We all grow up liking different things, whether it is dinosaurs, dolls, or whatever your fancy. My thing was history and, thus, I am overjoyed at the uncovering of the potential first royal tomb of a Pharaoh since Tutankhamun in 1922. In mid-February, a team of archaeologists found what they believe to have been the tomb of Thutmose II, who ruled Egypt’s eighteenth dynasty around the late 1400s BC. How long he ruled is up to scholarly debate as it ranges from three to fifteen years, but it is believed that he died around the age of thirty and had military campaigns into the Kingdom of Nubia.
His alleged tomb is interesting as evidence suggests that it was flooded, which prompted its contents to be moved to a second tomb. This archaeology team has claimed to have identified the second tomb and hope to explore it as well. What will be found is a mystery, but some theorize that despite both these tombs being hard, there may be evidence that the second tomb had already been robbed, as the alleged mummy of Thutmose II was found in 1881 among the Deir el-Bahri Cache. This event was a major one in the study of Egyptology as this was a tomb of shorts located above the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, where the coffins and burial goods of over fifty kings and queens were found. It is believed that this was done in the past by a Pharaoh or priest to protect the contents of tombs that were found to be unsafe, damaged, and broken into.
There is much debate of whether this was Thutmose II’s tomb and what may be found in the second potential site. What can be said is that many of the archaeologists initially thought the explored tombs were for a queen. However, as they explored specific structural choices and stylistic depictions reserved for Pharaoh’s, it was suggested otherwise. This could be a major discovery as this tomb, which is in Luxor is over a mile and a half away from the Valley Of The Kings and was believed to be the burial place for royal women. This may mean that other Pharaohs of the eighteenth and later dynasties may be buried here.
While much is not known about Thutmose II, those he left behind are some of the most influential in Ancient Egypt history. Thutmose II was married to Hatshepsut, who upon his death, became regent for his young son. Hatshepsut was one of the only women in Egyptian history to rule as Pharaoh in her own right and was believed to have done so for about twenty-two years. Though, despite her many great works and prosperous rule later in the rule of her step-son, there were significant attempts to erase her from history. Why this was done is debated, but most theorize it was to undermine her legacy as a female ruler and to delegitimize her other living child’s claim to the throne. She was the step-mother to Thutmose III, also called Thutmose the Great, who brought Egypt to the peak of its power and was known to be a great warrior. His extensive and well documented military campaigning brought much wealth and territory with his exploits, making him one of the greatest generals in antiquity. The two were responsible for a golden age, and both were known to have commissioned the building of many monuments and temples.