The Beautiful Feast of the Valley
Every year the ancient Egyptians traveled across the Nile River to celebrate the dead
Luxor, Nile River (2009-04-15) by Kenneth GarrettAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Celebrating the Dead
The valley festival was celebrated in Thebes, the modern day city of Luxor in southern Egypt.
Traveling to and from Abydos by boat (2009-03) by Katy DoyleAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Celebrating the Dead
People who lived on the east bank of the Nile traveled to the necropolis on the west bank to visit the funerary temples of deceased royalty and the tombs of their loved ones.
Menna and his wife venerated (left), heading a festival procession (right) (2009-03) by Katy DoyleAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
In this scene from the Broad Hall of the Tomb of Menna (TT69), we can see how he imagined his participation in this important festival.
Ancient Traditions
This yearly event was a time when people could visit their deceased loved ones and bring them gifts.
The statues of the gods Amun, Mut, and Khonsu (the Theban Triad) were also taken across the river from Karnak Temple to visit the mortuary temples on the West Bank.
Adorned with jewelry, Menna and his wife head the procession of their family, relatives, and offering bearers. Their gaze is directed towards the tomb entrance.
The offering table is stuffed with all kinds of food awaiting the gods and goddesses. The inscription names all the gods and goddesses they offer to.
Discover More:
Take a Virtual Tour of the Tomb
Who was Menna?
How did the Ancient Egyptians get to the Afterlife?
Where did Menna's Face go?
The conservation and documentation of the tomb of Menna was sponsored by American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) Egyptian Antiquities Conservation Project with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Georgia State University in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities.
Created by Elisabeth Koch and Tessa Litecky, ARCE
Visit ARCE at www.arce.org
