Tuthmosis I (Valley Of The Kings - KV38)

The Tomb Of Thutmosis I

Thutmosis I was the third Pharaoh who ruled in the 18th dynasty in ancient Egypt. He succeeded the throne of King Amenhotep I. He is believed to have been involved in enlarging the borders of Egypt more than any leader before him. He is said to be the first king who built a tomb for himself at the Valley of the Kings. The reign of Thutmosis I dates from 1506 to 1493 B.C.

 

About Tomb KV38

Tomb KV38 is believed to be the second tomb of Thutmosis I. The yellow sarcophagus has an inscription for Thutmosis I was the most important discovery stating that the tomb belonged to him. Later on, it was found that KV38 was newer than the tomb KV20 which could be seen in its design and architecture, which had the influence of the first grandson of Thutmosis I whose name was Thutmosis III.

Also, the fragmentary furniture and funerary equipment that was found inside the tomb seemed to be of a style that was not present when Thutmosis I would have been in power. Thus the final conclusion of most archaeologists says that the king was buried along with his daughter Hatshepsut in the tomb KV20 and later on the mummy of the king was moved to KV38 due to his hatred for his stepmother.

History Of The Site

It was initially believed that KV38 was the original burial place of King Thutmosis I, which was solely controlled by Ineni. As per more findings, it was found that Hatshepsut got her father buried again in KV20 in a sarcophagus made from stone, the one which was initially intended for her burial. Subsequently, the body of Thutmosis I was returned by his grandson Thutmosis III to tomb KV38 in a new sarcophagus. The body was again moved to the cache in TT320 when the New Kingdom ended.

Egyptologists now believe that the tomb KV38 was built on the orders of Thutmosis III for reburying his grandfather here. This is based on the fact that the plans of KV34 and KV38 shared a lot of similarities with KV 42 as well, including rounded corners and central pillars. Also, in all three tombs, the sarcophagus was placed in the rear part of the burial chamber.

Tomb Design

Tomb KV38 in the Valley of the Kings has a simple plan and consists of a steep corridor that ends in an unevenly cut small chamber. After this is a steep stairway that leads into the center of the chamber and leads to the burial chamber. The burial chamber has a single side chamber off its left. Overall the tomb is poorly cut and penetration of flood waters over time has led to an increasingly rough appearance of the tomb. The only decorations inside the tomb are those on the walls of the burial chamber.

Noteworthy Features

The unique shape of the burial chamber, which is cartouche-shaped is a noteworthy and rare feature to be seen in this tomb, which still has many controversies revolving around its ownership and construction.