Ramose was a vizier during the eighteenth dynasty and served during the transition of power and reigns of Amenhotep III and Amenhotep IV. He also had a title to his name which was Governor of the Town. Ramose's wife’s name was Meryet-path and it’s believed that the couple was childless, as no children were seen in any of the pictures in his tomb. Ramose's father is buried nearby and his mother’s name was Apuya.
The Tomb of Ramose
The private tomb of Ramose referred to as TT55 is located in the Sheikh Abd el Qurna area on the west bank of Luxor. The tomb has many scenes still intact after excavation. The tomb illustrates a unique aspect of burial which is a change in style, depicting Amarna art. It’s still uncertain that TT55 was the final resting place of Ramose, but no other tomb to his name has been located.
The tomb is incomplete as it’s anticipated that Ramose started work on another tomb at Amarna after the capital moved to a new place. The tomb is significant due to its new artwork and because it was abandoned historians get to learn about how carving and tomb decoration were carried on during that era.
Ramose's Tomb Design
Tomb TT55 has a traditional T-shaped design. The entrance has a spilled stairway and a central ramp leading into a courtyard. This is followed by a short stairway leading to a large hypostyle hall having 32 columns. From the hall further inside is a corridor that’s followed by a chapel.
Decorations Inside The Tomb
The large hall is the only room in the tomb with decorations. The hall towards the left had a portrait of Ramose’s guest funeral banquet along with his mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law. The scene is believed to be one of the best pieces of ancient art to be found on the globe. The scene details even the minute things like the bead of a necklace and the soft folds of garments very skillfully.
The scene of servants carrying the burial riches of the deceased is the only painted scene in the tomb. This scene again is a masterpiece seen during the 18th dynasty artwork. Further inside most of the scenes were unfinished and some were only in their sketched stage.
Most scenes on the walls are unfinished with just some details but in an uncarved stage. Further inside the tomb is a corridor that does not have any decorations. This leads to the chapel having three niches.
More About The tomb
Ramose's tomb is a well-done burial structure in the private tombs category. The many scenes on the walls are in relief and the size too is fairly larger for its category. The person who first made this tomb known to the world was Villiers Stewart in 1879. The present condition of the tomb was restored by Robert Mond with work carried out in 1924.
