The Funeral and the Tomb

The necropolis of Ancient Thebes, located on the west bank of the Nile, reveals a dynamic urban landscape for the dead that mirrors the city of the living. This funerary complex, extending from the Libyan mountains to the southwest, demonstrates how burial practices evolved with Theban expansion, transitioning from small mounds near the river to elaborate hypogea and tombs carved into cliffs. Key findings include the spatial organization of tombs, reflecting social hierarchies—from royal pyramids marking the resting places of Pharaohs like Amenophis I and Hatshepsut to districts for officials and commoners. The study highlights how this necropolis, with its chapels and terraces, served as both a historical record and a sacred space, preserving the legacy of Theban Egypt through architectural and funerary traditions.

(Ed.). (2013). THE FUNERAL AND THE TOMB. Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt, 149–168. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203040058-12