Tomb of Menkheperrasonb Plan - Tombs of the Nobles - Luxor, Egypt. Part XV

This tomb was never completed (this plan came out in the 1960's update if you have any information). Only the regular traverse chamber was constructed and this has two small chambers projecting from the rear walls on either side. It belonged to the first prophet of Amon in the reign of Thutrnose III , who was another of those masters-of-all in ancient Egypt who could as readily turn their hands to agriculture as to raising an obelisk.

Towards the end of the right-hand entrance wall (a) craftsmen are at work on weapons, vases, etc. while gold for the inlay is being weighed out (upper reaches). The inscription records for posterity the fact that the illustrious Pharaoh Thutmose III actually designed some of the vessels himself, thus creating a precedent followed by several monarchs and statesmen!

On the right-hand rear wall (b) foreign envoys bring gifts ranging from gold and silver in laid vases to diverse weapons, battle dress and horses. The blacks wear loin cloths, the Syrians their traditional braided robes. Having extended his empire Thutmose III was thus recorded as having homage paid him by the chieftains of

Kheftiu, the Hittites, Tunip and Kadesh The left-hand entrance wall (c) has harvest scenes.

Tomb of Userhet Plan, First Prophet, Egypt - Tombs of the Nobles, Luxor. Part V

Tombs of the Nobles, Luxor, Egypt.

Although it is not in too good a state of repair, this tomb, belonging to the First Prophet of the Royal Ka of Thutmose I in the reign of Seti I, contains a symbolic scene of such high order of artistic execution that it should on no account be missed.

It is on the right-hand wall of the narrow traverse chamber (a) and shows Userhet and his wife and sister sitting beneath a fig-laden tree drinking the Water of Life presented to them by a tree-goddess who rises out of the lake before them. As the liquid is poured from a golden vessel into the cups, the three seated figures

are offered figs and grapes, bread and honey comb. The T-shaped lake between Userhet and the tree-goddess shows the souls of Userhet and his wife as human-headed birds drinking the Water of Life from their cupped hands . The symbolic purpose of the mural is almost obliterated by the imaginative and realistic treatment. It must have been a truly magnificent representation. Above the seated figures wagtails flit among the branches of the fruit-laden tree and above the two women are the human-headed birds which represent their souls or Bas.

On the left-hand entrance wall (b) Userhet's heart is being weighed, not against the ostrich feather of truth, but this time against the figure of a man.

The inner corridor is in ruin.