Egypt: Absorbing The Theban Necropolis

The Valley of Nobles refers to the areas on the west bank that contain hundreds of tombs that belong to nobles and officials from the 16th to 11th centuries BCE. It is apparent that the desire to emulate those who have higher SES (social economic status) is not the sole product of modern societies.

While the decorations of these tombs are less splashy than those in the Valley of Kings, the themes related to more everyday life, ranging from farming, foreign trade, wine making, fowling, fishing.... I'm beginning to realize the sources of western civilization lgo back to Egypt.

We chose three tickets, and thought they were all worthwhile.

• Nakht & Menna
• Rekhmire & Sennefer
• Ramose, Userhet & Khaemhet

Walking across the desert from The Mortuary of Hatshepsut to the Theban Tombs in the Valley of Nobles.




Tomb of Menna (TT69). Menna was an overseer of farm production.




Measuring/counting bushels of wheat (top half). Cutting wheat with sickles (bottom).


More wheat farming/production.


Olive tree.


The sarcophagus of Menna.


Sun-Ling descends into the Tomb of Nakht (TT52)




Ploughing a field.


Offerings.


Blind harpist.


Grape harvest and wine making.


Ox slaughter and butcher.


Ploughing with a cow with visible udders.


Tomb of Khaemhat. (TT57)




Hunting gazelles from his chariot.


Hunting ducks (right) and rabbits (left).


Tomb of Userhat (TT56). Relief of new army recruits getting haircuts.




Tomb of Ramose (TT 55)






Tomb of Rekhmire (TT100)


Relief of woodworking and furniture shop/factory with Rekhmire supervising.






The very cool Tomb of Sennefer (TT6) with its psychedelic ceiling, and loving husband and wife. Notice how she touches/holds his arm.










And we climb back up to the surface. Whew!


And we walk down the hill in the 102 degrees F heat, and by the Colossi of Memmen. Done with the Nobles.