Travel to the Tomb of Djehuty
Explore the tomb of Djehuty, an official who lived during a unique time in ancient Egyptian history.
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Step into TT110
You've just stepped into the tomb of Djehuty, an important official who lived during the New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC). The tomb is situated on the hillside of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna on the West Bank of modern Luxor.
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Unearthing the Tomb
From at least the early 20th century until 2014, the courtyard of tomb TT110 was filled with debris, and the only way to get in was through the tomb next door. So the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), supported by USAID, began a project to explore and restore the tomb.
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The project included a field school to train Egyptian conservators who helped clean and record the tomb scenes. Participants uncovered unfinished paintings in the entryway and inscriptions on the façade for the first time.
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The Transverse Hall
After entering the tomb, you first encounter the transverse hall. At each end is a stela inscribed with offering formulas describing Djehuty's virtues and listing the titles he held under Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.
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Immediately inside is one of the most typical tomb scenes from the period. Djehuty presents offerings to the god Amun-Re on the right, and on the left is a banqueting scene. At the top, Djehuty sits with his parents accepting gifts, and at the bottom, he is with his wife.
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The Queen
One of the things that makes this tomb so unique is that it has one of the most complete representations of Queen Hatshepsut in a private tomb. After Hatshepsut's death, her stepson King Thutmose III attempted to destroy her memory, including her name and images.
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Royal Rivals
Just as Djehuty brings gifts to Hatshepsut in the scene on the right, on the other side of the door, Djehuty presents offerings to Thutmose III. This is the only known private tomb from the 18th Dynasty that depicts both these rulers side by side.
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Djehuty's Work
On the other side of the chamber, this damaged scene depicts Djehuty performing his duties as Royal Butler, overseeing the movement of goods. He was also Royal Herald, meaning he must have worked closely with the King and Queen in their household.
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The false door on the opposite wall was painted to look like pink granite. The inscription includes a comprehensive description of Djehuty's career, which was clearly a point of pride. Since he worked in the royal household, he must have been a powerful and influential nobleman.
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The Passage
From the first hall, you move into the narrow passage.
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The scenes in the passage are badly damaged, but here you can make rows of people bringing food, drinks, and goods to Djehuty, seated before an offering table.
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Preserving the Past
As part of the field school, conservators-in-training worked to stabilize the ceiling and weak points in the walls. In addition to cleaning the walls from dust, the conservators consolidated areas where the plaster was falling off to preserve the scenes and inscriptions.
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The Pillared Hall
Before excavations, this pillared hall was full of debris, including funerary objects, paper, ash, bricks, and the remains of 45 individuals. Researchers believe the hall was reused for burials during the Ptolemaic period and possibly by tomb robbers to bring bodies.
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Between the two columns, the burial shaft gives access to two unexcavated side chambers, which may be associated with the neighboring tomb TT42.
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Enduring Mysteries
The walls were damaged badly by burning, but some remains of plaster suggest that this room was being prepared for decoration, but it is unclear if it was ever completed. Did Djehuty die before his tomb could be finished? Or were there some scenes that have been lost to time?
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One-of-a-Kind
Luckily, this tomb has now been conserved and equipped for curious visitors to explore without causing further damage. The remarkable scenes have been recorded and preserved so researchers can continue to study this fascinating time in Egyptian history.
Story by Tessa Litecky, the 3D scan was performed with Matterport Pro2 by Andreas Kostopoulos and Ayman Damarany
This project was carried out by the American Research Center in Egypt, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
