Tag: Nubians

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – Archaeologists in the Theban Tomb of Montuemhat (TT34)

Egyptology photographer Sandro Vannini has been busy photographing tombs across Thebes for his new book “The Lost Tombs of Thebes:Lost in Paradise” and you can watch him at work in a Heritage Key video which also features Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Janice Kamrin (Watch the video). During his photo-spree in this Ancient Egyptian city, Sandro took images of archaeologists hard at work at the site of TT34 – The Tomb of Montuemhat.

Described by the excavation lead Dr Farouk Gomaa as “one of the largest [tombs] in Thebes“, the University of Tbingen archaeologist and his team are searching for the sarcophagus of the diplomat Montuemhat. The work on TT34 initially began in 1941 by Zakaria Gomein, whose untimely death is recounted in a Heritage Key video with Dr Hawass (Watch the Video). A breakthrough was made by Dr Gomaa’s team in 1988 when they discovered the sarcophagus of Montuemhat’s son Nesptah the Younger.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

Sandro Vannini has spent over a decade in Egypt capturing images of some of the greatest discoveries and treasures in history, such as the famous Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun. Heritage Key is working with Sandro to bring these stunning photographs to the internet, to spur the interest in our ancient past. To watch a slideshow of the photographs of the Tomb of Montuemhat, click any of the thumbnails below.

For his venture into TT34, Sandro used a Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n to photograph the archaeologists as they studied their finds, and worked to understand more about their discovery. These images are from the front line dig at this tomb, and along with the video, gives a fantastic insight into the work that goes into such archaeological excavations.

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This post is part of a series focussing on amazing photographs from ancient Egypt. Keep checking back as well keep adding new images by Sandro Vannini. To make sure you don’t miss out on any of the updates, simply subscribe by email to receive notifications when new images are uploaded. For the more digitally advanced, there’s also an RSS feed with updates available.

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

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We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Tomb of Montuemhat (TT34)

Montuemhat was a powerful and influential figure in Ancient Egypt who’s authority and stature was sufficient enough to carve out such a substantial resting place for himself in the necropolis of the pharaohs. But he wasn’t an Egypt king – from around 660-648 BC was Mayor of Thebes, and a highly skilled and crafty diplomat. Egypt underwent some tumultuous changes during his time in office, as the last Nubian kings of the 25th Dynasty, Taharqa and Tantamani, were driven back into Nubia, first by the invading Assyrians, then by the first kings of the 26th Dynasty.

During these instabilities, Montuemhat was able to leverage himself into a position of power, and effectively took control of Upper Egypt, in no small part thanks to his wife Wedjarenes, who happened to be the grand-daughter of the Nubian king Piye. Although Montuemhat may have been of Nubian descent himself, historical records suggest he held power in Egypt after the Nubians left and right up until his death.

The TT34 tomb may originally have been constructed for Montuemhat’s father, Nesptah theElder (who also served as Mayor of Thebes), as construction would have started when Montuemhat was a young man. Inscriptions within the tomb give Montuemhat – who also held the title of the Fourth Priest of Amun – such honoured titles as eyes of the king in all the land, prince of the deserts and keeper of the gate of the deserts.

The tomb itself bears no mention of Montuemhat’s first two wives – Neskhonsu and Shepenmut, and there is no evidence that either wife is buried in the tomb. Instead, the inscriptions concentrate solely on Montuemhat’s Kushite wife Wedjarenes. It is believed that they may have married in Nubia, and that she may be the reason that Montuemhat was selected to be the Governor of Upper Egypt. Wedjarenes was the grand-daughter of the Nubian King Piye.

The excavations inside TT34 continue as Dr Farouk Gomaa and his team search for the burial chamber of Montuemhat. The tomb of Montuemhat, the shaft of Montuemhat, we have not found, explains Gomaa. We hope we can find it, he adds.

HD Video: Dr Farouk Gomaa’s Search for the Chamber of Mayor Montuemhat

(Click for a transcription of this video.)

You can see the entire archive of videos on Heritage Key’s Video Page, and find out the latest from excavations in Egypt. You can also learn more about Archaeology on Heritage Key, as well as being able to explore the wonders of the Virtual World in King Tut Virtual – walk through the Valley of the Kings and discover some of the most amazing artefacts in history! You can also keep up to date on the latest new postings of Sandro’s Photography by subscribing to the feed, simply by entering your Email Address!

