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Royal Tomb of Akhenaten

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The Royal Tomb of Akhenaten ("Beneficial for Aten")[1] is a multichambered tomb where members of the royal family, and possibly Akhenaten, were originally buried in the eastern mountains at Amarna near the Royal Wadi. [2][3] Akhenaten was an Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh who reigned for seventeen years (1355-1338 B.C.E.) from his capital city of Akhetaten ("The Horizon of the Sun's Disc"), known today as Amarna.[4] The Royal Tomb was rediscovered in the 1880s; however, the exact year and who discovered it is up for debate.[5] Excavations and research into the tomb began in 1891 and continue to this day.[6][7] The location and architecture of the Royal Tomb provides researchers with insights into tomb design and development during the New Kingdom.[8] The artifacts found within the tomb, and the destruction of parts of the tomb also provides researchers with insights into the political atmosphere of Akhenaten's reign.[9]

This is the location of the city of Amarna


(Not happy with the last two lines. Need to work on this part.)

Family

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Barry Kemp,[10] Dr. Zahi Hawass, (cite) and many others have conducted extension research into the genealogy of Akhenaten. Their research suggests that he was the son of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye.[11] Evidence from reliefs, inscriptions, and texts indicate that Akhenaten's principal wife was Queen Nefertiti, whom he had six daughters with, including Meryetaten and Meketaten.[11] Research based on the line of succession suggests that Akhenaten was the father of King Tutankhamun.[10] In 2007, Dr. Zahi Hawass and a team of experts began the King Tutankhamun Family Project, which tested the DNA of 11 mummies from the New Kingdom. (cite) The results appear to show that King Tutankhamun's father is the KV55 mummy, which most experts believe is Akhenaten's mummy. (cite) Despite the research conducted by Kemp, Dr. Hawass, and others, not all experts agree with their reconstruction of Akhenaten's genealogy.

(Note to self: Ask for help to create the external link to Dr. Hawass's article properly.)

Rediscovery of Royal Tomb

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There is a debate as to whether the Royal Tomb was first discovered in the 1880s by local villagers, or if Alessandro Barsanti discovered the tomb on his own in 1891.[5] Jewelry reportedly from the Royal Tomb, was sold to the Royal Scottish Museum in 1883, which supports the idea that local villagers discovered the tomb in the early 1880s.[12] Despite this, the official discovery is credited to Alessandro Barsanti on December 28, 1891, according to the Service des Antiquities.[12]

(Note to self: Figure out how to add the accent bar)

Expeditions

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The first two expeditions were conducted by Alessandro Barsanti between 1891 and 1892.[13] Barsanti and his team inspected the chambers within the Royal Tomb, took measurements, made drawings, collected artifacts, and began the process of clearing some of the chambers of debris.[13] In 1893-1894, Urbain Bouriant conducted an epigraphic expedition with the intent of recording the "inscriptions and reliefs in the Royal Tomb."[14] J.D.S. Pendlebury began the task of re-examining and re-excavating the area outside of the tomb, the dumps, and the interior of the tomb, including the shaft.[15] In addition to the official expeditions, there may have been at least five unofficial expeditions prior to 1934.[16] The final expedition was conducted by Pendlebury in 1934 in hopes of discovering a second tomb, copying all the reliefs and inscriptions, and a photographic record was also created.[16] Geoffrey T. Martin recorded the remaining inscriptions and reliefs of the Royal Tomb between 1980 and 1982 with the support of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization.[17] A survey of the tomb was conducted in 1980 by Mark Lehner.[8] In 1977, the Supreme Council of Antiquities began the Amarna Project,[18] led by Barry Kemp.[19] Work on this project continues to this day.[18]

(The highlighted section is what I added based on peer reviews)

Location

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Akhenaten's intention of placing the Royal Tomb in the eastern mountains was realized when the tomb was cut into the mountains and placed in the Royal Wadi, approximately 6km from the mouth, directly east of Amarna's central city. [2] The location of Akhenaten's Royal Tomb and the people he wanted to be buried with was actually decided by Akhenaten himself. In a proclamation in the fifth year of his reign he stated "Let a tomb be made for me in the eastern mountain [of Akhenaten]. Let my burial be made in it...Let the burial of the Great King's Wife, Nefertiti, be made in it...Let the burial of the King's Daughter, Meryetaten, [be made] in it..."[20] In order to ensure that Akhenaten's wishes were followed, a boundary stelae with the proclamation inscribed into it was created in the mountains surrounding the city of Amarna.[2] Akhenaten's chosen location for his tomb is a departure from other New Kingdom pharaohs who built their tombs in the Valley of the Kings.[8]

(Note to self: Find exact location of boundary stelae.)

Architecture

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The Royal Tomb of Akhenaten consists of several chambers (some finished and some unfinished), a Pillared Hall (where Akhenaten's body was most likely located)[9], several staircases, and corridors that are all plastered and decorated to varying degrees.[21] The tomb of Akhenaten is a departure from other royal tombs built during the New Kingdom, because it is mixture of different styles.[8] One of the things that stands out is that none of the reliefs or inscriptions within the tomb mention the Otherworld, which is inconsistent with tombs found in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom.[22]

Entrance Staircase A and Corridor B: Contains 20 steps and a central slide leading to a corridor that extends to the "innermost parts of the tomb," and leads to several unfinished chambers.[23] The corridor is "21.80m long, 3.20m wide, and 3.47m" high.[23] Both show evidence of being plastered, but not decorated.[23]

Shaft Room D: Leads to Pillared Hall E on west wall instead of the typical east wall.[24] On the east side it measures 3.12m deep, and on the west side it is 3.05m deep.[24] In the north corner, blocking stones were recovered.[24] The walls of the room were left unfinished.[24]

Pillared Hall E: It is the largest room in the tomb, measuring 10.36m x 10.40m squared.[9] Raised platforms can be found on the west and east sides of the hall.[9] The remains of Akhenaten's sarcophagus were found in this room, meaning this is most likely where he was originally buried.[25] Soon after his death, however, it is believed that his body was moved from the Royal Tomb to Thebes in order to prevent it from being vandalized. (cite) The tomb was initially plastered and decorated, but most of it was destroyed after Akhenaten's death due to political fallout.[9]

(Note to self: Find a source about the body being moved to Thebes.)

