Tombs of the Nobles: Fascinating Facts

The Tombs of the Nobles are considered one of the most important tombs in Egypt and are one of the most important archaeological landmarks that reflect the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization, as these tombs were used to bury important figures and nobles in Egyptian society and are characterized by their unique design and distinctive decorations.

Their walls contained many drawings and engravings that narrate the daily life and religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and also reflect some funeral traditions and beliefs related to resurrection after death.

In this article, we will learn about the history of the Tombs of the Nobles and their great role in understanding ancient Egyptian civilization and religious beliefs, so follow us.

Discovery of the Tombs of the Nobles

The Tombs of the Nobles were discovered by some security men affiliated with the Aswan Antiquities Zone. The Tombs of the Nobles are considered one of the most important tombs in Egypt after the Valley of the Kings and Queens, as it was occupied by many priests and nobles in Egypt at that time during the reign of the 18th Dynasty and until the Roman era.

It contains engravings and drawings of various types and shapes because its construction took a long period of time, and many gods were engraved on its walls.

Location of the Noble Tombs

The Noble Tombs are located on the West Bank near the city of Luxor. They are rock tombs built for the rulers of Aswan during the Pharaonic era.

State officials, including priests, scribes, military personnel, and other important state officials, were buried there. They are tombs carved into some sandstone rocks.

The construction of these tombs dates back to the ancient Pharaonic era and up to the Roman era. They are among the most important tombs in Upper Egypt.

The Noble Tombs are among the most important tombs that have a deep history among all the tombs in Egypt. They contain the tombs of Mekho and Sabni, rulers of some regions in Egypt at that time.

Some inscriptions were made on their walls about some of the titles and positions held by some of the southern rulers at that time. Some of the trips between Egypt and Africa for the purpose of trade were also written on them.

The roles played by the southern rulers in protecting the country were also engraved.

These tombs also contain some rare inscriptions and drawings of the tomb of Amenhotep, the ruler of Aswan in the Middle Kingdom era. It contains many bright colors and drawings to decorate it.

It also contains some prominent inscriptions and biographies of many Egyptians at that time, especially nobles and statesmen.

Design of the tombs of the Nobles

The tombs of the nobles were divided into two sections. The first section concerns some of the funeral rituals that the ancient Egyptians specialized in at that time, as they embodied the souls of some kings and nobles who later became gods and were received by the sun god in the afterlife.

Some of the nobles were represented near the gods and kings, with some offerings being presented that represent the supplication of these nobles to the gods to enter the paradise of Osiris.

As for the second section, it is some of the works that the deceased practiced during his life and the ancient Egyptians believed that he also practiced them in the afterlife, such as fishing, hunting birds, or doing some different industries or agriculture.

All of these works were transferred with the best colors and decorations on the walls of these tombs.

Tomb of Rekhmire

The tombs of the nobles contain several very important tombs of statesmen, the most important of which is the tomb of Rekhmire, who was the special minister during the reign of King Thutmose III.

His tomb is characterized by its flat surface with some colors appearing on it. It has a courtyard in the middle from which you enter a wide hall with a floor known as the Hall of Justice, which was the official place for the minister at that time. Many disputes between people were settled in it.

The Hall of Justice was a large tent carried on columns on which the name of Rekhmi Ra was engraved. It had four mats spread out in front of the minister and four rows of employees who attended these sessions and some of the people with grievances who filed a complaint to the minister.

Among the most important things that were drawn on the walls of this wide hall were the eyes of some people who kissed the ground as a kind of respect for the minister Rekhmi Ra, along with some of the products that Egypt produced at that time and pictures of some gold and silver jewelry and necklaces.

The minister Rekhmi Ra was also drawn into collecting taxes from some people. These taxes at that time consisted of some goats, cows, bulls and honey, with a sculpture of some wild animals, birds, fish and dogs that the king hunted at that time.

After leaving the wide hall, we enter a long hall that is about 30 meters long. Its ceiling gradually rises and this hall ends with a high cabin containing a statue of Rekh Mi Ra with his wife.

This tomb is considered one of the most important tombs that contain the best religious manifestations of that era and is an example of the cultural prosperity at that time.

Tomb of Ra Muza

Ra Muza was the ruler of Thebes during the reign of King Amenhotep III. He continued in his position at the beginning of the reign of King Akhenaten. This tomb is still empty until now, as it was built by Re Muza and then moved to Tell El Omrania.

This tomb is considered one of the most beautiful tombs in the tombs of the nobles.

This tomb remained during the reign of two kings, so the inscriptions on it differed.

