KV56

KV56 Tomb of Unknown

KV56 (Kings ' Valley no 56 ) is the ancient Egyptian grave with the number 56 in the Valley of the Kings. The grave owner is unknown. An exact dating is not possible, but it was used at the time of the New Kingdom ( 19th Dynasty ). KV56 is also known as the "gold grave " (Gold Tomb ), because the grave contained the most important ever found in Egypt jewelry collection from the 19th Dynasty.

Discovery and excavation

The discovery and excavation was carried out in 1908 by Edward R. Ayrton for Theodore M. Davis. Were published the results in 1908 by Davis in The Tomb of Siptah the Monkey Tomb, and the Gold Tomb. As part of The Amarna Royal Tombs Project ( ARTP ) re- excavation work was from 1998 to 2002 under Nicholas Reeves performed.

Architecture and finds

The unfinished grave has a deep entrance shaft and a single, undecorated chamber, which has a size of 34.6 sqm. An assignment to a specific type of grave is difficult due to the design and findings: On the one hand, it is doubtful whether it is ever to be a grave, on the other hand is believed KV56 might be a king grave.

The jewelry finds, Ayrton made ​​in KV56, are among the most beautiful that have been found in the Valley of the Kings. Among them were several rings, bracelets, some collar ornaments and amulets, a tiara, a pair of silver gloves, a silver sandals and earrings. It is therefore also known as the " gold grave ". However, it also contained vessels and funeral utensils and shares in gold foil and pieces of stucco, which may come from a coffin.

Interpretations

The grave contained objects with the name of Queen Tausert and King (Pharaoh) Seti II Gaston Maspero concluded that it was in KV56 to a hiding place in which the items from the grave of Tausert ( KV14 ) were brought before this had been usurped by Sethnacht. According to Nicholas Reeves, however, Cyril Aldred presented a much " more imaginative " interpretation: " KV56 is an ultimately intact grave in which about " thick half an inch and about four square feet covering layer of broken stucco and gold leaf " the last remains of a completely rotten coffin will show. " According to Aldred, it was stated that the silver gloves to sleeves for the hands of the mummy. The finds of gold leaf and broken stucco he considered parts of a coffin and therefore speculated that the grave was that of a child of Tausert and Seti II, which had been buried during the reign of Seti II. Peter A. Clayton referred to the gold jewelry as a " second-rate quality " of. In two pairs of earrings of poor workmanship he points out also in grave furnishings for a deceased in childhood Princess of Seti I and Tausert.

Reeves advocates that KV56 was classified in the late 18th dynasty because of the grave situation, the type and design.