Room alpha: One of the unfinished chambers.[26] One of the things that is noticeable about this room is that it contains four niches that are craved into the walls.[26] The purpose of the niches was to "receive protective or ritualistic magical bricks and associated amulets."[26] Most of the plaster and decorations remain in varies degrees of completion.[26] Reliefs and inscriptions found within the chamber suggest that it was meant for Queen Nefertiti, but this is up for debate.[27]

Room gamma: One of the unfinished chambers, it has unfinished floors.[28] The room was plastered and decorated. Decorations indicate that this chamber was meant for Akhenaten's daughter Meketaten.[29] One of the reliefs seems to show that Meketaten died during childbirth.

Decorations

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Many of the walls within the Royal Tomb show signs of being plastered and/or decorated.[30] Since Akhenaten's death, many of the walls have been damaged by environmental factors, like flooding, and vandalism.[30] Evidence of vandalism, during ancient times, can be seen in Pillared Hall E, where Akhenaten was likely originally laid to rest.[25] In 1934, a feud between guards led to the vandalism of rooms alpha and gamma.[31] Expeditions prior to 1934, however, were able to record and photograph some of these decorations prior to their destruction.[6] Despite the damage, many decorations have survived and can be seen and studied today.[30]

Examples of the decorations can be found in the alpha and gamma rooms, which depict similar scenes.[32] In the alpha chamber, Akhenaten and Nefertiti bend over the inert body of a woman, weeping and gripping each other's arms for support.[33] Nearby, a nurse stands with a baby in her arms, accompanied by a fan-bearer, which indicates the baby's royal status.[33] The names in the scene have been hacked out.[33] In the gamma chamber, a very similar scene is shown; here the hieroglyphs identify the dead young woman as Meketaten.[34] In the same chamber, another scene shows Meketaten standing under a canopy, which is usually associated with childbirth, but can also interpreted as representing the rebirth of the princess.[34] In front of her, amongst courtiers, stand Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their three remaining daughters, Meritaten, Ankhesenpaaten and Neferneferuaten Tasherit.[34] The presence of a royal baby has led many to believe that the young princess died in childbirth.[35]

(The highlighted parts above are what I have added to this section. The remaining is part of the original article, which I did not alter too much. I mainly added sources to back up what was already written.)

Scene from the tomb

Artifacts

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Since excavations began in 1891, thousands of artifacts have been re-covered in the Royal Tomb.[6] Most of these artifacts have been distributed between several museums and private collections.[36]

(Note to self: Need to add to this section.)

After burial

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Reconstructed sarcophagus, Egyptian Museum

His body was probably removed after the court returned to Thebes, and reburied somewhere in the Valley of the Kings, possibly in KV55. His sarcophagus was destroyed, but has since been reconstructed and now sits in the garden of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

(Note to self: still need a source and more information for this section.)

(Final notes: Need to add another section for just the artifacts. Need to figure out what I am doing wrong for the bibliography.)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bard, Kathryn A. (2008). An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-4051-1148-5.
  2. ^ a b c Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  3. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 1.
  4. ^ Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and its People. London: Thames & Hudson. pp. 14–17. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  5. ^ a b Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. I. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 4.
  6. ^ a b c Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 5–9.
  7. ^ Lemos, Rennan. "A New Fragment from the Amarna Royal Tomb". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. 106: 249–253.
  8. ^ a b c d Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 5.
  9. ^ a b c d e Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 21.
  10. ^ a b Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. pp. 14–15. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  11. ^ a b Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  12. ^ a b Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 4–5.
  13. ^ a b Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 5–6.
  14. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 6.
  15. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Societ. p. 7.
  16. ^ a b Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 9.
  17. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. Martin (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egyptian Exploration Society. pp. Preface.
  18. ^ a b "Amarna Project". Retrieved September, 2020. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  20. ^ Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  21. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 2–4.
  22. ^ Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7.
  23. ^ a b c Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 17.
  24. ^ a b c d Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb of El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 19.
  25. ^ a b Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 22.
  26. ^ a b c d Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 27.
  27. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 38.
  28. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 42.
  29. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 43.
  30. ^ a b c Martin, Goeffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 17–49.
  31. ^ Martin, Geoffrey (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. p. 3.
  32. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 28–39.
  33. ^ a b c Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 28–31.
  34. ^ a b c Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 45–48.
  35. ^ Martin, Geoffrey T. (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. pp. 45–48.
  36. ^ Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 11.

Bibliography

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1. Bard, Kathryn A. (2008). An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing.

2. Kemp, Barry (2014). The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and Its People. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-29120-7

3. Lemos, Rennan. "A New Fragment from the Amarna Royal Tomb". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. 106(1-2): 249–253 – via School library database.

4. (This is where Hawass article goes)

5. Martin, Geoffrey (1974). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna: The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna, Part VII. Vol. I. London: Egypt Exploration Society.

6. Martin, Geoffrey T. (1989). The Royal Tomb at El-Amarna: The Rock Tombs of El-Amarna, Part VII. Vol. II. London: Egypt Exploration Society.

.

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