The Tomb of Ramesses IV (KV 2)

The tomb of Ramesses IV is one of the rare tombs from ancient Egypt for which a plan has been preserved. A fragmentary papyrus, now in the Turin Museum, clearly shows the tomb’s layout, together with annotations naming the various corridors and chambers. The naming of individual elements of the tomb helped to describe the nocturnal path of the sun god, Re, as he made his way through the tomb, deeper and deeper into the netherworld, towards his eventual re-birth on the eastern horizon the following morning.

It seems that time constraints may have led to a number of notable modifications in the overall design of the tomb. Ramesses IV dramatically reduced the scale of the decorative programme. He also cut down on the number of architectural components traditionally seen in earlier royal tombs within the valley. He even dispensed with subsidiary side chambers. However, there may have been mitigating circumstances for the total absence of any pillars from the tomb. It seems that the original plan for the inclusion of a pillared hallway was abandoned – quite possibly upon Ramesses’s death. The space was re-redesigned as the king’s burial chamber. Gone from this tomb are the steeply sloping staircases, so conspicuous in the earlier tombs. The approach to the burial chamber is almost horizontal.

Date of Construction: 20th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses IV (c. 1153 – 1146 B.C.)

Highlights:
Book of Nut and Book of the Night (burial chamber ceiling)
Introduction of a new Underworld composition, the “Book of Caverns”
King’s magnificent pink granite sarcophagus

Your personal expert guide to The Tomb of Ramesses IV (KV 2): £2.99

 

1. Introduction to the Tomb of Ramesses IV - 2:13
2. Architectural Design of the Tomb - 1:56
3. First & Second Corridors, The Litany of Re - 2:07
4. Third Corridor, The Book of Caverns, 1st Division - 1:27
5. Third Corridor, Book of Caverns, 2nd Division - 1:25
6. The Antechamber - 1:11
7. The Burial Chamber - 1:07
8. Burial Chamber, The Book of Gates, 2nd Hour - 3:18
9. Burial Chamber, The Book of Gates, 3rd Hour - 1:37
10. Burial Chamber, The Book of Gates, 4th Hour - 1:14
11. Burial Chamber, The Book of Nut - 1:31
12. Burial Chamber, The Book of the Night - 1:36
13. Rear Corridors of the Tomb - 1:16

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