Description Images Related LinksGeneral Site InformationStructure: KV 1
Location: Valley of the Kings, East Valley, Thebes West Bank, Thebes
Owner: Rameses VII
Other designations: 1 [Hay], 1 [Lepsius], 7 [Champollion], A [Pococke], Ier Tombeau à l'ouest [Description], O [Burton]
Site type: Tomb
Description: The entrance is cut into the base of a hill at the end of the first northwest branch wadi. This unfinished tomb comprises an open entryway ramp (A), corridor B, vaulted burial chamber J, and an unfinished chamber (K) with a rear recess. The walls are decorated with excerpts from the Book of Gates (chamber K), Book of Caverns (corridor B), Book of the Earth (burial chamber J), Opening of the Mouth ritual (corridor B), and the deceased with deities (corridor B, chamber K, burial chamber J). The ceilings are painted with motifs of flying vultures and astronomical figures. There are 135 Greek, and several demotic, Coptic, and nineteenth century graffiti in the tomb, indicating that KV 1 has been accessible since antiquity.
It was used as a dwelling by Coptic monks.
Axis in degrees: 327.72
Axis orientation: Northwest
Site Location
Latitude: 25.44 N
Longitude: 32.36 E
Elevation: 171.219 msl
North: 99,803.743
East: 94,006.256
JOG map reference: NG 36-10
Modern governorate: Qena (Qina)
Ancient nome: 4th Upper Egyptian
Surveyed by TMP: Yes
Measurements
Maximum height: 4.25 m
Mininum width: 2.74 m
Maximum width: 5.17 m
Total length: 44.3 m
Total area: 163.56 m²
Total volume: 463.01 m³
Additional Tomb Information
Entrance location: End of spur
Owner type: King
Entrance type: Ramp
Interior layout: Corridor and chambers
Axis type: Straight
Categories of Objects Recovered
Architectural elements
Domestic equipment
Furniture
Tomb equipment
Vegetal remains
Vessel stands
Written documents
Site History
At the time of the king's death in his seventh regnal year, work on the tomb's third corridor (now chamber K) was abandoned and the second corridor was enlarged and became burial chamber J. A break in the end of the granite pit cover was made by robbers to gain access to the burial. The tomb was used by Christian monks or hermits as a dwelling.
Dating:
This site was used during the following period(s):
New Kingdom, Dynasty 20, Rameses VII
Byzantine Period
Graeco-Roman Era
Entryway A
The tomb's entrance is cut in the end of the spur at the head of the first northwest branch inside the main wadi, just above the convergence of two water courses descending from the cliff face to the west and northwest. The sides of this open entry were plastered. Two short rubble walls run perpendicular to the beginning of the entry walls and a modern revetment of rubble has been added to the upper edges of the sides and across the top of the entry.
Architectural Features
Overhang
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Undecorated
Dimensions
Width: 3.69 m
Length: 13.71 m
Area: 50.55 m²
Orientation: 327.72°
Graffiti
Greek text: four graffiti Left (southwest) wall
Modern European language text: H. Brugsch (in 1854 and 1857), and C. Wescher (signed in pencil "VIDI ET MIRAVI") Right (northeast) wall
Gate B
Pivot holes in the outer corners of the ceiling recess, and in the floor beyond the threshold of the gate, show that the entrance was originally closed by double doors. The outer face of the lintel displays the king's names in a horizontal row at the top, while below there is a large sun disk with a scarab and ram-headed man in the center. Kneeling figures of the king flanking the disk appear in this scene for the first time, followed by the standing figures of Isis on the left and Nephthys on the right. The reveals and thicknesses display the names of Rameses VII and there are traces of a winged figure and a winged sun disk on the soffit.
