mastaba
Pronunciation:
/ˈmæstəbə/noun
Definitions
A wide stone bench built into the wall of a house, shop etc. in the Middle East.
A rectangular structure with a flat top and slightly sloping sides, built during Ancient Egyptian times above tombs that were situated on flat land. Mastabas were made of wood, mud bricks, stone, or a combination of these materials. Some are solid structures, while others can contain one or more rooms, sometimes decorated with paintings or inscriptions.
Example: The pyramids at Giza are flanked by large cemeteries containing hundreds of mastabas.