Private Tour of the Tomb of The
Mighty
Pharaoh Seti
I
Father
of Ramses the Great
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Tomb
of Seti I: The Mighty Pharaoh :
For
preservation purposes, the tomb is closed to the general public and visiting
requires special permits. Please book at least 60 days in advance.
Our
tour includes special and private access to Seti I ’s tomb, the
largest and most exquisitely decorated of the 62 sepulchers in the Valley
of the Kings. Although famous for being the father of Ramses II, Seti
I was considered a great leader during his 11 year rein, known for his
military achievements and cultivation of the arts. Despite Seti I’s
short life, his tomb is the most completely decorated, preserved and finished
in the valley. Every inch of the passageways and chambers in the 446 foot
long tomb are not just painted, but are also fully decorated with highly
refined bas-relief. The quality and extensiveness of the design set the
standard for all the Pharaohs that came after.
The
discovery of this spectacularly preserved tomb in 1817 by the circus strongman-turned-Egyptologist,
Giovanni Battista Belzoni, made headlines that ignited Egypt-mania throughout
Europe. Excitement for Seti I’s tomb struck again in 2007 when further
excavation by Egyptian antiquities chief, Dr. Zahi Hawass found a 570
foot passageway descending from the tomb. Entering into Seti I’s
tomb, we will capture the spirit of discovery of these archeologists as
we explore one of Egypt’s most treasured and rare experiences.
Our touring done, we return by air to Cairo, and your hotel , where dinner
awaits you .
The
vulture Nekhbet, guardian of the tomb of the Mighty Pharaoh Seti I's Seti
I
by J. Ricci, an artist in the Belzoni expedition, 1820.
The
Discovery of the Most Enchanting Tomb of Seti I Father of Ramses the Great
( Ramses II)
B y Giovanni Battista Belzoni (published 1820)
On the 16th October, 1817 I recommenced my excavations in the valley of
Beban el Malook (the Valley of the Kings), and pointed out the fortunate
spot, which has paid me for all the trouble I took in my researches. I
may call this a fortunate day, one of the best perhaps of my life; I do
not mean to say, that fortune has made me rich, for I do not consider
all rich men fortunate; but she has given me that satisfaction, that extreme
pleasure, which wealth cannot purchase; the pleasure of discovering what
has been long sought in vain, and of presenting the world with a new and
perfect monument of Egyptian antiquity, which can be recorded as superior
to any other in point of grandeur, style, and preservation, appearing
as if just finished on the day we entered it; and what I found in it will
show its great superiority to all others.
I caused the earth to be opened at the foot of a steep
hill, and under a torrent, which, when it rains, pours a great quantity
of water over the very spot I have caused to be dug. No one could imagine,
that the ancient Egyptians would make the entrance into such an immense
and superb excavation just under a torrent of water; but I had strong
reasons to suppose, that there was a tomb in that place, from indications
I had observed in my pursuit.
The
local peasants who were accustomed to dig were all of opinion, that there
was nothing in that spot, as the situation of this tomb differed from
that of any other. I continued the work however, and the next day, the
17th, in the evening, we perceived the part of the rock that was cut,
and formed the entrance.
On the 18th, early in the morning, the task was resumed,
and about noon the workmen reached the entrance, which was eighteen feet
below the surface of the ground. The appearance indicated that the tomb
was of the first rate: but still I did not expect to find such a one as
it really proved to be.
The
local peasants advanced till they saw that it was probably a large tomb
when they protested they could go no farther, the tomb was so much choked
up with large stones which they could not get out of the passage. I descended,
examined the place, pointed out to them where they might dig, and in an
hour there was room enough for me to enter through a passage that the
earth had left under the ceiling of the first corridor. I perceived immediately
by the painting on the ceiling, and by the hieroglyphics in bas-relief
, which were to be seen where the earth did not reach, that this was the
entrance into a large and magnificent tomb.
At
the end of this corridor I came to a staircase twenty-three feet long.
From the foot of the staircase I entered another corridor, each side sculptured
with hieroglyphics in bas-relief
, and painted. The ceiling also is finely painted, and in pretty good
preservation.
The more I saw, the more I was eager to see, such being
the nature of man: but I was checked in my anxiety at this time, for at
the end of this passage I reached a large pit which intercepted my progress.
This pit is thirty feet deep, and fourteen feet by twelve feet wide. The
upper part of the pit is adorned with figures. The passages from the entrance
all the way to this pit have an inclination downward of an angle of eighteen
degrees.
The
descending passage of the Mighty Pharaoh Seti I 's tomb . By J. Ricci,
1820.
On
the opposite side of the pit facing the entrance I perceived a small aperture
two feet wide and two feet six inches high, and at the bottom of the wall
a quantity of rubbish. A rope fastened to a piece of wood, that was laid
across the passage against the projections which form a kind of door,
appears to have been used by the ancients for descending into the pit;
and from the small aperture on the opposite side hung another, which reached
the bottom, no doubt for the purpose of ascending. We could clearly perceive,
that the water which entered the passages from the torrents of rain ran
into this pit, and the wood and rope fastened to it crumbled to dust on
touching them.
