It concerns the long -lost grave of Thoetmosis II, of which it is thought to be the last undiscovered royal cemetery of the 18th dynasty.
Archaeologists have found the grave of Thoetmosis II, the fourth Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty and husband of the famous Queen Hatsjepsoet. This discovery is groundbreaking: it is the first pharaograph that has been exposed by Howard Carter in 1922 since the legendary find of Tutankhamun.
Graf
The grave was dug up by a British-Egyptian team. The impressive grandeur of the cemetery was immediately visible, with a majestic staircase and an impressive descending corridor that unveiled the royal meaning of the grave. “Part of the ceiling was still intact,” researcher Piers Lithland recalls. “It was painted blue, with yellow stars on it. Such blue -painted ceilings with yellow stars only occur in Koningsgraven. “
More about Thoetmosis II
Thoetmosis II, the throne around 1493 BC. His government was relatively modest compared to that of his predecessors and successors. As the son of Thoetmosis I and his second wife Mutnofret, he strengthened his power by marrying his half -sister, Hatsjepsoet. His rule was characterized by small military expeditions and suppressing unrest in Nubia and the Sinai, but produced few big victories. His life ended early, around 1479 BC.
Entering the burial chamber was anything but easy. The team crawled through a narrow corridor of 10 meters and proud of an opening of only 40 square centimeters before reaching the inner room. There they were welcomed by a striking blue ceiling, decorated with scenes from the Amduat, an old funeral text that was only meant for kings – the ultimate proof that they had found the resting place of a Pharaoh.
Objects
The irrefutable evidence that they had come across the grave of Thoetmosis II came in the form of shards of an alabaster pot with both his name and that of Hatsjepsoet on it, the first objects that could ever be linked to his funeral. The researchers suspect that the grave was possible about six years after the funeral, which would have led to the movement of the content. The researchers think they have found a possible location for this second grave, where perhaps still untouched treasures can be discovered.
Mystery
“This discovery unravels a great mystery from ancient Egypt: it offers the solution for the age -old puzzle about the location of royal graves from the early 18th dynasty,” says Lithland. “The grave of this ancestor of Tutankhamun was never found, because it was always thought that it was on the other side of the mountain, close to the valley of the kings. At first we thought we had discovered a grave of a royal woman, but the wide staircase and the big door pointed to something much more important. It was extremely exciting to discover that the burial chamber was decorated with scenes from the Amduat, a religious text that is only intended for kings – the first indication that we had found a royal grave. ”
Dedicated work
This discovery is the result of more than 12 years of dedicated work by Lithland and his team. Earlier, their efforts have already led to the excavation of 54 graves in the western Theban mountains of Luxor and the identification of more than 30 royal women and court women. But this new discovery still takes the crown. “This is the first royal grave since the groundbreaking discovery of King Tutanchamons Tombe in 1922,” emphasizes the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy. “A special moment for Egyptology and an important step in our understanding of the common past of humanity.”
Death
The circumstances surrounding the death of Thoetmosis II remain covered in mists. However, it is generally assumed that he was not killed by a violent act or accident, but probably due to illness or natural causes. His short government and instructions on his weak health suggest that he might suffer from a long -term condition that had exhausted his energy.
Research of his mummified remains shows that his body was weakened by illness. Some scientists speculate that he may suffer from a chronic skin condition, an infectious disease or even a hereditary disorder, possibly caused by generations of royal marriages within the family. What the precise cause of his early death around 1479 BC. Was, however, remains a mystery.
After the death of Thoetmosis II, Hatsjepsoet initially functioned as a regent for her young stepson, but soon she seized the power herself and declared her divine right to rule. Many scientists think that she considered the government of her deceased husband as disappointing, which motivated her to create a much more impressive heritage. As one of the most powerful female pharaohs in history, she focused on monumental buildings, of which her majestic tomb temple in Deir El-Bahari is the most iconic.
