Mummies sure do turn up in the oddest of places! Today, we're going to be talking about "mummy caches," hidden tombs and caves used for the express purpose of concealing and protecting the remains of Egyptian pharaohs. Because this is Thutmose Tuesday, we'll be talking about one (very famous) cache in particular: DB320. Officially discovered in 1881 and located in the cliffs behind Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el-Bahri, DB320 (also referred to as TT320) appears to be no more t

When researching the story of Maatkare Hatshepsut, there's one name that will inevitably pop up: Senenmut. And there's good reason, too! Over the course of his lifetime, Senenmut commissioned a large number of statues of himself (25 that we know of), as well as a lavish tomb near the Valley of the Kings. Based on the evidence he left behind, it's clear that Senenmut was an incredibly successful official in Hatshepsut's court, holding many titles and maintaining a strong conne

When Thutmose I came to power at the beginning of the 18th Dynasty, Egypt was still in a bit of a funk from the political instability of the Second Intermediate Period. The founder of the dynasty, Pharaoh Ahmose I, had inherited the throne as a child, as did his son and successor Amenhotep I decades later. While Ahmose and Amenhotep successfully drove the Hyksos invaders out of their country and restored Egypt's sovereignty, this succession of child kings (in addition to Amen

Welcome to the first #ThutmoseTuesday! Each Tuesday, in honor of my favorite pharaonic family, I'll be posting about some aspect of Egyptian history or culture pertaining to the 18th Dynasty and/or the Thutmoside pharaohs. This week, I've got an intriguing and oft-overlooked episode from the middle of the 18th Dynasty, involving Thutmose IV, the Sphinx, and a whole lot of sand. Thutmose IV was the eighth king of the 18th Dynasty; he was preceded by Amenhotep II, succeeded by