QV44

QV44
Burial site of Khaemwaset
(Ramesses III's son)
QV44 during its discovery in 1903 by Francesco Ballerini in the campaign led by Ernesto Schiaparelli
LocationValley of the Queens
Discovered1903
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QV45

QV44 is one of several tombs located in the Valley of the Queens intended for the use of Ramesses III's sons. The painted reliefs decorating Khaemwaset E's tomb illustrate his ritual and symbolic journey in the Afterlife as he meets the main gods of that region as well as the genies who guard the gates of the kingdom of Osiris.

QV44 is one of several tombs constructed for the sons of Ramesses III. Others are QV55 (Amun-her-khepeshef), QV53 (Ramesses), QV43 (Seth-her-khopsef, and QV42 (Pareherwenemef). Abitz argues that the princes are identified with the Four sons of Horus and are all real sons of the King. The decorations in these tombs focus more on the King than on his sons.[1]

Discovery

The tomb was discovered on February 15, 1903, during the first excavation campaign of the "Italian Archaeological Mission" led by Ernesto Schiaparelli between January and March. The find, together with that of the tomb (QV43) of Sethherkhepshef, another son of Ramesses III, was the most significant result of the first mission. The discovery was made by Francesco Ballerini, Schiaparelli's main collaborator.[2]

In a letter dated February 17, 1903, Ballerini described the event, recounting how the workers found the initial section of a long, descending corridor, very wide and therefore most likely belonging to a tomb of considerable importance, and how Schiaparelli and Howard Carter, then Superintendent of Antiquities of Upper Egypt, were notified, and they arrived immediately upon hearing the news.[3] The archaeologists, after clearing the doorjamb of a door, entered through an opening, crawling on the ground.

The tomb was found open and ransacked. After partially clearing the entrance, they entered a large room completely clogged with sarcophagi and mummies placed haphazardly. Schiaparelli and Ballerini thoroughly examined the tomb, which was entirely carved into the mountain. The corridor was 3 meters long, the central gallery had side rooms, and the entire space was cluttered with sarcophagi, many of them shattered, with mummies violated, probably by hyenas, others with cracked faces.[3]

Inside, over forty wooden sarcophagi from a later period (25th-26th Dynasty) were found, as the tomb had been reused several times.[4]

  • Images from Archivio Fotografico Museo Egizio, Turin
  • Excavation work at the bottom of the valley, at the site of the as-yet-undiscovered tomb QV44 of Khaemuaset. This work, shortly thereafter, on February 15, 1903, led to the discovery of the tomb.
    Excavation work at the bottom of the valley, at the site of the as-yet-undiscovered tomb QV44 of Khaemuaset. This work, shortly thereafter, on February 15, 1903, led to the discovery of the tomb.
  • Entrance to the tomb at the time of its discovery, 1903. Inside, there are still numerous sarcophagi from a later period that were found when the tomb was opened, waiting to be taken to the camp (two of these can still be seen glimpsing in the darkness of the tomb's transverse hall).
    Entrance to the tomb at the time of its discovery, 1903. Inside, there are still numerous sarcophagi from a later period that were found when the tomb was opened, waiting to be taken to the camp (two of these can still be seen glimpsing in the darkness of the tomb's transverse hall).
  • The vestibule of the tomb at the time of its discovery, February 15, 1903. Over forty wooden sarcophagi from a later period (25th-26th Dynasty) were found when the tomb was reused.[4]
    The vestibule of the tomb at the time of its discovery, February 15, 1903. Over forty wooden sarcophagi from a later period (25th-26th Dynasty) were found when the tomb was reused.[4]
  • Vestibule and burial chamber of tomb QV 44, of Prince Khaemwaset, once emptied of sarcophagi from a later period. In the burial chamber, the granite sarcophagus of its original owner, Prince Khaemuaset (S. 5215), mutilated in its lower section, is located. Schiaparelli Excavations, 1903.
    Vestibule and burial chamber of tomb QV 44, of Prince Khaemwaset, once emptied of sarcophagi from a later period. In the burial chamber, the granite sarcophagus of its original owner, Prince Khaemuaset (S. 5215), mutilated in its lower section, is located. Schiaparelli Excavations, 1903.

Description

The tomb consist of a corridor, two side rooms, a second corridor and an inner room. The first part of the corridor is decorated with scenes showing King Ramesses III before a variety of gods and goddesses, including Ptah, Thoth, Anubis, Ra-Harakhty, Geb and more.[5]

The side chambers include scenes of the Sons of Horus and the goddesses Isis, Nephthys, Neith and Serket.[5]

The second corridor includes a scene showing Khaemwaset as an Iunmutef priest. Other scenes depict the Book of Gates.[5]

The inner room is decorated with scenes showing the King before several gods and goddesses. Finds include part of a sarcophagus lid and remains of Canopic jars.[5]

  • Lid of the outer sarcophagus of Khaemwaset. Museo Egizio, Turin.
    Lid of the outer sarcophagus of Khaemwaset. Museo Egizio, Turin.
  • Prince Khaemwaset holding a feather in Tomb QV44
    Prince Khaemwaset holding a feather in Tomb QV44
  • Prince_Khaemwaset before Anubis in Tomb QV44
    Prince_Khaemwaset before Anubis in Tomb QV44
  • Prince Khaemwaset behind his father, king Ramesses III
    Prince Khaemwaset behind his father, king Ramesses III
  • Prince Khaemwaset follows his father Ramesses III in Tomb QV44
    Prince Khaemwaset follows his father Ramesses III in Tomb QV44
  • Prince Khaemwaset greets the god Hapy in Tomb QV44
    Prince Khaemwaset greets the god Hapy in Tomb QV44

References

  1. ^ K. A. Kitchen, Review of Ramses III in den Grabern seiner Sohne. By Friedrich Abitz. Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis, in The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 76 (1990), pp. 239–40
  2. ^ "Ballerini | CEFB" (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  3. ^ a b Francesco Ballerini, Letter to his wife, February 17, 1903, in Notizia sommaria degli scavi della Missione Archeologica in Egitto anno 1903, Turin, Museo di Antichità, 1903
  4. ^ a b "Theban Area/Valley of the Queens/QV 44, Tomb of Khaemwaset, 1903 Photographic Archive of the Egyptian Museum, Turin (CC0)". archiviofotografico.museoegizio.it. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  5. ^ a b c d Porter, Bertha and Moss, Rosalind, Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Reliefs and Paintings Volume I: The Theban Necropolis, Part 2. Royal Tombs and Smaller Cemeteries, Griffith Institute. 1964, pp. 754–55
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25°43′37″N 32°35′32″E / 25.7270°N 32.5923°E / 25.7270; 32.5923

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