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A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
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Tomb entrance, with modern revetments and steps.
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Entryway A

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A divided stairway descends from a hillside cutting near the valley floor to gate B. The top steps are modern additions; the divided stairway is ancient. The latter recently has been covered with limestone blocks cut to replicate the appearance of the ancient descent. A pair of beam holes for lowering a sarcophagus are located at the lower end in front of gate B.

Architectural Features

Beam holes
Divided stairway
Overhang

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    2.6 m
  • Length:

    13.91 m
  • Area:

    36.34 m2
  • Orientation:

    324.76°

Gate B

See entire tomb

There are steps in this gate. A modern wooden door has been installed. Door pivot holes on either side of the soffit and a recess in the beginning of the ceiling of corridor B show that large wooden double doors were to close the gateway. The lintel is decorated for the first time with the solar disk flanked by Nephthys and Isis. The interior of the soffit is cut with beam slots where a wooden lintel was once placed. The reveals contain representations of Ma'at kneeling above the heraldic plants of Lower and Upper Egypt, while jambs contains the names and epithets of the King. The raised relief decoration in this gate has been damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor A

Architectural Features

Door pivot holes
Lintel beam slot
Steps

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.74 m
  • Width:

    2.11 m
  • Length:

    1.05 m
  • Area:

    2.21 m2
  • Volume:

    5.97 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from entryway A

Decoration

  • Sun disk on the horizon

    kneeling Isis and Nephthys flanking disk Lintel
  • Winged Ma'at figures

    Reveals
  • Names and epithets

    left (Southeast) jamb
  • Names and epithets

    right (Northwest) jamb

Graffiti

  • Greek text:

    two graffiti right (Northwest) jamb

Corridor B

See entire tomb

The lower third of the floor of this sloping corridor has an increased angle of descent and changes to a divided stairway, although the slope of the ceiling does not change. At this point, a pair of beam holes are cut into the sides of the corridor. The left (southwest) wall is decorated with three scenes: Rameses II before Ra-Horakhty; the Solar Disk containing scarab and ram-headed man between a serpent and a crocodile; and the beginning of the Litany of Ra. The right (northeast) wall includes more text of the Litany of Ra. The raised relief decoration carved in the stone in this corridor has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor A

Architectural Features

Beam holes
Ceiling recess
Divided stairway

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.82 m
  • Width:

    2.61 m
  • Length:

    12.33 m
  • Area:

    32.07 m2
  • Volume:

    90.44 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from entryway A

Decoration

  • Deceased with deities

    Ra-Horakhty left (Southwest) wall
  • Litany of Ra

    left (Southwest) wall
  • Litany of Ra

    right (Northeast) wall

Graffiti

  • Greek text:

    two graffiti, one reading "Echeboulos (Rhodes)" left (Southwest) wall

Gate C

See entire tomb

The thicknesses contain texts from the Litany of Ra. The raised relief decoration has been badly damaged due to flooding. The divided stairway that started in corridor B continues through this gate.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor B

Architectural Features

Divided stairway

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.38 m
  • Width:

    2.07 m
  • Length:

    0.94 m
  • Area:

    1.96 m2
  • Volume:

    6.55 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor B

Decoration

  • Litany of Ra

    left (Southwest) thickness
  • Litany of Ra

    right (Northeast) thickness

Stairwell C

See entire tomb

The entire floor of this corridor consists of a gently sloping divided stairway. Two trapezoidal niches lie opposite each other in the central portion of the walls. The right (northeast) and left (southwest) walls display spell 151 of the Book of the Dead. The painted plaster decoration in this corridor has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor B

Architectural Features

Divided stairway
Recesses

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Partly excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.86 m
  • Width:

    2.62 m
  • Length:

    7.37 m
  • Area:

    19.3 m2
  • Volume:

    69.89 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor B

Decoration

  • Litany of Ra

    forms of Ra right (Northeast) recess
  • Book of the Dead

    spell 151, excerpts, with Anubis jackal and kneeling Isis right (Northeast) wall
  • Litany of Ra

    forms of Ra left (Southwest) recess
  • Book of the Dead

    spell 151, excerpts, with Anubis jackal and kneeling Nephthys left (Southwest) wall

Gate D

See entire tomb

The reveals are decorated with the four sons of Horus. The painted plaster decoration in this gate has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor C

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.45 m
  • Width:

    2.07 m
  • Length:

    1 m
  • Area:

    2.08 m2
  • Volume:

