TT96, Ancient tomb at Sheikh Abd el-Qurna necropolis, Egypt
TT96 is a tomb in the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna necropolis containing multiple chambers with painted walls showing agricultural work, religious practices, and daily life in the afterlife. A steep tunnel leads to a smaller room and then to the main burial chamber, whose entrance is decorated with jackal imagery.
The tomb was commissioned during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom under Pharaoh Amenhotep II by Governor Sennefer and his wife Meryt. This era marked a peak in Egyptian artistic achievement, as evidenced by the skilled decoration throughout this burial site.
The painted walls show Sennefer and Meryt performing worship before Osiris and Anubis, reflecting their spiritual devotion. These scenes reveal how ancient Egyptians expressed their hopes for the afterlife through the religious imagery they left in their tombs.
Access requires descending a steep tunnel, so sturdy footwear is recommended and physical readiness helps. The inner chambers are quite dark, making a flashlight or headlamp useful for viewing the painted walls properly.
The ceiling displays hieroglyphs arranged in three lines, an unusual feature that shows careful thought in the room design. On the pillars, Meryt is shown offering myrrh and lotus flowers to her husband Sennefer, a tender detail found in a royal burial chamber.
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