Porter and Moss designation: A
Architectural Features
Porter and Moss designation: A
Architectural Features
Steps
Door pivot holes
Condition
Door pivot holes
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 3.99 m
Width: 2.81 m
Length: 0.61 m
Area: 1.7 m²
Volume: 6.8 m³
Orientation: 0° from entryway A
Decoration
Width: 2.81 m
Length: 0.61 m
Area: 1.7 m²
Volume: 6.8 m³
Orientation: 0° from entryway A
Decoration
Names and epithets Thicknesses
Names and epithets Reveals
Sun disk on the horizon: Rameses VII flanking disk with Isis and Nephthys Lintel
Winged sun disk: only part of wing remains; it could also be a vulture Soffit
Graffiti
Names and epithets Reveals
Sun disk on the horizon: Rameses VII flanking disk with Isis and Nephthys Lintel
Winged sun disk: only part of wing remains; it could also be a vulture Soffit
Graffiti
Demotic text: one graffito Right (northeast) jamb
Greek text: nine graffiti Right (northeast) jamb
Greek text: nine graffiti Right (northeast) jamb
Corridor B
The decoration on the walls is painted sunk relief, and the ceiling is painted plaster. On the left (southwest) wall are three scenes. In the first, the king offers incense and libations to a seated figure of Ra-Horakhty-Atum-Khepri before offering stands bearing a sacrificial oryx, bouquets and food. The second scene is the initial scene and first division of the Book of Gates. The third is the Iwnmutef priest purifying the king as Osiris, derived from the Opening of the Mouth Ritual.
The right (northeast) wall also displays three scenes: the king offering incense and libations to Ptah-Sokar-Osiris; the first division of the Book of Caverns, and the Iwnmutef priest purifying the king as Osiris, again from the Opening of the Mouth ritual. A frieze of cartouches flanked by lion-headed uraei alternating with winged scarabs appears on each wall after the first scene.
The ceiling recess shows traces of two gods and kneeling goddesses flanking a djed-pillar. On the ceiling, vultures with outspread wings holding fans in their claws alternate with text bands giving the king's names and epithets. The king's names and epithets also adorn the beginning of the two walls of the corridor.
There are graffiti on the walls of this corridor.
Porter and Moss designation: A
Architectural Features
The right (northeast) wall also displays three scenes: the king offering incense and libations to Ptah-Sokar-Osiris; the first division of the Book of Caverns, and the Iwnmutef priest purifying the king as Osiris, again from the Opening of the Mouth ritual. A frieze of cartouches flanked by lion-headed uraei alternating with winged scarabs appears on each wall after the first scene.
The ceiling recess shows traces of two gods and kneeling goddesses flanking a djed-pillar. On the ceiling, vultures with outspread wings holding fans in their claws alternate with text bands giving the king's names and epithets. The king's names and epithets also adorn the beginning of the two walls of the corridor.
There are graffiti on the walls of this corridor.
Porter and Moss designation: A
Architectural Features
Ceiling recess
Condition
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 4.04 m
Width: 3.17 m
Length: 15.28 m
Area: 48.13 m²
Volume: 197.04 m³
Orientation: 0° from entryway A
Decoration
Width: 3.17 m
Length: 15.28 m
Area: 48.13 m²
Volume: 197.04 m³
Orientation: 0° from entryway A
Decoration
Amuletic representations: djed-pillar Ceiling recess
Book of Caverns: first division Right (northeast) wall
Book of Gates: first gate and first division Left (southwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Ra-Horakhty-Atum-Kheperi Left (southwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Right (northeast) wall
Deities: kneeling Isis and Nephthys flanking a djed-pillar with standing gods behind Ceiling recess
Flying vultures Ceiling
Names and epithets Ceiling
Names and epithets Left (southwest) wall
Opening of the Mouth ritual: priest purifying Rameses VII as Osiris Left (southwest) wall
Opening of the Mouth ritual: priest purifying Rameses VII as Osiris Right (northeast) wall
Graffiti
Book of Caverns: first division Right (northeast) wall