    5.1 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from stairwell C

Decoration

  • Deities

    Sons of Horus Reveals

Corridor D

See entire tomb

A portion of the floor of this corridor is moderately sloped, ending in two steps which descend to a flat floor. The floor was levelled in this region to allow the door or doors covering gate E to open outwards toward the entrance to the tomb. This is an unusual feature: most tomb doors open inward. The right (northeast) and left (southwest) walls of this corridor contain the fourth and fifth hours of the Imydwat respectively. The painted plaster decoration in this corridor has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor C

Architectural Features

Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.54 m
  • Width:

    2.6 m
  • Length:

    8.54 m
  • Area:

    22.15 m2
  • Volume:

    58.08 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from stairwell C

Decoration

  • Imydwat

    fourth hour right (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    fifth hour left (Southwest) wall

Gate E

See entire tomb

The left (southwest) side of this gate contains a lintel beam slot which once held either a large single wooden door or smaller double doors.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall D

Architectural Features

Lintel beam slot

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.3 m
  • Width:

    2.03 m
  • Length:

    1.01 m
  • Area:

    2.06 m2
  • Volume:

    4.74 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor D

Well chamber E

See entire tomb

The well shaft has been cut through the floor of the chamber but is still partly filled with debris. The wall scenes show Rameses II before deities, and on the walls below the floor level at the top of the shaft there are scenes from the Imydwat. The painted plaster decoration in this corridor has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall D

Architectural Features

Well shaft

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Partly excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.62 m
  • Width:

    4.15 m
  • Length:

    3.65 m
  • Area:

    15.14 m2
  • Volume:

    39.66 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor D

Decoration

  • Deceased with deities

    Hathor left (Southwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    sixth hour right (Northeast) wall
  • Deceased with deities

    right (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    twelfth hour left (Southwest) wall

Gate F

See entire tomb

A door pivot hole in the right (northeast) side of the gate shows that a large wooden door was to close this gate.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall E

Architectural Features

Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.48 m
  • Width:

    2.04 m
  • Length:

    1.12 m
  • Area:

    2.29 m2
  • Volume:

    5.68 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from well chamber E

Pillared chamber F

See entire tomb

Two pairs of pillars flank the central descent with its divided stairway. Most of the chamber on either side of the descent is still filled with debris, obscuring the wall decoration. The right (northeast) wall has a gate in the center which leads to a pillared side chamber (Fa) and a smaller side chamber (Faa) beyond.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall E

Architectural Features

Pillars

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Unexcavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    3.23 m
  • Width:

    8.4 m
  • Length:

    8.4 m
  • Area:

    70.6 m2
  • Volume:

    225.84 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from well chamber E
  • Number of pillars:

    4
  • Average pillar width:

    0.93 m

Descent F

See entire tomb

The descent from chamber F to gate G is a divided stairway.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall E

Architectural Features

Divided stairway

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.78 m
  • Width:

    2.55 m
  • Length:

    7.93 m
  • Area:

    24.33 m2
  • Orientation:

    0° from pillared chamber F

Side chamber Fa

See entire tomb

This unexcavated chamber contains unidentified, badly destroyed decoration. Four pillars stand in the center of the chamber.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall F

Architectural Features

Pillars

Condition

Decoration damaged
Decoration undetermined
Unexcavated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    7.78 m
  • Length:

    8.51 m
  • Area:

    65.92 m2
  • Orientation:

    88.87° right from pillared chamber F
  • Number of pillars:

    4
  • Average pillar width:

    0.95 m

Decoration

  • Theme undetermined

Gate Fa

See entire tomb

This gate is only partly visible at the top, as the area before and after it are unexcavated.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall F

Condition

Unexcavated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    1.12 m
  • Length:

    1.1 m
  • Area:

    1.23 m2
  • Orientation:

    88.87° right from pillared chamber F

Gate Faa

See entire tomb

The gate to this side chamber is located in the rear (northeast) wall of side chamber Fa. It is unexcavated, but contains a compound jamb.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall G

Architectural Features

Compound jambs

Condition

Unexcavated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    1.03 m
  • Length:

    1.02 m
  • Area:

    1.16 m2
  • Orientation:

    0° from side chamber Fa

Side chamber Faa

See entire tomb

The chamber is filled with flood debris to within 50 cm (20 inches) of the ceiling. There is no evidence of pillars. The wall decoration in this unexcavated chamber is badly destroyed.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall G

