QV 55

Prince Amenherkhepshef

QV 55 is located at the western end of the main Wadi, and is oriented along a Northeast-Southwest axis, similar to QV 52 and QV 53. A long entry Ramp (A) leads into chamber (B) with a side chamber (Ba) to the north. Chamber (B) is followed by burial chamber (C) with side chamber (Ca) to the north and ends in a low-ceilinged rear chamber (D). This rear chamber (D) contains a granite Sarcophagus. The entry ramp has modern masonry Steps replacing the previous wooden steps. Extensive sunken relief painted plaster survives throughout the tomb. Though once evidently boldly colored, the general appearance is now abraded and the colors appear somewhat faded.

QV 55 belongs to Amenherkhepshef, the ninth on the list of sons of Rameses III at Medinet Habu. There he is given the name of Rameses-Amenherkhepshef and is listed as having died, something which probably occurred before year 30 of the reign of Rameses III. He should not be confused with his predecessor, Amenherkhepshef, son of Rameses II. He was given the titles of 'king's scribe' and 'great commander of the cavalry', as well as the more common "king's son of his body whom he loves'. Nowhere is he given the title 'king's eldest son.' Judging by the location of his tomb, it is believed that he was a son of queen Tyti, whose tomb (QV 52) is in the same area. He may not even have been buried in the QV but in KV 13, where excavations revealed a re-carved sarcophagus of Tausert with his name. A partial stelae showing his image was found at the Sanctuary to Ptah and Meretseger, probably an ex-voto by craftsmen who worked on his tomb, and a relief from Karnak and a fragment of a stela from Deir el-Medina also bear his name. 

Ernesto Schiaparelli followed the trace of the ancient dam and found the upper part of the entrance ramp to the tomb in 1904. At its discovery, part of the plastered wall, which originally sealed the entrance, remained in situ. The tomb was empty except for a few funerary objects and an unfinished sarcophagus. The sarcophagus was found in corridor C, but was re-located to Chamber D to allow passage through the narrow space. The Italian mission also constructed surround walls and a vaulted cover over the entrance and installed a heavy metal door. Elizabeth Thomas (1959-60) noted that the entrance had been re-sealed with plaster after thieves had broken through, and Guy Lecuyot suggests that the tomb location was lost during the Third Intermediate Period. The Franco-Egyptian Mission carried out investigations in the tomb in 1988. Currently the tomb is open to visitation, except for side chambers (Ba) and (Ca) that are closed off. Glass barriers, fluorescent lighting, and wooden flooring have been installed. Previously, low wooden barriers were used. There are no barriers around doorway leading into the burial chamber and in chamber D.