The Theban tomb of Kheruef (TT192) Presented by: Clara Nemeth

Location The West Bank at Luxur in the Asasif district. Near Deir el Bahari

Excavators Adolph Erman (1854-1937) Was a professor of Egyptology at the University of Berlin In 1855 he became the director of the Egyptian department at the royal museum First explored the tomb in 1855 Alan Gardiner (1879-1963) British Egyptologist Published a study of the Royal Canon of Turin in 1959 Egypt of the Pharaohs, Egyptian Grammar, and Gardiner’s Sign List are some of his other famous works Explored the tomb in the 1940s

The tomb was robbed in the 1940s The Egyptian Department of Antiquities along with the Epigraphic Survey of the University of Chicago cleared and recorded the remains The results were later published in 1980

Kheruef His birth name was Se Naa Mother: Ruiu was “royal worshipper, chantress of Isis, Mother of the God,” “chantress of Amun,” and “mistress of the house” Father: Siked was “scribe to the army of the Lord of the Two Lands” There is no mention of his private life nor a woman or children, except one mention of his mother He played an important role in planning Amenhotep III’s first and second Sed festival Probably died during the reign of Amenhotep IV

Kheruef Titles: noble and governor, royal scribe, steward to Queen Tiy, bearer of the royal seal, first herald of the King, governor of the palace in the function of the jubilee, and servant to the King at the time of jubilees His tomb is important because it provides information about Sed festivals

Tomb The tomb is located in the plain beneath a hill A descending corridor leads to a large open court. There are pillars on the east and west sides of the court. This court is the only decorated area of the tomb. A rear doorway leads to a broad columned hall. In this hall fragments of a statue of Kheruef were found. In the southwest corner of the room there is a shaft that leads to two burial chambers A rear doorway in the columned hall leads to another similar hall.

West Wall of the Court There are scenes that depict Amenhotep III’s first Sed festival south of the rear doorway. One scene shows the King and Queen being towed in a boat and met by their daughters and a number of priests. Other scenes show singers, dancers, and musicans. These scenes give us the first known occurrence of a round drum or tambourine. Another scene depicts the King awarding Kheruef the gold of Honor.

Scenes showing dancers at Amenhotep III’s Sed festival

West Wall of the Court North of the rear doorway are scenes illustrating Amenhotep III’s third Sed festival which took place during his 37th year. One scene depicts the raising of the Djed-pillar by the King and priests. The pillar was a symbol of the stability and duration of the King’s reign. It was an important symbol of the Egyptian religion, and it also may have represented the resurrection and rebirth of Osiris. The pillar scene was so important to priests that a thousand years later they surrounded the image with a wall.

Artist drawing of the tomb paintings.

Columned Hall Images of the remains of from the columned hall

Kheruef was not buried here. The tomb remains unfinished and was abandoned. It is believed that there was a collapse within the structure, most likely a roof, and they were forced to discontinue work.

Defacement of the tomb Images of Amun, Amenhotep IV, and Kheruef were removed. There are two phases to the defacement: during the Amarna period and post Amarna. During the 19th Dynasty 8 tombs were built in the southern and northern walls of the tomb.

Amarna Period This focused mostly on the removal of the plural “gods,” and the name Amun. Neither the King’s name nor any other deity were tampered with. It may have been caused by a want to eliminate the ceremonies of a former faith. This would have been ordered by the pharaoh, Akhenaton, when he changed the state religion of Egypt. Images of Kheruef were also removed during this time.

Post Amarna Period Occurred after the death of Akhenaton. The name and representations of the King, Akhenaton, were removed to try to “erase” him from the records. This may have been a part of “damnatio memoriae” which took place during the reign of Horemheb and during the first Ramessides.

Amenhotep III with Queen Tiy

Bibliography http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/kheruef.htm http://www.osirisnet.net/tombs/nobles/kheru/e_kherouef.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolph_Erman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Gardiner Classnotes: Susan Redford