Condition

Decoration damaged
Decoration undetermined
Unexcavated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    5.35 m
  • Length:

    3.33 m
  • Area:

    17.76 m2
  • Orientation:

    0° from side chamber Fa

Decoration

  • Theme undetermined

Gate G

See entire tomb

The gate leads into corridor G.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor H

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.4 m
  • Width:

    2.1 m
  • Length:

    1.07 m
  • Area:

    2.23 m2
  • Volume:

    5.35 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from pillared chamber F

Corridor G

See entire tomb

The left (southwest) wall shows the beginning of the Opening of the Mouth ritual, with Rameses II before an altar and two Iwnmutef priests; on the right (northeast) wall are additional material from the Opening of the Mouth ritual. The painted plaster decoration in this corridor has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor H

Condition

Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.52 m
  • Width:

    2.58 m
  • Length:

    8.54 m
  • Area:

    22.11 m2
  • Volume:

    55.72 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from pillared chamber F

Decoration

  • Opening of the Mouth ritual

    right (Northeast) wall
  • Opening of the Mouth ritual

    Rameses II seated at offering table with two priests officiating left (Southwest) wall
  • Opening of the Mouth ritual

    left (Southwest) wall

Gate H

See entire tomb

Door pivot holes in the right (northeast) side of this gate show that it was to be closed by a large wooden door.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor I

Architectural Features

Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.16 m
  • Width:

    2.01 m
  • Length:

    1.04 m
  • Area:

    2.17 m2
  • Volume:

    4.69 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor G

Decoration

  • Names and epithets

    partial cartouche of Queen Nefertari right (Northeast) jamb
  • Opening of the Mouth ritual

    left (Southwest) jamb

Corridor H

See entire tomb

The left (southwest) wall of this corridor is decorated with texts from the Opening of the Mouth ritual, and the right (northeast) wall contains offering lists from it. The painted plaster decoration in this corridor has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Corridor I

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.38 m
  • Width:

    2.6 m
  • Length:

    6.38 m
  • Area:

    16.5 m2
  • Volume:

    39.27 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor G

Decoration

  • Opening of the Mouth ritual

    right (Northeast) wall
  • Opening of the Mouth ritual

    left (Southwest) wall

Gate I

See entire tomb

This gate has a compound jamb. Door pivot holes in the right (northeast) side of the gate show that it was to be closed by a large wooden door.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall J

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.05 m
  • Width:

    2.01 m
  • Length:

    0.52 m
  • Area:

    2.24 m2
  • Volume:

    2.15 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor H

Decoration

  • Deities

    Ma'at left (Southwest) jamb
  • Deities

    Wadjet represented as a cobra above neb sign right (Northeast) jamb
  • Names and epithets

    left (Southwest) jamb
  • Kheker frieze

    left (Southwest) jamb

Chamber I

See entire tomb

In this chamber, the tomb axis turns so that its axis is perpendicular to the original. The rear (northwest) wall contains the remains Spell 125 from the Book of the dead, while Rameses II appears with several deities on the front (southeast) wall. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

J

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.05 m
  • Width:

    7.28 m
  • Length:

    5.74 m
  • Area:

    41.87 m2
  • Volume:

    105.09 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor H

Decoration

  • Deceased with deities

    Anubis, Horus, Hathor front (Southeast) wall
  • Book of the Dead

    spell 125 rear (Northwest) wall
  • Deceased

    front (Southeast) wall

Gate J

See entire tomb

This gate contains one irregularly cut step which leads through its compound jamb. Door pivot holes in the right (southeast) side of the gate show that it was to be closed by a large wooden door.

Porter and Moss designation:

Sarcophagus chamber K

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes
Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.85 m
  • Width:

    2.01 m
  • Length:

    1.56 m
  • Area:

    3.39 m2
  • Volume:

    6.27 m3
  • Orientation:

    97.51° right from chamber I

Decoration

  • Names and epithets

    left (Northwest) jamb
  • Deities

    Ma'at right (Southeast) jamb

Burial chamber J

See entire tomb

The axis of the burial chamber is perpendicular to the axis of corridor H. Four pillars lie on either side of the sunken floor and the vaulted ceiling.