Book of Gates: first gate and first division Left (southwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Ra-Horakhty-Atum-Kheperi Left (southwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Ptah-Sokar-Osiris Right (northeast) wall
Deities: kneeling Isis and Nephthys flanking a djed-pillar with standing gods behind Ceiling recess
Flying vultures Ceiling
Names and epithets Ceiling
Names and epithets Left (southwest) wall
Opening of the Mouth ritual: priest purifying Rameses VII as Osiris Left (southwest) wall
Opening of the Mouth ritual: priest purifying Rameses VII as Osiris Right (northeast) wall
Graffiti
Pictorial: two Coptic crosses Right (northeast) wall
Coptic text: one graffito Right (northeast) wall
Coptic text: one graffito Left (southwest) wall
Demotic text: seven graffiti Right (northeast) wall
Demotic text: eleven grafitti Left (southwest) wall
Greek text: thirty-five graffiti Right (northeast) wall
Greek text: seventy graffiti, two give dates equivalent to 75 B.C. and A.D. 112 Left (southwest) wall
Coptic text: one graffito Right (northeast) wall
Coptic text: one graffito Left (southwest) wall
Demotic text: seven graffiti Right (northeast) wall
Demotic text: eleven grafitti Left (southwest) wall
Greek text: thirty-five graffiti Right (northeast) wall
Greek text: seventy graffiti, two give dates equivalent to 75 B.C. and A.D. 112 Left (southwest) wall
Gate J
The outer lintel of this gate has a winged disk, while texts on the reveals and outer thicknesses give the king's names and titles. The undecorated inner thicknesses contain numerous graffiti. Door pivot holes at the top and bottom between the inner and outer thicknesses show that the gate was once closed by a pair of wooden door leaves.
Porter and Moss designation: B
Architectural Features
Porter and Moss designation: B
Architectural Features
Compound jambs
Door pivot holes
Condition
Door pivot holes
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 3.69 m
Width: 2.74 m
Length: 1.97 m
Area: 5.98 m²
Volume: 23.39 m³
Orientation: 0° from corridor B
Maximum slope: -5.02°
Decoration
Width: 2.74 m
Length: 1.97 m
Area: 5.98 m²
Volume: 23.39 m³
Orientation: 0° from corridor B
Maximum slope: -5.02°
Decoration
Names and epithets Outer thicknesses
Names and epithets Reveals
Winged sun disk Lintel
Graffiti
Names and epithets Reveals
Winged sun disk Lintel
Graffiti
Demotic text: one graffito Left (southwest) jamb
Greek text: four graffiti Right (northeast) jamb
Greek text: one graffito Left (southwest) jamb
Greek text Inner thicknesses
Modern European language text Inner thicknesses
Greek text: four graffiti Right (northeast) jamb
Greek text: one graffito Left (southwest) jamb
Greek text Inner thicknesses
Modern European language text Inner thicknesses
Burial chamber J
The burial chamber has a barrel-vaulted ceiling. It was originally intended to be a second corridor. Evidence of this change can be seen in the uneven finish of the floor near the walls compared to the smoothness of the central area.
A two-tiered pit in the floor of the chamber, covered by a granite sarcophagus box, formed the burial place. The exterior sides and ends of the lid were incised and painted with the figures of Serqet, Neit, Nephthys, Isis and the four sons of Horus. Two semi-circular canopic jar emplacements were cut into the sides of the upper tier of the pit.
The front (southeast) wall shows Sekhmet-Bastet-Weret-Hekau on the left (northeast) side of the gate and Weret-Hekau on the right (southwest) side. The upper registers of the two side walls contain several enigmatic scenes. Both middle registers display scenes from the Book of the Earth, including four women kneeling before fans on the left (southwest) wall. The king faces gate K on either side of the rear (northwest) wall. A dado of kneeling bound enemies alternating with serekh-gates occurs on every wall.
The vaulted part of the ceiling is decorated with two elongated figures of Nut placed back to back and flanked by duplicate representations of circumpolar constellations and decans. The lower, flat portions of the ceiling contain a grid of stars above kneeling figures, representing star clocks.
