Southern Tomb 23

Southern Tomb 23 is a sepulchre in Amarna, Egypt. It was used for the burial of Any, whose titles included, Royal scribe, Scribe of the offering-table of the Aten, Steward of the estate of Aakheperura (Amenhotep II).[1] [2]

Architectural features

The entrance is not completed, but the design was meant to include a portico. This feature was meant to be executed as two separate porches on either side of the colonnaded entryway. The portal shows customary scenes showing the King and the Queen. In this case they are accompanied by three daughters.[1] The later form of the cartouches is found on the door jambs indicating that the tomb was inscribed after year 9 of Akhenaten.[1]

The shorter version of the Great Hymn to the Aten appears in the entrance way. The hymn is followed by the name and titles of Any. He is said to be

The intimate of the King, whom the lord loves, the favorite whom the Lord of the Two Lands created by his bounty, who has reached the blessed reward by the favor of the King, the acting scribe of the King, beloved by him. Scribe of the Altar of the Lord of the Two Lands, Scribe of the Offering Table of the Aten in Akhetaten, Steward if the house of King Aa-kheperur-ra, Any. [1]

The tomb's corridor design resembles some of the northern group of tombs. It has 2 unfinished porches on either side of the door and is only basically decorated. The walls are not decorated but a colored corniche runs along the top of the wall.[1]

The burial shaft was cut into the floor of the corridor. A door on the wall of the shaft gives access to a room that extends underneath the shrine in the tomb. The shrine contains a statue of the deceased seated on a chair.[1] He is seated on a platform and there is a set of chairs leading up to the platform. In this case it is clearly the deceased who is venerated and not the King or some god.[3]

Votive stelae

When the tomb was first cleared by Barsanti in 1891 six stele donated by officials and a brother of Any for the burial were discovered.[1]

Votive stelae from the tomb of Any
Name of donor Title Description Notes
Pakha[1]Overseer of the WorksPakha presents Any with a bouquet of lotus flowersSteindorff reads the names as Pa-kharu "the Syrian"[1]
Nebwawi [1]ScribeThe stele shows two registers. At the top Nebwawi is shown before Any. At the bottom Nebwawi offers an ox. [1][4]
Any-men[1]ServantAny is seated on a chair in front of a latticed door which leads to the shrine. Any-men present him with a large jar of wine. [1]
Thay [1]Charioteer of the royal scribe AnyThe stela depicts Any in a chariot with Thay.The only stele not to provide for the Ka of Any. [1]
[Ptah?]May[1]His brother[Ptah]May stands before a seated Any.The signs before "May" have been erased. Davies mentions the reading "the Scribe May" is also possible. [1]
Ay[1]ServantAy presents Any with a bouquet of lotus flowers

See also

References
  1. N. de G. Davies - The Rock Cut Tombs of El Amarna. Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, 2004 (ISBN 0-85698-160-5). Facsimil in Internet Archive: Part V. Smaller Tombs and Boundary Stelae, 1908
  2. Owen, Gwil - The Amarna courtiers' tombs. Egyptian Archaeology Autumn 2000
  3. Kemp, Barry, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and its People, Thames and Hudson, 2012, pg 247
  4. Kemp, Barry, The City of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and its People, Thames and Hudson, 2012, pg 115, 116, 252

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