Gebelein Archaeological Project & Ptolemaic Pathyris Project

Bardzo dziękujemy członkom jury oraz internautom, którzy głosowali na nasz projekt w konkursie Archeologiczne Sensacje 2025, zorganizowanym przez Archeologia Żywa.

Już sam fakt, że nasza publikacja została zauważona, był dla nas ogromnym wyróżnieniem - zwłaszcza że konkurowaliśmy z tyloma znakomitymi przedsięwzięciami.

Tym milej nam poinformować, że zajęliśmy 3. miejsce w kategorii „Najlepsza premiera dziedzictwa” z projektem „Gebelein: cyfrowa rekonstrukcja grobowca nomarchy Iniego”, w którym za pomocą narzędzi cyfrowych przywróciliśmy do badań zaginiony grobowiec sprzed 4 tysięcy lat.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPzl4e-lDpw

𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗯 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗜𝗜𝗜 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿
𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀

Today, we attended the opening ceremony of the tomb of Amenhotep III, following the conservation project. We want to thank Dr Abdel Ghafar Wagdy, Director General of Luxor Antiquities, for his kind invitation to the event. It was a memorable moment and a great privilege!

The long-sealed tomb of King Amenhotep III (KV 22, c. 1390–1352 BC), one of the largest and most magnificent royal tombs in the Theban necropolis, is located in the Western Valley — a branch of the Valley of the Kings — following one of the most extensive conservation projects ever undertaken in the region.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled, marking a historic milestone: for the first time since its discovery more than 200 years ago, the tomb is now secure and accessible to visitors.
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A Royal Legacy of Peace and Prosperity

Amenhotep III, the ninth king of Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty, presided over a golden age of peace, prosperity, and artistic achievement. His names were found even in the royal tombs in Mycenae. Amenhotep’s reign saw Egypt reach the height of its power and influence, leaving behind a monumental legacy that still dominates modern Luxor — from the towering Colossi of Memnon to major sections of the Luxor and Karnak Temples.

His tomb, KV 22, reflects the grandeur of his era. Descending corridors lead to a vast burial chamber whose ceiling is adorned with golden stars set against a deep blue sky, while painted walls depict the king receiving the ankh — the symbol of life — from the gods. Passages from the 'Book of the Amduat' narrate his journey through the night into eternal rebirth.
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From Neglect to Renewal

Despite its historical importance, the tomb remained closed and largely unseen for generations. Since its discovery in 1799, KV 22 suffered extensive damage — from early explorers who removed painted heads from walls as souvenirs to centuries of bat activity, salt crystallisation, and humidity that darkened the walls. Structural cracks spread through the chamber pillars, and the red granite sarcophagus lid was shattered into hundreds of fragments. By the late 20th century, the tomb faced the threat of collapse.
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Two Decades of International Collaboration

The transformation of KV 22 is the result of over two decades of dedicated international cooperation. The project, “Conservation of the Wall Paintings of the Royal Tomb of Amenhotep III,” was implemented in three major phases with support from UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust:

• Phase I (2001–2004) and Phase II (2010–2012): A joint team of Egyptian, Japanese, and Italian specialists stabilised the tomb, conserved paintings in rooms E, I, and J (the sarcophagus chamber), and reassembled more than 200 fragments of the shattered sarcophagus lid.

• Phase III (2023–2024): Led by Higashi Nippon International University under the guidance of UNESCO Cairo and supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, this final phase addressed the deteriorated wall paintings in the burial chamber. Conservation work included structural repairs, cleaning and stabilising wall surfaces, biological monitoring, and preventive measures for stored fragments.

The project not only preserved and documented the tomb’s delicate paintings but also trained 195 Egyptian heritage professionals and engaged local communities — including children and women — in heritage education and site stewardship.

Today, KV 22 reopens with enhanced safety measures and a comprehensive site management plan, contributing to the ongoing preservation and interpretation of Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.
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Amenhotep III and His Eternal Resting Place

Amenhotep III was the son of Thutmose IV and Queen Mutemwia. He married Queen Tiye, a powerful figure of non-royal birth who is often depicted alongside him as an equal. Among his many architectural achievements, he built the core of Luxor Temple, expanded Karnak, and constructed numerous monuments across Egypt.

The layout of his tomb resembles that of his father’s (KV 43), though it was never fully completed despite his long reign. The most significant chambers, particularly the burial chamber, were richly decorated with celestial ceilings, divine scenes, and texts from the 'Book of the Amduat'. The king’s mummy was originally interred here but later reburied in a cache within the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV 35) during the 21st Dynasty. Among the mummies recovered in Amenhotep's tomb was that of a woman believed to be Queen Tiye.