Tomb of Nefertari: Chambers, Paintings, Meaning of the Art | Middle East And North Africa

TOMB OF NEFERTARI

Horus leading Nefertari by the hand, entrance hall

The Tomb of Nefertari (in the Valley of the Queens near Luxor) is the most beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Queens or the Valley of the Kings and one of the most extraordinary works of art in the world. Over 3,200 year old, it is in amazingly good condition for its age and features extraordinary wall murals, painted with vivid colors, great skill and a wonderful sensitivity for detail.

Queen Nefertari was the favorite wife of Ramses II, arguably the greatest of all Egyptian pharaohs. Her name means "Beauty of Beauties." No expenses were spared to make sure she had the best tomb. The quality of art found in it far exceeds that of any other tomb in the Valley of the Queens or the Valley of the Kings. Some scholars argue that the murals contain the first examples of three-dimensional shading. The brilliant sheen of the colors has been attributed to glazes made from beeswax, tree resin and egg white.

On being inside the tomb, Marlise Simons wrote in the New York Times,"The effect is rich like a house hung with jewelry, and it has an intensity that appeals strongly to modern eyes. But what makes these galleries just as moving is the fine detail of the images, their exquisitely carved relief and the gestures of endearment that give the figures life...There is are sweetness and intimacy that makes contact across the centuries seem somehow possible."

History of Nefertari and Her Tomb

Nefertari was Ramses first and favorite wife. He raised many statues to honor her. She often appeared with him at state and religious ceremonies. She may have traveled with Ramses on diplomatic missions and given him important advise. It is Nefertari — of equal size — who sits side by side with Ramses at Abu Simbel and Luxor. A dedication for Nefertari's statue at Abu Simbel reads, "Nefertari, for whose sake her very sun does shine!" In contrast, wives of other pharaohs were usually depicted as diminutive figures at the feet of their husbands.

Nefertari died at about the age of 40. Ramses II showed his love for her by hiring the best craftsmen and paying them enough so the tomb could be decorated in a grand style. Ancient graverobbers are believed to have taken her mummified body and the offerings of jewelry, furniture ad valuable object that are thought to have been buried with her. The only things beyond the tomb itself left for archeologists to find were a handful of artifacts, a few fragments of pottery and Nefertari's granite sarcophagus.

Nefertari's Tomb was discovered in 1904 by Italian explorer Ernesto Shiaparellu, who was surprised by the tomb's excellent condition. The tomb was and neglected until 1986 when it was restored by an international team with a $3 million grant from the Getty Conservation Institute of California. Nefertari's Tomb was opened to the public in November 1995. Initially the price of admission was a $100. Then it was lowered to $60. As of the early 2000s it cost about $30 to get inside.

Chambers and Painting in the Tomb of Nefertari

Nefertari playing senet

Regarded as a close representation of the "House of Eternity," the tomb of Queen Nefertari is composed of seven chambers—a hall, side chambers and rooms connected by a staircase—and features paintings made on engraved outlines of humans, deities, animals, magic objects, scenes of everyday life and symbols such as ibis heads, scarabs, papyrus, lotuses, vultures and cobras.

The blue, orange and green murals describe Nefertari's journey to after life. Nefertari's images show up again and again. She appears in many of the murals in a sexy white gown and vulture headdress. Often in the company of individual gods, she is pictured doing various things like making offerings of meat, milking animals and steaming soup.

The top chambers of Nefertari tomb show her preparing for her journey to the afterlife. The stairway downward from the upper chamber represents the journey itself. The bottom level contains the actual burial chamber. Here Nefertari is depicted being accepted into the afterlife world ruled by Osiris.

Antechamber in Nefertari's Tomb

Visitors enter Nefertari tomb through a door, chiseled in grayish, brown rock, that gives no indications of the wonders inside. After walking down a small series of stairs, visitors enter an antechamber. On the left is frieze and djed-pillars representing of the "blood of Isis." The first set of hieroglyphics are texts from Chapter 17 of the “Book of the Dead”.

