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A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
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KV 03
Son of Rameses III

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KV 3 tomb entrance with modern revetments.
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A
Entryway A
B
Corridor B
Bb
Side chamber Bb
F
Pillared chamber F
Fa
Side chamber Fa
G
Chamber G
H
Chamber H
J
Chamber J
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Entryway A

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Seven modern steps descend from the present valley floor to the entryway, which gently slopes toward gate B. A modern retaining wall has been erected around the sides and ends of the entryway.

Architectural Features

Overhang

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    2.71 m

  • Length:

    8.51 m

  • Area:

    23.23 m2

  • Orientation:

    68.56°
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Tomb entrance of KV 03
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Tomb entrance of KV 03
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Grafitti and remains of a winged sun disc carved on a lintel of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Detail of the winged sun disc and text in the upper right corner of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Winged sun disc carved on a lintel of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Entryway A with rocks piled in front of the modern gate. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Gate B

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An overhang protrudes above the lintel of this decorated gate. There are traces of the cartouches of Rameses III on the thicknesses, partly covered by the frame of a modern metal gate. Remains of a winged sun disk decorate the lintel.

Architectural Features

Overhang

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.61 m

  • Width:

    2.13 m

  • Length:

    0.62 m

  • Area:

    1.32 m2

  • Volume:

    3.45 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from entryway A

Decoration

  • Names and epithets

    Rameses III left (North) thickness

  • Names and epithets

    Rameses III right (South) thickness

  • Winged sun disk

    Lintel

  • Names and epithets

    Rameses III Reveals
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Corridor B

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Images of Rameses III preceding figures of the prince can be seen on the walls where they were cut through the plaster coating into the rock beneath. The preserved traces show a sequence of at least three scenes on each side, consisting of the prince behind the king facing a deity. On the left (north) wall, the deities are Ptah, a damaged figure, and Osiris. On the right (south) wall they are Ra-Horakhty, Thoth, and a damaged figure. At the top of each side of the corridor a frieze of cartouches of Rameses III is flanked by pendant uraei. There is a rectangular cutting, the start of a chamber (Ba) in the left (north) wall, and the gate to a cut side chamber (Bb) in the opposite wall.

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.13 m

  • Width:

    2.73 m

  • Length:

    9.72 m

  • Area:

    26.64 m2

  • Volume:

    82.86 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from entryway A

Decoration

  • Deceased with deities

    Ptah, Osiris left (North) wall

  • Deceased with deities

    Ra-Horakhty, Thoth right (South) wall

  • Names and epithets

    All walls
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Cartouches of Rameses III flanked by uraei.
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Image # 18090
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View of Corridor B from inside the tomb. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Corridor B, right wall. Detail of uraeus and cartouche frieze; remains of deities wearing sun discs. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Corridor B from inside the tomb. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Corridor B, left wall. Detail of uraeus and cartouche frieze; remains of deities wearing sun discs. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Gate Ba

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This partially cut gate would have led to a side chamber which was never cut.

Condition

Excavated
Cutting unfinished
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.2 m

  • Width:

    1.04 m

  • Length:

    1.85 m

  • Area:

    2.1 m2

  • Volume:

    0.12 m3

  • Orientation:

    90° left from corridor B

Gate Bb

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Because of the loss of plaster, we do not know if the gate was once decorated.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.95 m

  • Width:

    1.16 m

  • Length:

    0.61 m

  • Area:

    0.71 m2

  • Volume:

    1.39 m3

  • Orientation:

    90.38° right from corridor B

Side chamber Bb

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The side chamber is located to the right (south) of corridor B. We cannot determine if it was once decorated.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.1 m

  • Width:

    3.13 m

  • Length:

    4.66 m

  • Area:

    14.56 m2

  • Volume:

    30.58 m3

  • Orientation:

    90.38° right from corridor B
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Gate F

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Some of this gate's decoration has been lost. Traces of vertical columns of a dedication text appear on the reveals, and a winged sun disk decorates the lintel.

