QV 46
Imhotep*
About
About
QV 46 is located on the south side of the road in the southwest branch of the main Wadi, adjacent to the retaining wall. It is a simple shaft tomb with a single chamber. The entrance is protected by a masonry surround.
QV 46 is attributed to Imhotep, the Governor of the City, judge, and Vizier during the reign of Thutmes I. Inscriptions found in a temple record that he was also a tutor to the sons of the king.
The tomb was discovered by Ernesto Schiaparelli (1903-1905) and, with it, some original artifacts belonging to the vizier Imhotep - his mummy was recovered along with funerary goods, including mummified offerings, wooden boxes, baskets, alabaster plaques, and part of a canopic jar inscribed with his name. The objects are now housed in the Turin Museum. Schiaparelli also noted that tomb robbers probably left the tomb open, allowing it to fill with flood waters carrying debris. The tomb had filled by the time of Elizabeth Thomas’ survey and she suggested that his burial in the valley may have been due to his role as tutor to the children of the Pharaoh. The tomb was last cleared by the Franco-Egyptian Mission in 1984 and they later discovered Ramesside Ostraca near the tomb entrance in 1989.
Site History
The tomb was constructed in the 18th Dynasty.
Dating
This site was used during the following period(s):
Exploration
Conservation
Conservation History
In 2009, the SCA installed a modern masonry surround.
Site Condition
According to the GCI-SCA, the shaft is cut into highly fractured shale. The single chamber of the tomb was also cut into shale, with heavy salt deposition in the extensively jointed walls. Guano (bat excrement) on the chamber floor suggests that bats occasionally roost in the tomb, though none were observed by the GCI-SCA. Despite the heavily fractured nature of the rock, the tomb was judged to be stable. No signs of recent rock collapse is apparent, excepting the continued erosion of the tomb shaft. Given the commentary from Ernesto Schiaparelli and Elizabeth Thomas, QV 46 seems to have a history of flooding, though there is no direct evidence of flooding currently visible. Nevertheless, its location at the bottom of the southern slope confirms the threat of flood waters and debris.
Hieroglyphs
Imhotep
Governor of the City, Vizier, Imhotep ("coming in peace")
imy-r niwt TAty ii-m-Htp
View of entrances to QV45, QV46, QV47, and south branch of wadi
Entrances to QV47 and QV46 in foreground with QV44 and QV45 in background.
Entrances to QV33, QV87, QV47, and QV46.
Entrances to QV30, QV46, and QV47
Southeastern side of the main wadi with a view of the southern branch. Entrances to QV29, QV30, QV31, QV32, QV33, QV45, QV46, QV47, and QV48
Southeastern side of the main wadi with entrances to QV26, QV27, and QV29 on the right and QV30, QV31, QV32, QV33, QV46, and QV47 on the left
Alabaster canopic jar from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5073)
Alabaster canopic jar from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5073).
Alabaster canopic jar from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5073).
Alabaster plaque inscribed with the name and titles of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5074).
Alabaster plaque inscribed with the name and titles of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5074).
Baked clay vase support painted with white slip from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5075).
Baked clay vase support painted with white slip from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5075).
Woven basket made of plant fibers from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S. 5076, no.2).
Carved wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5077).
Carved wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5077).
Carved wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5077).
Carved wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5078).
Carved wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5078).
Carved wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5079).
Carved wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5079).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of poultry meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S. 5080, no.2).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of poultry meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S. 5080, no.2).
Interior view of a wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5081).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5082).
Interior view of a wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5082).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5083).
Interior view of a wooden container with a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5083).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5084).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5085).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5085).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5085).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5086).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5086).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5087).
Interior view of a wooden container with the remains of a victual (food) mummy of beef thigh and rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5087).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5088).
Interior view of a wooden container with a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5088).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5089).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5089).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5090).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5090).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5091).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5091).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5092).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy of duck meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5092).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5093).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5093).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5094).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5094).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5095).
Interior view of a wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5097).
Wooden container for a victual (food) mummy from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5097).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5101).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5101).
Victual (food) mummy of beef backbone meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5103).
Victual (food) mummy of beef backbone meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5104).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5105/1).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5105/2).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5105/3).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5105/4).
Victual (food) mummy of beef rib meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5105/5).
Victual (food) mummy of bovine hindleg meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5106/1).
Victual (food) mummy of bovine hindleg meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5106/2).
Victual (food) mummy of bovine hindleg meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5106/3).
Victual (food) mummy of bovine hindleg meat from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5106/4).
Lotus-shaped pendant with gold and glazed faience inlay from the tomb of Imhotep (QV 46). Courtesy of the Egyptian Museum in Turin (S.5108).
Shaft entrance of QV 46. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View down the shaft entrance of QV 46. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Debris from collapse in QV 46. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Ceiling of the main chamber. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Ceiling of main chamber. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Shaft entrance with new masonry surround and metal grill. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Articles
Tomb Numbering Systems in the Valley of the Queens and the Western Wadis
Geography and Geology of the Valley of the Queens and Western Wadis
The Italian Mission in the Valley of the Queens (1903-1905): History of excavation, Discoveries, and the Turin Museum Collection
Bibliography
CNRS mission report: Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France). Rapport des activités scientifiques et administratives 1992-1994. URA no. 1064. Recherches sur les nécropoles thébaines et le Ramésseum; Publication des temples de la Nubie, 1992-1994.
Demas, Martha and Neville Agnew (eds). Valley of the Queens. Assessment Report. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, 2012, 2016. Two vols.
Dolzani, Claudia. Vasi canopi no. 19001-19153. Catalogo del Museo egizio di Torino. Milan: Cisalpino-La goliardica, 1982: 18-19.
Leblanc, Christian. Ta set nefrou: une nécropole de Thèbes-ouest et son histoire, 1: géographie- toponymie: historique de l'exploration scientifique du site. Cairo: Nubar Printing House, 1989.
Porter, Bertha and Rosalind L.B. Moss. Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs, and Paintings, I: The Theban Necropolis, Part 2: Royal Tombs and Smaller Cemeteries. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1964.
Schiaparelli, Ernesto. Realazione sui lavon della Missione archeologica italiana in Egitto, anni 1903-1920. Explorazione della “Valle delle Regina” nella necropolis di Tebe. Vol. 1. Turin: Casa editrice Giovanni Chiantore, 1923.
Thomas, Elizabeth. The Royal Necropoleis of Thebes. Princeton: privately printed, 1966.
