuenaten.