The East Wall

This can be considered divided into two areas of uneven size, separated by the representation of Ahmose and his grandson Paheri: the large inscription to the right (south) and the entry to the annexe, surrounded with its text (north). Over the large inscription is a banner containing an invocatory prayer. This wall, unlike the facing west one, does not have a kheker frieze, the whole of this side of the arched ceiling being undecorated.

1) - The annexe entry

This opening, located close to the north-east corner of the main chamber, provides access to a smaller one, the floor of which is almost entirely occupied by a funerary shaft. It appears to have been a later addition to the rest of the chapel, but its production didn't destroy any text.
Surrounding the entry is inscribed an invocatory prayer, starting at top centre with a single line, progressing to two vertical columns on either side.

On the left-hand side: "An offering given by the king (to) Anubis, the one who governs the divine pavilion, so that he may give invocatory offerings (consisting of) bread, beer, cattle, poultry, all good and pure things, a beautiful burial in the eastern necropolis in peace […] by the great god for the ka of the crew commander, Ahmose, justified. It is his daughter's son who makes live his name in this place, the scribe, Pahery.".

On the right-hand side: An offering given by the king (to) Anubis, Lord of Ra-Qereret, so that he grants an invocatory offering (consisting of) bread, beer, cattle, poultry, all good and pure things, and to go out on the land to see the apparitions of […] for the ka of the crew commander, Ahmose, justified. It is his daughter's son who makes live his name in this place, scribe Pahery.".

2) - Ahmose and Paheri

(see )

Ahmose is represented in heroic size. He is clothed in a white kilt tied on the front, overlaid with a transparent one which descends to below his knee. He wears a short round wig with ringlets, a large usekh necklace spreads around his neck, and he wears bracelets around his wrists and arms. With his left hand, he clutches a long staff, and with the right hand he holds a sekhem sceptre.
Paheri is represented standing in front of him, much smaller, as usually depicted of a descendant. He holds his scribal palette in his left hand, the right merely dangling along the body. Above him is a statement which has already been discussed on page 1 in "The Person", where he presents himself as the one who created the chapel for his ancestor.

3) - The banner above the long inscription of the right side of the wall

(see )

This is to be read from right to left: "An offering which the king gives (to) Nekhbet of the White Crown and (to) Osiris, The one who governs the West, so that he may grant an invocatory offering (consisting of) bread, beer, cattle, poultry, (vases of) alabaster, (pieces of) fine cloth, incense, ointment, which is well provided on the earth in all things, to go out in the form of living ba and to organise (victuals).".

4) - The Long Inscription : The Autobiography of Ahmose

The columns of text of the autobiography read from left to right, even though the individual hieroglyphs in each column face right and read from right to left. Columns 1 to 31 are on the east wall and continue on the south wall with columns 32 to 40. Column 32, the first column on the south wall, is totally destroyed; the last two columns, next to the entrance, are partially destroyed.

The text has been subdivided here into several sections, with sub-titles added, making it easier to understand. By selecting the column numbers against each section title, you can display the appropriate part of the copy of , showing the hieroglyphic text.

Introduction

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[1] The crew commander (lit. "chief of the rowers") , Ahmose, son of Abana, justified (lit. "true of voice", thus "deceased") ; [2]he says: "I speak you, oh all you people. I am going to let you know the honours which have befallen me. I have been rewarded with gold seven times, [3]in the presence of the entire country, with servants and maidservants also. I was endowed with very numerous pieces of land. A man's renown depends according to what he has done [4]without ever perishing in this land."

Ahmose's youth

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He speaks as follows: "I grew in the city of Nekheb (present day El Kab) . My father was in command (in the army) of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Sekenen-Re (Sekenenre Ta'a II, Theban Prince, next-to-last king of the XVIIth Dynasty, about 1600 B.C.) , justified; Baba, [5]son of Ra-inet, was his name. I became a commander in his place, on the ship "Pa Sema" ("The Fighting Bull") , in the time of the Lord of the Two Lands, Neb-Pehty-Re (son of Sekenen-Re–Ta'a, and founder of the 18th Dynasty, about 1580–1558 B.C.) , justified. [6]I was a young man; I was not married and I slept in a net hammock. After I had established a household, I was taken [7]to the northern fleet, because of my courage.

