Discovered in the Valley of the Queens in February 1903 and catalogued as QV44 (as this was the forty forth tomb to be found in the Valley of the Queens). The tomb of Prince Khaemwaset had been reused many times as archaeologists found sarcophagi piled up in the corridor.
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This is the entrance to the burial chamber of Prince Khaemwaset.
The notice board by the entrance tells you that Prince Kha.Em Wast (who we spell as Khaemwaset) was a son of Ramses III and that this is considered to be one of the most beautiful tombs with its coloured bas reliefs which are in a good state of preservation. Move your mouse over the notice board to see it close up. |
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Once through the entrance you head down a slope into the vestibule off of which is a small annex to the right (known as the Western Lateral Annex) then slightly further along is another to the left (known as the Eastern Lateral Annex). Heading further along the vestibule you move into the burial chamber itself and on to the rear annex. A diagram of the tomb is shown on the notice board. |
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This is Prince Khaemwaset as he is depicted on the walls of his own tomb. He was thought to be about fifteen at the time of his death and bore the titles of Eldest son of the King and Sem-Priest to Ptah.
Being a child he is shown with his head shaved leaving a single plat to the side known as the side-lock of youth. As a child he is buried in the Valley of the Queens rather than the Valley of the Kings. |
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This is Ramses III as depicted in the tomb of his son, Prince Khaemwaset. With the tombs of the royal children it is traditional to show them being guided to the afterlife by a parent, in this case Ramses III. He ruled Egypt for about thirty-one years from 1184 to 1153 BC making this tomb well over three thousand years old.
Ramses III died aged about 65 and he is buried in the Valley of the Kings. |
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This picture will give you a good idea of just how large these bas reliefs are. In order to preserve them they are protected by glass panels held in place by an aluminium frame.
Here we see Ramses III - on the right - wearing the red crown of lower Egypt with, I believe the male god Shu (because of the chin beard) who is the Holder of the Sky, God of the Air, Wind, Sunlight and Protection. |
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This is the same bas relief as in the previous picture but viewed from a different angle. The god Shu on the left holds hands with Ramses III followed by Khaemwaset who is holding the feather of truth. On the very right is another depiction of Ramses III this time holding the key of life. |
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As you enter the tomb there is this small annex to the right (known as the Western Lateral Annex). As you can see the bas reliefs are all behind glass and a wooden floor has also been put down to protect the tomb. |
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We do not know much about this bas relief but have included it here because the quality and colours are just superb.
Ramses III is shown holding an incense burner in one hand and pouring scented oil from a container in the other. |
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This is the view of the Valley of the Queens as as you leave the tomb of Prince Khaemwaset - QV44 |
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