Nestled within the arid cliffs of Deir el-Medina, on the west bank of the Nile opposite modern-day Luxor, lies Theban Tomb 8 (TT8), the final resting place of Kha, a distinguished overseer of royal tomb construction, and his wife, Merit. This tomb, remarkably preserved and untouched by ancient looters, offers an unparalleled glimpse into the...
Inherkhau was the ‘Foreman of the Lord of the Two Lands in the Place of Truth’ during the reigns of Ramesses III and Ramesses IV, c. 1186–1149 B.C. In this scene, depicted upon one of the walls of his tomb (TT359), we behold Inherkhau seated alongside his wife and four children, receiving offerings in tribute....
Ipuy was a sculptor and artist who worked during the reign of Ramesses II. His tomb (TT217) is located on the upper terrace of the western cemetery at Deir el-Medina, which was the burial site for the workers, craftsmen, and officials who lived in the Worker’s Village of Deir el-Medina. The Egyptian artistic profession, particularly...
This statue, a life-sized representation, presents Hatshepsut wearing the nemes headdress—an insignia typically reserved for the reigning king. While she is draped in female attire, the inscriptions beside her legs already bear her throne name, Ma’at-Ka-Re, yet interestingly her titles remain feminine, calling her the “Lady of the Two Lands” and the “Bodily Daughter of...
Nestled within the hallowed grounds of Deir el-Medina’s East Cemetery, Tomb 1379 stands as a silent testament to the lives and legacies of its inhabitants. This ancient necropolis, home to the artisans who toiled upon the grandeur of Pharaonic tombs, harbours the remains of Satnem and Nub, figures shrouded in the mystique of Egypt’s storied...
The Stele of Qetesh is a rectangular limestone monument which features a cavetto cornice at the top and is bifacial, with inscriptions and reliefs on both sides. The stele measures approximately 31.5 cm in height and 18.8 cm in width. The central figure is Qetesh, depicted as a frontal nude woman with a Hathoric wig...
This limestone sculpture depicts Ramose, a royal scribe from Deir el-Medina, kneeling and presenting statues of Osiris and Nephthys, along with the four sons of Horus: Hapi, Amset, Duamutef, and Qebehsenuef. The statue was discovered in Deir el-Medina, specifically from shaft 1114. The statue’s dimensions are approximately 37 cm in height, 17.2 cm in width,...
The stele features a concave shape with a bas-relief of Nakhtimen in a kneeling position, adorned with a pleated kilt, wig, and a ‘usekh’ collar. Above him, the goddess Meretseger is depicted as a cobra with a disc and horns. A table of offerings is also present. The hieroglyphic inscriptions include the names and titles...
This stele was dedicated by artisan Bay to Amun-Re and comes from the workers’ village of Deir el-Medina. It still retains its vivid colors, in particular the three pairs of ears painted blue, yellow, and green on the left side. These represent the ears of the god that “listens to prayers”. This form of Amun-Re...
This ostracon (British Museum. EA8505) was discovered in Deir el-Medina, the site of the famed Worker’s Village (Set Ma’at). The Worker’s Village housed the workmen and their families employed to construct nearby royal and aristocratic tombs. It is officially classified as a heritage site due to the large number of archaeological discoveries left by the...
