Nakht's tomb (TT52) – Al-Khocha tombs
Nakht's tomb (TT52)
Located north of Ramose's tomb. Nacht was probably the scribe of Thotmes IV or Amenhotep III (XVIII dynastia) bearing the title of Astronomer of Amun or Observer of Horus, but dating is based more on the style of decoration than on the facts. He was also a cashier and overseer of royal vineyards, as a result of, that either possessed broad skills (from astronomy to agriculture and finance), or he was an available courtier. His wife was Taui. Nakht's tomb was restored in the years 80. XX w. with the use of experimental methods at that time, but the complex technology turned out to be too expensive in the end. The decorations contain scenes from everyday life. The only decorated part of the tomb is irregular, transverse vestibule. A pattern of rush mats is painted on the ceiling. The chapel with the funerary shaft and the niche for the statue is not allowed. Right after entering the vestibule, on the left are scenes from rural life. Nacht supervises the agricultural work: siew, where the peasant draws grain from a small basket, and in front of him is another peasant loosening the ground with a hoe. Then you can see scenes of plowing: the peasant plows the ground with a pair of oxen with long horns. In the lower strip of the decoration, the farmer cuts a tree, and another drinks water from a wineskin. Above, two women collect the ears that have been left behind. The harvested grain lies in a great heap, which the villagers clean of the chaff, throwing the grain up. There are blind doors on the narrow wall. Here the goddess Nut takes the offerings. Behind the stele you can see the life of Nakht. The rear wall on the left shows a great funeral feast. Ladies dress up for it and embellish it. There are three musicians next to it – two dressed in delicate white robes, and the third, puppeteer, she is almost completely naked, only with an expensive loincloth. This group is one of the best known and most beautiful examples of Egyptian painting (with the first image of a naked adult woman). Here is also the famous image of a blind harpist, entertaining friends of the deceased. A fat singer, with folds of fat on the belly, provides entertainment to the company. His appearance speaks volumes, that he is doing well and, despite his blindness, he is a respected man. Nacht is sitting with his wife, Taui, under which chair the cat, symbol of sexual attraction, eats fish. Unfortunately, the characters of Nakhta and the wife were damaged. There are hunting scenes on the other side of the chapel gate. If the erasure of the name of Amun and the deprivation of Nakht's face can be attributed to the iconoclasts of Akhenaten's time, it is taking out the eyes of other characters (hunting scene) should be attributed only to family enemies or superstitious grave robbers (thieves, fearing the curse of the deceased, gouged out the eyes of the painted deceased, so that they cannot recognize the intruder and take revenge on him). The bezoki Nacht sails on a papyrus boat through the reeds, and he is accompanied by his wife kneeling at his feet and a naked son, giving his father a boomerang. In the second scene, arranged antithetically, night (this time in a different wig) is swimming with his wife, sons and daughters. In the corner you can see the grape harvest and wine making: in the top register, the villagers tread vines in a vat, and the must is poured into earthenware jugs. In the lower register of naked servants, a complete web of trapped birds is dragged (maybe from a recent swamp hunt?), and two others nibble and gut the dead ducks. Next to it, a servant carries caught fish strung on lines. On the narrow wall, sacrifices and priests stand before Nakht and his wife, and next to it, purification of the offerings to Nacht takes place. In the empty chapel there is a painted "blind gate" imitating Aswan granite. Apparently the king did not appreciate Nakht so much, to give him a stone from the royal quarries. Once there was a statue of the deceased, but taken in 1917 r. from the USA, sank in the waters of the Atlantic. A deep shaft leads to the burial chamber.
Al-Khocha tombs
The name of the necropolis may be derived from the entrances to the local tombs. Private graves from the Old Kingdom and First Transition Periods, and several graves from the 18th and 19th dynasties have been explored by numerous archaeological expeditions. The tombs lie some distance from the other graves of the dignitaries. They can be reached by a path next to the alabaster workshop in Sheikh Abd al-Kurna. There are, among others. graves of three officials from the New Kingdom.
One of the tombs belongs to Nefersecher, called Pabasa (TT296). Decorations are badly damaged. The ceilings have bright ornaments, and the walls are covered with yellow, red and blue paintings.
Inside there are damaged statues of the owner and his wives. At the entrance on the right, you can see them in the paintings next to her husband. Mumie Maatmu,
Sekhemui and Nefertari buried in the side window, off the back corridor.