The 3,300 year old tomb of the very elegant “King’s CupBearer” of the Pharaoh Akhenaton, was discovered this year by the Dutch Egyptian expedition at Saqqara

“King’s CupBearer” - Ptahemwia might have known Prince Tutankhaten, though the Prince must have been very young and might not remember him.

The King’s Cupbearer
The clay stone wall of the upper structure is still standing to a height of two metres (6.5 ft). Limestone relief panels show tomb-owner Ptahemwia, his wife Maia, priests, officials, servants and musicians and scenes from daily life.

Ptahemwia held the high ranking position of “King’s Cupbearer, Pure of Hands” at the royal court, responsible for serving the pharaoh food and drink.

Ptahemwia’s tomb is the twelfth found so far by the Dutch: –>Saqqara Online - Tomb List.

There is evidence that the grave remained incomplete, whether Ptahemwia suffered an untimely death or fell out of favour is still unknown. Possibly Ptahemwia lost Akhenaton’s support if he was unwilling to change his name. Ptah-em-wia means “the god Ptah sitting in his barque”.

Inspite of my Headline, no mummy was found in the tomb that had been plundered in the past. Check out the casual pose and the short cut and drape of his kilt on the relief pictured below.

“Very sexy, Ptah-em-wia!!”

Some of the portraits of the handsome Maya, the loyal friend and Treasurer of King Tut, are also very appealing. Amarna style art! I think there is evidence this exquisite artistic style, attributed to Akhenaten (Amarna), actually began in the reign of Amenhotep III, the father of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen.

Stunning Photos from The Dutch Leiden Egyptian Expedition and a spectacular artist’s rendition by Jean-Claude Golvin –> (Click on thumbnails and the sides of the popup photo lightbox)

The Dutch and Leiden University and Museum have been involved in Egyptian expeditions since 1975. Check out their online reports. Even in Dutch there are some great photos from their Excavation site.
–>2007 Dutch Leiden Expedition Online English Report: Egyptian tomb

The Dutch began their Expeditions to find out more about the antiquities the museum had acquired back in the 19th century.

Since 1828 three statues of Maya and his wife Merit have been in the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) in Leiden. The tomb of Maya had long since disappeared under the desert sands.

Early in the 1970s the RMO joined forces with the Egypt Exploration Society in London to search for the tomb of Maya and started work at Saqqara in 1975. Since then they have located many tombs, some unknown until they were uncovered by the mission!

Among the tombs are the elaborate monuments of general Horemheb, who later became pharaoh, of Maya, treasurer of King Tutankhamun, and of Tia, sister of Ramesses the Second. (1353-1335 BC)

Saqqara is about 18 miles south of Cairo. The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (The –>RMO) is exploring the area used during the reigns of Pharaohs Tutankhamen, Ay, Horemheb and Ramesses I and II (1334-1212 B.C.). Finds now are kept in Egypt.

The Friends of Saqqara Foundation also assists in restoration of other area sites and publications of research.

René

Spread the Word!