This tomb contains a transverse hall in which Ra-Muza is drawn while offering some offerings to the gods. There is also a group of female sculptors carrying some funerary furniture and papyrus bouquets.

A picture of Ra-Muza and his wife was also drawn while they were worshipping the god Osiris. Pictures of King Amenhotep IV were also carved with his true goddess sitting behind him.

Ra-Muza was also drawn while receiving some foreign delegations from the Libyans, Asians and Nubians, which indicates the close relations of Egypt with other countries at that time.

Nakht Tomb

Nakht worked as a scribe during the reign of King Thutmose III and Thutmose and was called the specialist in astronomy. He was also assigned the manufacture of grapes and wine in ancient Egypt.

His tomb begins with an entrance Through it, you can reach a wide hall and from there to a long hall at the end of which there is a drawing of Nakht and there are also several rooms on the walls of which there are engravings of agricultural life in ancient Egypt in detail, starting from plowing the land and planting to harvesting and how to make wine.

Nakht and his wife were drawn pouring some aromatic oils in front of the gods, and some men were engraved who were picking grapes and squeezing them with his foot and then going to a small basin, and a net full of birds that represented the hunting of the ancient Egyptians was also drawn, and he was also drawn fishing, and there is also a square room in the tomb containing a stone well and inside it there was a small statue of Nakht kneeling and holding in his hand a tablet with hymns to glorify the god Ra.

Menna Tomb

Menna worked as a field scribe during the era of the Pharaohs and most of the scenes in his tomb revolve around agriculture, especially flax cultivation and harvest scenes, so many historians believed that he was working as Minister of Agriculture at that time and his tomb was distinguished by its unique architectural design.

His tomb was designed like the tombs of many great men and statesmen at that time. It is an entrance through which one enters a wide hall, then a long hall, and finally a room where the owner of the tomb and his wife are drawn.

One of the most important scenes drawn on the walls of these tombs is pictures of him following up on the work to determine the area of ​​​​cultivated land and supervising them during cultivation, and the head of the workers kissing his feet out of respect and appreciation for him.

He was also drawn standing watching his ships and was also depicted beating some workers with a stick and various scenes of many of the chariots used by the ancient Egyptians at that time.

In the long hall, some funeral furniture was placed with some pictures of Menna presenting offerings to the gods. The relatives of the deceased, especially women, were also drawn in a state of great grief over him.

A scale was engraved carrying a heart from him on one side and a small statue representing the god of justice on the other side at that time. The sacred journey to Abydos and some other religious rituals were also drawn.

Snefer Tomb

Snefer worked as a garden supervisor in the Temple of Amun and then assumed the position of the king’s wealth manager and seal bearer. One of the most important things that distinguishes Snefer’s tomb, which is located in the tombs of the nobles, is the drawing of his daughter to decorate the ceiling of the main chamber of the tomb, as he was drawn with his sister.

Snefer was drawn on the walls of the tomb performing some religious rituals and offering some offerings to the gods. This tomb was decorated with stones and colorful scenes and was named the Grape Tomb due to the many grape trees that were drawn on the walls of this tomb.

He was also drawn lighting some types of incense and purification water and offering them to the god Osiris and the god Anubis. The sacred journey to Lapidus was drawn on the walls of these tombs.

FAQS

What is the best time to visit the tombs of the nobles?

The best time to visit the tombs of the nobles in Egypt is during the spring and fall seasons, where you can enjoy the moderate weather while watching the ancient Pharaonic and historical monuments.

You can also see some of the Pharaonic monuments that are located in the cities of Aswan and Luxor when visiting these tombs.

How many tombs of the nobles?

The tombs of the nobles contain about 66 tombs of senior statesmen and governors of the provinces in southern Egypt at that time, and it also includes a tomb for the minister of King Amenhotep III.

This tomb also included about 400,000 individuals from the families of these nobles and is considered one of the most important tombs carved into the mountains. This tomb is distinguished by its colorful engravings.

Are there guards from the jinn on the ancient Pharaonic tombs?

Many people believe that there are some guards from the jinn on many ancient Pharaonic tombs, but in the era of the ancient Egyptians there is nothing known as tomb guards, but the ancient Egyptians used many magical spells that were intended to frighten and terrorize thieves who steal tombs and the property of the deceased.

At the end of this article, we have learned about the tombs of the nobles, and we have learned about some of the senior statesmen who were buried in these tombs, which are considered one of the most important and largest ancient Egyptian tombs after the Valley of the Kings and Queens, and we hope that you like this article.