Blackwell, 1995; Shaw, Ian. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Abydos Fleet An armada of 12 or 14 royal vessels discovered buried near ABYDOS, some eight miles from the Nile. Each vessel, from 50 to 60 feet in length, was encased in a mud-brick coffin and pit. They date to the earliest eras of Egypt. Shorter, less elaborate vessels have been found at SAQQARA and HALWAN. Like the vessel found at the Great PYRAMID of KHUFU (Cheops, r. 2551–2528 B.C.E.) these ships were part of the MORTUARY RITUALS of the early eras. Excavations at the site give indications that more vessels may be part of the necropolis treasures of Abydos.
