Explain the Archaeological/Written Evidence of the Uniqueness of Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Explain the archaeological/written evidence of the uniqueness of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Tutankhamun was an Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh whose legacy extends to the present, and currently one of the best-known ancient Egyptians of all-time. The “Boy King” inherited the throne at the age of nine, his reign lasting only ten years before his sudden unexpected death. The traditional burial customs and funeral processions were carried out upon him, but the tomb he was laid to rest in was unique from the typical Eighteenth Dynasty tombs characterised by their lavish style and large scale. This uniqueness has been evidenced in a variety of archaeological and written sources, which express the tomb’s historical significance.
Discovered in the Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter and his sponsor Lord Carnarvon in 1922, Tutankhamun’s tomb was presumably intended for use by a nobleman and then promptly modified for the pharaoh’s use after his unexpected death. The tomb differs from the customary Eighteenth Dynasty tombs in size, decoration, structure and location. When compared to typical royal tombs of the time it is evidently unique as it is of extremely smaller scale and contradicts the design of other Eighteenth Dynasty pharaonic burials. The tomb consists of descending steps, a descending passage, antechamber, annex, burial chamber and treasury. This is in sharp contrast to traditional royal tombs, many of which additionally consisted of multiple lengthy corridors, chambers of large dimensions and sizable storerooms. It was imperative for the body to be stored in the tomb promptly, in the interest of preservation and success in the afterlife, and consequently a smaller tomb representing a typical Eighteenth Dynasty tomb was utilised. The fact that Tutankhamun was a relatively minor king with a short reign likely contributed to the small scale of his tomb. The tomb’s location was also not usually associated with royal burials.
The decoration
Tutankhamun was an Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh whose legacy extends to the present, and currently one of the best-known ancient Egyptians of all-time. The “Boy King” inherited the throne at the age of nine, his reign lasting only ten years before his sudden unexpected death. The traditional burial customs and funeral processions were carried out upon him, but the tomb he was laid to rest in was unique from the typical Eighteenth Dynasty tombs characterised by their lavish style and large scale. This uniqueness has been evidenced in a variety of archaeological and written sources, which express the tomb’s historical significance.
Discovered in the Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter and his sponsor Lord Carnarvon in 1922, Tutankhamun’s tomb was presumably intended for use by a nobleman and then promptly modified for the pharaoh’s use after his unexpected death. The tomb differs from the customary Eighteenth Dynasty tombs in size, decoration, structure and location. When compared to typical royal tombs of the time it is evidently unique as it is of extremely smaller scale and contradicts the design of other Eighteenth Dynasty pharaonic burials. The tomb consists of descending steps, a descending passage, antechamber, annex, burial chamber and treasury. This is in sharp contrast to traditional royal tombs, many of which additionally consisted of multiple lengthy corridors, chambers of large dimensions and sizable storerooms. It was imperative for the body to be stored in the tomb promptly, in the interest of preservation and success in the afterlife, and consequently a smaller tomb representing a typical Eighteenth Dynasty tomb was utilised. The fact that Tutankhamun was a relatively minor king with a short reign likely contributed to the small scale of his tomb. The tomb’s location was also not usually associated with royal burials.
The decoration