SKV 7 (Rameses II)
 

General Site Information
Structure: KV 7
Location: Valley of the Kings, East Valley, Thebes West Bank, Thebes
Owner: Rameses II
Other designations: 10 [Hay], 7 [Lepsius], 8 [Champollion], C [Pococke], Commencement d'excavation ou grotte fermée [Description], K [Burton]
Site type: Tomb

Description

KV 7, located in the main wadi, is one of the larger tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Three sloping corridors (B, C, D) lead to a well chamber (E) and a pillared chamber (F) with two side chambers (Fa, Faa). A central descent and two corridors (G, H) lead to an another chamber (I). In this chamber, a change of axis occurs to the right (northeast) and leads to the burial chamber J and its six adjacent side chambers (Ja-f). Side chamber Jd has two side chambers (Jdd, Jddd).

The design of KV 7 conforms to the bent axis plan: the entrance to the tomb is dug into the Theban limestone hillside near the valley floor, and the passage descends for about 58 meters (190 feet) into the bedrock at an angle that varies between 12 and 22 degrees. It then continues approximately level for another 12 meters (39 feet), then turns to the right and terminates in the burial chamber J, which is partly carved in a layer of Esna shale.

Since the entrance to KV 7 lies at a particularly low spot in the Valley, it has been vulnerable to flooding, with evidence of several incidents preserved in the layers of debris fill. Because of the flood damage, much of the wall decoration is damaged or missing, but most of the scenes can be reconstructed from fragments.

KV 7 is decorated with scenes from the Book of Gates (burial chamber J, side chamber Ja, side chamber Jd), Book of the Dead (stairwell C, chamber I, side chamber Jddd), Book of the Heavenly Cow (side chamber Jf), Imydwat (corridor D, well chamber E, burial chamber J, side chamber Jb, side chamber Jc, side chamber Jd, side chamber Je), Litany of Ra (corridor B, gate C, stairwell C), Opening of the Mouth Ritual (corridor G, gate H, corridor H), the deceased and deities (corridor B, gate D, well chamber E, gate I, chamber I, gate J, burial chamber J, gate Ja, gate Jddd, gate Je, side chamber Jc, side chamber Jd, side chamber Jdd, side chamber Jddd, side chamber Je), and representations of funerary objects (burial chamber J, side chamber Jdd).

The decorative program includes two new features: the lintel and jambs of the first gate (B). The basic decorative plan follows the example of KV 17 (Sety I), with figures and inscriptions done in raised and sunk relief.

Noteworthy features

This is the first king's tomb in the lower part of the central wadi. There are several architectural and decorative innovations including a return to the bent axis plan and a decorated gate B.

There are several unique features as well. There are several large side chambers off burial chamber J. There is an Osiris figure in a recess in side chamber Je. The doors of gate E opened outwards. The well shaft was decorated.

Site History
The tomb was open in antiquity, but it been almost completely filled with flood debris since then. According to the "Strike Papyrus" in the Turin Museum, two tomb robbers tried to enter KV 7 during the regnal year 29 of Rameses III in Dynasty 20. In Dynasty 21, Rameses II's mummy was moved first to KV 17, then to the cache in the tomb of Queen Inhapy at Dayr al Bahri, TT 320, where it was found in 1881.

Dating
This site was used during the following period(s):
    -  New Kingdom, Dynasty 19, Rameses II
    -  Graeco-Roman Era
    -  New Kingdom, Dynasty 21
    -  New Kingdom, Dynasty 20, Rameses III

History of Exploration
Pococke, Richard (1737-1738): Mapping/planning
Napoleonic Expedition (1799): Mapping/planning
Burton, James (1825): Mapping/planning
Franco-Tuscan Expedition (1828-1829): Epigraphy
Lepsius, Carl Richard (1844-1845): Epigraphy
Lepsius, Carl Richard (1844-1845): Excavation
Lepsius, Carl Richard (1845): Mapping/planning
Burton, Harry (1913-1914): Excavation (conducted on behalf of Theodore M. Davis)
Maystre, Charles (1938): Epigraphy
Maystre, Charles (1938): Excavation
Brooklyn Museum (1978): Excavation
Theban Mapping Project (1979): Mapping/planning
Leblanc, Christian (1993-): Conservation
Leblanc, Christian (1993-): Excavation
Leblanc, Christian (2002): Epigraphy
Salt, Henry (ca. 1817): Excavation
Salt, Henry (ca. 1817): Visit

Conservation
 -  Conservation history: The tomb is currently undergoing excavation by C. Leblanc. In the process, cracked sections of the ceiling of the burial chamber Jand other chambers are being reinforced by staineless steel rods and plates.
 -  Site condition: The tomb of Rameses II provides an example of the flood damage that tombs in the Valley of the Kings have endured over the centuries. KV 7 has sustained damage from at least ten major floods. The first water damage was probably done to the tomb after the Graeco-Roman period. The different floods are distinguishable in the debris layers in the tomb, with pieces of wall decoration wedged between layers of silt, gravel, and soil.

Printable Tomb Drawings

Axis in degrees: 324.76
Axis orientation: Northwest

Site Location
Latitude: 25.44 N
Longitude: 32.36 E
Elevation: 169.75 msl
North: 99,621.308
East: 94,063.747
JOG map reference: NG 36-10
Modern governorate: Qena (Qina)
Ancient nome: 4th Upper Egypt
Surveyed by TMP: Yes

Measurements
Maximum height: 5.82 m
Minimum width: 0.74 m
Maximum width: 13.06 m
Total length: 168.05 m
Total area: 868.4 m²
Total volume: 2286.43 m³

Additional Tomb Information
Entrance location: Base of sloping hill
Owner type: King
Entrance type: Ramp
Interior layout: Corridors and chambers
Axis type: Bent

Decoration
Grafitti
Painting
Raised relief
Sunk relief

Categories of Objects Recovered
Sculpture
Tomb equipment
Vessels