The front (southwest) wall displays the first and second divisions (P)/second and third hours (H) of the Book of Gates, while the rear (northeast) wall contains the remains of the first and second hours of the Imydwat and representations of funerary objects. The left (northwest) wall is decorated with the first division (P)/second hour (H) of the Book of Gates. The right (southeast) wall is decorated with the fifth hour of the Imydwat and the second division (P)/ third hour (H) of the Book of Gates. The painted plaster decoration has been badly damaged due to flooding. Traces of decoration on some pillar faces indicate that the sides facing the sunken centre of the chamber were decorated with djed pillar designs. The other faces were decorated with representations of Rameses II and deities.

  • Chamber plan:

    Rectangular
  • Relationship to main tomb axis:

    Perpendicular
  • Chamber layout:

    Pillared front and rear upper level, sunken central lower level
  • Floor:

    Two levels
  • Ceiling:

    Vaulted

Porter and Moss designation:

Sarcophagus chamber K

Architectural Features

Magical brick niches
Pillars
Recesses
Steps
Vaulted ceiling

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    5.83 m
  • Width:

    13.07 m
  • Length:

    13.81 m
  • Area:

    180.49 m2
  • Volume:

    870.45 m3
  • Orientation:

    97.51° right from chamber I
  • Number of pillars:

    8
  • Average pillar width:

    1.1 m

Decoration

  • Imydwat

    first hour rear (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    second hour rear (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    fifth hour: three boats right (Southeast) wall
  • Funerary objects

    rear (Northeast) wall
  • Text

    front (Southwest) pillar 1
  • Amuletic representations

    djed-pillar front (Southwest)
  • Deities

    probably souls of Nekhen rear (Northeast)
  • Deities

    probably souls of Nekhen right (Southeast)
  • Amuletic representations

    djed-pillar rear (Northeast)
  • Deceased with deities

    Osiris (?) left (Northwest)
  • Deceased with deities

    male deity right (Southeast)
  • Amuletic representations

    djed-pillar rear (Northeast)
  • Deceased with deities

    front (Southwest)
  • Deceased with deities

    male deity left (Northwest)
  • Deceased with deities

    male deity right (Southeast)
  • Book of Gates

    second division (P)/ third hour (H) right (Southeast) wall
  • Book of Gates

    second division (P)/third hour (H) front (Southwest) wall
  • Book of Gates

    first division (P)/second hour (H) front (Southwest) wall
  • Book of Gates

    first division (P)/second hour (H) left (Northwest) wall
  • Amuletic representations

    djed-pillar front (Southwest)
  • Deceased with deities

    male deity rear (Northeast)
  • Deceased with deities

    male deity left (Northwest)
  • Deceased with deities

    right (Southeast)
  • Deities

    probably souls of Pe rear (Northeast)
  • Deities

    probably souls of Pe left (Northwest)

Sarcophagus

  • Extant remains:

    Box and lid
  • Sarcophagus form:

    Mummiform
  • Material:

    Calcite
  • Emplacement:

    Other
  • Comments:

    Only fragments of the calcite sarcophagus were found, and there were no traces of any other stone sarcophagus. The discovery of a pair of painted limestone lion heads during recent clearance of the burial chamber suggests that the sarcophagus was placed on a limestone lion bed.
  • Decoration:

  • Book of Gates:
    seventh, eighth, tenth and twelfth divisions (P)/ eighth, ninth, eleventh hours and closing scene (H)
  • Imydwat:

Gate Ja

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and right (northeast) side door pivot holes show that a large wooden door once closed this gateway. Most of the decoration is lost.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room M

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.34 m
  • Width:

    0.74 m
  • Length:

    0.75 m
  • Area:

    0.62 m2
  • Volume:

    1.29 m3
  • Orientation:

    90.56° left from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Serekh

    left (Southwest) jamb
  • Deceased

    left (Southwest) jamb

Side chamber Ja

See entire tomb

This side chamber lies to the left (northwest) of burial chamber J and is designated K by Leblanc. The walls of the chamber are decorated with the third division (P)/fourth hour (H) of the Book of Gates, beginning at the left of the entrance and ending at the right. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room M

Architectural Features

Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.78 m
  • Width:

    3.15 m
  • Length:

    2.64 m
  • Area:

    8.29 m2
  • Volume:

    23.05 m3
  • Orientation:

    90.56° left from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Book of Gates

    third division (P)/fourth hour (H) left (Southwest) wall
  • Book of Gates

    third division (P)/fourth hour (H) rear (Northwest) wall
  • Book of Gates

    third division (P)/fourth hour (H) right (Northeast) wall
  • Book of Gates

    third division (P)/fourth hour (H) front (Southeast) wall

Gate Jb

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and right (northeast) side door pivot holes show that a large wooden door once closed this gateway. The decoration is badly damaged.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room O

