The tombs of Nobles in the New Kingdom | Layout, locations, decorations
The tombs of Nobles in the new Kingdom of Egypt are located in many places on the west bank of the Nile River in the Theban necropolis depending on the historical era.
During the Old Kingdom
The tombs of Nobles were in El Tarif, on the north side of the Theban Necropolis. This area was for the provincial governors of Waset (Luxor).
From the 11th Dynasty
The tombs of Nobles in the New Kingdom spread between El Tarif and Deir El Bahari. These tombs were built around the royal funerary complexes of Draa Abu El Naga and Deir El Bahari. These traditions last till the 17th Dynasty, Second Intermediate Period.
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty
The tombs of Nobles started to be in different places from the royal necropolis. Engineer Ineni of Thutmose I believe that the Pharaohs’ tombs should be in a separate place.
Rules of digging a Noble tomb
Digging a tomb for a Nobel man in ancient Egypt was subject to certain rules from the beginning of the 18th dynasty. The very top of Sheikh Abd El Gurna was dedicated to senior statesmen (High Officials). While the lower part of the same place was dedicated to the less-ranking officials.
Sometimes we found two tombs for the same person, one at the bottom of the area and one at the top of the area. Historians thought that maybe the one at the bottom was when the owner was a young official and he became an important official, he dug another one at the top with the High Officials.
Ramesside period, 19th Dynasty
In the Ramesside Period, Nobles chose two places for their tombs in Sheikh Abd El Qura such as Pa Ser TT106. Besides, The south part of Dra Abu El-Naga cemetery.
Tombs of the Nobles layout
The tombs of the Nobles in the New Kingdom are divided into two parts
Superstructure (that part of the tomb above the ground level and was the Cultic part)
Substructure (where they burry the tomb owner)
Superstructure
Open Court and it is not clear till now if the door to that open court was a simple door decorated with Egyptian cornice or was in the shape of a pylon with two towers. This is because it was totally destroyed in all the tombs and nothing remains from that time.
The open Court was carved into the mountain and unroofed and the walls were supported by mud brick or stone depending on the owner’s level.
In the middle of the west side of the back side was a door decorated with two stelae with a rounded top. The owner is designed in a worship shape standing or setting in front of an offering table. Although, sometimes praise the sunrise and the sunset.
The façade of the back of the Open Court is decorated with the names, and titles of the dead person.
The Pyramidion
From the designs left by the ancient Pharaonic high officials, we knew that a Pyramidion was decorating the top of the tomb from the outside, mostly from mud brick. That Pyramidion had on its eastern side facing the Open Court a niche housing a statue of the owner and his titles.
We know now that the Pyramidion is no anymore, a privilege for the Kings and Queens. Those Pyramidions were made of white limestone connected to the sun god and they were placed above the transverse hall or the long hall.
Transverse Hall of the Nobles tombs
The transverse Hall is called the waiting hall and it is for the family of the deceased and is normally decorated with daily life scenes. These daily life scenes show the owner’s titles, and jobs he did during his life such as Rekhmire scenes in his tomb.
Sometimes he offers sacrifices or seats with his family. Also, we can see in these halls the banquette scenes, games, food, and drinks. Overall, one of the most important scenes is the Pharoah to the right and left of the long hall rewarding the owner of the tomb. Although, the scenes of the foreign countries dealing with Egypt.
One huge difference between the daily life scenes here and in the Old Kingdom such as fishing and hunting birds. In the New Kingdom, these scenes have religious meaning as the deceased hoped to do this in the afterlife. Also, the banquette scenes represent the Feast of the Valley when Amun visited the west bank. So, there were banquettes but refer to as the New Year feast or the Valley feast because people who attend the banquettes are already dead.
In general, the daily life scenes in the tombs of Nobles are rare such as the tomb of Sennefer. The few scenes we found are so funny sometimes as we can see the wife bring her husband food and drinks, flowers, and oils. Besides, girls fight, and many more funny scenes prove that ancient Egyptians enjoyed their life also.
The Well
On the north side of the Open Court is the well in case there is no room at the end of the long Hall. In case, the room exists, well will be inside it.
The Long Hall
The scenes on the walls of this Hall show funerary scenes and after-life scenes. We can see the funeral of the deceased and people carry the funerary objects. The Sem priest led the funeral, also Professional mourners with more scenes we still do not know their meaning. Also, this hall has chapters from the Book of the Dead, Pilgrimage to Abydos, and Opening of the Mouth.
The Niche
At the end of the long Hall and it has a statue of the owner with scenes of the deceased with the gods, and an offering table.
The ceiling
The scenes on the roofs of these tombs most probably taken from the daily building show the stars and the sky.
Burial chamber of the tombs of Nobles
We reach the burial chamber through the well and in most cases, these rooms are not decorated except for Senenmut and User from the Thutmose II era. Also, Sennefer from Amenhotep II era.
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