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – The Ceremonial Chariot

There were six Ceremonial Chariots discovered in the Tomb of King Tutankhamun (KV62), all dismantled in order to be able to take them down through the narrow corridors. In addition to the discovered chariots were miscellaneous fittings which would have belonged to other chariots. Sandro Vannini, the Egyptology photographer who has captured on film some of most stunning artefacts in history, took photographs of the State Chariot – the most beautifully decorated of the six found in the chamber – and the images are bought exclusively to the internet by Heritage Key.

The discovery of the ceremonial chariots were made by the great explorer Howard Carter and funded by Lord Carnarvon, and you can watch a Heritage Key video with the descendants of Lord Carnarvon, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon who talk about the relationship between the two men (Watch the video).

‘Ceremonial Chariots’ Slideshow

Heritage Key is working with Sandro and bringing his extensive catalogue of beautiful photography of Egyptian antiquities onto the world wide web, which we’re sure will fascinate even the most hardcore Egyptologist! To watch a slideshow of the Ceremonial Chariot, simply click any of the thumbnails below.

Explore KV62 for yourself in King Tut Virtual

But it doesn’t stop there, as you can also visit King Tut Virtual and see digital recreations of many of the famous artefacts from KV62, walk through the Valley of the Kings, explore the banks of the River Nile in Ancient Egyptian times and even see more of Sandro Vannini’s photography in the virtual gallery.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

After spending over a decade in Egypt, photographing some of the world’s most fascinating treasures from the collection kept at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Sandro has gained the experience and skills needed to make such beautiful artefacts come to live in his photography. Naturally, the equipment he uses plays a strong role too, and Sandro employs the use of a Hasselblad ELD Ixpress 528C camera to take these images. You can also see more of Sandro’s fantastic photography in his new book with the Director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr Zahi Hawass, “The Lost Tombs of Thebes:Life in Paradise” as well as reading about Sandro’s experiences of shooting the photographs in Thebes on Heritage Key, and watching the video about the Lost Tombs of Thebes featuring Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Janice Kamrin.

Of course, not everyone would be able to make that trip to Cairo to see the beautiful artefacts that the Egyptian Museum holds, so Heritage Key brings Sandro’s stunning photography of the Ceremonial Chariot of the Tomb of King Tut. But there’s more: you can visit virtual replicas of Tutankhamun treasures in the Heritage Key VX King Tut exhibition, which features a virtual replica of many other breath-taking artefacts such as the Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun.

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Ceremonial Chariots

The chariot was strongly associated with Kings throughout the Ancient Egyptian era, as the Pharaoh would be depicted as the key figure in battles, shooting arrows into the war zone. King Tutankhamun is shown on the Hunting Box in a chariot, firing arrows at Syrians and beasts, and was used by the 18th Dynasty Pharaohs as a powerful war vehicle. The concept of the chariot was first introduced two centuries prior by Hyksos.

The discovery of six chariots in the Tomb of King Tutankhamun was a significant find, as only two others have been found, as well as fragments of chariots discovered in the various tombs of the Valley of the Kings. The State Chariot is made of wood, which was then gessoed and gilded to give it its fine golden finish. The engravings were then impressed on top to complete the decor of the chariot.

The chariot boasts many engravings relating to the king’s victories over his enemies, and similarly to the Cosmetic Jar with Recumbent Lion, the Nubian and Asiatic enemies are shown being defeated in literal senses. The bodies of the two nemesis are shown being bent back in an awkwardly uncomfortable pose, cursed to eternal pain and misery, on the wooden yokes. On the inside of the chariot itself, a scene shows the two plants of Upper and Lower Egypt – the papyrus and the lily stalk – being used to bind the enemies of Ancient Egypt.

The god Bes is also prominent in the State Chariot, being carved from wood and covered in gold, with its tongue made from ivory. The god Bes, who is the god of the household and family, appears in several places around the chariot, and would serve to protect the occupants (usually the King, who would sometimes be accompanied by the Queen) and ensure no harm would come to them.

