Deir el Bahri - Senseneb

http://www.metmuseum.org/Imageshare/eg/large/INST.1979.2.30_chr.jpg

Thanks to Debbie for the information about watercolour paintings at the MMA. This is the second of the Howard Carter Deir el Behri watercolours which i have been able to locate pictures of. One thing that strikes me about the 2 featured so far is the quality.

Until today, the name of Senseneb/ Seniseneb was unknown to me. Often my posts are written like this - literally as i find out something new and useful- it appears here.

Having referred to Dr Leser's site and also Anneke Bart's site, as well of course as the source of the picture, the MMA (linked above) - the name of Sen(i)seneb will be an important part of the Hatshepsut jigsaw.

Sen(i)seneb is the mother of Thutmose I, grandmother of Hatshepsut. Although very early days, i have yet to find out much about her, except for her appearance at Deir el Bahri and her relationship to Hatshepsut. If i can find out more, i will post my findings at a later date.

Regards,
Stuart

Qheen Ahmose- facsimile by Howard Carter

Qheen Ahmose; facsimile by Howard Carter
Originally uploaded by The Egypt Exploration Society

Howard Carter is known to some simply as the man who discovered the nearly intact tomb of Tutankhamun. Carter had a much larger impact in Egypt than just the Valley of Kings.

Deir el Bahri is one location where Carter's work is of note. His artistic skills came into play and he set about drawing a number of wonderful watercolour paintings. One of which is of Hatshepsut's mother, Queen Ahmose, seen in this copy.

I will locate more of these. I am sure that i saw a Hatshepsut watercolour when visiting Highclere Castle, so i will look into that.

I don't know exactly where this depiction comes from within Deir el Bahri, but i will find out. I suspect it is from the Hatshepsut shrine area (?) at the top of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple.

Thanks to the Egypt Exploration Society for sharing this image on Flickr.

Update: MMA site shows 2 Howard Carter watercolours:

Stuart

KV20

KV20 (Kings Valley tomb numbered 20).

This is the tomb intendeded for Hatshepsut (as Pharaoh).

If we visit the Valley of the Kings today we will be unable to visit this tomb. Closed off to visitors due to the perils encountered even by the best prepared Egyptologist - this tomb is unfinished, empty.

Howard Carter was the man who had the task of clearing this tomb. I have the report of his excavation, which took a mere 20 days.

To quote Carter:

"The operations, inclusive of the transport of the necessary materials to the spot, the fixing of the scaffolding, and the clearing of the tomb from end to end, took twenty days, the work continuing both day and night with relays of workmen for the night shifts."

Not 1 but 2 sarcophagi were found in the tomb itself. Both empty, both originally inscribed for Hatshepsut. Other items were also found in KV20 and at this point i hand you over to WIKI:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KV20

HUGE credit goes to Rozette Peeters. I met Rozette through an AE forum and most of the excavation reviews i have are supplied by her. These have been supplied free of charge. Her efforts are vital to this blog. Without her help and the help of other willing parties i could not continue with this blog. Rozette, Thank You.

Life, Prosperity and Health to you,

Stuart