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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

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