KV 14: The Tomb Of Tausert And Setnakht

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Destinations

The West Bank

Time to visit

WINTER 6 AM – 5 PM ، SUMMER 6 AM – 5 PM

Cameras Allowed

Allowed outside location and sometimes inside upon permission.

Cost Of Ticket

The cost of the ticket are in Egyptian pound or in dollar price depends on location and according to group numbers

Discover the historical site

The ancient history of KV 14 is confusing, and even today, Egyptologists argue about its many changes.

Originally, in Dynasty 19, the tomb had been carved for king Sety II and his wife, Tausert. Sety II may actually have been buried in the tomb, in chamber J1. After Sety II’s death, the throne was taken by a younger son, Siptah, and Tausert (his mother) acted as the boy’s regent. Young Siptah had a club foot, suggesting that he may have suffered from poliomyelitis. He died six years later and was buried in KV 47.Tausert then declared herself sole ruler of Egypt. Her claim was not recognized, and almost immediately she was deposed—how we do not know—and a certainSetnakht was crowned in her place. (Where Tausert’s mummy was buried we do not know, either; some think she was interred in KV 13.) Setnakht was to be buried in KV 11. But his son, the future Rameses III, intervened and ordered that the body instead be buried in KV 14. The extensive decoration in KV 14, begun by Sety II, then by Siptah, then by Tausert, was changed again, and Setnakht’s names now replaced the earlier ones. Figures of Tausert were plastered over, hidden beneath Setnakht’s painted cartouches.

Many walls CORRIDOR B The names of the royal figures on the left wall of the corridor were changed in the course of KV 14’s early history, but the scenes remained the same and are standard ones of life-size, paired figures of the deceased and deities. On the left wall, offerings of vases are made to Ra-Harakhty, of food to Anubis, and of a figure of Ma’at to Isis. A figure of Setnakht, carved over one of Tausert, stands before Horus and receives an ankh-sign, representing life, from Nefertum. On the right wall, a royal figure stands before Ptah, who is in an elaborate shrine, followed by the goddess Ma’at. A second figure offers to Geb, a third to Ra-Harakhty, Hathor, and Nephthys. There is little color remaining in these scenes but they are generally in better condition than the salt-damaged reliefs that follow in corridor C. The carving is good, the lines spare and straight forward. CORRIDOR C The scenes here are badly damaged but it is still possible to make out a copy of chapter 145 of the Book of the Dead at the beginning of both the left and right walls.

Beyond, on the left wall, Sety II is purified by a figure of Anubis that almost seems to be smiling. On the right, Sety II offers to three knifewielding guardians who stand before the gates of the netherworld that they protect. The rectangular holes in the middle of the left and right walls held thick wooden beams around which a rope would have been run to control the descent of a stone sarcophagus into the tomb. Kneeling figures of the goddess Meretseger can be seen on the thicknesses of the gate between corridors C and D and on several subsequent gates as well. They were nicely painted, especially the basket on which the goddess kneels, but all are damaged. CORRIDOR D Good quality painting can be seen in a few areas of wellpreserved relief. The costumes of the deceased are nicely done.

The texts on both walls are a continuation of chapter 145 of the Book of the Dead. CHAMBER E There is no well shaft cut in this chamber but the walls were extensively decorated. On the front wall, Osiris stands on each side of the doorway. On the left wall stand figures of Imsety, Anubis, Duamutef, and Isis. On the rear wall, Horus Iwnmutef appears on either side of the doorway. Two Sons of Horus stand before Horus Iunmutef on the left (south) side. There are small figures atop a small alabaster table. On the right wall, also facing outward, stand Hapy, Anubis,

Qebehsenuef, and Nephthys. All of the gods in this chamber are similarly dressed.

CHAMBER F No pillars were cut in this chamber but there is a central descent through its floor. Texts on both walls are from chapter 146 of the Book of the Dead. The strange-looking guardians on the side walls (three on the right, two on the left)—with heads of birds, a bearded lion, a cobra and a two-headed man— are guardians of the gates of the House of Osiris. The deceased must speak their names in order to pass through. On the rear wall is a double scene of the deceased before Osiris. Originally, there was a figure of Tausert here, being led to Osiris by Anubis and Horus. Her figure was later erased and replaced by a cartouche of Setnakht.

CORRIDOR G The Opening of the Mouth ritual is the subject of the decoration here, scenes one through five on the left wall, six through twelve on the right.

In a small SIDE CHAMBER (GA) cut at the beginning of the left wall, chapter 151 of the Book of the Dead includes a finelypainted vignette on the rear wall showing Anubis tending a mummy flanked by Isis and Nephthys. Canopic jars and canopic chests stand beneath the bed. On the left and right walls are figures of two sons of Horus, Anubis, two goddesses, and the deceased. This small chamber is a feature found only in KV 14. CORRIDOR H The Opening of the Mouth continues on the side walls of the chamber, sections thirteen through twenty on the left, twenty-one through twenty-six on the right. Scenes illustrating the text are arranged across the top of the wall.

CHAMBER I A very nicely drawn offering table was painted in the left half of the chamber to replace a figure of Tausert. Thoth and Ra-Harakhty are shown, as well as Ptah, who stands in his customary shrine protected by the goddess Ma’at. In the right half, the figures include Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, Horus, Geb, and Ptah again protected by Ma’at.

Figures of the deceased were replaced by blue-painted cartouches of Setnakht. CHAMBER J1 This vaulted burial chamber is divided into three sections by two rows of pillars and differences in floor level. The right wall and the left end of the front wall are well-decorated with the ninth hour of the Book of Gates. A long, rectangular pool is filled with figures of those who have died by drowning. Scenes from the Book of the Earth occupy the upper part of the left and right wall.

Excerpts from the sixth division of the Book of Caverns are carved on the right wall The badly damaged ceiling still shows faint traces of astronomical subjects with decans. The rear was never decorated. Note the pieces of funerary furniture, chests, pots, and mirrors painted below the cornice and pillars. The deceased and various gods appear on the sides of the eight pillars, thirty-two figures of which many on the front face or the right side are drawn only in black and red ink.

CORRIDORS K1, K1 A, K1 B, L, J2 AND K2 Nearly all the decoration in the rear part of KV 14 was carved but not painted and much of it is in very poor condition. Originally, one would have seen here parts of the Imydwat and the Book of Gates.

The sarcophagus of Setnakht that sits in burial chamber J2 is 3.25 meters (10.66 feet) long, decorated with scenes of the Book of the Earth and various deities. J2 is substantially larger than the preceding burial chamber, J1: the latter occupies 474 cubic meters (16,740 cubic feet), the former 790 cubic meters (27,900 cubic feet).

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