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The area of Luxor west bank called Shaikh Abd El Gourna, is where most of the tombs of the Nobles (officials, nobles and priests) are located. Apart from the fact that many of these tombs have been decorated by some of the greatest artists in ancient Egypt, its another aspect that makes them as unique.

Temples had a purpose, religious as political. The tombs in the Valley of the Kings should guide the Pharaoh through the valley of death, to become a reborn Osiris. So temples and royal tombs was decorated with the stong limit of a purpose. After seing many temples and royal tombs one could easily start to ask where the "normal" people and daily life was among all these gods and kings?

It's these normal people and daily life you will meet in the tombs of the Nobles. Scenes not found anywhere else apart from the tomb chapels of the nobles. Here you will meet the wine makers, the farmers, a cat under a chair, two fighting girls in the field, musicians, dancers and celebrations. The tombs of the nobles becomes a exclusive window into the lives of these people that lived here more than three thousand years ago.

To put it this way: if we could visit Luxor only one time and would only be able to see one monument, then we would have a big problem as we would not know which of the nobles tombs to visit. But it would absolutely be one of these small tombs over the gigantic Karnak temple, Hatshepsuts wonderful Terrasse Temple or Mentuhoteps tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

With that strong recommendation we got to mention some of the tombs so one got a chance to find out what one can see. Remember, some tickets give you two tombs to visit and other three - but its important to have the name of at least some tombs to get correct tickets.

If you would only have time to see three tombs, this would most likely be our choice:

The tomb chapels of Ramose, Menna and Nakht.

The Tomb Chapel of Ramose (No. 55):

Ramose was governor and vizier of Waset during the reign of AmenHotep III, and the beginning of AmenHotep IV's rule. The reliefs to the left and right of the entrance doorway is "classical" art, some say these reliefs (#1) of young couples on the walls here are the most beautiful reliefs ever made. But its impossible to define art this way, what is sure is that you will stand amazed in front of these beautiful couples - and the kohl on the eyes are not made yesterday, its over 3000 years old as its tomb.

On the south wall the limestone in the tomb are not in the same good quality so the artists ended up painting (#2) this part. It's a stairway down leading to the burial chamber, and the painting on the wall here show people in this procession bringing items Ramose should have in his burial chamber. The tomb chapel was never finished, and the history behind that is very special. Go to the west wall and in the middle you find a doorway to an inner chamber (closed).

On the south part of this wall (#3) you will be able to see how these artists worked. First came a group that marked the limestone wall with red crossing lines (horizontal and vertical lines), then the master artist who draws the scene. Follow the master artist comes the group of relief sculpturers. If the reliefs should be painted, then this was added as a fourth group process. As this wall was never finished, it show this in all the stages and is a real introduction to how the artists worked in tombs as in temples - don't miss this part!

Last, in this area we see a Pharaoh sitting on his throne with different gods and goddesses around - then suddenly we see on the other wall (#4) that it happened a revolution here. Here is an unfinished relief of AmenHotep IV, but after he took his new name EchnAton. He made a revolution in Egypt and forbids all gods but Aton, and soon moved the capital from Waset to Tell El Amarna close to Minia. Quite a lot in one small tomb chapel? Among the most beautiful reliefs ever made - the funeral scene with all its details - the artist's process unveiled - and as if that was not enough, traces from an ancient revolution.

To Menna and Nakht Tombs

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Find more about:

Hatshepsut's Terrasse Temple
Tomb of the Nobles, Ramose
Tomb of the Nobles, Menna & Nakht
Medinet Habu tempelkompleks
Ramses III temple at Medinet Habu
Karnak Temple Complex
Main temples in Karnak
Luxor Temple
Luxor map

Egypt maps
Cairo map
Luxor map
Sinai map
Nile cruise map
Nilvalley map
Western desert maps
Ancient Nilevalley map
Holy family in Egypt map

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