El-Asasif Necropolis
the Asasif entered a crucial age
El-Asasif is the name of two areas in the Theban necropolis. Both are plains that mark the start of valleys, that go west. El-Asasif is commonly associated with the northern location, which is east of Deir el-Bahri between the localities of Dra’ Abu el-Naga and el-Khokha. Near the southern slope of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna and at the mouth of a valley that leads to one of the incomplete royal tombs of the early Middle Kingdom, the southern counterpart is nearly forgotten. Of the tombs that have been studied in the southern Asasif, only six date to the Late Period. Dieter Eigner published their divisions, plans, and architecture.
The second part of the 11th Dynasty saw the hewing out of several saff-tombs at the bottom and on the southern side of the valley (such as the tombs of Antef and Zar), which is when the cemetery in the northern Asasif got its start. Private tombs from that era were no longer located in the plain of the Asasif due to the construction of the causeway leading to the royal tomb and mortuary temple of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II at Deir el-Bahri. The majority of the modern Middle Kingdom tombs, which resembled corridors, were located higher up on the hillsides that encircled Deir el-Bahri.
The cemeteries 500, 600, and 800 are the locations of those tombs, and their arrangement highlights the significance of orientation and the relationship between private graves and royal funerary structures in an outstanding fashion. The setting of Puiemre’s tomb, which faces Tuthmose III’s and Hatshepsut’s causeways, is intended to fulfill the same tradition and goal once more. Despite being hewn out on the hilltop of El-Khokha’s northern slope, the context attributes this tomb to the Asasif. The tomb of Parennefer, which dates from the time of Amenhotep III and Akhenaten, has to be connected in the same way. In Amenhotep III’s reign, the northern Assif gains popularity once more.
There are two regions in the Theban necropolis called el-Asasif. Both are plains at the beginning of valleys leading to the west.
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In the plain of the Asasif, work on a new kind of enormous private tomb that was started but never completed was done. It was suggestive of temples rather than private tomb-chapels. One such tomb is that of Kheruef; it consists of an entry building, a walkway that descends to a sunken courtyard encircled by a colonnade, and an expanded inner room layout with a long, sloping passageway that descends to the sarcophagus chamber, respectively.
Asasif. Asasif Project
During the reign of Ramesses II, several minor tombs, primarily those of middle-ranking employees of the temple of Amen at Karnak, found new homes in the walls and colonnades of the 18th Dynasty tombs. When the 21st Dynasty began, the older rock-cut tombs were often repurposed for basic funerals, which included only the sarcophagus and the most basic of funeral necessities. For the final time, the Asasif attained an era of considerable significance during the Late period.
North Asasif. The Asasif Project
Here the prophets of Amen and the leading stewards of the Divine Votaresses started building their enormous tombs, or funerary palaces. Several of these structures are radially orientated by their major pylons to one of the bark shrines along Queen Hatshepsut’s causeway, as Manfried Bietak has noted in the publication of the Ankh-Hor tomb. Their major entrances are immediately and at right angles connected to this causeway, with smaller pylons framing them. Eigner has produced a thorough analysis of the Late Period tombs along with a superb map of the area. The most significant el-Asasif tombs are enumerated below in chronological order based on their numbers (TT=Theban Tomb), owners, and occupations.
TT25 – Amenemheb, High Priest of Khons, time of Ramesses II
TT26 – Khnumemheb, Overseer of the Treasury of the Ramesseum, time of Ramesses II
TT27 – Sheshonq, High Steward of the Divine Adoratrix Anknesneferibre, time of Apries and Amasis.
TT28 – Hori, Amun Temple Official, XX Dynasty
TT29 – Pairi (Amenemopet), Governor of the Town, Vizier, time of Amenhotep II
TT32 – Tutmosis, High Steward of the Amun Temple, Overseer of the Granaries of Upper and Lower Egypt, time of Ramesses II
TT33 – Pediamenopet, Chief Lector Priest, Late Period
TT34 – Mentuemhet, 4th Prophet of Amun, Mayor of Thebes, Governor of Upper Egypt, time of Taharqa and Psamtik I
TT35 – Bakenkhons, High Priest of Amun, time of Ramesses II.
TT36 – Ibi, Chief Steward of the Divine Adoratrix, time of Psametik I.
TT37 – Harwa, Chief Steward of the God’s Wife Amenardis I, XXV Dynasty
TT47 – Userhet, Overseer of Private Rooms of the King, time of Amenhotep III
TT189 – Nakhtdjehuty, Chief of Carpenters and Goldworkers in the Amun Domain, time of Ramesses II
TT190 – Nesibanebdżed, Divine Father, Prophet at the Head of the King, Late Period
TT191 – Wehebrenebpehti, Chamberlain of the Divine Adoratrix, Director of the Festival, time of Psametik I.
