Tomb of Khaemwaset, Valley of the Queens

20th Dynasty



This is one of several tombs located in the Valley of the Queens intended for Ramses III's sons. The painted bas-reliefs decorating Prince Khaemwaset's tomb illustrate his ritual and symbolic journey in the Afterlife as he meets the main gods of that region as well as the genies who guard the gates of the kingdom of Osiris (mentioned in the Book of the Dead).

The young prince Khaemwaset

Alberto Siliotti explains that "it is not clear who these princes really were, how old they were, or when and how they died" (74). The young prince Khaemwaset has the usual hairstyle of a child; his dark hair is braided to the side, fastened with an ornamental band, and falls down covering his ear.
 
A common characteristic of all these tombs of Ramses III's sons is that the princes follow their father who introduces them to various deities--unusual since typically a god would introduce the personage of the tomb to different deities. Ramses III is elegantly dressed and performs the obligatory rituals.
 
In this tomb Ramses III is always depicted in a sumptuous way, wearing a variety of crowns--on the far right, for example, he wears Lower Egypt's red crown with the uraeus; the crown in the center is decorated with vulture's wings.

 

Right and left half of polychrome relief depicting Ramses III and Imset, one of Horus's four sons.

 

Ramses III in the presence of Duamutef, another of Horus's four sons

 

Left and center: Osiris, Lord of the Afterlife, his face green as a symbol of regeneration; Right: Horus

 

Another deity

If you know the name of this god, will you please send me an e-mail (address below).


Work Cited: Alberto Siliotti. Guide to Valley of the Kings. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1997.


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© 2001 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.

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