At
the bottom of the pit were several pieces of wood, placed against the
side of it, so as to assist the person who was to ascend by the rope into
the aperture. I saw the impossibility of proceeding at the moment.
The next day, the 19th, by means of a long beam we succeeded in sending
a man up into the aperture, and having contrived to make a bridge of two
beams, we crossed the pit. The little aperture we found to be an opening
forced through a wall, that had entirely closed the entrance, which was
as large as the corridor. The Egyptians had closely shut it up, plastered
the wall over, and painted it like the rest of the sides of the pit, so
that but for the aperture, it would have been impossible to suppose that
there was any farther proceeding; and any one would conclude that the
tomb ended with the pit.
The
rope in the inside of the wall did not fall to dust, but remained pretty
strong, the water not having reached it at all; and the wood to which
it was attached was in good preservation. It was owing to this method
of keeping the damp out of the inner parts of the tomb, that they are
so well preserved. I observed some cavities at the bottom of the well,
but found nothing in them, nor any communication from the bottom to any
other place; therefore we could not doubt it being made to receive the
waters from the rain, which happens occasionally in this mount
When
we had passed through the little aperture, we found ourselves in a beautiful
hall, twenty-seven feet by twenty-five feet, in which were four pillars
three feet square. In the front of this first hall, facing the entrance,
is one of the finest compositions that ever was made by the Egyptians,
for nothing like it can be seen in any part of Egypt.
It
consists of four figures as large as life. The god Osiris sitting on his
throne, receiving the homage of a hero, who is introduced by a hawk-headed
deity. Behind the throne is a female figure as if in attendance on the
great god. The whole group is surrounded by hieroglyphics, and enclosed
in a frame richly adorned with symbolical figures. The winged globe is
above, with the wings spread over all, and a line of serpents crowns the
whole. The figures and paintings are in such perfect preservation, that
they give the most correct idea of their ornaments and decorations. At
the end of this room, which I call the entrance-hall is a large door,
from which three steps lead down into a chamber with two pillars. This
is twenty-eight feet by twenty-five feet. I gave it the name of the drawing-room;
for it is covered with figures, which, though only outlined, are so fine
and perfect, that you would think they had been drawn only the day before.
More
Choices:
Tomb
of Seti I: The Mighty Pharaoh
The
tomb of Seti I (KV17) is famous for being the largest and one of the most
spectacularly decorated sepulchers of the New Kingdom pharaohs. Hidden
in the Valley of the Kings, the ancient, royal burial ground near modern
day Luxor, Seti I’s tomb set the precedent for the tomb art of subsequent
pharaohs. The quality of the work is fitting, as Seti I was thought to
have reined during the high point of Egyptian art.
Although
he is now overshadowed by the fame of his son, Ramses II, Seti I was considered
a great king during his time, known for his cultivation of the arts and
his military achievements. Extensive building began during his short rein,
including Karnak and the Hypostyle hall in the Temple of Amun. A majority
of his military campaigns were victorious and during his 11 years in power
he reclaimed most of Egypt’s disputed territories. Examination of
Seti I’s well preserved mummy show that he died around the age of
40 from unknown causes. There is no evidence of violence and experts believe
it may have been related to heart failure.
Unlike
the other kings of the New Kingdom, Seti I’s tomb was nearly completed
during his lifetime, which is particularly impressive because his rein
was so short and the work was so extensive and exquisite. While tombs
of previous kings only decorated the sarcophagus chamber, Seti I was the
first to have colorful paintings and bas-relief covering the walls of
every passageway and chamber. The artwork includes the most complete depictions
of the Underworld Books, including the Amduat and the Book of Gates. The
layout of Seti I’s tomb was architecturally based on Horemheb’s
tomb, but it was the first to have a burial chamber with a high, vaulted
ceiling.
When
discovered in 1817 by the circus strongman-turned-Egyptologist Giovanni
Battista Belzoni, most of the tomb’s treasures were already plundered.
However the spectacular bas-relief artwork and the sheer size of the tomb
ignited a fascination for Egyptian art and antiquities that spread across
Europe.
KV17
was most likely looted relatively shortly after completion, probably during
the late New Kingdom. To prevent further looting and desecration, Seti
I’s actual mummy was moved by the Twenty-first Dynasty priests to
Deir El-Bahari and was not found until 1881. His mummy is now housed in
the Cairo museum.
Another
fascinating aspect of Seti’s tomb is the tunnel leading down from
the burial chamber. The passageway was originally discovered in 1960 but
recent excavation performed by Egyptian antiquities chief, Dr. Zahi Hawass
found that the tunnel is much longer than originally thought. The purpose
of the tunnel is unknown, but it is speculated that it was either built
as a passageway to the “true” burial chamber or as “an
attempt to reach the mythical waters of the primeval ocean Nun.”
During
the three years it took to excavate the passageway, archaeologists found
shards of pottery and pieces of statuettes. They also discovered the walls
of the tunnel were marked with preliminary sketches for decoration. In
2010 Zahi Hawass’s team hit a dead end in the excavation of the
tunnel. He believes construction of the tunnel stopped because of the
Pharaoh’s death.
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