Graffiti are found on the walls throughout the chamber. Many of the figures of deities have been damaged, particularly their faces, hands, and feet, most likely by the Coptic inhabitants of the tomb.
Chamber plan: Rectangular
Relationship to main tomb axis: Parallel
Chamber layout: Flat floor, no pillars
Floor: One level
Ceiling: Vaulted
Porter and Moss designation: B
Architectural Features
A two-tiered pit in the floor of the chamber, covered by a granite sarcophagus box, formed the burial place. The exterior sides and ends of the lid were incised and painted with the figures of Serqet, Neit, Nephthys, Isis and the four sons of Horus. Two semi-circular canopic jar emplacements were cut into the sides of the upper tier of the pit.
The front (southeast) wall shows Sekhmet-Bastet-Weret-Hekau on the left (northeast) side of the gate and Weret-Hekau on the right (southwest) side. The upper registers of the two side walls contain several enigmatic scenes. Both middle registers display scenes from the Book of the Earth, including four women kneeling before fans on the left (southwest) wall. The king faces gate K on either side of the rear (northwest) wall. A dado of kneeling bound enemies alternating with serekh-gates occurs on every wall.
The vaulted part of the ceiling is decorated with two elongated figures of Nut placed back to back and flanked by duplicate representations of circumpolar constellations and decans. The lower, flat portions of the ceiling contain a grid of stars above kneeling figures, representing star clocks.
Graffiti are found on the walls throughout the chamber. Many of the figures of deities have been damaged, particularly their faces, hands, and feet, most likely by the Coptic inhabitants of the tomb.
Chamber plan: Rectangular
Relationship to main tomb axis: Parallel
Chamber layout: Flat floor, no pillars
Floor: One level
Ceiling: Vaulted
Porter and Moss designation: B
Architectural Features
Vaulted ceiling
Canopic chest emplacement
Burial pit
Sarcophagus
Sarcophagus emplacement
Condition
Canopic chest emplacement
Burial pit
Sarcophagus
Sarcophagus emplacement
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 4.25 m
Width: 5.18 m
Length: 8.53 m
Area: 44.26 m²
Volume: 188.1 m³
Orientation: 0° from corridor B
Decoration
Width: 5.18 m
Length: 8.53 m
Area: 44.26 m²
Volume: 188.1 m³
Orientation: 0° from corridor B
Decoration
Astronomical scenes: circumpolar stars and decans flanking Nut figures back-to-back Ceiling
Book of the Earth Left (southwest) wall
Book of the Earth Right (northeast) wall
Bound enemies All walls
Deceased: two figures of Rameses VII facing gate Rear (northwest) wall
Deities: Nut Ceiling
Deities: Weret-Hekau and lion-headed Sekhmet-Bastet-Weret-Hekau Front (southeast) wall
Enigmatic compositions Left (southwest) wall
Enigmatic compositions Right (northeast) wall
Names and epithets: cartouches of Rameses VII Rear (northwest) wall
Star clocks/tables Ceiling
Graffiti
Book of the Earth Left (southwest) wall
Book of the Earth Right (northeast) wall
Bound enemies All walls
Deceased: two figures of Rameses VII facing gate Rear (northwest) wall
Deities: Nut Ceiling
Deities: Weret-Hekau and lion-headed Sekhmet-Bastet-Weret-Hekau Front (southeast) wall
Enigmatic compositions Left (southwest) wall
Enigmatic compositions Right (northeast) wall
Names and epithets: cartouches of Rameses VII Rear (northwest) wall
Star clocks/tables Ceiling
Graffiti
Demotic text: one graffito Left (southwest) wall
Greek text: five graffiti Right (northeast) wall
Greek text: three graffiti Left (southwest) wall
SarcophagusExtant remains: Box
Sarcophagus form: Cartouche-shaped
Material: Red granite
Length: 2.98 m
Width: 1.7 m
Height: 1.49 m
Orientation: northwest
Emplacement: Pit
Greek text: five graffiti Right (northeast) wall
Greek text: three graffiti Left (southwest) wall
SarcophagusExtant remains: Box
Sarcophagus form: Cartouche-shaped
Material: Red granite
Length: 2.98 m
Width: 1.7 m
Height: 1.49 m
Orientation: northwest
Emplacement: Pit
Comments: This roughly finished box was inverted and placed over the pit as a cover. The incised and painted (mostly green) decoration was executed to be correctly oriented in the inverted position.
