20th March 2013


Karakhamun Tomb TT223 - Sheik Abd El Qurna

All these houses have been demolished and removed.

There are three tombs in this area i.e. Karakhamun TT223, Karabasken TT391 & Irtieru TT390.


Karakhamun tomb was built around 713-690 B.C. (25th Dynasty) for the First aq Priest of Amun under Kushite kings Shabaqo and Shebitqo. As far as it is known from 19th century sources, the vast tomb was built with two pillared halls and multiple burial chambers. The tomb was richly decorated with brightly painted sunk relief carving. Later, the tomb of Karakhamun, one of the best examples of Kushite architecture and relief carving, completely collapsed and disappeared under a modern village.

Nowadays when looking down into the tomb you can see just how large and magnificent it must have looked back in the times when it was built and when it had its roof on.

Deir el Medina to the left - Mount Meret Seger in centre - Hatshepsut to the right

Sheik Abd El Qurna.

Entrance to Karakhamun Tomb.

Stairway to Tomb.

Other side of entrance into tomb.

There has been a lot of work going on at this site.

Stairway down to lower chamber.

Ramesseum in the distance.

Deir El Madina in distance.

Karabasken Tomb TT391

The tomb was built for the Major of Thebes and Fourth Priest of Amun, Karabasken who was appointed by Piye and served during the reign of Shabaqo, 25th Dynasty. The tomb was left unfinished by the builders with only the entrance of the Vestibule and probably the False Door decorated. The tomb suffered dramatically from floods and numerous periods of occupation. Excavation in the Vestibule and Cult Chamber in 2006-2007 showed deterioration and flaking of the stone and major damages on the carved surface. On the Vestibule door frame Karabasken is shown seated on a lion-legged chair with a short back decorated with a papyrus umbel. He wears a short pleated skirt and a priestly pelt vest supported by a sash tied on his shoulder with a large elaborate knot. The image on the south jam is slightly better preserved than its counterpart on the north jam but both show deterioration and flaking on the surface. The carving was done in the bedrock. Unfortunately the quality of limestone bedrock in this area is the worst in the necropolis. Already when carving the doorframe, the artists had to replace stone in some areas and attached new blocks by means of mortar. When the surface was plastered and painted the joints were invisible. Later when the superstructure was destroyed and part of the vestibule’s ceiling collapsed, the doorframe got exposed to different types of danger including floods and damage by people. As a result the upper doorframe decoration was partially chiselled off and the lower part buried under a layer of dense debris periodically moistened by floods.

Irtieru Tomb (TT 390)

Lady Irtieru served as the Chief Attendant to the Divine Consort, Nitocris, and daughter of Psamtik I of 26th Dynasty. The tomb of Irtieru was lost under the houses of the modern village being used as living quarters, quarry, and a stable. Most of the tomb was excavated in 2007. The beautiful painting of the ceiling of the vestibule was cleaned of soot in 2007. This season the work was continued on the walls of the First Pillared Hall. The north and south walls were weakened as large pieces of bedrock were removed from the bottom and middle parts. They were reinforced with lime plaster mixed with chips of limestone.