The Royal Necropolis
Tanis - Capital Cities
What: Tombs of some of the Pharaohs of the 21st and 22nd Dynasties from the 3rd Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt
When: First discovered in 1939
Who: Discovered and first excavated by Pierre Montet and his Team
How: The Tombs had been obscured by later building projects from the Ptolemaic-Greek Era of Egypt and therefore seem to have been left untouched by period or latter-day Tomb Robbers, similar to the Tomb of Tutankhamun
What remained: Regrettably, and due to the more water available in the Delta area of Northern Egypt versus the more arid climate of Southern Egypt, much of the Wooden remains have perished all the Necropolis
On 27th February 1939, the Team found tomb NRT1 and soon added a further 6 to the total. These were assigned as follows:-
Tomb: NRT1 – Burial for: Pharaoh Osorkon II – Secondary Burial for: His son, High Priest of Amun at Thebes, Prince Nimlot C
Potential Reburials inside the Tomb: His Grandson, Pharaoh Takelot I & his Great Grandson, Pharaoh Shoshenq III
Burial Items: Pharaoh Osorkon II had a granite sarcophagus with a hawk headed coffin and canopic jars remaining in situ
Pharaoh Takelot I was buried in a Middle Kingdom style sarcophagus
Pharaoh Shoshenq III was reburied here and it is possible that Pharaoh Shoshenq V was also reburied here due to canopic equipment
Tomb: NRT2 – Burial for: Pharaoh Pami
Tomb: NRT3 – Burial for: Pharaoh Psusennes I – Secondary Burial for: Pharaoh Amenemope, Siamun, Pharaoh Psusennes II and Pharaoh Shoshenq II
Tomb: NRT4 – Burial for: No-one found, but it was built for Pharaoh Amenemope
Tomb: NRT5 – Burial for: Pharaoh Shoshenq III – Secondary Burial for: Pharaoh Shoshenq IV
Tombs: NRT6 and NRT7 – Burial for: Unknown Mummies
As with other Royal Necropolis’ burials, Tombs have been used, burials removed, re-used and reconfigured. No Egyptologist has an “easy ride” when identifying a Tomb, the original occupant or current occupant of that Royal Tomb. Tanis does not change this.
Pharaoh Psusennes I
Pharaoh's Silver Coffin. Silver was rarer in Egypt than Gold at the time so this was at a huge expense
Pharaoh's Gold & Lapis Lazuli Collar
Pharaoh's Scarab Ring
1.8kg Solid Gold Bracelet and 8kg Solid Gold Necklace
Pharaoh's Solid Gold Death Mask with Black and White Glass for the Eyes and Eyebrows
Pharaoh's Jewellery
Pharaoh's Jewellery
Pectoral of Princess Sithathor with Cartouche of King Senusret II
1 of a pair of bracelets found on the mummy of Pharaoh Sheshonq II. Horus’ protective Eye looks after Pharaoh for his journey. Though the bracelets are engraved with the names of one of his predeceasors, the Pharaoh Sheshonq I
Solid Gold Mask of High Priest and General Undjebauendjed, found in the Royal Necropolis, Tanis
Wadjet cobra, sole survivor of Pharaoh Senusret II’s treasure
Pectoral of Shoshenq II
Silver Egyptian coffin of Shoshenq II
Gold Funerary Mask
of Pharaoh Shoshenq
Funerary Jewellery of Pharaoh Amenemope
Left: Solid Gold Funerary Mask of Pharaoh Amenemope : Middle: Solid Gold Funerary Mask of Pharaoh Psusennes I :
Right: Solid Gold Coffin Mask of Pharaoh Amenemope
