|
|
LUXOR
Valley of the Kings: Merneptah
Lid of the sarcophagus, left behind by thieves. It shows Merneptah in the shape of Osiris.
|
|
The tomb of Merneptah (1236-1223 BCE) goes 80 metres into the cliffs. It is noted mainly for its beautiful false burial chamber. The false chamber was an attempt to fool thieves from entering the real one. The false chamber had everything that belonged to a true chamber, wall paintings, treasures and a sarcophagus. Everything except the corps of the king.
The real burial chamber holds the inner sarcophagus of Merneptah. The walls depict Khepri's metamorphosis inot Re, with the Pharaoh's ka being requested by bird-men, followed by Khnum steering a boat with the Pharaoh's mummy through the underworld.
The story of Merneptah is interesting for many visitors. He was only the 14th son of Ramses 2, and did not become pharaoh before all his older brothers had died. He was then well into his fifties. His mummy tells more about medical science of his time than many others. We know f.x. that he had undergone dental surgery. Based upon the information mainly from the "Israel Stele" (now in The National Museum in Cairo) many scholars hold Merneptah to be the Pharaoh of Exodus (as presented in the Old Testament).
|
|
