Though there have been a number of new archaeological
discoveries in the Bahariya Oasis
(in Egypt's Western
Desert) as of late, including the
now famous Valley of the Golden
Mummies, the tomb of Amenhotep
Huy, a governor of the oasis during Egypt's New
Kingdom, is
traditionally one of its best known monuments.
Amenhotep Huy held the title, "Governor of the
Northern Oasis". He was probably one of the officials
appointed to govern Bahariya in accordance with a decree of
Tuthmosis III, after that king apparently recognized the
importance of the Oasis and its defensive position. Many
such officials were sent from the Nile Valley, but Amenhotep
Huy was a native of the oasis.
The tomb, located at Garet-Helwa, about two miles south of
Bahariya's modern capital, Bawiti (ancient El Qasr), was
discovered by George Steindorff in 1900. The tomb can be dated
between the late 18th and early
19th Dynasty, which
traditionally made it the oldest known tomb in the Oasis.
However, recent excavation appears to be turning up some tombs
that predate this one. It is very possible that tombs form the
12th Dynasty may even turn up.
It is very likely that, if this well cut, uniquely
decorated rock cut tomb is any indication, Amenhotep Huy
was a powerful and rich man in the Oasis during his
lifetime. The tomb consists of a courtyard, an entrance hall adorned
with two columns along with another four columned hall with
three smaller burial chambers cut into the walls. All of the
columns in both rooms were cut out of the sandstone, but long
ago deteriorated, so that now all that is left is their bases.
Two of these burial chambers have been further divided into
two tiny rooms, which may have occurred during the Roman
Period, for two mummies of that time were discovered within
the tomb. Overall, the architectural style of the tomb, cut
into a sandstone ridge that overlooked the ancient capital, is
similar to private New Kingdom tombs in the Nile Valley.
The decorations in the tomb were finely crafted in sunk
relief, and colored in traditional Egyptian style. While the
sand that buried the tomb for thousands of years protected the
colors, over the past century there condition has grown worse
then when Steindorff first discovered them.
In the courtyard of the tomb, we find a fragmentary scene
showing Amenhotep siting on a folding stool while supervising
his estate.
In the first, two columned hall, the deceased is
depicted enjoying the activities he must of most enjoyed.
Scenes portray servants gathering grapes, filling wine jars
and carrying sacks of corn, and here, we find banquet tables
loaded down with bread, fruits, cakes and flowers. We also
find scenes of Amenhotep Huy and his wife, Ourly, who
was also buried within this tomb, worshiping Min, a god of
fertility.
In the four columned hall, we find scenes depicting
Huy and his wife praying before Osiris and
Khonsu, as well as
representations of everyday life.
In the burial chambers, we find depictions of Amenhotep Huy
holding a stick that apparently conveys his authority, as he
also holds two bundles of unknown content. However, nearby,
written in hieroglyphic symbols, is the word Henki, which
refers to beer or barley, so we might assume that the bundles
carried by Huy contain that substance. There are also
depictions of grain basked being filled that were probably
sent to the Nile Valley, and above the governor's head, ceramic
vessels of the type normally used as containers for wine and
beer are shown.
Other delightful scene in the tomb depict Amenhotep
lounging on a chair while his wife reclines on a mat at his feet.
Another scene on the north wall of the tomb shows Amenhotep and his wife kneeling
to adore the goddess Hathor, who emerges from the hillside in the form of a cow.
Other depictions show both husband and wife adoring and presenting offerings to
the jackal-headed Anubis and another, unidentified, deity
The tomb is in somewhat of a ruined condition these days,
at the last report, having a collapsed ceiling. However, it has been re-excavated by a team under
the direction of Dr. Zahi
Hawass, and conservation measures apparently are being
taken.
References:
| Title |
Author |
Date |
Publisher |
Reference
Number |
| Oxford
History of Ancient Egypt, The |
Shaw, Ian |
2000 |
Oxford University Press |
ISBN 0-19-815034-2 |
| Valley of the Golden Mummies |
Hawass, Zahi |
2000 |
American University in Cairo Press |
ISBN 977 424 585 7 |
|
Western Desert of Egypt, The |
Vivian, Cassandra |
2000 |
American University in Cairo Press, The |
ISBN 977 424 527 X |
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