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.8 m

  • Width:

    2.12 m

  • Length:

    1.05 m

  • Area:

    2.23 m2

  • Volume:

    6.24 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor B

Decoration

  • Winged sun disk

    Lintel

  • Text

    Reveals
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Detail of the text on a lintel of Gate F. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
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Pillared chamber F

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The decoration has now been completely lost. Two pairs of pillars flank the central axis. Gate Fb in the center of the right (south) wall, directly opposite gate Fa, represents the start of the cutting for another side chamber. There are traces of ancient repairs on the ceiling.

Architectural Features

Pillars

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.13 m

  • Width:

    7.71 m

  • Length:

    6.81 m

  • Area:

    52.4 m2

  • Volume:

    163.75 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor B

  • Number of pillars:

    4

  • Average pillar width:

    1.04 m

Gate Fa

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There are no traces of decoration on this gate.

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.14 m

  • Width:

    1.26 m

  • Length:

    0.7 m

  • Area:

    0.88 m2

  • Volume:

    1.88 m3

  • Orientation:

    90° left from pillared chamber F

Side chamber Fa

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The side chamber is located to the left (north) of pillared chamber F. There is no trace of decoration.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.05 m

  • Width:

    3.16 m

  • Length:

    4.57 m

  • Area:

    14.44 m2

  • Volume:

    29.6 m3

  • Orientation:

    90° left from pillared chamber F

Gate Fb

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An abandoned start for the cutting of the gate shows that a chamber was intended to follow.

Condition

Excavated
Cutting unfinished
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.04 m

  • Width:

    1.09 m

  • Length:

    1.45 m

  • Area:

    1.54 m2

  • Volume:

    1.6 m3

  • Orientation:

    90° right from pillared chamber F

Gate G

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There are no traces of decoration on this gate.

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.76 m

  • Width:

    2.11 m

  • Length:

    0.81 m

  • Area:

    1.7 m2

  • Volume:

    4.69 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from pillared chamber F

Chamber G

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This very wide but shallow chamber has a vaulted ceiling. There are no surviving traces of decoration. The ceiling is blackened by soot.

Architectural Features

Vaulted ceiling

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.02 m

  • Width:

    6.15 m

  • Length:

    2.89 m

  • Area:

    17.77 m2

  • Volume:

    45.95 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from pillared chamber F

Gate H

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This gate has no lintel; the jambs reach the vaulted ceiling extending from chamber G to chamber H. No traces of decoration are found.

Condition

Cutting finished
Undecorated
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.12 m

  • Width:

    2.65 m

  • Length:

    1.1 m

  • Area:

    2.91 m2

  • Volume:

    9.08 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from chamber G

Chamber H

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This very wide but shallow chamber has a vaulted ceiling. There are no traces of decoration.

Architectural Features

Vaulted ceiling

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.12 m

  • Width:

    5.81 m

  • Length:

    3.03 m

  • Area:

    17.6 m2

  • Volume:

    49.64 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from chamber G

Gate J

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There are no traces of decoration on this gate.

Condition

Cutting finished
Undecorated
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.57 m

  • Width:

    2.12 m

  • Length:

    0.85 m

  • Area:

    1.8 m2

  • Volume:

    4.62 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from chamber H

Chamber J

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No traces survive to show if this chamber was decorated.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.56 m

  • Width:

    2.72 m

  • Length:

    4.25 m

  • Area:

    11.54 m2

  • Volume:

    29.54 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from chamber H

About

KV 3, located in the first southeast branch off the main Wadi, resembles in plan tombs of royal family members of Dynasty 20 in the Valley of the Queens. Its open entryway (A) leads to a corridor (B) from which side chambers were to open off each side (Ba, Bb). Only the right (south) side chamber Bb was fully cut; a cutting on the left (north) marks the beginning of the gate and side chamber Ba. A pillared chamber (F) follows on the main axis, also with side chambers (Fa, Fb). Here, the left (north) side chamber Fa was completed, while on the right (south) Fb is represented only by the abandoned gate cutting. On the same main axis, three smaller chambers (G, H, J) occupy the rear; the first two have vaulted ceilings.

