KV 9 (Rameses V and Rameses VI)

General Site Information

Structure: KV 9
Location: Valley of the Kings, East Valley, Thebes West Bank, Thebes
Owner: Rameses V and Rameses VI

Other designations: 15 [Hay], 9 [Lepsius], E, plan C [Pococke], H [Burton], IVe Tombeau à l'ouest [Description], Tomb of Memnon [Romans], Tombe de la Métempsychose [Description]

Site type: Tomb

Description: KV 9 is located off the main wadi and consists of an entryway ramp (A), three corridors (B, C, and D) followed by a chamber (E), a pillared chamber with central descent (F), two lower corridors (G and H), another chamber (I), a vaulted burial chamber (J), and another chamber at the rear (K).

The tomb is decorated in painted, sunk relief with scenes from the Book of Gates(corridor B, corridor C, corridor D, well chamber E, pillared chamber F, chamber K), Book of Caverns (corridor B, corridor C, corridor D, well chamber E, pillared chamber F), Book of the Heavenly Cow (corridor D), Book of the Dead (chamber I), Imydwat(descent F, corridor G, corridor H), Book of the Day (corridor D, corridor G, pillared chamber F, burial chamber J), Book of the Night (corridor D, corridor G, pillared chamber F, burial chamber J), Book of the Earth (burial chamber J), the deceased with deities (corridor B, pillared chamber F, burial chamber J), astronomical scenes (corridor B, corridor C), the resurrection of Osiris (chamber I), deities (descent F, chamber K), and enigmatic compositions (corridor G, corridor H, gate I).

Nearly a thousand graffiti in Greek, Latin, and Coptic are written over the scenes. The jambs of gate B through gate F were originally inscribed for Rameses V but were re-carved by Rameses VI. These areas and the remaining chambers were finally inscribed for Rameses VI. When the lower corridors and chambers were being cut, workmen accidentally broke into the rear chamber of KV 12. KV 9 is well-preserved.

Noteworthy features: There is a pit in the floor of burial chamber J, which was never finished. Pilasters in the rear wall of the burial chamber are unfinished pillar cuttings, and wide platforms represent the unfinished cutting of the central sunken floor. The tomb as a whole is decorated with a wide variety of texts and scenes.

Axis in degrees: 290.33
Axis orientation: West


Site Location


Latitude: 25.44 N
Longitude: 32.36 E
Elevation: 174.306 msl
North: 99,568.532
East: 94,062.336
JOG map reference: NG 36-10
Modern governorate: Qena (Qina)
Ancient nome: 4th Upper Egypt
Surveyed by TMP: Yes


Measurements


Maximum height: 6.92 m
Mininum width: 2.48 m
Maximum width: 13.03 m
Total length: 116.84 m
Total area: 510.07 m²
Total volume: 1572.26 m³

Additional Tomb Information

Entrance location: Base of sloping hill
Owner type: King
Entrance type: Ramp
Interior layout: Corridors and chambers
Axis type: Straight

Categories of Objects Recovered

Furniture
Numismatics
Tomb equipment
Vessels
Written documents

Site History

Rameses V started the construction of KV 9, cutting from the entrance through chamber E. Rameses VI finished the excavation of the tomb, decorating the new sections with his own name and image, and usurping representations and cartouches of Rameses V in the first five corridors. It is not known whether Rameses VI removed the body of Rameses V, or if the two kings shared the tomb. KV 9 has been open since antiquity. Papyrus Mayer B records thefts in KV 9, and a graffito dated to regnal year 9 of Rameses IX on the ceiling of the burial chamber J may refer to the inspection of the tomb after it was reported robbed.

Dating:

This site was used during the following period(s):
New Kingdom, Dynasty 20, Rameses V
New Kingdom, Dynasty 20, Rameses VI
New Kingdom, Dynasty 20, Rameses IX
Graeco-Roman Era
Byzantine Period

History of Exploration

Pococke, Richard (1738-1739): Mapping/planning
Napoleonic Expedition (1799): Mapping/planning
Hay, Robert (1824): Mapping/planning
Burton, James (1825): Mapping/planning
Franco-Tuscan Expedition (1828-1829): Epigraphy
Daressy, Georges (1888): Excavation
Piankoff, Alexandre (1958): Epigraphy
Lukaszewicz, Adam (1996, 1998-2000): Epigraphy (survey of Greek graffiti)

Conservation

Conservation history: Supreme Council of Antiquities conservation technicians have cleaned the decoration and consolidated the plaster, including infilling of cracks and breaks with plaster. Fluorescent lighting and wooden walkways with railings have been installed.

Site condition: The wall reliefs in KV 9 are well-preserved, and there is little flood damage in the tomb.