Pharaoh

Amenemhat II: Golden are the souls of Ra

Wolfram Grajetzki continues his series on the Twelfth Dynasty pharaohs with one of the lesser-known kings of the Middle Kingdom: Nubkaura Amenemhat II.

The surprise discovery of the tomb of Thutmose II

Judith Bunbury of the New Kingdom Research Foundation (NKRF) describes how ten years of work led to the discovery of one – possibly two – new royal tombs for the same king.

The tombs of Thutmose II

The discovery of a new Egyptian royal tomb in Western Valley C (adjacent to the Valley of the Kings) has been confirmed by a joint mission between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the New Kingdom Research Foundation led…

Who Was Thutmose II?

Aidan Dodson explores the family history of this short-lived king, and how the discovery of his tomb sheds light on the burials of the early New Kingdom pharaohs.

The ‘Israel Stela’ of Merenptah

The only reference to Israel ever found in Egypt, inscribed on a stela discovered in 1896 by Flinders Petrie.

New Abydos pharaoh

Following the discovery of the Tomb of Senebkay at Abydos in 2014 (see ‘News’ in AE 82 and AE 89), a new mystery pharaoh has been found at the site, providing further evidence of a separate Abydos Dynasty (c.1700-1600 BC)…

Lost pharaoh’s tomb discovered

Excavations in Egypt have identified the long-lost tomb of King Thutmose II, the fourth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty. Thutmose II is believed to have ruled for just a few years around 1493-1479 BC, and is perhaps best known as…

Pharaoh: art and power in ancient Egypt

REVIEW BY SARAH GRIFFITHS This new British Museum publication explores the lives of the ancient Egyptians through objects held in the museum’s extensive Egyptology collection. Having first explained the basics (geography, the dynasty system, historical evidence, and the role of…

Right Ramesses II depicted as a child, wearing the side lock of youth and holding his finger to his mouth.

Crown Prince Ramesses: Pharaoh-in-waiting

Peter J Brand looks at how Sety I ensured his son and heir became the most well-prepared of all Egypt’s pharaohs.

Ramesses loved by Ptah: The history of a colossal royal statue

A selection of the latest publications on Egypt and Egyptology, assessed by AE’s team of experts.

Ivory label of King Den: From the William MacGregor Collection

Dr Campbell Price examines a tiny artefact in the British Museum
that names one of Egypt’s earliest pharaohs.

Below The ‘Ramesses Ra of Rulers’ colossus at Luxor Temple.

A family of god-kings: divine kingship in the early Nineteenth Dynasty

Peter J Brand begins a new series focusing on the Ramesside Period by exploring the divinity of the early Ramesside kings.

The Tomb of Tutankhamun: The Other Side of the Story

Review by Hilary Forrest Oh no – not another book about Tutankhamun! This one, however, is rather different. The first sections of the book cover the history of the Valley of the Kings, the early desecrations of the tombs, and…

Above The north wall of KV62 showing Ay performing the ‘opening of the mouth’ ritual on the mummy of Tutankhamun. Nicholas Reeves claims there are traces of Tutankhamun’s cartouches beneath those of Ay, suggesting the original scene was overpainted.

Does a hidden door in Tutankhamun’s tomb lead to Nefertiti?

Nicholas Reeves claims the north wall of KV62 originally depicted Tutankhamun burying Nefertiti and was later overpainted to show Ay burying Tutankhamun.

Opposite page Tutankhamun charges into battle in his chariot in a scene from a chest discovered in his tomb.

Warrior Tutankhamun: fragile pharaoh no more

In this special anniversary issue celebrating a hundred years since the discovery of KV62, we begin with new evidence that Bob Brier believes will change how we view Egypt’s most famous pharaoh.

The Past

Tutankhamun Quiz

In which year is Tutankhamun thought to have been born?

The mummy of Pharaoh Amenhotep I was left intact after discovery because of its perfect wrappings and beautiful face mask (FAR LEFT), but now CT scans have made it possible for researchers to ‘unwrap’ the mummy digitally (LEFT)

Unwrapping Amenhotep I

A team of scientists have used CT (computed tomography) scans to ‘unwrap’ Amenhotep I digitally and learn more about the mummy and its contents.

War of Words – ‘ARMAGEDDON’

'Armageddon’ came to English, via Greek, from Hebrew har megiddo, meaning ‘mountain of Megiddo.’

Taking a new look at life and death in Giza: how the pyramids built Egypt

The ancient Egyptian necropolis at Giza is one of the most celebrated archaeological sites in the world. Although the iconic pyramids dominating the plateau continue to excite awe and curiosity, these royal tombs are only one aspect of an extraordinary site. A new book reveals how the rich and poor, and the living and dead, rubbed shoulders at Giza, as Mark Lehner and Zahi Hawass told CWA's Matthew Symonds.

The Past

Pharaoh Djoser’s tomb reopens after restoration

A tomb belonging to King Djoser, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who lived in the Third Dynasty, over 4,500 years ago, has recently reopened to the public after extensive restoration work.

The Past

This week: Nefertiti

With her high cheekbones and long neck, she has been described as the 'world's first supermodel'. When her portrait bust went on display in 1923, she was hailed as an icon of timeless femininity. Since then, Nefertiti has been admired by everyone from Hitler to Beyoncé, and has provided inspiration to artists and writers around the world. Beyond all the adulation, however, what do we really know about this mysterious woman whose face has become so ubiquitous?

World News: Luxor, Napoleon, and Neanderthals

A round-up of some of the latest stories in Archaeology around the world, including a previously unknown city uncovered in Luxor, a tree from the Battle of Waterloo, and research into how Neanderthals spoke and heard.

World News: Egypt, China, Eurasia

News touching on CT scans of the mummified remains of Pharaoh Seqenenre-Taa-II (c.1558-1553 BC), a mistake uncovered on 800-year-old wall paintings in a cave in China, and a new theory concerning the domestication of dogs by early humans in Eurasia.

CT scanning of the mummy of Pharaoh Seqenenre revealed new information about the head

CT scans reveal a pharaoh’s violent death

Detailed study of the injuries to Seqenenre’s head has indicated that they were caused by several different weapons, suggesting that he was killed by multiple attackers

Statue of Ramesses VI

What is it? This granite statue depicts Pharaoh Ramesses VI, who reigned 1144-1137 BC. On the back is a hieroglyphic inscription that reads: ‘May [he] live, [the] good god, son of [the god] Amun, the protector, bull of Thebes, king…

Tutankhamun: a teenager’s journey to the afterlife

As the centenary of Howard Carter’s discovery looms, the largest collection of Tutankhamun’s grave goods ever to leave Egypt has embarked on a world tour. The objects, ranging from glittering treasures to everyday essentials, were assembled to ease the youthful pharaoh’s passage into the next world. For all their beauty, these artefacts also tell tales of belief, the burden of royal duties, and young love, as Tarek El Awady revealed to CWA's Matthew Symonds.

Nefertiti: recreating an icon

The painted limestone bust of the Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, recovered from the royal city of Amarna, is familiar across the world. This bust has inspired many copies – some very accurate, some far less so – so that many of us first ‘meet’ Nefertiti via one of these replicas. Recently, in an effort to understand the processes behind the creation of the original Nefertiti, Joyce Tyldesley commissioned her own replica.

The Past

Chamber of Secrets: what lies behind the walls of Tutankhamun’s tomb?

Telltale signs of a hidden doorway hint at more rooms beyond the boy king's burial chamber. If so, what lies within? Could it be the tomb of his stepmother Queen Nefertiti that has for so long eluded discovery?