Many of the fragments and fittings were found loose with the chariots and were then carefully reassembled and put on display inside the Egyptian Museum, Cairo including the stunning State Chariot.

HD Video: King Tut Revealed The Treasure

You can learn more about the treasures found in King Tut’s tomb in this fascinating video with Dr Zahi Hawass, where he discusses some of his favourite artefacts found inside the burial tomb. Also check out the Related Videos where you can watch Dr Janice Kamrin touring the Egyptian Museum, Cairo and talking about the various artefacts housed there.

(Click here for the transcript of this video)

You can look at the Heritage Keys video page for all our videos to date and see more archaeologists working in Ancient Egypt. Additionally, you can find out more about Ancient Egypt here at Heritage Key, and if you want to do some discovery of your own, you can explore KV62 – King Tutankhamun’s tomb – in 3D in our exciting virtual experience! Also be sure to keep up to date on all new postings about Sandro’s photography from Egypt by subscribing to our feed, simply by entering your email address above.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography – The Tomb of Montuemhat (TT34) at Thebes

Dr Farouk Gomaa discussing the Tomb of Montuemhat TT34 Image Copyright - Sandro Vannini A video featuring Dr Farouk Gomaa was recently featured on Heritage Key as he explains his progress on archaeological excavations being carried out in el-Assasif, Thebes at the site of TT34 – the Tomb of Montuemhat. Dr Farouk Gomaa explains that the search in the tomb continues for the burial chamber of the diplomat Montuemhat, which has yet to be located. The mysteries ofThebes are uncovered in a new book featuring photography from the renown Egyptology photographer Sandro Vannini in the publication “The Lost Tombs of Thebes:Life in Paradise” authored by Dr Zahi Hawass.

The excavations at TT34 were photographed by Sandro as the archaeological team set about documenting the finds and detailing the tomb walls. The search for the sarcophagus of Montuemhat continues, as Dr Gomaa’s team progress deeper into the tomb.

Sandro Vannini’s Photography

Don’t miss out on new treasures!

See More Amazing Photography by Sandro

Have a look at some of the other stunning photographs by Sandro Vannini here at Heritage Key:

Ask Sandro

We’ll be sitting down with our favourite photographer for an extended chat soon, so if you have any questions for Sandro we’ll send the answers straight to you!

The Tomb of Montuemhat (TT34)

Montuemhat was an important enough figure to warrant his own tomb, yet he was not a Pharaoh. Montuemhat’s official title was “Mayor of the City of Thebes and Fourth Prophet of Amun” and was probably the most powerful official of the time in Southern Egypt. This tomb, TT34, was one of the most lavishly decorated and largest tombs of a non-royal that has been discovered to date.

As the Governor of Upper Egypt, Montuemhat was responsible for the construction work in Thebes and serving the Nubian Kings Taharqa and Tantamani, working with them on key projects such as developing the Mut Precinct of Karnak.

When the Nubian Kings were driven out by the invading forces of the Assyrians, and then replaced by the kings of the 26th Dynasty, Egypt was in a state of instability. It was at this time when Montuemhat effectively ruled Upper Egypt, and would hold this power right up until his death. During this time, Montuemhat saw it upon himself to build his tomb – a complex spanning several levels with numerous halls and an open courtyard at the centre.

Work on excavating the tomb was originally started in 1941 by Zakaria Goneim who unfortunately committed suicide while the dig was in progress; a story recounted by Dr Zahi Hawass in another fascinating video. Dr Farouk Gomaa now leads the team excavating the tomb as they continue their search through the several chambers and passages to find the burial chamber of Montuemhat.

HD Video: Dr Farouk Gomaa’s Search for the Chamber of Mayor Montuemhat

Dr Farouk Gomaa talks about his excavations in el-Assasif, Thebes and his work in TT34 – the Tomb of the diplomat Montuemhat. He shows the finds in the tomb so far, including the sarcophagus of Nespta, the son of Montuemhat. Dr Gomaa explains that although his team have not found the chamber of Montuemhat himself, or his sarcophagus, he remains hopeful of uncovering them soon. You can read more about the video of Dr Farouk Gomaa’s excavations in Tomb TT34 in Malcolm’s blog post.

