KV17
MENMAATRE SETHY MERENPTAH TOMB
Goddess Isis deploying her wings .
This tomb is situated in the famous Valley of the Kings ( Biban el Moulouk ) in the western
part of Louxor , on the other bank of the Nile river , at about 25° of North Latitude .
It was descovered the 16th of october in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Belzoni ; just
after the Ramsès Ist 's one , ( The number 16 was allocated and was descovered the 10th of october
of the same year ) .
This tomb , before to have the number 17 ( KV17 according to the actual numbering of King Valley Tombs ,
setting by John Gardner Wilkinson in 1830 ) had the number
6 in Belzoni's numbering ; W in James Burton's one , 12 in Robert Hay's one and finally the number 3
in Champollion's numbering .
This tomb was robbered since the antiquity ; and the Sethy Ist 's mummy has been discoverd in 1881 in
the famous Royal Cache in Deir-el-Bahari 's clift .
Situation :
Into the Valley of the Kings; the tomb is situated in a little ouadi, perpendiculary to
the main ouadi .
This tomb is, actually, not often open to visit for public. It's an oppotunity to have a visit now ; most important as
the visite of Nefertary's tomb into the Queens's Valley . I had a chance to visited the Sety's tomb without probleme ;
with photos allowed in 1978 .
Entrances of the two tombs of : Ramses Ist ,
in the right part of the photo and the Sethy Ist 's one on the left .
Ramses Ist 's tomb was greatly abbreviated because of the short time of his reign . It consists , only of a room chamber ,
well decorated . Colors are in remarquable beauty and we think that , perhaps , the same workers
had decorated the Ramses Ist 's tomb and the tomb of Horemheb . To Have an idea
ot this typicals scenes and the well colors conservation , see the KV57 of Horembeb .
It's a perfect example .
Tomb number 17 map .
The map of Sethy Ist 's tomb is a jogged-axis-type . Horemheb stared
with a straight line plan without jogged line as it was the case in the XVIIIth dynasty. It seemed in , with this straight line aspect
an influence of the amarna preiriod ; a solar influence .
To have a sight of the general plan of KV17 : 
, a large Gif file.
For the complete description whith details of tomb , let's click .
A view of the room of four pillars :
Return to main menu : 