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.35 m
  • Width:

    0.84 m
  • Length:

    0.74 m
  • Area:

    0.67 m2
  • Volume:

    1.57 m3
  • Orientation:

    89.07° left from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Enigmatic compositions

    scene of joining the two lands right (Northeast) jamb

Side chamber Jb

See entire tomb

This side chamber lies left (northwest) of burial chamber J and is designated L by Leblanc. The walls contain the twelfth hour of the Imydwat. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room O

Architectural Features

Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.78 m
  • Width:

    3.09 m
  • Length:

    2.63 m
  • Area:

    8.13 m2
  • Volume:

    22.6 m3
  • Orientation:

    89.07° left from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Imydwat

    twelfth hour left (Southwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    twelfth hour right (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    twelfth hour rear (Northwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    twelfth hour front (Southeast) wall

Gate Jc

See entire tomb

The gate is located in the left part of the rear (northeast) wall of burial chamber J. The compound jamb and right (southeast) side door pivot holes show that a large wooden door once closed this gateway. The decoration is badly damaged.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall S

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door bolt hole

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.85 m
  • Width:

    1.1 m
  • Length:

    1.2 m
  • Area:

    1.61 m2
  • Volume:

    2.99 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Text

    left (Northwest) jamb
  • Text

    containing reference to Hathor right (Southeast) jamb

Side chamber Jc

See entire tomb

This side chamber, which lies to the rear (northeast) of burial chamber J, is designated M by Leblanc. It contains two pillars and benches which line the left (northwest), rear (northeast) and southeast (right) walls.

The wall decoration shows the seventh division of the Imydwat in the left (northwest) half of the side chamber and the sixth division in the southright (east) half. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding. The pillars are also badly damaged, and some of the faces were decorated with deities.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall S

Architectural Features

Benches
Pillars
Recesses

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Partly excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.5 m
  • Width:

    9.4 m
  • Length:

    7.32 m
  • Area:

    68.77 m2
  • Volume:

    164.6 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from burial chamber J
  • Number of pillars:

    2
  • Average pillar width:

    0.95 m

Decoration

  • Names and epithets

    left (Northwest) bench
  • Names and epithets

    right (Southeast) bench
  • Names and epithets

    rear (Northeast) bench
  • Imydwat

    seventh hour left (Northwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    sixth hour right (Southeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    sixth hour (left half) front (Southwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    seventh hour (right half) front (Southwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    sixth hour (right half) rear (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    seventh hour (left half) rear (Northeast) wall
  • Theme undetermined

    walking male figure left (Northwest) pillar 1
  • Deities

    Osiris right (Southeast) pillar 1
  • Theme undetermined

    male figure front (Southwest) pillar 1
  • Deities

    Osiris left (Northwest) pillar 2
  • Theme undetermined

    male figure front (Southwest) pillar 2

Gate Jd

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and right (southeast) side door pivot holes show that a single wooden door was to close this gate. Traces of the king's cartouches may be seen on the thicknesses.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall P

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.9 m
  • Width:

    1.03 m
  • Length:

    1.31 m
  • Area:

    1.57 m2
  • Volume:

    2.98 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Names and epithets

    left (Northwest) thickness
  • Names and epithets

    right (Southeast) thickness
  • Sun disk on the horizon

    Lintel

Side chamber Jd

See entire tomb

Side chamber Jd lies to the rear (northeast) of burial chamber J and is designated P by Leblanc. In the front wall (right half) a door leads to side chamber Jdd. The benches located on three sides of the chamber are topped by a cavetto cornice and have recesses in their vertical faces flanked by the king's names.

To the right of the entrance, the fifth gate of the Book of Gates with the Judgement Hall of Osiris is shown. Thoth, accompanied by the four sons of Horus, is shown on the right (southeast) wall seated inscribing the five names of Rameses II. This is followed by texts from the abridged version of the Imydwat which also occur on the rear (northeast) wall and the right half of the front (southwest) wall. Flooding has badly damaged the painted plaster decoration in this chamber. Traces of decoration on the pillars include representations of Osiris and Rameses II with deities.

