TT55

The Theban Tomb TT55 is located in Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, part of the Theban Necropolis, on the west bank of the Nile, opposite to Luxor.cite book|first=James|last=Baikie|title=Egyptian Antiquities in the Nile Valley|publisher=Methuen|date=1932] It is the burial place of the Ancient Egyptian Vizier, Ramose. It a main room originally containing 32 columns and a corridor with 8 columns. This tomb is notable for the high quality decorations in both the traditional and Amarna styles. [cite web|url=http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/nobles/ramose/e_ramose.htm|title=Ramose - TT55|accessdate=2007-06-05]

The tomb is (as of 2007) open to the public from 7.00am to 5.00pm, but as with all Egyptian tombs, it is not permitted to take photographs inside it.

Tomb decoration

The main body of the tomb is entered from the east facing open court, into a large columned hall, with four rows of eight columns. On the east wall, there are 'traditional' unpainted reliefs, showing Ramose, Ramose's wife and others (including his brother Amenhotep and his wife May). A panther skin clothed priest give libation for Ramose and his family, and three girls play musical instruments. [cite web|url=http://www.egyptsites.co.uk/upper/luxorwest/tombs/nobles/ramose.html|title=Tomb of Ramose (TT55)|accessdate=2007-06-10] The south wall has funerary scenes again, this time painted, in two registers. These show the beginning of the evolution of the Amarna art style. The upper registers seem to show the actual procession, with the coffin on a boat being dragged along with a sledge. These scenes were later plastered over for some unknown reason.cite book|first=James|last=Baikie|pages=p. 608|title=Egyptian Antiquities in the Nile Valley|publisher=Methuen|date=1932]

The west wall has two scenes showing Ahkenaten (labelled as Amenhotep IV, showing how early this tomb is in his reign) himself, the left side shows the king seated under a canopy with Ma'at seated beside him. Below the throne are carved the names of vassal nations (illustrated are Nubians, Asiatics and Libyans). Ramose stands in front of the king, showing his titles. The right side shows Akhenaten and Nefertiti, seated on a balcony rewarding Ramose with gold (this scene becomes nearly a standard in the Tombs of the Nobles in Amarna). Both of these scenes are unfinished and some of the details are sketched in and uncarved. In the far right of the west wall, Ramose is depicted leaving the palace and being congratulated by the people.

Further into the tomb, an undecorated corridor [cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/explore/ramoseinn.html|title=Tomb of Ramose: Inner Hall|accessdate=2007-06-05] leads from the centre of the west wall to a chapel with 3 niches.

Burial chamber

The actual burial chamber is entered via a steeply sloping corridor in the south-west corner, and eventually leads to a four-pillared room, which is undecorated and seemingly unused.

References