War against the Hyksos, with king Ahmosis

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I accompanied the sovereign, (L.P.H.), (Life-Prosperity-Health) , on dry land, following on foot when he was on his chariot. [8]When we laid siege to the city of Avaris, and I had the opportunity to prove my valour, on foot, in the presence of his Majesty. I was then promoted [9]to the ship "khaemmennefer" ("That which shines in Memphis") ; we then fought on water, in the Pa-djed-ku canal of Avaris (which shows that the fighting took place on land and on water) . I made a capture, [10]I brought back a hand (to prove he had killed an enemy, the soldier would cut off a hand and bring it back so as to count the dead) . When the fact was reported to the royal herald, I was given the gold of valour. Then they fought again in this place and again I made a capture, [11] and carried off a hand, and I was awarded the gold of valour all over again. Then there was fighting in Egypt, to the south of this city; [12] I carried off a prisoner, a man. I went down to the water, see, he was brought back as if he was captured on the way from [13]the city (Ahmose brought back his prisoner, therefore, as if he had been on dry land) : I crossed the water while carrying him, and it was reported to the royal herald; then I was rewarded, once again, with gold. Then Avaris [14]was plundered; I brought back spoils from there: a man, three women, total: four persons; his Majesty gave them to me as servants. [15]Then Sharuhen (a stronghold to the south of the present Palestine where the Hyksos had retreated) was besieged for three years. His Majesty then plundered it; from there I brought spoils: two women and a hand. [16]I was assigned the gold of valour all over again, while the captives were given to me as servants.

With king Ahmosis, during the campaigns of Nubia

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After his Majesty had slain the nomads of Asia, [17]he sailed south, toward Khent-hen-nefer (to the south of the second cataract) , to destroy the Nubians. He made a great slaughter among them. [18]I carried away spoils from there: two living men and three hands; I was rewarded once again with gold, and two women were given to me. [19]His Majesty then sailed upstream (northwards) , his heart rejoicing in valour and victory, because he had conquered those of the south and those of the north.

Capture of Aata

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Then Aata headed southwards (to Egypt) , [20]his fate brought his downfall. The gods of Upper Egypt grasped him. His Majesty found him at the waters of Tinet-taa and took him [21]as a living captive, while all his people were as plunder. Then I took for myself, two young soldiers as captives, from the boat of Aata. Then, [22]I was given five persons and I was given a portion of land - five arouras (1 aroura = 2700m²) - in my town. The same was done for the whole crew.
The case of Aata is different from that of Tetian, which will be described in the following. It is not a question of revolt in this, and moreover it doesn't undergo the fate of the rebels against Pharaoh, which would result in capital punishment. Besides, Aata didn't come from the south, but travelled southwards. It could therefore involve a Nubian mercenary who returned home after the defeat of his Hyksos employers.

Defeat of Teti-an

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Then [23]the enemy called Teti-an (an Egyptian name) came. He had gathered around him the malcontents. His Majesty slew him, and his troops were annihilated. Then [24]I was given three persons, and five arouras of land in my town.

Nubian campaign, with Amenophis I

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Then I transported, by boat, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Djeser-Ka-Re, justified, when he travelled south to Kush, to enlarge [25]the borders of Egypt. His Majesty then smote this Nubian in the middle of his army, and they were taken in shackles, so they could not escape, those who fled were [26]felled, as if they had never existed. Behold, I was at the head of our army (it is the only mention in all the Egyptian historic texts of "our army", giving a real patriotic feeling) ; I fought truly well, and his Majesty noted my valour. I brought back two hands, [27]I offered them to his Majesty. Then his people and his herds were sought after. I then carried off a living captive, which I offered to his Majesty. I returned his Majesty, in two days, to Egypt, [28]from "Upper Well". Then I was rewarded with gold, I brought back two female slaves as booty - apart from those I had offered [29]to his Majesty. They then granted upon me (the title) "Warrior of the Ruler".

