Tomb of Sennedjem Luxor

Deir el Medina, Luxor is the remains of what was once the settlement of artisans and laborers who used to work on the tombs of the kings and royals. Here a tomb of the foreman Sennedjem was found in 1886 by a Bedouin and subsequently was excavated by Italian archeologists. The tomb of Sennedjem, Luxor named TT1, is known for he exemplary artistry he wall paintings and the bright, ingenious use of color. The tomb was found intact and in excellent condition with no signs of breaking in. even the celebrated Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb was not encountered in such entirety as this. The relics, artifacts and funerary items found here have helped historians piece together the mummification and the funerary practices of the ancient Egyptians. These items are currently on display at the Museo Egizio at Turin. The brilliant ochre background and the elaborate paintings executed painstakingly are the highlights of the Tomb of Sennedjem, Luxor. This artwork is totally undamaged and tells of the advanced techniques used by the workmen of the age.

Sennedjem was awarded the honor, "Servant in the Place of Truth", and is believed to have overseen the construction of tombs during the reigns of the 19th Dynasty pharaohs Seti I and Ramesses II. The Tomb of Sennedjem, Luxor has been fashioned in a traditional manner; meaning that a lone corridor leads to an antechamber which gives way to the burial chamber. Snnedjem and his spouse, Lyneferti are depicted in the antechamber paintings as indulging in the Senet, a board game associated with the judgment of the soul as meted out by lord of the underworld, Osiris. The other picture in the room depicts Sennedjem and his family worshiping the pantheon of Egyptian deities, Osiris, Maat, Ptah, Sokar and Isis. The burial chamber proper gives us a view of Sennedjem in his sarcophagus tended to by the Goddesses, Isis and Nepthys in the form of hawks. The sons and relatives of Sennedjem are also shown here in the process of worshipping him and anointing themselves as per the rituals. Sennedjem's afterlife with Lyneferti is also portrayed here. Anubis is shown as preparing his mummy and acquainting him with the world of the dead. The journey to Ra's kingdom and the hereafter is vividly etched in these walls. The Tomb of Sennedjem in Luxor is a fascinating to every visitor.