TT192 – Kharuef (Sena, Naai), Overseer of the Estate of the Great Royal Wife Tiye, time of Amenhotep III and Akhenaten
TT193 – Ptahemheb, Official of the Seal in the Treasury of the Amun Domain, XIX-XX Dynasty
TT194 – Tutemheb, Scribe in the Temple of Amun, time of Ramesses II
TT195 – Bakenamon, Scribe of the Treasure of the Amun Domain, XX Dynasty
TT196 – Padihorresnet, Chief Steward of Amun, Late Period
TT197 – Padineith, Chief Steward of the God’s Wife of Amun, the Divine Adoratrix Ankhnesneferibre, time of Psametik II
TT223 – Karakhamun, First Priest of Amun, time Shabaka-Shabataka, XXV Dynasty
TT240 – Meru, Overseer of Sealers, time of Mentuhotep-Nebhepetre
TT242 – Wehebre, Chamberlain of the God’s Wife of Amun Ankhnesneferibra, Late Period
TT243 – Pemu (Pahi), Mayor of Thebes, Late Period – Saite
TT244 – Pakharu, Overseer of Carpenters of the Amun Domain, XX Dynasty
TT279 – Pabasa, Grand Chamberlain to the Nitocris, God’s Wife of Amon
TT297 – Amenemopet (Djehutynefer, Thonefer), Scribe, Counter of Grain of Amun, Overseer of the Fields, XVIII Dynasty
TT364 – Amenemheb, Scribe of the Divine Offerings of all the Divinities of Thebes, XIX-XX Dynasty
TT366 – Djar, King’s Guard of the Inner Palace, time of Mentuhotep-Nebhepetre
TT386 – Intef, Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, Overseer of Soldiers, Middle Kingdom
TT387 – Meryptah, Royal Scribe of the Altar of the Lord of the Two Lands, time of Rameses II
TT388 – [unknown] , Late Period
TT389 – Basa, Smati-Priest, Chamberlain of Min, Hsk-Priest, Mayor of Thebes, Late Period
TT390 – Irterau, Female scribe, Chief attendant of the Divine Adoratix Nitocris, time of Psametik I
TT391 – Karabasken, Mayor of Thebes, Fourth Priest of Amun, time Shabaka-Shabataka, XXV Dynasty
TT404 – Akhamenerau, Chief Steward of the Divine Adoratrix, time of Amenardis I and Shepenwepet II
TT406 – Piay, Scribe of the Altar of the Lord of the Two Lands, XX Dynasty
TT407 – Bentenduanetjer, Chamberlain of the Divine Adoratrix, Late Period
TT408 – Bakenamon, Head of Estate-Workers of the Amun Domain, XX Dynasty
TT409 – Samut (Kiki), Accountant of Cattle of the Amun Domain, time of Rameses II
TT410 – Mutirdais, Chief Follower of the God’s Priestess, Late Period
TT411 – Psamtiek, Late Period
TT412 – Kenamon, King’s Scribe, time of Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III
TT413 – Unasankh, Overseer of Upper Egypt, Overseer of the Double Granary, Nomarch , late Old Kingdom
TT414 – Ankhhor, Mayor of Memphis, Oxyrhynchus and Bahriya Oasis, High Steward of the God’s Priestess, time of Nitocris
TT415 – Amenhotep, Chief Physician of Amen, time of Rameses III
The cachette, unearthed in Asasif necropolis
Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities reports that archaeologists have discovered a “huge cache” of over 20 sealed coffins in the city of Luxor.
The sarcophagi were found “as the ancient Egyptians left them,” and they appeared to be well-preserved.
F.A.Q
El-Asasif is commonly associated with the northern location, which is east of Deir el-Bahri between the localities of Dra’ Abu el-Naga and el-Khokha. Near the southern slope of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna and at the mouth of a valley that leads to one of the incomplete royal tombs of the early Middle Kingdom
The Pharaonic dynasties (18, 25, 26) from the eras between 1550 and 525 BC are represented by the tombs of their nobility and senior officials.
18th Dynasty
TT192 – Kharuef
AT28 – Vizier Amenhotep-Huy
TT188 – Parennefer
25th Dynasty
TT34 – Mentuemhet
TT37 – Harwa
26th Dynasty
TT27 – Sheshonq
TT33 – Padiamenope
TT36 – Ibi
TT279 – Pabasa
TT389 – Basa
TT410 – Mutirdis
TT414 – Ankhhor
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