There is a bench for offerings. Above its a depiction of Nefertari playing senet, a chess-like board game, in her tent. The game is associated with evil and witchcraft and is mentioned as a talisman in the “Book of the Dead” that is supposed to free the soul of the dead and help it on its journey to the afterlife. Here, Nefertari’s dress has fallen open, revealing her naked body.

Eastern Side Room in Nefertari's Tomb

On the right of the Antechamber is a vestibule with a djed-pillars with human arms and an image of the god Neith. Beyond the vestibule is the eastern Side Room, also known as the "Chamber of the Cloth." On the walls of the narrow opening between the two rooms are images of the Maat (the winged Goddess of Justice).

The paintings in the Eastern Side Room are among the most beautiful in the tomb. Looking towards the Antechamber, on the left, is a panting showing the union between Re and Osiris. On the right is an image of cloth being offered to Ptah. On another wall are the Seven Celestial Cows and the Four Steering Oars with texts from Chapter 148 of the “Book of the Dead”. On the opposite wall is the magic formula for obtaining the water bowl and scribe's palette from Chapter 94 in the “Book of the Dead”.

In this room is the most impressive portrait of Nefertari. She is wearing a transparent white gown, lotus bud earrings, a wide golden collar and a vulture headdress, adorned with a sun disk and double plumes.

Stairway Corridor in Nefertari's Tomb

The Stairway Corridor in Nefertari's Tomb leads down from the Antechamber to the Burial Chamber. The slipway ramp (where there are no stairs) was used to lower the sarcophagus into the Burial Chamber. On the left, before the stairs, are Cartouches (rectangles with a horizontal line at one end) before the goddess Nekkhbet and on lotus flowers.

As Nefertari proceeds in her journey through the nether world, she comes in contact with different gods and acquires their power and then carries their symbols with her. As she proceeds to the afterlife she reaches gates guarded by specific gods and is allowed to pass after she says the guardian’s name.

On the left, as one begins walking down the stairs, are images of the goddess Selkis and Nefertari in her white robe, making an offering to Isis. After Isis are images Nephthys and Maat (with the wings under her arms). Underneath the images are texts from the “Book of the Dead”.

Towards the bottom of the stairway, on the left, is Anubis, the god of Mummies, depicted as a seated jackal. Below him is an image of Isis (with white hair and red dress), kneeling on the Nébu, the symbol gold.

Burial Chamber in Nefertari's Tomb

Burial Chamber in Nefertari's Tomb is a large room supported by four pillars, with benches and a wall painting. The central part of the chamber is lower than the southern and western sides. On the southwestern side is a djed-pillar and an image of Osiris. On the southeastern side is djed-pillar and an image of Nefertari with Isis. On the northwestern side is an image of Osiris and another of Nefertari with Hathor-menet. On the northeastern side are images of Nefertari and Anubis, Nefertari and Isis.

On the west wall is a large image with three figures—the guards to the gates of paradise. The horned and goat-headed god is Khanoum. The lion-headed god is Sekhnet. The third is a human figure. Each carries a dagger to keep evil spirits from entering the tomb in accordance with talisman 144 of the “Book of the Dead”.

Nefertari making an offering to the goddesses Maat, Serket, and Hathor

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons, The Louvre, The British Museum, The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Text Sources: UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology, escholarship.org ; Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: Egypt sourcebooks.fordham.edu ; Tour Egypt, Minnesota State University, Mankato, ethanholman.com; Mark Millmore, discoveringegypt.com discoveringegypt.com; Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Discover magazine, Times of London, Natural History magazine, Archaeology magazine, The New Yorker, BBC, Encyclopædia Britannica, Time, Newsweek, Wikipedia, Reuters, Associated Press, The Guardian, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, “World Religions” edited by Geoffrey Parrinder (Facts on File Publications, New York); “History of Warfare” by John Keegan (Vintage Books); “History of Art” by H.W. Janson Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.), Compton’s Encyclopedia and various books and other publications.

Last updated August 2024