Decoration:
Amuletic representations: djed-pillar, tyet-knot, eye panel Box exterior
Deities: four sons of Horus, Isis, Nephthys, Serqet, Neit, winged uraei, Anubis jackal
Gate K
The lintel shows a winged disk, while the reveals and thicknesses give the king's names and titles. Door pivot holes show that this gate was intended to be closed with large wooden double doors. A step in the gate creates a descent from burial chamber J to chamber K.
Porter and Moss designation: C
Architectural Features
Door pivot holes
Steps
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 3.44 m
Width: 2.77 m
Length: 0.63 m
Area: 1.74 m²
Volume: 5.99 m³
Orientation: 0° from burial chamber J
Decoration
Names and epithets: unfinished cutting of text recently plastered over by Supreme Council of Antiquities restorers Thicknesses
Names and epithets Reveals
Winged sun disk Lintel
Chamber K
This small chamber, unfinished at the time of the king's death, may have been intended as another corridor. There is evidence of beam holes in the right (northeast) and left (southwest) walls. The left and right walls show the king offering to Osiris, and presenting an image of Ma'at to Osiris. A central recess in the rear (northwest) wall is flanked by personified djed-pillars with sacrificial animals in between. At the top is an extract from the fifth gate of the Book of Gates depicting a pig and two apes in the sun boat. The ceiling is decorated with cartouches and squatting deities. Pivot holes in the floor and ceiling inside the gate attest to the presence of a double leaf door.
Porter and Moss designation: C
Architectural Features
Beam holes
Recess
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 3.72 m
Width: 3.13 m
Length: 3.58 m
Area: 11.21 m²
Volume: 41.7 m³
Orientation: 0° from burial chamber J
Recesses
Rectangular, rear (height: 1 m, width: 2 m, length: 1 m)
Decoration
Book of Gates: fifth gate detail: pig and apes in solar bark Rear (northwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Osiris enshrined Left (southwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Osiris enshrined Right (northeast) wall
Deities: Eight squatting deities Ceiling
Names and epithets Ceiling
Graffiti
Greek text: four graffiti, one dating to ca. A.D. 135 Left (southwest) wall
History of Exploration
Pococke, Richard (1737-1738): Mapping/planning
Napoleonic Expedition (1799): Mapping/planning (plan and section, and recording of decoration details)
Burton, James (1825): Mapping/planning
Wilkinson, John Gardner (1825-1828): Visit
Hay, Robert (1825-1835): Mapping/planning (drawings of tomb and sarcophagus)
Lane, Edward William (1826-1827): Visit
Franco-Tuscan Expedition (1828-1829): Epigraphy
Lepsius, Carl Richard (1844-1845): Epigraphy
Ayrton, Edward Russell (1906): Excavation (reopening of the tomb and removal of the coffin containing the mummy of Rameses VII to the Cairo Museum, filled in entrance to tomb, the location of which was then forgotten)
Service des Antiquités (1952 or later): Excavation
Piankoff, Alexandre (1958): Photography
Brock, Edwin C. (1983-1984, 1990, 1994): Excavation (search of burial pit, dump, and foundation deposit for the Royal Ontario Museum)
Conservation
Conservation history:
In 1994, the Supreme Council of Antiquities cleaned the tomb's walls and filled cracks in walls and ceiling with plaster. Some ancient graffiti were covered over in the process. In the same year, the Supreme Council of Antiquities created a walkway from the paved road to the tomb entrance and built a wood shelter with cement benches nearby. A wooden floor, railings, and large glass panels have been installed throughout the tomb.
