Tomb of Siphtah: With the Tomb of Queen Tiyi (Duckworth Egyptology) [Paperback]

Theodore M. Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001 | Series: Duckworth Egyptology

On January 6, 1907 a mysterious tomb was uncovered in the Valley of the Kings by English archaeologist Edward R. Ayrton, digging on behalf of Theodore M. Davis. Initially identified as the burial of Amenophis III's queen, Tiye (Tîyi), on the basis of a spectacular gilded shrine which formed part of the burial equipment, the body itself was later recognized as that of a man buried in a coffin adapted for the use of an Amarna-period pharaoh. Was this the mummy of Akhenaten himself, as some at the time believed? Or the body of Akhenaten's mysterious co-regent, Smenkhkare? Almost a century later, Tomb 55 (as it is now generally known) continues to baffle archaeologist and Egyptologist alike. The Tomb of Queen Tîyi, which first appeared in 1910, was Davis's official account of the enigmatic Tomb 55 discovery, and remains a crucial source both for the Amarna period and for Valley of the Kings studies generally. It is here republished with Davis's equally fundamental The Tomb of Siphtah, which details the excavator's discoveries of 1905-7 - among them the extraordinary ‘animal tombs’ and the ‘Gold Tomb’, one of the greatest caches of 19th Dynasty jewelry ever found.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Theodore M. Davis (1837-1915) was a wealthy American financier and lawyer and one of the key figures in the history of archaeological exploration in the Valley of the Kings. He had the reputation of uncovering a new tomb every season, and his finds now fill a gallery in the Cairo Museum.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Duckworth Publishers (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715630733
• ISBN-13: 978-0715630730
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,721,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars KV55 and other tombs. Pertinent to the DNA of Tutankhaten, February 22, 2010

By 

Edward H. Carlson (Okemos Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tomb of Siphtah: With the Tomb of Queen Tiyi (Duckworth Egyptology) (Paperback)

This book is a reprint of two reports by Davis, who early in the 20th century excavated several tombs in the Valley of the Kings. In particular, one of the tombs is the infamous KV55 which has been a source of much speculation about the mummy, sarcophagus, and other items found there. This tomb was first believed to be the tomb of Tiye, queen of Amenhotep III, mother of Akhenaten and grandmother of Tutankhamen. Wrong. The mummy turned out to be male and much speculation occurred about who it might be. The Discovery Channel program on February 21, 2010, about the DNA of Tutankhamen, disclosed the unknown mummy to be Akhenaten himself, the father of Tutankhamen. The other tombs included in this book are KV47 of Queen Taworset and Pharaoh Sipath; the animal tombs 50, 51, and 52; and 56, the Gold Tomb. This fine edition is published in a large format on glossy paper and has a discussion of the finds, with hieroglyph inscriptions from items in the tombs, translated. There are many black and white photos. While much more is known today about these tombs, this early discussion carries the excitement of discovery, and some details not easily available elsewhere. A forward by Nicholas Reeves refers to his book (with Richard Wilkinson): The Complete Valley of the Kings, Tombs and Treasures of Egypt's Greatest Pharaohs, which is a treasure trove on the subject.