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26 Could, 2024 – 14:28
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Ramesses II – Unique Sarcophagus Recognized Inside the Valley of Kings
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Archaeologists from Sorbonne College have recognized the unique sarcophagus of Ramesses II, or Ramesses the Nice, from a tomb complicated designated KV7 within the Valley of Kings. This tomb was close to the tomb of his sons (KV5) and the tomb (KV8) of his son and successor, Merneptah. His last resting place was in tomb TT320, close to Deir el-Bahari within the Theban Necropolis reverse Luxor.
Ramesses II: Considered one of Egyptian Historical past’s Most Celebrated Pharaohs
Ramesses II was the third pharaoh of the nineteenth Dynasty through the New Kingdom interval, and his reign is usually celebrated as one of the vital illustrious in Egypt’s historical past, distinguished by important army campaigns and quite a few monumental building initiatives.
Historic information counsel that Ramesses II ascended to the throne in 1279 BC and dominated till his loss of life round 1212 or 1213 BC on the age of roughly 90, based on the examine revealed in Revue d’Egyptologie.
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Ramesses II passport picture, issued in 1975 when his mummy left the nation for cleansing in France. (Public Domain)
In the course of the reign of Ramesses III within the twentieth Dynasty, the tomb of Ramesses II was looted. Historic texts point out that clergymen moved his stays first to the tomb of Queen Ahmose Inhapy, and later to the tomb of the excessive priest Pinedjem II.
The aforementioned tomb TT320 is a Royal Cache that comprises the mummified stays of over 50 kings, queens, and different royal relations from the New Kingdom interval.
The mother of Ramesses II was found in TT320 throughout excavations in 1881, positioned in a easy wood coffin, indicating a short lived answer till a extra everlasting resting place may very well be organized. The examine suggests {that a} fragment of a sarcophagus found in 2009 at Abydos was initially a part of the sarcophagus of Ramesses II, experiences Archaeology News.
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The Life and Dying of Ramesses II, Ramesses the Nice
Lengthy facet of the granite sarcophagus of Ramesses II. (Kevin Cahail/ Revue d’Egyptologie)
A Nice Discovery
This granite sarcophagus fragment, present in a Coptic monastery, was not too long ago re-examined by Egyptologist Frédéric Payraudeau from Sorbonne College, after its preliminary discovery by Ayman Damarani and Kevin Cahail. In line with Payraudeau, the ornament and texts on the fragment point out that it was first utilized by Ramesses II, evidenced by his cartouche, and later repurposed by a excessive priest of the twenty first Dynasty, Menkheperre (circa 1000 BC), who probably transported the sarcophagus to Abydos after KV7 was looted.
“The standard of the craftsmanship and the precise references to deities like Ra and Osiris strongly point out that this sarcophagus was initially meant for Ramesses II,” Payraudeau was quoted by Archaeology Mag.
Nonetheless, the unique proprietor remained unidentified till Payraudeau’s detailed evaluation revealed the cartouche of Ramesses II. This vital discovery confirmed that the fragment was a part of the pharaoh’s authentic burial container.
Tomb of Rameses II, KV7, the doorway to the fourth hall which descends additional into the tomb in the direction of a vestibule and the burial chamber. Valley of the Kings, Egypt. (Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
Preservation Strategies: Mummifying the Lifeless
This discovery highlights the intensive efforts made by historic Egyptians to safeguard the stays of their important rulers. As popularly identified, central to those practices was mummification, an elaborate course of that concerned eradicating inner organs, treating the physique with natron to dehydrate it, and wrapping it in linen. This was aimed to protect the physique for eternity, reflecting the idea that bodily preservation was important for the soul’s survival within the afterlife.
Even the choice to bury pharaohs within the Valley of Kings got here later, and was borne out of a want for preservation. Right here, hidden rock-cut tombs had been created to guard in opposition to grave robbers. These tombs had been elaborately adorned with texts and pictures from the E book of the Lifeless and different non secular texts, designed to information and defend the deceased within the afterlife. The selection of extra hid burial websites mirrored an evolution within the method to defending royal stays.
It additionally illustrates the observe of later rulers repurposing funerary objects. As an example, through the twenty first Dynasty, excessive priest Menkheperre and Pharaoh Psusennes I reused sarcophagi from earlier dynasties, reflecting a interval of resourcefulness amidst tomb looting.
The identification of the sarcophagus was facilitated by superior imaging strategies and materials evaluation. These applied sciences allowed researchers to authenticate the fragment and precisely decipher its inscriptions.
Prime picture: Left; Ramesses II statue, Proper; Lengthy facet of the granite sarcophagus of Ramesses II. Supply: Left; British Museum/CC BY-SA 2.0 FR, Proper; Kevin Cahail/ Revue d’Egyptologie
By Sahir Pandey
References
Milligan, M. 2024. Archaeologists determine the unique sarcophagus of Ramesses II . Accessible at: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/05/archaeologists-identify-the-original-sarcophagus-of-ramesses-ii/152015.
Payraudeau, F. 2024. Le sarcophage de Ramsès II remployé à Abydos! Revue d’Egyptologie, 73. Accessible at: https://doi.10.2143/RE.73.0.3292985.
Radley, D. 2024. Archaeologists have recognized the unique sarcophagus of pharaoh Ramesses II . Accessible at: https://archaeologymag.com/2024/05/original-sarcophagus-of-ramesses-ii/.
