KV11

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KV11
Burial site of Ramesses III
KV11
Location	East Valley of the Kings
Discovery Date	Open since antiquity
Excavated by	Unknown
Previous : KV10	Next : KV12

Tomb KV11 is the tomb of Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses III. Located in the main valley of the Valley of the Kings, the tomb was originally started by Setnakhte, but abandoned when it broke into the earlier tomb of Amenmesse (KV10). Setnakhte was buried in KV14. The tomb KV11 was restarted and extended and on a different axis for Ramesses III.

The tomb has been open since antiquity, and has been known variously as Bruce's Tomb (named after James Bruce who entered the tomb in 1768) and The Harper's Tomb (due to paintings of two blind harpers in the tomb).

[edit] Decoration

The 188-metre-long tomb is beautifully decorated.

The Second Corridor is decorated with the Litany of Re. At the end of this corridor the axis of the tomb shifts. This Third Corridor is decorated with the Book of Gates and the Book of Amduat, and leads over a ritual shaft, and then into a four-pillared hall. This hall is again decorated with the Book of Gates. A Fourth Corridor (decorated with scenes of the opening of the mouth ceremony and leads into a vestibule, with scenes of the Book of the Dead, and then into the burial chamber proper.

The burial chamber is an eight-pillared hall in which stood the red quartzite sarcophagus (which is now in the Louvre). This chamber is decorated with Book of Gates, divine scenes and the Book of the Earth. Beyond this is a further set of annexes, decorated with the Book of Gates.

[edit] References

Reeves, N & Wilkinson, R.H. The Complete Valley of the Kings, 1996, Thames and Hudson, London.
Siliotti, A. Guide to the Valley of the Kings and to the Theban Necropolises and Temples, 1996, A.A. Gaddis, Cairo.