Francesco Tiradritti Lecture on the Valley of the Kings

This was held at a brand new hotel just by the cross roads on the west bank. Very nice location. I must admit when Francesco started it seemed a normal introduction to the Valley of the Kings but it rapidly became a new (to me) approach to analysing the progression of tomb excavation. Most interesting but then he always is

This map will help but the way Francesco displayed was a time progression shown the relationship as well as the location of 18, 19 and 20 dynasty tombs

One of the earliest images of the Valley of the Kings was Pocock in 1743. The kings of the 17^th dynasty were buried at Dra Abu Naga but the kings of the 18^th dynasty went further west. The first burial was Amenhotep I but we don’t know where he is despite numerous attempts to find the tomb. At one point in time there were 6 different expeditions trying to find the tomb.

If you look at the tombs in historical order you get a very different perspective specially the relationship between where the workers were and Deir el Bahri. The way we go to the valley these days is the long way round but the first tomb we know KV38 Tuthmosis I is actually situate in the closest wadi to Deir el Medina. The next KV 38 is Tuthmosis II having a geographical relationship to his father Tuthmosis I.

Hatshepsut located her tomb KV20 in relationship to her temple at Deir el Bahri but in poor quality rock.

Tuthmosis III went back close to his father and grandfather. The tomb is not cartouche shape but the shape of the underworld. Similar to how noble’s tombs are the shape of the world. Francesco should the tomb of Ankhtifi shown the oval shape. You can follow it through https://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/moalla/ankhtifi/e_ankhtifi_01.htm

1.      Hunting and fishing in the marshes

2.      Fields and battle

3.      Granaries

4.      Donkeys

5.      Cattle

6.      Settlement

Desert

7        Hunters

8        Unknown

9        Festival of Hemen

In the same way the underworld is laid out in KV 43 going sequential EXCEPT number 5 and 6 which represent chaos

Next KV 35 and its associated royal fan bearer KV 36

KV 43 back to the Hatshepsut area

Kv22 ad Kv45

KV46

Then the Amarna period

Kv55 the controversial tomb, Francesco once did a count and there were 120 theories about Shrines of Tiye, magic brinks of Akhenaton ceiling of Tutankhamen. A royal coffin with no name

KV 62

Francesco talked at length about the DNA report done by Zahi Hawass. The level of probably contamination was so high it proves nothing. Compare it to the excavation of Richard III

He also talked about the theories of extra rooms in KV62 and feels there other explanations for the perceived rectangle (plaster working area, poor quality limestone) and he believes the latest scan has also been in conclusive. Beside Zahi excavated in that area

The excavations then follow relationships and dynasties. Nobles tend to be near their king. Difficult to explain without pictures but if you colour a shaded area of 18, 19 and 20 dynasty tombs you get the idea.

KV23, KV57 end of 18^th

KV16 and 17 father and son

KV 7, 5, 8(Merenptah), KV10, 15

KV 47 Siptah KV13 Chancellor Bay

KV 14

KV11 & 3

KV7

KV9

End of the new kingdom. In the 21^st and 22^nd dynasty there were common burials who seem to be single ladies