Nubian campaign, with Thutmosis I

(about 1530-1520 B.C.) () :

Then I transported, by boat, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Aa-Kheper-Ka-Re, justified, when he travelled south to Khent-hen-nefer, [30]to crush a rebellion throughout the foreign lands and to repulse an invasion from the desert region. I was brave in his presence, in difficult waters, during the hauling [31]of the ship over the cataract. So they granted to me (the title) crew commander. Then his Majesty, L.P.H., (the rest of this passage is mutilated: but, the king probably learned of the existence of a new revolt, nearby).

The continuation of the text is on the south wall, to the left of the entry.

[33]At this his Majesty became furious like a panther; his Majesty shot, his first arrow remained in the chest of this enemy. Then those (again, a damage area: but, probably "the adversaries turn and flee") , [34]despondent on account of his uraeus. In a moment, a slaughter was made among them, and their families were taken as living prisoners. [35]His Majesty journeyed north, all foreign lands being in his grasp, while this vile Nubian was hung, head down, at the prow of his Majesty's ship "Falcon", landing [36]at Ipetsut (the Temple of Karnak) .

Campaign in Syria with Thutmosis I

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After this (his Majesty) proceeded to Retenu (northern Canaan) , to take revenge (lit. to wash his heart) through the foreign countries. When his Majesty reached Naharina (to the North of Phoenicia) , [37]his Majesty, L.P.H., thought that this enemy had recruited troops (in preparation for battle) . Then his Majesty made a great massacre of them, [38]and one could not count the number of living prisoners which his Majesty brought from his victories. Behold, I was at the head of our army, and his Majesty saw my supremacy; [39]I brought away a chariot, its horse and he who was upon it as a living captive, as a gift to his Majesty. I was then rewarded with gold again.

Old age

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[40]I have become old, I have reached a great age. My favours are as before […] and loved […]. I will rest in the tomb which I made for myself.

And so concludes the autobiography of this great soldier, who also became a rich landowner, thanks to the multiple gifts which his courage earned him.

The South Wall

The left-hand (east) side of the wall has already be described with its final columns of the autobiography of Ahmose.

The right-hand (west) side, the other side of the doorway, is extensively destroyed. It included, at the far right, several horizontal lines of text, the upper ones are now lost, leaving only three remaining, below which are two lists of names, those of male servants on the right and those of female servants on the left, the whole reads from right to left. The two upper horizontal lines state: "[……] in Behi. Again I was given by the king of Upper and Lower Egypt […] 60 arouras in Hadjaa, altogether […] arouras".

This is then followed by the list of the servants (perhaps they could be referred to as slaves) gained by Ahmose, introduced by the lowest horizontal line of text above it: "List of names of the male and female slaves from the booty given to me:"
The male servants (nine in total) are named individually, after the word Hm, the male version of the word "servant". They are: Pamedjay, Payabedju, Senebnebef, Pa-[…], Qenpaheqa, Djehutysenebu, Sobekmes, Ha-[…]-roy, Pa-aam.
The female servants (ten in total) are also listed individually, but this time after Hmt, the female version of the word "servant". These are: Ta-a, Sedjemuteni, Baket, Ka-[…]-sy, Ta-ametju, Wabentasachmet, Istarum, Itnefer, Hedutkash, Imenherseseneb.

The Annexe

Its entry is close to the northern corner of the east wall. It was excavated after the creation of the east wall decoration, as is the case for other neighbouring tombs, but it would seem that its addition is slightly later than that of the whole monument. According to Vandersleyen, the sign of the moon used on the doorposts of the entry would typically be from the time of Thutmosis III, whereas the one used in the rest of the main chamber are appropriate of Amosis to Hatshepsut (see ). Perhaps a relative wanted to rest close to this prestigious ancestor?

The level of the floor is distinctly higher in relation to that of the main chamber (see ). The walls are roughly cut, and the ceiling even more so. Nearly the total floor space is occupied by the upper opening of a funerary shaft.

Miscellany

A small fragment from the tomb is in the August Kestner Museum of Hanover, Germany. Thanks go to Mr Christian Loeben, curator, for having notified us of its existance and for having sent this . It it interesting that it shows the original white background, and the blue colour of the hieroglyphs.