(Transcription of this video.)

ArchaeoVideo: The Tomb of Diplomat Montuemhat Featuring Dr Farouk Gomaa

The tomb is one of the largest in Thebes, says Dr Farouk Gomaa, the highly-respected archaeologist from the University of Tbingen in Germany who is leading the exploration of the burial monument of Montuemhat, in a new video interview for Heritage Key by Nico Piazza. Clearly, Montuemhat was a powerful and influential figure in ancient Egypt if he was able to carve out such a substantial resting place for himself in the necropolis of the pharaohs. Yet you wont find him on any Egyptian king lists.

In this latest ArchaeoVideo from the Theban tombs, from where Sandro Vannini has been taking photographs for the new “The Lost Tombs of Thebes:Life in Paradise” book, we learn about the hunt for the chamber of Montuemhat, who from around 660-648 BC was Mayor of Thebes, and a highly skilled and crafty diplomat. Egypt underwent some tumultuous changes during his time in office, as the last Nubian kings of the 25th Dynasty, Taharqa and Tantamani, were driven back into Nubia, first by the invading Assyrians, then by the first kings of the 26th Dynasty.

The tomb of Montuemhat, the shaft of Montuemhat, we have not found. We hope we can find it.

Against this unstable backdrop, Montuemhat managed to maneuver himself into a position whereby he effectively ruled Upper Egypt (it probably helped that his wife, Wedjarenes, was a granddaughter of the Nubian king Piye). History reports that he held onto power right up until his death, after the Nubians had been cleared out, even though he was himself probably of Nubian blood. This allowed Montuemhat plenty of time in which to build for himself his impressive tomb at Thebes a dense complex that extends over multiple levels, with various halls and a large open court at its centre.

Work must have begun on the tomb when Montuemhat who additionally held the title of the Fourth Priest of Amun was only a young man, raising the possibility that it may have originally been built for his father, Nesptah the elder (who was mayor of Thebes before Montuemhat). Inscriptions within his tomb give Montuemhat such glorious titles as eyes of the king in all the land, prince of the deserts and keeper of the gate of the deserts.

Dr Farouk Gomaa and his team examines the stone sarcophagus of Nesptah - the son of Montuemhat. Image Credit - Sandro Vannini. Work on TT34 began in 1941, when Zakaria Gomein began excavation of the site, but unfortunately died in a tale recounted by Dr Zahi Hawass. However, no self-respecting Egyptian dignitary would be buried alone, and as Gomaa describes, one of the most spectacular finds made in the tomb of Montuemhat in 1988, was the burial chamber and mummy of Montuemhats son, Nesptah the younger. Its located at the bottom of a deep, dark shaft, many of which are located around the warren-like tomb. In the video, we see archaeologists descending a ladder by lamplight to polish and treat Nesptahs beautiful stone sarcophagus. After his father he was the main person here in Thebes, notes Gomaa.

Gomaa tells an amusing story about how Nesptahs chamber was initially located thanks to the unwitting assistance of some dopey thieves. It was first found by tomb robbers, he says. They managed to go inside, and take the wooden sarcophagus of Nesptah, and they burned it to have light down there. And this made smoke and somebody [saw] this and the police come and stopped the work in the tomb.

A similar break might be required in the hunt for the chamber of Montuemhat himself, and his sarcophagus, should it still be interred within (some suspect it’s buried beneath the temple). The tomb of Montuemhat, the shaft of Montuemhat, we have not found, explains Gomaa. We hope we can find it, he adds.

ArchaeoVideo: Dr Farouk Gomaa’s Search for the Chamber of Mayor Montuemhat

(Transcription of this video.)

There are loads more great archaeovideos on Heritage Keys Youtube channel. Enjoy the likes of Dr Salima Ikram revealing how ancient Egyptians mummified their pets, Dr Vassil Dobrev describing the hunt for the tomb of the lost pharaoh Userkare and Dr Mark Lehner discussing the lives of pyramid builders in ancient Egypt. You can also keep track of our latest news, views and videos via Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and iTunes – not to mention subscribing to our feeds. Exploring the planet’s ancient past has never been easier with Heritage Key: Unlocking the Wonders.