Thursday 22 February 2018

Floor tiles of Karnak Temple are not ‘ancient’ as rumored: official

There was a bit of reaction to the picture posted last week of the disabled access but those that were worried will be relieved to read this

In response to photos circulating on Egypt’s social media outlets that have alleged the removal of the archeological tiles of Karnak Temple located inside Luxor, head of Karnak Temple’s remnants Mostafa El Seghair denied the claims.
He said in media statements that new modifications were added to the tiles of the temple to put a path for handicapped people to facilitate their access inside the temple.
He further explained that the tiles located inside the temple are not the archeological ones as rumored, noting that new tiles were put in 2008.

Credit Barbara Clark

http://www.egyptindependent.com/floor-tiles-karnak-temple-not-ancient-rumored-official/

Sunday 11 February 2018

Francesco Tiradritti Lecture on the Valley of the Kings




This was held at a brand new hotel just by the cross roads on the west bank. Very nice location. I must admit when Francesco started it seemed a normal introduction to the Valley of the Kings but it rapidly became a new (to me) approach to analysing the progression of tomb excavation. Most interesting but then he always is

This map will help but the way Francesco displayed was a time progression shown the relationship as well as the location of 18, 19 and 20 dynasty tombs

One of the earliest images of the Valley of the Kings was Pocock in 1743. The kings of the 17th dynasty were buried at Dra Abu Naga but the kings of the 18th dynasty went further west. The first burial was Amenhotep I but we don’t know where he is despite numerous attempts to find the tomb. At one point in time there were 6 different expeditions trying to find the tomb.

If you look at the tombs in historical order you get a very different perspective specially the relationship between where the workers were and Deir el Bahri. The way we go to the valley these days is the long way round but the first tomb we know KV38 Tuthmosis I is actually situate in the closest wadi to Deir el Medina. The next KV 38 is Tuthmosis II having a geographical relationship to his father Tuthmosis I.

Hatshepsut located her tomb KV20 in relationship to her temple at Deir el Bahri but in poor quality rock.

Tuthmosis III went back close to his father and grandfather. The tomb is not cartouche shape but the shape of the underworld. Similar to how noble’s tombs are the shape of the world. Francesco should the tomb of Ankhtifi shown the oval shape. You can follow it through https://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/moalla/ankhtifi/e_ankhtifi_01.htm

1.      Hunting and fishing in the marshes
2.      Fields and battle
3.      Granaries
4.      Donkeys
5.      Cattle
6.      Settlement

Desert
7        Hunters
8        Unknown

9        Festival of Hemen

In the same way the underworld is laid out in KV 43 going sequential EXCEPT number 5 and 6 which represent chaos

Next KV 35 and its associated royal fan bearer KV 36
KV 43 back to the Hatshepsut area
Kv22 ad Kv45
KV46
Then the Amarna period

Kv55 the controversial tomb, Francesco once did a count and there were 120 theories about Shrines of Tiye, magic brinks of Akhenaton ceiling of Tutankhamen. A royal coffin with no name

KV 62

Francesco talked at length about the DNA report done by Zahi Hawass. The level of probably contamination was so high it proves nothing. Compare it to the excavation of Richard III

He also talked about the theories of extra rooms in KV62 and feels there other explanations for the perceived rectangle (plaster working area, poor quality limestone) and he believes the latest scan has also been in conclusive. Beside Zahi excavated in that area

The excavations then follow relationships and dynasties. Nobles tend to be near their king. Difficult to explain without pictures but if you colour a shaded area of 18, 19 and 20 dynasty tombs you get the idea.

KV23, KV57 end of 18th
KV16 and 17 father and son
KV 7, 5, 8(Merenptah), KV10, 15
KV 47 Siptah KV13 Chancellor Bay
KV 14
KV11 & 3
KV7
KV9
End of the new kingdom. In the 21st and 22nd dynasty there were common burials who seem to be single ladies

Result of the disabled campaign

Thanks to Mohamed Famy posting the first results of the disabled campaign

Aug 2016 I bring a mobility scooter back from the UK and start doing site visits
Oct 2016 First paper produced and present to Minister and Governor at confernece
Apr 2017 Email Response from Ministry
May 2017 Site Visit with men from Ministry
Jul 2017 Proposal produced with Joanne Stables
Jul 2017 Meeting with Helm
Jan 2018 News reports improvement planned at Karnak and Luxor
Feb 2018 Evidence of improvements


Wednesday 7 February 2018

Lecture this Sunday

Image may contain: textFrom Isabella Faroppa Soliman

5 p.m. WILL BE THE RIGHT TIME TO SEE THE SUNSET FROM THE ROOF. LECTURE FOLLOWS. FOR INFORMATIONS CALL IBRAHIM 0100 672 24 78 ISABELLA 0100 654 16 77 Thebes Hotel is beside our house

Friday 2 February 2018

Radar scan underway to search for hidden chambers in Tutankhamun’s tomb

In 2015, British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves published a theory suggesting that the northern and western walls of Tutankhamun's tomb house hidden doorways that could lead to the final resting place of Queen Nefertiti, the wife and co-regent of the monotheistic King Akhenaten and the golden king’s step mother.

To put an end to such conflicting results, Mohamed Ismail, supervisor-general of the Permanent Committee at the Ministry of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that a third radar survey has begun inside and outside Tutankhamun’s tomb.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/289210/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Radar-scan-underway-to-search-for-hidden-chambers-.aspx

Thursday 1 February 2018

Search for Tut's hidden chambers

Using ground-penetrating radars Egyptologists are ready to begin a "decisive" search for hidden chambers in King Tutankhamen's tomb.

After almost a year of waiting, researchers at the Italian University of Turin finally obtained the green light from Egypt for conducting "decisive geo-radar measurements" from inside the tomb, they said on Wednesday.

British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves has previously said a detailed examination of photographs and scans of the tomb's northern wall suggested it concealed an opening into a further chamber.

Full report https://www.sbs.com.au/news/search-for-tut-s-hidden-chambers