A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
Back to The Valley of the Kings

KV 46
Yuya and Thuyu

About the image
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.
More Details
A
Entryway A
B
Corridor B
C
Stairwell C
J
Burial chamber J
See Entire Tomb
More images in this section

Entryway A

See entire tomb

The entrance consists of a stairway of fifteen steps descending steeply to corridor B. The final step is not as wide as those preceding it.

Architectural Features

Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Width:

    1.74 m

  • Length:

    3.88 m

  • Area:

    6.78 m2

  • Orientation:

    70.62°
1 of 1
View of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
More Details
1 of 1
View of Entryway A blocked by a protective wall of rocks. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
More Details
2 Photos
+0
See All Close

Gate B

See entire tomb

The gate was originally blocked with stone, covered with plaster, and stamped with the official necropolis seal (a jackal and nine captives). The soffit and threshold slope downward from front to back.

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.05 m

  • Width:

    1.37 m

  • Length:

    1 m

  • Area:

    1.37 m2

  • Volume:

    2.81 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from entryway A

Corridor B

See entire tomb

On the walls of this sloping corridor are black dots spaced at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals that divide the walls into squares. These were probably intended for finishing the walls, but this was never done.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.05 m

  • Width:

    1.76 m

  • Length:

    7.76 m

  • Area:

    13.34 m2

  • Volume:

    27.35 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from entryway A
More images in this section

Gate C

See entire tomb

A stairway begins at the front of the gate and continues through stairwell C.

Architectural Features

Steps

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.05 m

  • Width:

    1.33 m

  • Length:

    1 m

  • Area:

    1.33 m2

  • Volume:

    2.73 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor B
1 of 1
View of Gate C. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
More Details
1 Photo
+0
See All Close

Stairwell C

See entire tomb

A steep stairwell descends the length of the corridor. Long recesses are cut along the left (north) and right (south) walls. On the walls are black dots spaced at 40 cm (16 inch) intervals, dividing them into squares. The ceiling was unfinished.

Architectural Features

Recesses
Steps

Condition

Cutting unfinished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    4.52 m

  • Width:

    1.68 m

  • Length:

    3.42 m

  • Area:

    5.68 m2

  • Volume:

    25.67 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from corridor B

Gate J

See entire tomb

When discovered, this gate was also found blocked.

Condition

Excavated
Cutting finished
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    1.94 m

  • Width:

    1.25 m

  • Length:

    1.04 m

  • Area:

    1.3 m2

  • Volume:

    2.52 m3

  • Orientation:

    0° from stairwell C
More images in this section

Burial chamber J

See entire tomb

The chamber is roughly rectangular, with a sunken area at its rear end. It lies a meter (three feet) below the floor level of the front of the chamber. The ceiling of the chamber was unfinished.

  • Chamber plan:

    Rectangular

  • Relationship to main tomb axis:

    Perpendicular

  • Chamber layout:

    Flat floor, no pillars

  • Floor:

    One level

  • Ceiling:

    Flat

Architectural Features

Burial pit

Condition

Cutting unfinished
Excavated
Undecorated

Dimensions

  • Height:

    2.29 m

  • Width:

    10.02 m

  • Length:

    3.21 m

  • Area:

    32.56 m2

  • Volume:

    74.56 m3

  • Orientation:

    90° left from stairwell C

Sarcophagus

  • Extant remains:

    Box and lid

  • Sarcophagus form:

    Shrine of Lower Egypt

  • Material:

    Wood

  • Length:

    3.64 m

  • Width:

    1.61 m

  • Height:

    2.16 m

  • Orientation:

    north

  • Emplacement:

    Floor

  • Comments:

    The sarcophagus, which belongs to Yuya, is actually a floorless shrine mounted on sledge runners. It is covered with black resin.

  • Decoration:

  • Deities:
    four sons of Horus, Anubis, Thoth, Isis and Nephthys Box exterior

  • Extant remains:

    Box and lid

  • Sarcophagus form:

    Shrine of Upper Egypt

  • Material:

    Wood

  • Length:

    2.79 m

  • Width:

    1.04 m

  • Height:

    1.3 m

  • Orientation:

    north

  • Emplacement:

    Floor

  • Comments:

    This sarcophagus rested on a sledge and belonged to Thuyu. It is covered with black pitch.

  • Decoration:

  • Deities:
    four sons of Horus, Anubis, Thoth, Isis and Nephthys Box exterior
1 of 1
Second coffin of Yuya.
More Details
Image # 18329
1 of 1
Lids of second and third coffins of Thuyu.
More Details
Image # 18337
1 of 1
Meat boxes.
More Details
Image # 18344
1 of 1
Head of bed.
More Details
Image # 18348
1 of 1
Chair.
More Details
Image # 18352
1 of 1
Chests.
More Details
Image # 18357
1 of 1
Chest for jewelry.
More Details
Image # 18358
7 Photos
+0
See All Close

About

KV 46 is located in the southeast branch of the main Wadi. The tomb consists of a staircase entryway (A), a corridor (B) leading to a stepped descent (C), and a burial chamber (J). The walls of the tomb were neither smoothed, plastered nor decorated.

