| Theban tomb TT31 | |
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| Burial site of Khonsu | |
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| Location | Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Theban Necropolis |
| Discovered | Open in antiquity |
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| Khonsu called To in hieroglyphs | ||||||
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| Era: New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC) | ||||||
The Theban Tomb TT31 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian official, Khonsu, who was First Prophet of Menkheperre (Thutmose III), during the 19th Dynasty [2] or 20th Dynasty. [3]
Khonsu is depicted and is being served by Usermontu, who is a God's father, Lector of Ptah and a Deputy in the King's Temple on the West of Thebes. In the entrance doorway Khons is identified as the High Priest of the Lord of the Two Lands Menkheperre (Thutmosis III). His mother is said to be Tawosret, a chantress of Montu. The inscriptions further identify his son the stablemaster Usermontu, his wife (?) the Chantress of Amun named May, his son the Second Prophet of Menkheperre named Khaemwaset, and a daughter named Iuy. [2]
One scene shows two officials on the sacred barque of Montu. The two men are identified as the City-governor and Vizier Usermontu and the Prophet of Montu, lord of Armant, named Huy. Both Usermontu and Huy are said to be born of Maia. Four priests are depicted censing libating offerings. The men are identified as the High Priest of Akheperure (Amenhotep II), Neferhotep, his son the High Priest of Akheperkare (Thutmosis I), Nay, his son the High Priest of Akheperkare Iuy, and his son the Lector of Akheperure, Mentuhotep. A standard bearer on a tugboat is identified as Nebmehyt his father, Standard-bearer of the Great Company of Nebmaatre (Amenhotep III). [4]
Another scene shows cartouches of Menkheperre on Feather-fans and a portable barque. A third scene shows two booths with royal cartouches. The booths all refer to Ramesses II. The booths are attended by five people: [5] Userhat, Steward of Queen Tiye in the Estate of Amun, royal scribe; Khons, Superintendent of the cattle of Menkheperure (Thutmosis IV); Tawosret, Chantress of Montu, Lord of Armant; Mutiay, his wife; Iuy, his daughter.
Several people are shown attending offerings. The list includes Thutpai, God's Father and chamberlain of Menkheperre, a prophetess of Tanenet of Armant named Ry and her mother the chantress of Montu Mai. Another register shows three more women listed as "her daughter" named Tent[...], Nesinum and Ati respectively. Further registers show two charioteers named Raia and Iia on tugboats. [5]
A fourth scene consists of several parts: one sub-scene shows a portable barque of Montu, accompanied by the High Priest of Montu named Ramose; another sub-scene consists of a speech made by a welcoming priest. Of interest is also a scene including two pylon towers. The text between the pylons is dedicated to Montu, while the text on the pylons refers to Thutmosis III (Menkheperre). [6] One pylon is thought to depict the pylon at the Temple at Armant, while the other pylon is likely the VII th pylon of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. Khons is shown accompanying a statue of Thutmosis III as it travels up a canal from the Nile to the landing spot at the temple. [7] The final scene on the left half of the Hall shows a text before a portable barque and several subscenes dedicated to the extended family of Khons. [6]
The right half of the Hall depicts rites for the mummies and mourners. [8]
Khons is shown offering to Re-Harakhty with his wife, son and daughter. Khons' wife is named May, and the son is said to be Khaemwaset, son of May, and Second Prophet of Menkhperre. In the scene on the other side the officiant is Khons' other son Usermontu, a stablemaster and Superintendent of the Horse of the Lord of the Two Lands. Usermontu appears before Osiris and Isis. In the passageway a man (name lost) is shown offering a bouquet to Khons at the Temple of Montu. Another scene shows Khons offering flowers to King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep. The ceiling is inscribed with several hetep-di-nesu texts. [9]
Thebes, known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset(Arabic:وسط), was an ancient Egyptian city located along the Nile about 800 kilometers (500 mi) south of the Mediterranean. Its ruins lie within the modern Egyptian city of Luxor. Thebes was the main city of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome and was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. It was close to Nubia and the Eastern Desert, with its valuable mineral resources and trade routes. It was a cult center and the most venerated city during many periods of ancient Egyptian history. The site of Thebes includes areas on both the eastern bank of the Nile, where the temples of Karnak and Luxor stand and where the city was situated; and the western bank, where a necropolis of large private and royal cemeteries and funerary complexes can be found. In 1979, the ruins of ancient Thebes were classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Montu was a falcon-god of war in the ancient Egyptian religion, an embodiment of the conquering vitality of the pharaoh. He was particularly worshipped in Upper Egypt and in the district of Thebes.
