Lost Tombs of Ancient Egypt
In search of the 18th Dynasty
The greatest discoveries of ancient Egypt are still yet to be discovered. Somewhere in sands of Egypt, the most important pharaonic tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty remain hidden and their precise locations are still a modern mystery.
The 18th Dynasty is classified as the first dynasty of the New Kingdom of Egypt, the era in which ancient Egypt achieved the peak of its power. The Eighteenth Dynasty spanned the period from 1550/1549 to 1292 BC and is considered the most notable.
During this period, Alexander The Great, is considered one of the legends of ancient history, and one of the greatest leaders of the ages. His tomb is one of the biggest mysteries. Many archaeologists have conflicting opinions and evidence on the exact location of the tomb that contains the remains of the founder of Alexandria.
Alexander The Great
In Babylon, Alexander fell seriously ill and died on 11 June 323 BCE. His body was taken to Egypt, where it was eventually displayed in a tomb at Alexandria. This tomb was visited by several historical figures, including Julius Caesar in 48 BCE, his adopted son Octavian (later Augustus) in 30 BCE, and the Emperor Caracalla in CE 215. However, during the modern era the exact location of the tomb faded into obscurity.
Some scholars believe Alexander the Great is buried in the Siwa Oasis in Egypt. According to the historian Pausanias, Ptolemy initially buried Alexander’s body in Memphis. With the end of the fourth century B.C. or the beginning of the third century B.C. at the beginning of the Ptolemaic era, Alexander’s body was moved from Memphis to Alexandria. However, until this day, his exact burial location remains unknown.
There are currently seven research teams still searching for Alexander the Great’s tomb and mummy in Egypt and many archaeologists are hoping they will be the first to find the mummy of the great Macedonian ruler. Recent excavations outside Alexandria, found a variety of artefacts, including coins featuring the name and images of Alexander the Great.
Nearby archaeologists recently discovered an underground tunnel, which may lead to the long-lost tomb of the Ptolemaic Dynasty Queen Cleopatra beneath Egypt’s ancient Taposiris Magna Temple. The Ptolemaic Dynasty was founded by Soter, a general in Alexander’s army.
Nefertiti
Among the missing family member tombs are Queen Nefertiti, queen of ancient Egypt and wife of Akhenaten, controversial king of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Nefertiti is one of the most powerful women in human history to have lived. The 18th Dynasty is unique among Egyptian dynasties in that it had two queens who ruled as sole pharaoh: Hatshepsut and Nefertiti.
Although Akhenaten lies buried in Amarna, Nefertiti separated from her ruler before his death during the plague and returned to Thebes (Luxor) to live with her family. As a consequence, Akhenaten instructed authorities to remove her cartouche from all public buildings, making the search for the Queen’s tomb and burial site difficult.
Leading the search for Nefertiti’s tomb, is archaeologist Nicholas Reeves of the University of Arizona. Based on new evidence, Reeves believes that she is buried near the tomb of her son, Tutankhamun. Recently discovered wall paintings inside the tomb, show the boy king performing Nefertiti’s burial rites before his death. After Tut’s unexpected death, the earlier cartouches were painted over by his successor, Aye.
This suggests that the original burial chamber for Tutankhamun may have been intended for his step mother. It may also explain why subsequently following his unexpected death, the contents of the king’s chamber were hastily emptied and filled with his sarcophagus and its treasures.
The new evidence supports the theory that Tutankhamun’s tomb is merely the outer section of a much larger tomb prepared for Nefertiti, whose own, independent funerary chambers are located on site. Clues may be found in period Egyptian writings that mention notables who likely rated tombs but have not been identified.
In 2018, Reeves undertook high-resolution images of Tutankhamun’s tomb revealed lines underneath plastered surfaces of painted walls, suggesting unexplored doorways exist, although other experts felt that the scans were inconclusive. He argues that recent studies, including thermal imaging and mould analysis, support his case.
According to historians, the most likely resting place location of a crown of Upper Egypt, could be in either Queen Cleopatra’s tomb or Nefertiti’s.
Ankhesenamun
This leads us to examine the final family member from the 18th Dynasty, missing, who in her own right should have ruled ancient Egypt as pharaoh following the death of her husband and pharaoh, Tutankhamun’s wife and Queen, Ankhesenamun.
Ankhesenamun is among the beautiful queens of the Amarna Era who are famous and influential in the history of ancient Egypt. She was the wife of Tutankhamun and the daughter of monotheist pharaoh, Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti.
During the post-Amarna Era, while still recovering from the shock of losing childhood friend and husband prematurely, Ankhesenamun was pressured to marry the Priest of Amun and successor, Aye. Although she refused, her grandmother was Queen Tiye and her mother was also Nefertiti.
Instead, Ankhesenamun made a desperate plea to the rival Hittite king, Suppiluliuma I to save herself and Egypt by sending a prince she would agree to marry as the rightful heir. Archaeologist Howard Carter believed that Ankhesenamun was a woman of substance:
“She was, it seems, a lady of some force of character. The idea of retiring into the background in favor of a new queen did not appeal to her, and immediately upon the death of her husband she began to scheme”.
The episode ended on the borders of Egypt with the murder of Zannanza, the Hittite prince who was dispatched to wed Ankhesenamun, afterwards Ankhe agreed to marry Aye. However, in Aye’s valley tomb, only his consort Queen Tey appears on the funeral walls.
Notably, Ay was buried in the tomb intended for Tutankhamun in the West Valley (WV23), and Tutankhamun was interred in Ay’s intended tomb in the East Valley (KV62) for his step-mother.
Ankhesenamun’s tomb has never been discovered. However, researchers believe she may be buried in Cemetery 63 in the Valley of the Kings next to her husband, Tutankhamun’s tomb. Numerous DNA testing on recovered mummies in the area have proven inconclusive and the modern search for the last Sun Queen of Amarna continues.
There are several other 18th Dynasty pharaoh tombs in absentia, including Thutmose II/III, Ramses VIII and Ramses VIII were buried in the Valley of the Kings (KV) in Thebes. To locate the 18th Dynasty, visit Theban Mapping Project.
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