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The Valley of The
Nobles is located on the west bank of Luxor, in
an area called Sheik Abd El-Korna. The site has
rock cut tombs of Nobles, and high officials of
ancient Egypt, who once served the Pharaohs
during the time of the New Kingdom. (1500 - 500
BC)
Among
the most important tombs in this cemetery is the
tomb numbered 55, which belonged to Ra-Mose. He
was the mayor of Thebes, and during the end of
the reign of Amenhotep III (Amenophis III) and
his son Akhenaton, the vizier.
Unfortunately this tomb is unfinished because
Ra-Mose moved, with Akhenaton, to the new
capital Akht-Aton (modern day Tell El-Amarna),
therefore the decoration work stopped, and the
tomb was left unfinished, except for the scenes
which already had been completed. Because of
this, we can appreciate the high techniques that
Egyptian art had during that period.
This
tomb consists of a square rock-cut court, with a
central doorway, opening into a broad columned
hall with columns in the papyrus bud form. The
inner hall is undecorated! On the left of the
broad hall, and under the inner hall, were
shafts’ leading below to two burial chambers,
but the mummy of Ra-Mose was not found. The
relief carving in this chapel is very fine and
only some parts were painted.
The tomb numbered 100 is another one of the
important tombs in this cemetery; it belonged to
Re-khme–e, who was vizier of Tuthmosis III and
Amenhotep II.
It is another rock cut tomb and its walls are
decorated with many painted scenes of the
various aspects of life in Ancient Egypt. One of
the most beautiful scenes is the one that
represents the arrival of the foreign
delegations to the court of the Vizier Re-khme-Re,
carrying presents and tributes to the King of
Egypt and his men. These presents and tributes
included items such as, utensils, agricultural
products and various animals. One of the most
important text engraves in the this tomb is the
one which mentions the duties and
responsibilities assumed by the vizier in order
to let the justice prevail on Earth.
When you visit the tombs, it is very important
to know the number of the tomb you want to
visit. This way you can visit exactly what you
want to see; otherwise you will be lost, as many
of the names of the Nobles are similar.
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The Tombs Chapel of Nakht, 52:
The
owner of this tomb was one of the Nobles who had
the title of the great scribe! He was also an
astronomer in the Temple of Amon during the time
of the reign of King Tuthmosis IV; his wife was
also involved in the activities carried on in
the Temple, as she worked as a chanter.
The tomb is fairly small but has one the most
brilliant colourful scenes; these scenes are
well preserved and have great beauty.
The tomb is decorated with scenes of
agriculture, and a marvellous scene of Nakht in
hunting action, together with his wife standing
on a boat, harpooning fish. Near to this scene,
there is another one of him fowling in the
marshes of the Delta, where he is catching birds
using a boomerang. Next, there is a wonderful
scene where you can see some female musicians
playing their instruments, while a blind singer
sings for the crowds. You can also see crowds of
people, who were invited to this party, watching
the show, talking amongst each other and eating
from a fruit laden table.

The Tomb of Menna
N 69:
It is
considered amongst the most famous tombs in the
Valley of the Nobles, and one of the most
beautiful, as it has many magnificent scenes and
still remains in good condition
The tomb belonged to a Noble, who had the title
of being the land surveyor during the time of
King Tuthmosis IV. His job was important, as he
was the one responsible for estimating how much
in taxes should be levied, for the King, from
the local farmers.
The tomb is full of scenes of daily life. There
are scenes of cultivation, including harvesting,
threshing, ploughing the fields and winnowing
the seeds (separating the chaff from the seeds).
In the middle of the left wall, in the second
register of the agriculture scenes, there is a
very cute scene that depicts two girls fighting
over falling seeds that passing farmers are
dropping, while transporting them to the
threshing ground.
This tomb also includes some offering scenes,
here Menna and his wife are offering to the God
Osiris.
There are also scenes of fishing and fowling in
the marshes of the Nile. As well as all of the
relief’s, there is also a destroyed statue of
Menna and his wife, of which nothing remains but
the feet!
When looking at the depictions of Menna on the
walls, you will notice that his eyes have been
destroyed! It seems that he had an enemy, who
entered his tomb after the burial and destroyed
the eyes in the paintings, meaning that Menna
will never be able to see again in the after
life.
The Tomb
Chapel of Ra Mose
This is my passion and the best tomb so far.
This marvelous tomb belongs to the vizier and
counselor of the city of Thebes, who lived
during the reigns of King Amonhotep III and
Akhenaton (or Amenhotep IV) in the 18th Dynasty.
In this tomb, there is a complete record of the
new cult that Akhenaton, who was regarded as the
heretic King, introduced and called Atonism.
Ra-mose
lived until the 5th year of the reign of King
Akhenaton. Evidence was found that proved that
this tomb was opened and re-used by many other
Noblemen in a later period; most probably they
were the ones who erased the names of King
Akhenaton of the walls of the tomb!
The high Priest Ra-mose of Amon Ra had great
power! It is clear from the style of decoration
inside this tomb, that he enjoyed a very unique
position.
The most interesting part of the tomb was for
the worshippers of the sun disk, the God Aton,
which illuminates the name and figures of the
wives and children of Akhenaton. Next to him, in
this scene, there is another one of the high
Priests with a long mantle and clean-shaven
head.

On
the interiors wall to the south, is the fine
colour scene showing the funeral ceremony and
female mourners. There you will see a group of
servants carrying offerings to the deceased. On
the eastern wall there is a fine specimen of
relief sculpture made by the finest artists of
the 18th Dynasty; here the scene shows Ra-mose’s
wife, father, uncles and sisters.
There is also a large scene that shows Ra-mose
sitting on a stool with his wife, and their pet
goose sitting underneath.
On the southern wall of the tomb, there is a
fresco that shows the funeral of Ra-mose, his
possessions, and the offerings being made for
him. In another scene you can see groups of
mourners weeping and wailing. In front of them
there is a Priest, standing at the entrance of
the tomb. |