Site condition: There are major cracks in the walls and ceilings of corridor B. The plaster is intact where it is not damaged by cracks, vandalism, or later graffiti. The paint is in good condition, although much blue pigment has fallen away.
Deities: four sons of Horus, Isis, Nephthys, Serqet, Neit, winged uraei, Anubis jackal
Gate K
The lintel shows a winged disk, while the reveals and thicknesses give the king's names and titles. Door pivot holes show that this gate was intended to be closed with large wooden double doors. A step in the gate creates a descent from burial chamber J to chamber K.
Porter and Moss designation: C
Architectural Features
Door pivot holes
Steps
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 3.44 m
Width: 2.77 m
Length: 0.63 m
Area: 1.74 m²
Volume: 5.99 m³
Orientation: 0° from burial chamber J
Decoration
Names and epithets: unfinished cutting of text recently plastered over by Supreme Council of Antiquities restorers Thicknesses
Names and epithets Reveals
Winged sun disk Lintel
Chamber K
This small chamber, unfinished at the time of the king's death, may have been intended as another corridor. There is evidence of beam holes in the right (northeast) and left (southwest) walls. The left and right walls show the king offering to Osiris, and presenting an image of Ma'at to Osiris. A central recess in the rear (northwest) wall is flanked by personified djed-pillars with sacrificial animals in between. At the top is an extract from the fifth gate of the Book of Gates depicting a pig and two apes in the sun boat. The ceiling is decorated with cartouches and squatting deities. Pivot holes in the floor and ceiling inside the gate attest to the presence of a double leaf door.
Porter and Moss designation: C
Architectural Features
Beam holes
Recess
Condition
Excavated
Cutting finished
Decorated
Decoration damaged
Dimensions
Height: 3.72 m
Width: 3.13 m
Length: 3.58 m
Area: 11.21 m²
Volume: 41.7 m³
Orientation: 0° from burial chamber J
Recesses
Rectangular, rear (height: 1 m, width: 2 m, length: 1 m)
Decoration
Book of Gates: fifth gate detail: pig and apes in solar bark Rear (northwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Osiris enshrined Left (southwest) wall
Deceased with deities: Osiris enshrined Right (northeast) wall
Deities: Eight squatting deities Ceiling
Names and epithets Ceiling
Graffiti
Greek text: four graffiti, one dating to ca. A.D. 135 Left (southwest) wall
History of Exploration
Pococke, Richard (1737-1738): Mapping/planning
Napoleonic Expedition (1799): Mapping/planning (plan and section, and recording of decoration details)
Burton, James (1825): Mapping/planning
Wilkinson, John Gardner (1825-1828): Visit
Hay, Robert (1825-1835): Mapping/planning (drawings of tomb and sarcophagus)
Lane, Edward William (1826-1827): Visit
Franco-Tuscan Expedition (1828-1829): Epigraphy
Lepsius, Carl Richard (1844-1845): Epigraphy
Ayrton, Edward Russell (1906): Excavation (reopening of the tomb and removal of the coffin containing the mummy of Rameses VII to the Cairo Museum, filled in entrance to tomb, the location of which was then forgotten)
Service des Antiquités (1952 or later): Excavation
Piankoff, Alexandre (1958): Photography
Brock, Edwin C. (1983-1984, 1990, 1994): Excavation (search of burial pit, dump, and foundation deposit for the Royal Ontario Museum)
Conservation
Conservation history:
In 1994, the Supreme Council of Antiquities cleaned the tomb's walls and filled cracks in walls and ceiling with plaster. Some ancient graffiti were covered over in the process. In the same year, the Supreme Council of Antiquities created a walkway from the paved road to the tomb entrance and built a wood shelter with cement benches nearby. A wooden floor, railings, and large glass panels have been installed throughout the tomb.
Site condition: There are major cracks in the walls and ceilings of corridor B. The plaster is intact where it is not damaged by cracks, vandalism, or later graffiti. The paint is in good condition, although much blue pigment has fallen away.
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