Tomb of Rameses VII (Burial Chamber J, North)

 

Identification

Title	Tomb of Rameses VII (Burial Chamber J, North)
Type	Astronomical Representation
Decan List Family	AR1 variant
EAT3 Number and Name	27 Ramses VII B
EAT3 Pages and Plates	35-36, EAT 2 Pl 7
EAT3 Decan List Family	Senmut B
Publications	EAT2; Theban Mapping Project
Location	In situ; Ceiling of burial chamber J, KV 1, Valley of the Kings, Theban Necropolis
Date	20th dynasty

 

Content

Registers	3
Circumpolar Group and Deities	Yes: 8 behind Hippo; 9 opposite (Hpwy is omitted). No names, no figure of Isis.
Planets	Superior: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars Inferior: Mercury, Venus (twice)
Decan Names	Yes
Decanal Stars	Yes
Personifications of the Decans	No
Cluster Numbers	Only one
Depictions of Decanal Constellations	Yes, but reduced in size
Decanal Deity Names	Yes
Decanal Deity Figures	No
Lunar Months	No
Civil Months	Yes, in the Ramesside star tables
Nut	Yes, enclosing the astronomical diagram
Other features	The third register contains Ramesside star clock tables 13-24.

 

Notes

The third register occurs on the "shoulder" of the vaulted ceiling.

Schematic

 

Legend for Schematic
C	Circumpolar group of constellations
A	Circumpolar attendant deities
D	Decans
P	Planets
M	Ramesside star clock tables 13-24, representing civil months III Peret (first half) to IV Shemu (last half)
N	The sky-goddess Nut
X	Other cosmic deities: a winged sun-disk
	Location and orientation of the circumpolar hippo
	Indicates the starting point and directionality of list or procession of figures

 

Decan List

The list gives an approximate layout for how the decans, deities, cluster labels (x-nwt ẖt), and decanal figures (in bold) are arranged. However, the only way of perceiving the complete layout and orthography of the labels is by consulting photographs, drawings, or the original. For conventions and abbreviations, see below the table. The figure of the King is present in among the decans.

This astronomical representation is classed as a "Senmut B" (AR1 variant) family member. Notable features unique to this representation are

1. The deities of some of the earlier decans are shifted in relation to their decan (Hapy and Duamutef relate to 10 tpy-ꜥ ḫntt, not 8 wšꜣtꞽ) and some deities are omitted entirely. The relationships become standard from 17 knmw onwards.
2. The repetition of 21 sꜣwy srt and 22 ẖry ḫpd srt
3. The "spearing man" figure accompanying F nṯr wꜣš in the triangle area
4. The duplication of IP2 Venus at the very end of the list

1 tpy-ꜥ knmt	Geb
6 ṯmꜣt ḥrt	Children of Horus
7 ṯmꜣt ẖrt	Children of Horus
8 wšꜣtꞽ	Duamutef
11 ḫnty <ḥrt>	Horus
12 ḫnty ẖr<t>	Seth
13 ṯms n ḫntt	Horus
14 sꜣptꞽ ḫnwy	Isis, Nephthys	Boat
15 ḥry-ꞽb wꞽꜣ	wš
16 sšmw	wš
17 knmw	Children of Horus
18 tpy-ꜥ smd	Horus
22 ẖry ḫpd <srt>	Kebehsenuf
23 tpy-ꜥ ꜣḫ<wy>	Duamutef, Kebehsenuf
[ ] Kebehsenuf	Duamutef, Kebehsenuf	Kebehsenuf
25 bꜣw<y>	Hapy, Imseti	(Figure of King)
26 ḫnt{y}<w> ḥrt,	Horus, 6-nwt ẖt	Cluster
27 ḫntw ẖrw	Horus
32 ḥry rmn sꜣḥ	Children of Horus
31 ꜥrt	Eye of Horus
35 sꜣḥ	Osiris
33 ẖry rmn sꜣḥ	Children of Horus	(Figure of King)
		Sopdet
SP1 sbꜣ rsy pt ḥr-štꜣ-tꜣwy rn=f šmsw n pt		Planet
SP2 ḥr-kꜣ-pt rn=f sbꜣ ꞽꜣbty ḏꜣ <pt>		Planet
SP3 ḥr-ꜣḫty rn=f	Re	Planet
A štwy	Hapy, Duamutef	Turtles
B nsrw	Imseti
C sšpt	Eyes of Horus
D ꞽpsḏ	Horus
E sbšsn	Horus
F nṯr wꜣš	(Spearing man)	Duamutef
IP1 sbgw	Seth (stš m wḫ{ꜣ} nṯr m dwꜣt)	(Figure of King)
IP2 sbꜣ-ḏꜣ bꜥḥ	Benu	Osiris
IP2 sbꜣ-ḏꜣ bꜥḥ	Benu	Osiris

The decan numbers and letters shown here are for the decan family AR1 and AR1 variant.

SP = superior planet

IP = inferior planet

Grey shading = damage

< > = omitted but understood

{ } = included in error

( ) = explanatory notes or additional material

The number of star symbols accompanying the decans is also omitted here, as it is often impossible to tell to which decan the symbols refer. EAT3 deals with star symbols in some detail.