KV42

KV42 Tomb of Merit -Re Hatshepsut

KV42 is a grave system of the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom in the Valley of the Kings. It is located in the southern branch of the southeastern dry valley. The grave was erected for the funeral of Queen Hatshepsut Meritre, but never used for this purpose. KV42 is located in close geographical proximity of the tomb KV32 KV37 and Tiaa the Queen, whose owner is not known.

Burials in the grave

From ritual objects found, it was concluded that the grave plant was indeed originally built for Queen Hatshepsut - Meritre, but they never served this purpose. The ruler was probably buried in the grave KV35 along with her son Amenhotep II. KV42 was never completed. Maybe it was from Sennefer, the treasurer of Thebes, and his wife Senetnai Baket -Re, who used " beloved of the King". There is also the possibility that one 's premises only to used here to store Funeral instruments.

The grave has been plundered in antiquity.

Architecture and Facilities

General Structure

The grave system is divided into different segments. Provided with a slope entrance hallway followed by a passage and a stairway, which leads to a chamber. Doors separate the individual areas from one another. From there, turn at right angles from a move to the east, which leads to an opening formed in cartridge form grave chamber. This has a small side chamber. The grave site has a total area of ​​184.77 m².

Input range

The entrance was carved in rock. Steps lead to the interior. They are in good condition. Special, mounted in front of the entrance wells served to depose the sarcophagus. The entrance gate is the connection between the entrance hall and a subsequent steep transition represents the goalposts are slightly rounded. With the discovery of the grave system, the bottom seal of the door were undamaged. The entire entrance is carved into the rock. Although he was fully completed, but there are no decorations.

The entrance hall has a length of 3.53 m and a width of 1.86 m. Graffiti on the walls indicate in a text to work during the 20 and 21 dynasty.

The gate region comprises an area of 1.21 m, the height is 1.13 m to 1.9 m and the width. It has a gradient of up to 20.49 °. The gate area is different from an angle of 5.33 ° from the orientation of the entrance hall.

Downhill gear

A gradient provided with passageway connects the entrance with a stairwell. The investigation of the wall surface was noted that the eastern region has a significantly rougher surface structure. The cause is to be sought in the fact that the workers encountered in this area on a much harder rock. The rest of the response shows a finer surface structure, which was made possible by softer rock. To sign the stonemasons On the walls. It lacks decorations of the walls. It is also apparent that the work of the craftsmen was not fully completed. On the sloping passage to a door area closes at, which is, however, with a height of 1.63 m slightly lower than the gate area of the input. His posts are rounded. Here the stone carvings were completed, wall decorations or graffiti missing.

The course has a length of 16.69 m, a height of 1.79 m and a width of 1.60 m. He deviates by 5.33 ° from the direction of the entrance hall. The orientation of the Torbereiches corresponds to that of lying in front Ganges. Its length is 1.09 m, width 1.20 m. The slope of 20.49 ° corresponds to the entrance.

Stairwell

The stairwell connects the passage with a chamber. The work of stonemasons in this area are complete. On the walls and on the ceiling to find their mark. Decorations of the walls are missing. Cavities were filled with limestone. A stairwell leads to another door area. With him a post is broken. Again, missing wall decorations although the stone carvings are completed.

The length of the stairwell is 3.58 m, its width 1.60 m and height 4.33 m. The orientation of the stairwell of the front of it corresponds to the Ganges. The stairway enclosure belonging gate area reaches a height of 2.00 m, 0.97 m long and 1.12 m wide. Cavities are located at right angles on both sides. They have a width of 3.55 m, a length of 1.29 m and a height of 1.66 m.

Chamber

This area is adjacent to the goal area of the stairwell and is square. Along the entire western wall is a bank. The two key points in the north and southeast of the chamber are damaged. In the southeastern chamber area a depression exists. The chamber area has consistently a slight slope towards the eastern wall. The stone carvings are not completed. Wall decorations are missing in the whole area. The belonging to the chamber door area represents the transition between the chamber and a corridor dar. Although the masons have completed their work, the walls remained undecorated. This area closes with 89.15 °, almost perpendicular to the chamber to.

The 1.99 m high chamber is 4.94 m wide and 4.98 m long. It has the same orientation as the stairwell. This associated door area has a length of 1.17 m, 1.21 m wide and 1.8 m high.

Going to the grave chamber

This passage provides access to the grave chamber dar. He joins directly to the gate area of the facing chamber. Again, this bears no decorations although the stone carvings are completed.

The corridor is 4.31 m long, 1.59 m wide and 2.05 m high. It is oriented at an angle of 89.15 ° to the chamber.

Grave chamber

The grave chamber is adjacent to the transition described above and has the form of a cartridge. It is oriented in an east-west direction. Two props are located inside the chamber from which the damaged area in the western chamber, which is broken in the east. In this area is the tomb of quartzite. He is 2.40 m long, 0.91 m wide and 0.89 m high. It lacks inscriptions, so that it is not clear for whom it was produced. Handles on the walls, which allow maneuvering, are still present.

A star pattern covers the walls and the ceiling area. In addition, a ribbon running along below the decorated wall region. In the walls of holes for copper pins, some of which are still present there. This may possibly have been used as a plumb bob. The walls of the grave chamber were plastered although this work has not been completed.

The grave chamber with a length of 15.25 m, a width of 7.62 m and a height of 2.66 the largest room of the grave system.

Side chamber

A simple gate connects the grave chamber with a side chamber, which is located on the southern side of the grave chamber. The stone carvings in this area are complete, but wall decorations are missing.

The gate to the side chamber has a height of 1.15 m, 0.86 m wide and 0.88 m long. It is mounted with an angle of 83.73 °, almost perpendicular to the grave chamber. The side chamber is smaller than the grave chamber and has a length of 3.59 m, 2.31 ​​m wide and 1.75 m high.

History

The grave complex was discovered in 1899 by Victor Loret and excavated in 1900 by Boutros Andraos, Howard Carter and C. Makarios. In 1921, Carter discovered in the grave ritual objects, enabled the conclusions about the funeral.

The grave was severely damaged by flooding.