Porter and Moss designation:

Hall P

Architectural Features

Benches
Pillars
Recesses

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.5 m
  • Width:

    9.4 m
  • Length:

    7.3 m
  • Area:

    68.69 m2
  • Volume:

    171.73 m3
  • Orientation:

    0° from burial chamber J
  • Number of pillars:

    2
  • Average pillar width:

    0.9 m

Decoration

  • Book of Gates

    fifth gate, Judgment Hall of Osiris front (Southwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    abridged version front (Southwest) wall
  • Deceased with deities

    Thoth, with four sons of Horus right (Southeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    abridged version rear (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    abridged version right (Southeast) wall
  • Deities

    Osiris right (Southeast) pillar 1
  • Deities

    Anubis front (Southwest) pillar 1
  • Deities

    probably Osiris left (Northwest) pillar 2
  • Names and epithets

    left (Northwest) bench
  • Names and epithets

    right (Southeast) bench
  • Names and epithets

    rear (Northeast) bench
  • Deceased with deities

    left (Northwest) pillar 1
  • Deities

    Osiris rear (Northeast) pillar 1
  • Deceased with deities

    right (Southeast) pillar 2
  • Deities

    male deity front (Southwest) pillar 2
  • Names and epithets

    right (Southeast) wall

Gate Jdd

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and right (southwest) side door pivot holes show that a large wooden door once closed this gate.

Porter and Moss designation:

Q

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.86 m
  • Width:

    1.07 m
  • Length:

    1.3 m
  • Area:

    1.53 m2
  • Volume:

    2.85 m3
  • Orientation:

    89.99° right from side chamber Jd

Decoration

  • Flying vultures

    soffit
  • Names and epithets

    left (Northeast) jamb
  • Names and epithets

    right (Southwest) jamb

Side chamber Jdd

See entire tomb

This chamber is entered through a gate in the southeast corner of side chamber Jd and is designated Q1 by Leblanc. A gate in the center of the left (northeast) wall leads to side chamber Jddd. The decoration in this chamber includes shrines or chests associated with the four sons of Horus and representations of Isis and Nephthys. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Q

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.32 m
  • Width:

    5.23 m
  • Length:

    7.46 m
  • Area:

    38.95 m2
  • Volume:

    90.36 m3
  • Orientation:

    89.99° right from side chamber Jd

Decoration

  • Deities

    Isis and Nephthys front (Northwest) wall
  • Funerary objects

    canopic jars right (Southwest) wall
  • Funerary objects

    canopic jars left (Northeast) wall

Gate Jddd

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and southeast (right) side door pivot holes show that a large wooden door once closed this gateway. The jambs are decorated with the deceased and deities.

Porter and Moss designation:

R

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.86 m
  • Width:

    1.21 m
  • Length:

    1.19 m
  • Area:

    1.56 m2
  • Volume:

    2.9 m3
  • Orientation:

    90° left from side chamber Jdd

Decoration

  • Flying vultures

    soffit
  • Deceased with deities

    left (Northwest) jamb
  • Deceased with deities

    right (Southeast) jamb

Side chamber Jddd

See entire tomb

This side chamber, entered by a gate in the center of the rear (northeast) wall of side chamber Jdd, is designated Q2 by Leblanc. Two pillars stand in the center of this chamber which is lined by benches on the right (southeast), rear (northeast), and left (northwest) sides. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding. All the walls were decorated with spell 110 of the Book of the Dead.

Porter and Moss designation:

R

Architectural Features

Benches
Pillars
Recesses

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.48 m
  • Width:

    8.43 m
  • Length:

    7.41 m
  • Area:

    62.2 m2
  • Volume:

    154.26 m3
  • Orientation:

    90° left from side chamber Jdd
  • Number of pillars:

    2
  • Average pillar width:

    0.9 m

Decoration

  • Book of the Dead

    spell 110 front (Southwest) wall
  • Book of the Dead

    spell 110 left (Northwest) wall
  • Deceased with deities

    Osiris right (Southeast) pillar 2
  • Book of the Dead

    spell 110 rear (Northeast) wall
  • Book of the Dead

    spell 110 right (Southeast) wall

Gate Je

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and right (southwest) side door pivot holes show that a single wooden door once closed this gateway.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room N

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Damaged structurally

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.63 m
  • Width:

    0.98 m
  • Length:

    0.85 m
  • Area:

    0.93 m2
  • Volume:

    1.52 m3
  • Orientation:

    89.2° right from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Deceased

    mostly damaged right (Southwest) jamb

Side chamber Je

See entire tomb

This side chamber lies southeast of burial chamber J. It is designated O by Leblanc. The front (northwest), right (southwest) and left (northeast) walls contain the eighth hour of the Imydwat. A recess in the center of the rear (southeast) wall contains a figure of Osiris sculpted in raised relief. Only the lower part of the figure is preserved. Rameses II appears with Isis on the rear (southeast) wall to the left of the recess and with Nephthys to the right. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room N

Architectural Features

Recesses
Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.15 m
  • Width:

    3.1 m
  • Length:

    2.66 m
  • Area:

    8.25 m2
  • Volume:

    17.74 m3
  • Orientation:

    89.2° right from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Imydwat

    eighth hour right (Northeast) wall
  • Imydwat

    eighth hour left (Southwest) wall
  • Imydwat

    eighth hour front (Northwest) wall
  • Deceased with deities

    Isis, Nephthys, Osiris rear (Southeast) wall
  • Deities

    Osiris rear (Southeast) recess

Gate Jf

See entire tomb

The compound jamb and right (southwest) side door pivot holes show that a large wooden door once closed this gate.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room L

Architectural Features

Compound jambs
Door pivot holes

Condition

Excavated
Decorated
Damaged structurally
Decoration damaged
Cutting finished

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.34 m
  • Width:

    0.83 m
  • Length:

    0.79 m
  • Area:

    0.73 m2
  • Volume:

    1.71 m3
  • Orientation:

    90.29° right from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Text

    left (Northeast) jamb
  • Text

    right (Southwest) jamb

Side chamber Jf

See entire tomb

This side chamber is near the south corner of burial chamber J and is designated N by Leblanc. The walls contain scenes and texts from the Book of the Cow with a cow depicted on the rear (southeast) wall. The painted plaster decoration in this chamber has been badly damaged due to flooding.

Porter and Moss designation:

Side-room L

Condition

Cutting finished
Damaged structurally
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Excavated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.1 m
  • Width:

    3.15 m
  • Length:

    2.63 m
  • Area:

    8.31 m2
  • Volume:

    23.35 m3
  • Orientation:

    90.29° right from burial chamber J

Decoration

  • Book of the Heavenly Cow

    rear (Southeast) wall
  • Book of the Heavenly Cow

    left (Northeast) wall
  • Book of the Heavenly Cow

    front (Northwest) wall
  • Book of the Heavenly Cow

    right (Southwest) wall

About

About

KV 7, located in the main Wadi, is one of the larger tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Three sloping corridors (B, C, D) lead to a well chamber (E) and a pillared chamber (F) with two side chambers (Fa, Faa). A central descent and two corridors (G, H) lead to an another chamber (I). In this chamber, a change of axis occurs to the right (northeast) and leads to the burial chamber J and its six adjacent side chambers (Ja-f). Side chamber Jd has two side chambers (Jdd, Jddd). The design of KV 7 conforms to the bent axis plan: the entrance to the tomb is dug into the Theban limestone hillside near the valley floor, and the passage descends for about 58 meters (190 feet) into the bedrock at an angle that varies between 12 and 22 degrees. It then continues approximately level for another 12 meters (39 feet), then turns to the right and terminates in the burial chamber J, which is partly carved in a layer of Esna shale.

Since the entrance to KV 7 lies at a particularly low spot in the Valley, it has been vulnerable to flooding, with evidence of several incidents preserved in the layers of debris fill. Because of the flood damage, much of the wall decoration is damaged or missing, but most of the scenes can be reconstructed from fragments. KV 7 is decorated with scenes from the Book of Gates (burial chamber J, side chamber Ja, side chamber Jd), Book of the Dead (stairwell C, chamber I, side chamber Jddd), Book of the Heavenly Cow (side chamber Jf), Imydwat (corridor D, well chamber E, burial chamber J, side chamber Jb, side chamber Jc, side chamber Jd, side chamber Je) , Litany of Ra (corridor B, gate C, stairwell C), Opening of the Mouth ritual (corridor G, gate H, corridor H), the deceased and deities (corridor B, gate D, well chamber E, gate I, chamber I, gate J, burial chamber J, gate Ja, gate Jddd, gate Je, side chamber Jc, side chamber Jd, side chamber Jdd, side chamber Jddd, side chamber Je), and representations of funerary objects (burial chamber J, side chamber Jdd). The decorative program includes two new features: the lintel and jambs of the first gate (B). The basic decorative plan follows the example of KV 17 (Sety I), with figures and inscriptions done in raised and sunk relief.

