Fodor's Expert Review El-Kab Tombs
Just northwest of the town of El-Kab are several rock-cut tombs from different dynastic periods. The walls of the Tomb of Ahmose, Son of Ibana, tell a biographical story emphasizing the military campaigns of the owner, when he was an admiral in the ancient Egyptian navy. Look out for the hieroglyph of a chariot, the earliest surviving depiction in this script. The space was likely used as a chapel to remember the deceased and not an actual tomb where the body was kept. It was left unfinished, and you can see the red grid lines that the painters used to plan and design the scenes.
In the Tomb of Renni, who was a provincial governor and high priest during the reign of Amenhotep I (1541–1520 BC), you can admire paintings of the harvest, family banquets, and checkerboard-patterned ceilings. At the back of the tomb is a niche that once held a statue but is now nearly destroyed.
The grandson of Ahmose, the naval commander buried nearby, Paheri had... READ MORE
Just northwest of the town of El-Kab are several rock-cut tombs from different dynastic periods. The walls of the Tomb of Ahmose, Son of Ibana, tell a biographical story emphasizing the military campaigns of the owner, when he was an admiral in the ancient Egyptian navy. Look out for the hieroglyph of a chariot, the earliest surviving depiction in this script. The space was likely used as a chapel to remember the deceased and not an actual tomb where the body was kept. It was left unfinished, and you can see the red grid lines that the painters used to plan and design the scenes.
In the Tomb of Renni, who was a provincial governor and high priest during the reign of Amenhotep I (1541–1520 BC), you can admire paintings of the harvest, family banquets, and checkerboard-patterned ceilings. At the back of the tomb is a niche that once held a statue but is now nearly destroyed.
The grandson of Ahmose, the naval commander buried nearby, Paheri had his tomb decorated with scenes of his work as a scribe and regional governor, counting livestock, receiving tributes of gold, and supervising the wine harvest.
The Tomb of Setau, a high priest during the reign of Ramses III (1186–1155 BC), is heavily damaged, but its walls are decorated with a few interesting scenes of celebrations for the pharaoh's 30th year on the throne and the goddess Nekhbet (considered the protector of El-Kab) in her sacred boat guarded by a vulture while sailing down the Nile.
READ LESS