Noteworthy features:

This non-royal tomb was found with much of its burial equipment intact.

Canopic Chest of Yuya from Tomb KV46 by danderson4 on Sketchfab

KV 46 belonged to Yuya and Thuyu, parents of Tiy, wife of Amenhetep III. According to differences in embalming techniques, Yuya and Thuyu died at different times. It has been suggested that three tomb robberies took place. The first occurred shortly after the official closure of the tomb, since perishable products, like ointments, were removed, and seals of containers were removed in order to inspect their contents. A second and third robbery may have taken place during the excavation of KV 3 and KV 4, based on the evidence of sealings that were found. The entrance of the tomb was filled with debris from these two tombs. The tomb was thereafter inaccessible until 1905 when Quibell discovered it.

Dating

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

New Kingdom
Dynasty 18
Amenhetep III
1905: Excavation
Quibell, James Edward
1905: Discovery
Quibell, James Edward

Conservation History

A metal gate has been installed in gate B and a rubble retaining wall has been constructed around the top of the entrance stairs.

Site Condition

The walls of the tomb are rough and no plaster or decoration was applied to their surface.

Hieroglyphs

Thuyu

Queen's Father Thuyu

Twiw

Yuya

Queen's Mother Yuya

ywiA
10400.jpg
1 of 1
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.
More Details
Image # 10400
1 of 1
Tomb plan and section.
More Details
Image # 14931
1 of 1
The area of tomb robbery.
More Details
Image # 18054
1 of 1
Second coffin of Yuya.
More Details
Image # 18329
1 of 1
Lids of second and third coffins of Thuyu.
More Details
Image # 18337
1 of 1
Meat boxes.
More Details
Image # 18344
1 of 1
Head of bed.
More Details
Image # 18348
1 of 1
Chair.
More Details
Image # 18352
1 of 1
Chests.
More Details
Image # 18357
1 of 1
Chest for jewelry.
More Details
Image # 18358
10831.jpg
1 of 1
Tomb entrance of KV46.
More Details
Image # 10831
11413.jpg
1 of 1
Tomb entrance in hillside context.
More Details
Image # 11413
13656.jpg
1 of 1
Tomb entrance with modern revetments.
More Details
Image # 13656
14932.jpg
1 of 1
Tomb entrances.
More Details
Image # 14932
11414.jpg
1 of 1
Tomb entrance as new wall was being built.
More Details
Image # 11414
13657.jpg
1 of 1
Tomb entrance with modern revetments.
More Details
Image # 13657
1 of 1
View of Entryway A. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
More Details
1 of 1
View of Gate C. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
More Details
1 of 1
View of Entryway A blocked by a protective wall of rocks. Courtesy of Richard Sellicks.
More Details
10400.jpg
10831.jpg
11413.jpg
13656.jpg
14932.jpg
11414.jpg
13657.jpg
19 Photos
+0
See All Close
Want to use these images?

Terms of Use

The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) owns the copyright to the Theban Mapping Project (TMP) including (i) the artwork and design of the www.thebanmappingproject.com website (TMP Website); and (ii) all electronic text and image files, audio and video clips on the TMP Website (TMP Material) excluding material which is owned by other individuals and organizations as indicated.

The saving, copying or printing of TMP Material is prohibited except for the purposes of fair use, which includes the use of TMP Material for private information, research or study. In using TMP Material in any way the user agrees to limit his/her use to fair use that does not violate ARCE’s rights. The user must also cite ARCE as the author and source of the TMP Material. Without advance written approval from ARCE, the republication of TMP Material in any medium for any public or commercial use is expressly forbidden.

Users who would like to make commercial use of TMP Material must contact ARCE with a formal written request (i) identifying the TMP Material to be used; and (ii) describing the proposed commercial use. ARCE will review such requests and provide a written response. ARCE reserves the right to charge a fee for any approved commercial use of TMP Material.

For the full 'Terms of Use' click here

Instructions

If you would like to make use of the audiovisual material from the website, please:

  1. Note the filename or 5-digit number following the hashtag (i.e., Image # 10639) or the link to the page
  2. Click on the ‘Contact us’ link
  3. Fill in the form, noting the filename, 5-digit number, or link to the page in the subject heading and describing the proposed use in the message box. If you would like to use multiple images, plans, etc., please note all filenames or 5-digit numbers in the subject heading of one form.
  4. Click Submit! ARCE will review such requests and provide a written response to the email address you provided.

    5. Images that are not attributed to the TMP are not available for commercial or non-commercial use. In these cases, users need to contact the photographer, Museum, Institute, or Project directly for permission.

Contact us

Bibliography

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 59.

Wilkinson, Richard H. and Carl Nicholas Reeves.  The Complete Valley of the Kings.  London:  Thames and Hudson, 1996.  Pp. 174-178.

Back to The Valley of the Kings