Tomb of Sennefer | TT96 the tomb of the vineyards | Valley of Nobles

Frankly speaking, if you are in Luxor and have time make sure you do not miss the tomb of Sennefer. Sennefer’s tomb is one of the most beautiful tombs in the Valley of Nobles on Luxor west bank. TT96 is known since the Greco-Roman era because of graffiti on the walls of the tomb.

Here, you can see a different 18^th Dynasty Nobles’ tomb style and part of the Egyptian civilization through the rich people. Besides, the importance of the ancient Egyptian religion in people’s life. The importance of the family in ancient Egypt in life and death.

Who was Sennefer?

Sennefer is one of the High Officials of the New Kingdom during the reign of Amenhotep II (1427-1400 BC), near the middle of the Eighteenth Dynasty. He became the Mayor of Thebes when his cousin Amenemopet was the Vizier of Upper Egypt.

Sennefer Titles during his lifetime

Sen Nefer or the good brother carried many titles during his life under Amenhotep II. Here are some of them

Mayor of the city (Thebes)
Overseer of the Granaries of Amun
Overseer of the Herds of Amun
Overseer of the gardens of Amun
First friend of the palace, the king
Ear of the King of Lower Egypt
Lord of Kus

Where is Sennefer’s tomb located?

The tomb of Sennefer is located on Luxor west bank in the Upper Enclosure of the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna district of the Theban Necropolis opposite Luxor in the valley of Nobles.

When was the tomb of Sennefer found?

The tomb of Sennefer was known since antiquity. We know for sure that Englishman Robert Hay visited the tomb in 1826. Robert Hay copied the scenes of the tomb which is now in the British Museum.

Names of the tomb of Sennefer

The tomb is known by many names such as

The tomb of Sennefer because of the owner Sennefer
The tomb of Al-Anab or the grapes because of the ceiling decorations
The 3-D tombs because it was the first cemetery in history uses this technique in drawings.
Tomb of the Vineyards due to the stunning ceiling in his burial chamber which is decorated with grapes and vine branches

Sennefer tomb layout

The tomb of Sennefer is an exceptional tomb between the tombs of the Nobles in Luxor and the only one Out of Deir el-Medina took the design of Deir el-Medina tombs. The tomb consists of two parts

Superstructure (TT96A) which is not now inaccessible to visitors

Substructure (TT96B)

Open Court
transverse hall
Long Corridor
Square Cult chamber supported by four pillars
3 Cult niches
Single pillared annex

The substructure of the tomb consists off

Entry
Curved descending Staircase
Antechamber
4 pillared room (burial chamber) about 12m lower than the open court 03.50 m*02.50 m.

The tomb of the vineyards Facts

The tomb is one of the most beautiful tombs in the Valley of the Nobles
It dates back to the Mid-18^th Dynasty, New Kingdom Pharoah Amenhotep II
Sennefer tomb is not like most of the tombs of nobles decorated with daily life scenes, here mostly afterlife scenes (religious scenes)
The holy Pilgrimage to Abydos by Sennefer and his wife is portrayed here
offering bearers with different offerings decorating the walls of the tomb
Mayor Sennefer has around his neck a gold necklace and additionally a pendant with two hearts which was a gift from the king.
Thebes Mayor has an earring in his ear
The burial chamber and the antechamber are decorated like Amenemhat TT82
This tomb was not where he was buried as his Canopic Jars were found in tomb KV42 in the Valley of the Kings
TT 96 A Superstructure was used as a storage place later

Some of the most important scenes in the TT96 tomb

The tomb has a unique and amazing decoration especially the ceiling. Imitating the grape tree with big bunches of grapes.
One of the regular scenes on the walls of the tombs is an offering scene in front of Osiris, Isis and Hathor
Another important scene is the Sennefer funeral joined by the servants carrying the funerary objects and the Canopic Jars.
Another purification scene for Sennefer by the Sem Priest
The deceased and his wife pray to Anubis and Osiris
Sennefer’s wife called Meryt has a band around her hair that is adorned with a large lotus flower.
The four pillars of the burial chamber are decorated on three sides with scenes of the wife offering her husband different offerings such as flowers, oils, and much more
More scenes of the owner and his wife and daughter decorating the walls of the burial chamber

How to reach Sennefer’s tomb?

If you are in Luxor, you need to reach the west bank of the Nile River, buy a ticket from the ticket window near Memnon Colossi then walk to Ramesseum. On the opposite side of the Ramesseum temple is the Valley of the Nobles known as Sheikh Abd El-Qurna. Walk up near the tomb of Amenemope TT 29, and Rekhmire TT100.

Important Characters visited the Vine Tomb

We mentioned that the TT96 is known for a long time before the Greco-Roman era and many famous characters visited the tomb such as

Sir John Gardiner Wilkinson

Robert Hay

Howard Carter

Sir Robert Mond

Visiting Hours of TT96 Tomb of Sennefer

The tomb is open every day for the visit from 06.00 am till 17.000 pm

Entrance fee for Sennefer tomb

Adult: EGP 60 (2 $)

Students with valid cards: EGP 30 (1 $)

Children aged 6-12 years: EGP 30 (1 $)

Children under 6 years: FREE

Tips for visiting the Valley of Nobles

If you can, visit the Valley of the Nobles with an archeologist guide to understand why these tombs are so important. Listen and learn the difference between the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, and the tombs of Nobles.

Try to read about these tombs to make up your mind which tombs you want to visit as Noble’s tombs in more than one place such as

El Khokha tombs (50 tombs)

Deir El Bahari tombs (12 tombs)

Assasif Tombs (45 tombs)

Tombs of Draa Abu Al-Naga (+100 tombs)

Tombs of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna (146 tombs)

Qurnet Murai tombs (23 tombs) can see by Hurghada to Luxor Tours