KV10

KV10 Tomb of Amenmesse

The ancient Egyptian tomb KV10 in the Valley of the Kings was originally built as a tomb of the pharaoh Amenmesse the 19th dynasty. However, there is no evidence that he was actually buried here.

Discovery

The tomb was opened in antiquity. Was right the first time visited the tomb of Richard Pococke, who recorded the grave in 1743 on his card. In the early 19th century made ​​detailed studies by Jean -François Champollion, Karl Richard Lepsius and Richard Wilkinson. 1883 documented Eugéne Lefébure the decorations of the tomb, which he later published. Edward Russell Ayrton finally laid in 1907 the entrance corridor free. Otto Schaden initiated an excavation and investigation program, which was launched in 1992 as part of a project of the University of Arizona.

Architecture and Decoration

Originally Amenmesse for certain decoration of the tomb is almost the KV8 from, the grave of Merneptah, identical. They have the same input motifs: in the first two corridors, the Litany of Ra and third scenes from the Imydwat. In addition to the Book of the Dead, there are representations of the gods Re, the four sons of Horus, Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, Neith, Selket, Anubis and Inmutef. The reliefs were removed, re-plastered and painted with motifs of Tachat and Baketwerel.

Grave features and finds

As Lefébure loomed a large part of the visible decorations he found a limestone fragment, which was initially thought to be a part of the sarcophagus of Amenmesse. The exposed in recent times and discovered objects were from different times: Ushabti figures of Seti II, sarcophagus fragments Ramses VI. and other objects from burials. Howard Carter found fragments of Kanopenkrügen who wore clearly the name Tachat. A piece of a sarcophagus lid of red granite also had the name of the wife of Merneptah and putative mother Amenmesses.

Despite intensive studies, it is unclear whether Amenmesse was really buried in his grave. Found two mummies, one of which is believed that this is his putative mother Tachat and his wife Baketwerel. What is the relationship both women really stood by him, can not be inferred from the partially redecorated for her grave.