Noteworthy features:

This is the first king's tomb in the lower part of the central Wadi. There are several architectural and decorative innovations including a return to the bent axis plan and a decorated gate B.

There are several unique features as well. There are several large side chambers off burial chamber J. There is an Osiris figure in a recess in side chamber Je. The doors of gate E opened outwards. The Well shaft was decorated.

Site History

The tomb was open in antiquity, but it been almost completely filled with flood debris since then. According to the "Strike Papyrus" in the Turin Museum, two tomb robbers tried to enter KV 7 during the regnal year 29 of Rameses III in Dynasty 20. In Dynasty 21, Rameses II's mummy was moved first to KV 17, then to the cache in the tomb of Queen Inhapy at Dayr al Bahri, TT 320, where it was found in 1881.

Dating

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

New Kingdom
Dynasty 19
Rameses II
Graeco-Roman Era
New Kingdom
Dynasty 21
New Kingdom
Dynasty 20
Rameses III

Exploration

1978: Excavation
Brooklyn Museum
1913-1914: Excavation
Burton, Harry
1828-1829: Epigraphy
Franco-Tuscan Expedition
1993-: Conservation
Leblanc, Christian
1993-: Excavation
Leblanc, Christian
1844-1845: Epigraphy
Lepsius, Carl Richard
1844-1845: Excavation
Lepsius, Carl Richard
1938: Epigraphy
Maystre, Charles
1737-1738: Mapping/planning
Pococke, Richard
ca. 1817: Excavation
Salt, Henry
ca. 1817: Visit
Salt, Henry
1979: Mapping/planning
Theban Mapping Project
1825: Mapping/planning
Burton, James
1799: Mapping/planning
Napoleonic Expedition
1845: Mapping/planning
Lepsius, Carl Richard
1938: Excavation
Maystre, Charles
2002: Epigraphy
Leblanc, Christian

Conservation

Conservation History

The tomb is currently undergoing excavation by C. Leblanc. In the process, cracked sections of the ceiling of the burial chamber Jand other chambers are being reinforced by staineless steel rods and plates.

Site Condition

The tomb of Rameses II provides an example of the flood damage that tombs in the Valley of the Kings have endured over the centuries. KV 7 has sustained damage from at least ten major floods. The first water damage was probably done to the tomb after the Graeco-Roman period. The different floods are distinguishable in the debris layers in the tomb, with pieces of wall decoration wedged between layers of silt, gravel, and soil.

Hieroglyphs

Rameses II

King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Powerful is the Justice of Ra, Chosen by Ra, Son of Ra, Born by Ra, Beloved of Amen
niswt-bity wAsr-mAat-Raw sA-Raw Raw-msw mry-Imn

Articles

Bibliography

Abitz, Friedrich.  König und Gott: Die Götterszenen in den ägyptischen Königsgräbern von Thutmosis IV bis Ramses III (= Ägyptologische Abhandlungen, 40).  Wiesbaden, 1984.

Amoros, Victoria Asensi.   Identification xylogique d’un échantillon de bois découverte dans la tombe de Ramsès II.  Memnonia 8 (1997): 173-176.

Côte, Philippe, Xavier Derobert and André Guillaume. Auscultations radar dans la tombe de Ramsès II. Memnonia 7 (1996): 157-162.

Evrard, H.  and A. Guillaume.  Analyse structurale et géotechnique de la tombe de Ramsès II, Vallée des Rois, Louqsor, Egypte.  Memnonia VIII (1997): 129-149.

Guillaume, André, Daniel Jeannette, Hélène Paquet, and Jean-François Serratrice. Géotechnique de la Formation d'Esna et Conservation de la Tombe de Ramsès II (Vallée des Rois, Louqsor, Égypte). Revue d'archéométrie 25 (2001): 113-123.  

Guillaume, André. Sondages électromagnétiques dans la tombe de Ramsès II. Memnonia 9 (1998): 67-72.

Guillaume, André.  Prospection micrigravimétriques dans la tombe de Ramsès II, KV 7, Vallée des Rois.  Memnonia 11 (2000): 71-90.

Guillaume, André.  Sur quelques images remarquables concernant l’hypogée de Ramsès II [KV.7] (Vallée des Rois, Louqsor, Egypte).  Memnonia 15 (2004): 197-201.

Guillaume, André and Aline Emery-Barbier.  La remplissage sédimentaire de la tombe de Ramsès II, Memnonia 6 (1995), 147-173.