KV11
Encyclopedia
Tomb KV11 is the tomb of Ancient Egypt
ian Pharaoh
Ramesses III
. Located in the main valley of the Valley of the Kings
, the tomb was originally started by Setnakhte
, but abandoned when it broke into the earlier tomb of Amenmesse
(KV10
). Setnakhte was buried in KV14
. The tomb KV11 was restarted and extended and on a different axis for Ramesses III.
The tomb has been open since antiquity, and has been known variously as Bruce's Tomb (named after James Bruce
who entered the tomb in 1768) and The Harper's Tomb (due to paintings of two blind harpers in the tomb).
The Second Corridor is decorated with the Litany of Re
. At the end of this corridor the axis of the tomb shifts. This Third Corridor is decorated with the Book of Gates
and the Book of Amduat
, and leads over a ritual shaft, and then into a four-pillared hall. This hall is again decorated with the Book of Gates
. A Fourth Corridor (decorated with scenes of the opening of the mouth ceremony and leads into a vestibule
, with scenes of the Book of the Dead
, and then into the burial chamber proper.
The burial chamber is an eight-pillared hall in which stood the red quartzite
sarcophagus
(which is now in the Louvre
). This chamber is decorated with Book of Gates
, divine scenes and the Book of the Earth
. Beyond this is a further set of annexes, decorated with the Book of Gates
.
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
ian Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
Ramesses III
Ramesses III
Usimare Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty and is considered to be the last great New Kingdom king to wield any substantial authority over Egypt. He was the son of Setnakhte and Queen Tiy-Merenese. Ramesses III is believed to have reigned from March 1186 to April 1155 BCE...
. Located in the main valley of the Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings , less often called the Valley of the Gates of the Kings , is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom .The valley stands on the west bank of...
, the tomb was originally started by Setnakhte
Setnakhte
Userkhaure-setepenre Setnakhte was the first Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt and the father of Ramesses III....
, but abandoned when it broke into the earlier tomb of Amenmesse
Amenmesse
Amenmesse was the 5th ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt, possibly the son of Merneptah and Queen Takhat. Others consider him to be one of the innumerable sons of Ramesses II. Very little is known about this king, who ruled Egypt for only three to four years...
(KV10
KV10
Tomb KV10, located in the Valley of the Kings near the modern-day Egyptian city of Luxor, was cut and decorated for the burial of Pharaoh Amenmesse of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. However, there is no proof that he was actually buried here...
). Setnakhte was buried in KV14
KV14
Tomb KV14 is a joint tomb, used originally by Twosret and then reused and extended by Setnakhte. It has been open since antiquity, but was not properly recorded until Hartwig Altenmüller excavated it from 1983 to 1987....
. The tomb KV11 was restarted and extended and on a different axis for Ramesses III.
The tomb has been open since antiquity, and has been known variously as Bruce's Tomb (named after James Bruce
James Bruce
James Bruce was a Scottish traveller and travel writer who spent more than a dozen years in North Africa and Ethiopia, where he traced the origins of the Blue Nile.-Youth:...
who entered the tomb in 1768) and The Harper's Tomb (due to paintings of two blind harpers in the tomb).
Decoration
The 188-metre-long tomb is beautifully decorated.The Second Corridor is decorated with the Litany of Re
Litany of Re
The Litany of Re is an important Ancient Egyptian funerary text of the New Kingdom. Like many funerary texts, it was written on the inside of the tomb for reference by the deceased...
. At the end of this corridor the axis of the tomb shifts. This Third Corridor is decorated with the Book of Gates
Book of Gates
The Book of Gates is an Ancient Egyptian funerary text dating from the New Kingdom. It narrates the passage of a newly deceased soul into the next world, corresponding to the journey of the sun though the underworld during the hours of the night. The soul is required to pass though a series of...
and the Book of Amduat
Amduat
The Amduat is an important Ancient Egyptian funerary text of the New Kingdom. Like many funerary texts, it was found written on the inside of the pharaoh's tomb for reference...
, and leads over a ritual shaft, and then into a four-pillared hall. This hall is again decorated with the Book of Gates
Book of Gates
The Book of Gates is an Ancient Egyptian funerary text dating from the New Kingdom. It narrates the passage of a newly deceased soul into the next world, corresponding to the journey of the sun though the underworld during the hours of the night. The soul is required to pass though a series of...
. A Fourth Corridor (decorated with scenes of the opening of the mouth ceremony and leads into a vestibule
Vestibule (architecture)
A vestibule is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building.The same term can apply to structures in modern or ancient roman architecture. In modern architecture vestibule typically refers to a small room or hall between an entrance and the interior of...
, with scenes of the Book of the Dead
Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead is the modern name of an ancient Egyptian funerary text, used from the beginning of the New Kingdom to around 50 BC. The original Egyptian name for the text, transliterated rw nw prt m hrw is translated as "Book of Coming Forth by Day". Another translation would be "Book of...
, and then into the burial chamber proper.
The burial chamber is an eight-pillared hall in which stood the red quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
(which is now in the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
). This chamber is decorated with Book of Gates
Book of Gates
The Book of Gates is an Ancient Egyptian funerary text dating from the New Kingdom. It narrates the passage of a newly deceased soul into the next world, corresponding to the journey of the sun though the underworld during the hours of the night. The soul is required to pass though a series of...
, divine scenes and the Book of the Earth
Book of the Earth
The Book of the Earth is an important Ancient Egyptian funerary text of the New Kingdom and later.-External links:*...
. Beyond this is a further set of annexes, decorated with the Book of Gates
Book of Gates
The Book of Gates is an Ancient Egyptian funerary text dating from the New Kingdom. It narrates the passage of a newly deceased soul into the next world, corresponding to the journey of the sun though the underworld during the hours of the night. The soul is required to pass though a series of...
.
External links
- Theban Mapping Project: KV11 - Includes description, images and plans of the tomb.