mastaba

or mas·ta·bah

[ mas-tuh-buh ]

noun

1. an ancient Egyptian tomb made of mud brick, rectangular in plan with sloping sides and a flat roof.
2. (in Islamic countries) a fixed bench, especially one of stone.

mastaba

/ ˈmæstəbə /

noun

1. a mudbrick superstructure above tombs in ancient Egypt from which the pyramid developed

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastaba¹

First recorded in 1595–1605, mastaba is from the Arabic word maṣṭabah

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastaba¹

from Arabic: bench

Example Sentences

The interior of a mastaba is composed of three parts—the chamber, the serdab, and the well.

From Project Gutenberg

It may seem that in considering the mastaba before the pyramid we have reversed the natural order.

From Project Gutenberg

In Figs. 116-119 we give the plan and three sections of a mastaba at Gizeh which has four serdabs.

From Project Gutenberg

This passage, which is not high enough to allow one to walk upright, does not run quite parallel to the axis of the mastaba.

From Project Gutenberg

A different arrangement had therefore to be devised from that adopted in the case of the mastaba.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• edifice
• memorial
• monolith
• shrine
• tomb