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2016 March

What is it like to excavate a tomb?

Jeff Burzacott March 5, 2016

This is looking up from the bottom of the burial shaft of TT184, the tomb of Nefermenu, Governor of Thebes during the reign of Ramesses II.

The Hungarian Archaeological Mission has been excavating part of the el-Khokha hillock, near Hatshepsut's Memorial Temple on the West Bank at Luxor, since 1995. Their concession area includes Nefermenu's stone chapel and rock-cut tomb which commands a fine view over the Theban landscape.

Nefermenu was certainly a busy man. His extensive titles tell us that he was also the Chief Steward of the vast estates of the Temple of Amun at Karnak, and the "Chief Steward of the House of Silver and Gold", which means he was in charge of the kingdom's treasury and controlled the state finances.

He was also kept busy by not serving the towering figure of Ramesses II, but also Amenhotep I, a pharaoh who ruled around 250 years before.

Like other Theban governors of the New Kingdom, Nefermenu was responsible for maintaining the cults of his master's esteemed predecessors. One of the Memorial Temples under his control was that of King Amenhotep I, son of the war hero Ahmose I who ousted what his family viewed as foreign occupiers, the Hyksos, and founded the 18th Dynasty.

Clearly Ramesses felt a duty of care to honour the deified spirit of this long-dead king. He tasked one of his most trusted men with maintaining the cycle of renewal for Amenhotep's royal spirit by keeping it well fed, well pampered and feeling the love.

The online dig diary of the Hungarian Archaeological Mission, along with many wonderful photos, can be found on their blog page: tt184en.blogspot.com.au.

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Satisfy your passion for ancient Egypt.NILE Magazine June-July 2017 is out now. Inside:- The Tomb-1000 years of robbery and reuse.- Egypt's first ever funerary garden discovered.- World Museum's new ancient Egypt gallery.- Art and Archaeol…

Satisfy your passion for ancient Egypt.
NILE Magazine June-July 2017 is out now. Inside:
- The Tomb-1000 years of robbery and reuse.
- Egypt's first ever funerary garden discovered.
- World Museum's new ancient Egypt gallery.
- Art and Archaeology meet: the two worlds of Susan Osgood.
- The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt.
- Aswan's powerful governors.
- On This Day in Egyptology history.
- Plus much more.

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Because You Love Ancient Egypt