Anthropoid coffin from tomb 55 valley of the kings

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It was excavated by T.M Davis (1907). It dated back to the 18th dynasty, reign of Akhenaten (1350 – 1333 BC).

It was discovered in the tomb 55 at the  valley of the kings.

The anthropoid coffin is the last development of sarcophagus in ancient Egypt.There were a big struggle between scholars concerning the identification of this coffin.

At the beginning it was said that this coffin belongs to king Smenkhkara , The co-regent of king Akhnaten in Thebes. This was said along 10 years ago.

But, now some scolars told that Smenkhkara is queen Nefertiti herself.

After the visit of queen Ti the mother of king Akhnaten to El Amarna, queen Nefertiti disappeared from the history and we found that king Akhnaten was appeared on scenes represented with his daughter as a royal couple and Smenkhkara appeared in Thebes.

So,  some scholars told  that it could be Nefertiti who became the co-regent of her husband as Smenkhkara at Thebes to help him control the riots of the priests of Amon. Also it could be this anthropoid coffin belongs to her in the form of Smenkhkara.

The last opinion for Dr. Zahi Hawas who said that this anthropoid coffin belongs to king  Akhnaten himself. Although it was found in Thebes not

El – Amarna because king Tutankhamon (his son) get the coffin of his father to Thebes to protect him from the revenge of the priests of Amon. Also he didn't write the name of Akhnaten on the coffin for more protection.

We don't know the fact because the name of the king wasn't found on it.

Description of the coffin:

This anthropoid coffin  was made out of gilded wood & class paste inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones like cornilian, treaquaz and lapos lazoly.

The cartouches on the sarcophagus have been carefully ereased and the face was left unrecognisable by the removal of the gold leaf that served as a funerary mask.

There was 2 scepters in his hands but now missed.

He represented with tyurned up beard.He represented with wide collar for protection. Finally we could say that it was made with fine arts.