[Ramesses II] whom victory was foretold as he came from the womb,
Whom valor was given while in the egg,
Bull firm of heart as he treads the arena,
Godly king going forth like Montu on victory day.
Menkheperre, son of Pinedjem I by wife Duathathor-Henuttawy, was the High Priest of Amun at Thebes in ancient Egypt from 1045 BC to 992 BC and de facto ruler of the south of the country.
Masaharta or Masaherta was the High Priest of Amun at Thebes between 1054 and 1045 BC.
Usermontu was an ancient Egyptian vizier from the reign of Tutankhamun to likely the reign of Horemheb, during the 18th Dynasty.
The history of the Karnak Temple complex is largely the history of Thebes. The city does not appear to have been of any significance before the Eleventh Dynasty, and any temple building here would have been relatively small and unimportant, with any shrines being dedicated to the early god of Thebes, Montu. The earliest artifact found in the area of the temple is a small, eight-sided column from the Eleventh Dynasty, which mentions Amun-Re. The tomb of Intef II mentions a 'house of Amun', which implies some structure, whether a shrine or a small temple is unknown. The ancient name for Karnak, Ipet-Isut only really refers to the central core structures of the Precinct of Amun-Re, and was in use as early as the 11th Dynasty, again implying the presence of some form of temple before the Middle Kingdom expansion.
The ancient Egyptian official named Menna carried a number of titles associated with the agricultural estates of the temple of Karnak and the king. Information about Menna comes primarily from his richly decorated tomb in the necropolis of Sheikh Abd al-Qurna at Thebes. Though his tomb has traditionally been dated to the reign of Thutmose IV, stylistic analysis of the decoration places the majority of construction and decoration of the tomb to the reign of Amenhotep III.
Theban Tomb TT2 is located in Deir el-Medina, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian official Khabekhnet and his family. Khabekhnet was Servant in the Place of Truth, during the reign of Ramesses II.
Theban Tomb TT51 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian official Userhat, who was First Prophet of Sethi I during the 19th Dynasty.
Bakenkhonsu was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Information about his life was found on the back of his block statue. The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.
The Theban Tomb TT19 is located in Dra' Abu el-Naga', part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It is the burial place of the ancient Egyptian Amenmose, who was the high priest of Amenhotep of the Forecourt during the early Nineteenth Dynasty.
The Theban Tomb TT45 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite modern Luxor. It was originally the burial place of the ancient Egyptian named Djehuty (Thoth), who was a scribe of the offering-table of Mery, high-priest of Amun, head of all the weavers of Amun, and steward of Mery, high priest of Amun. Djehuty lived during the reign of Amenhotep II. He was the son of a lady also named Djehuty.
The Theban Tomb TT58 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. The tomb was originally carved for a courtier dating to the time of Amenhotep III and later usurped during the Ramesside period.
The Theban Tomb TT111 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. The tomb belongs to a 19th Dynasty ancient Egyptian named Amenwahsu, who was a Scribe of divine writing of the estate of Amun during the reign of Ramesses II. Amenwahsu was a son of Simut, who was a head of outline draughtsmen, and the lady Wiay. Amenwhasu's wife was named Iuy. She was a songstress of Bubastis.
The Theban Tomb TT138 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor.
This page list topics related to ancient Egypt.
Henuttawy or Henettawy, was an ancient Egyptian princess and priestess during the 21st Dynasty.
Khonsu called To who was First Prophet of Menkheperre, during the reign of Ramesses II in the 19th Dynasty
The Theban Tomb known as MMA 60 is located in Deir el-Bahari. It forms part of the Theban Necropolis, situated on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor. The tomb is the burial place several high ranking individuals dating to the 21st Dynasty.
Theban Tomb TT72 is located in the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor. It was the tomb of Re, who was the First Prophet of Amun in the Mortuary temple of Thutmosis III. The tomb is located in the necropolis area around Sheikh Abd el-Qurna and dates to the time of Amenhotep II.