The tomb's extant decoration in painted sunk relief on plaster survives only in corridor B, as well as gates B and F. The principal decorative theme consisted of depictions of Rameses III followed by a prince, before various deities. It is assumed that the decorative program was complete, however, since Carl Richard Lepsius noted painted decoration on the ceiling of the vaulted chamber and depictions of the king on the walls of the first corridor B, as well as gates B and C.

Noteworthy features:

This is one of the few decorated tombs of a prince in the Valley of the Kings. It has two narrow rear chambers, with vaulting at ninety degrees to the usual form.

An ostracon in the Berlin Museum (Berlin Ostracon P.10663) records that in regnal year 28 of Rameses III a group of workmen went to the Valley of the Kings to "found the [tomb] of a prince of His Majesty." The tomb may be KV 3, but the name of the prince is unknown, although some have suggested that it was intended for the prince who succeeded his father as Rameses IV. There are no indications that the tomb received a royal burial. Bricks and remains of sandstone columns indicate that KV 3 was used as a Christian chapel during the Byzantine Period.

Dating

This site was used during the following period(s):

New Kingdom
Dynasty 20
Rameses III
Byzantine (Coptic) Period
1904-1906: Excavation
Ayrton, Edward Russell
1912: Excavation
Burton, Harry
1825: Mapping/planning
Burton, James
1828-1829: Epigraphy
Franco-Tuscan Expedition
1844-1845: Visit
Lepsius, Carl Richard
1737-1738: Mapping/planning
Pococke, Richard
1904-1906: Excavation
Quibell, James Edward

Conservation History

A rubble revetment was constructed around the entrance, together with a wall across the entry. A metal gate has been installed in gate B, partly covering inscriptions on the thicknesses.

Site Condition

The painted plaster wall decoration has almost entirely fallen away except near the ceiling in corridor B. A coating of smoke from recent burning of trash in the corridor entrance has damaged the ceiling.

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Main valley looking southeast from west cliff above KV 7, showing central hill into which KV 5., KV 6 and KV 55 were cut (left to right). Entrances to KV 3, KV 46 and KV 4 (bottom to top) are in side wadi to left of center, with entrance to KV 19 above.
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KV 3 tomb entrance with modern revetments.
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Tomb entrances.
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Tomb entrances and tourist shelter in the central part of the Valley of the Kings.
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The area of tomb robbery.
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Cartouches of Rameses III flanked by uraei.
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Valley of the Kings, panoramic view from cliffs above KV 09, looking southeast. Visible are entrances to KV 03, KV 07, KV 04, KV 05, KV 06, KV 55, KV 62, KV 18, KV 17, KV 16, KV 10, KV 11, KV 57, and toursit shelter.
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Tomb entrance of KV 03
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Tomb entrance of KV 03
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Building modern revetment for entry.
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Building modern revetment for entry.
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Pococke's tomb plan N.
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View of Corridor B from inside the tomb. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Corridor B, right wall. Detail of uraeus and cartouche frieze; remains of deities wearing sun discs. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Detail of the text on a lintel of Gate F. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
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Grafitti and remains of a winged sun disc carved on a lintel of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Detail of the winged sun disc and text in the upper right corner of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Winged sun disc carved on a lintel of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Corridor B from inside the tomb. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Corridor B, left wall. Detail of uraeus and cartouche frieze; remains of deities wearing sun discs. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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View of Entryway A with rocks piled in front of the modern gate. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks. 
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Bibliography

Weeks, Kent R.  Measurements of KV Royal Tomb Components.  In: Richard H. Wilkinson and Kent R. Weeks (eds.).  The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings.  Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.  Pp. 583-599.

Weeks, Kent R. (ed.).  Atlas of the Valley of the Kings (=Publications of the Theban Mapping Project, 1).  Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2000.  Map sheet 9.

Wente, Edward F. A Prince's Tomb in the Valley of the Kings.  Journal of Near Eastern Studies 32 (1972): 223-234.

Wilkinson, Richard H. and Carl Nicholas Reeves.  The Complete Valley of the Kings.  London:  Thames and Hudson, 1996.  P. 161.

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