 The tomb
of Tuthmosis III (KV 34) is said to be one of the most sophisticated tombs in
the Valley of the Kings. Discovered by
Victor
Loret's workmen in 1898 during
this famous Egyptologist's absence, work did not begin on clearing the rubble
form the entrance until his return. He then excavated the site meticulously,
using 24 square grids and recording the placement of even the smallest of
objects.
The tomb itself can be found in a narrow gorge at the bottom of the Valley of
the Kings. The entrance is 30 meters above ground level, but of course this did
not stop ancient tomb robbers, though Loret did find some funerary furniture
that had been left behind.
The orientation of the tomb is such that the entrance lies in the north,
while the burial chamber deviates to the east, a tradition originating with the
Middle Kingdom Pyramid of
Sesostris II. This complex path symbolized the region
of the netherworld. Typically for this period, but a first for the Valley of the
King's proper, the tomb begins with a stairway, a corridor, a second stairway
and a second corridor before reaching the ritual shaft. The ceiling of the
ritual shaft is painted with a blue sky and yellow stars. After the ritual
shaft, like most tombs of this period, there is a 90 degree turn into the
Vestibule, which is then followed by the burial chamber with its four lateral
annexes. While the passages are not decorated, other areas were plastered and
painted for the first time.
 The
vestibule has two pillars, and is decorated with the 741 divinities of the
Amduat that generate the daily sun. A flight of stairs leads directly from
there to the burial chamber, which is oval and also has two pillars. The oval
burial chamber is common also to the tombs of Thutmosis I and
Thutmosis II. The
burial chamber is large, and holds a beautiful red quartzite sarcophagus.
However, Tuthmosis III's mummy was not found here, bur rather in tomb DB 320 at
Deir el-Bahri (in 1881).
The walls of the burial chamber are designed like a huge ornamental scroll,
with the complete text of the Book of
Amduat. The ancient Egyptians called
this book the "Book of the Secret Room". Amduat meant "that which
there is in the afterlife", and the book is divided into twelve parts,
representing the hours of the night. On the two square pillars of the burial
chamber, and  for
the first time, we find passages from the Litanies of Re on seven of the
surfaces, and on the eighth a unique scene in which the king is shown being
nursed by a divine tree goddess labeled "Isis". It is likely,
however, that these pillar decorations were added hastily, after the king's
death.
This tomb had been brutally plundered by reckless robbers. They took no
care whatsoever to prevent damage, and in some instances demonstrated almost a
violent hatred, throwing objects forcefully against the walls, where traces of
gold foil may still be seen. The principal item of funerary equipment found in
the tomb was the sarcophagus. Other items included a number of wooden
statues of the king and various deities, pieces of wooden model boats, pottery
and bones from a baboon and a bull. However, a foundation deposit was also
discovered that contained model tools, plaques and vessels. A number of
other items from the tomb were also discovered by Daressy, Carter and John Romer
in other areas of the Valley of the Kings.
General Site Information
- Structure: KV 34
- Location: Valley of the Kings, East Valley, Thebes West Bank, Thebes
- Owner: Tuthmosis
- Other designations:
- Site type: Tomb
Orientation
- Axis in degrees: 161.50
- Axis orientation: South
Site Location
- Latitude: 25.44 N
- Longitude: 32.36 E
- Elevation: 207.2 msl
- North: 99,322.075
- East: 94,118.921
- JOG map reference: NG 36-10
- Modern governorate: Qena (Qina)
- Ancient nome: 4th Upper Egypt
- Surveyed by TMP: Yes
Measurements
- Maximum height: 4.86 m
- Minimum width: 1.08 m
- Maximum width: 8.52 m
- Total length: 76.11 m
- Total area: 303.76 m²
- Total volume: 792.71 m³
Additional Tomb Information
- Entrance location: Cliff face
- Owner type: King
- Entrance type: Staircase
- Interior layout: Corridors and chambers
- Axis type: Bent
Decoration
Categories of Objects Recovered
- Architectural elements
- Human mummies
- Lighting equipment
- Mammal remains
- Models
- Scarabs and seals
- Sculpture
- Tomb equipment
- Vessels
Dating:
History of Exploration
- Inspector Hosni (1898): Discovery (but claimed by Victor Loret)
- Loret, Victor (1898): Excavation (conducted for the Service des Antiquités)
- Daressy, Georges (1898-1899): Excavation
- Bucher, Paul (1932): Photograph
References:
Archives
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