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XXI'st  Dynasty Gallery II
Learn more about the 21'st Dynasty.

Neskhons (c. 990?-969? B.C. Dated to reign of Pinudjem II.)
21'st Dynasty
Provenance: DB 320
Discovery Date: 1881
Current Location: Cairo Museum CG61095
View the coffins of Neskhons here

Click here for biographical data

Details: The mummy of Neskhons was partly unwrapped by Gaston Maspero on June 27'th, 1886. G. E. Smith completed the unwrapping in 1906. He discovered that flowers (of an unidentified family) had been wrapped around Neskhons' big toes. Another flower on a long stem had been placed on her left foot, and another encircled her left ankle. Although Smith could not determine her age at death, he notes that Neskhons had no gray hairs and must have been relatively young when she died. Based on the swollen appearance of her stomach and her enlarged breasts, Smith concluded that Neskhons had died while pregnant (or perhaps during labor.) She may also have succumbed to a postpartum infection soon after giving birth.
    Smith described the mummy of Neskhons as a “typical example” of the embalming technique used during the 21’st and early 22’nd Dynasties and documented various incisions through which packing material (mostly consisting of sand and sawdust) had been inserted under the skin of her neck, shoulders, arms, legs and feet. (No attempt had been made to pack the skin of her hands.) After the internal organs had been removed for separate embalming, the body cavity had also been packed with sawdust. Smith found an embalming plate made of wax placed over the embalming incision in the mummy’s lower left abdomen. This particular embalming plate had not been inscribed with the traditional Eye of Horus symbol and had instead been covered with onion skins.
    Smith described the face of Neskhons as being narrow, elliptically shaped, and graceful. However, he observed that a more complete view of her facial features had been obscured by thick layers of encrusted resin. He notes that she had been given artificial eyes made of stone but commented that these had “badly disintegrated”—a curious remark to make about stone objects. Perhaps the artificial eyes had been inlaid and some of the inlays had become detached. Both ears had been pierced and Smith observed that the earlobes had been noticeably stretched and lengthened, indicating that Neskhons had frequently worn very heavy earrings.
    Neskhons' mummy had been covered with an Osiris-type shroud which the Abd el-Rassul's had probably cut through when they stole Neskhons' heart scarab (which is now part of the British Museum's collection: # EA25584.) No other objects of value appeared on her mummy, but numerous grave goods associated with her burial were found in DB 320. These objects consisted of copper vases, a basket of glass and faience vessels, a shabti box, an Osiris figure, a papyrus, and four canopic containers with lids depicting the Four Sons of Horus (see photo of British Museum # EA59197 below left.) A particularly intriguing object found accompanying these burial goods was a wooden board inscribed with a kind of oracular decree or magical spell in which the god Amun promises to prevent Neskhons from harming her still living husband, Pinudjem II, and their children (cf. Battiscombe Gunn in JEA 41, 83ff.) This, of course, prompts questions regarding why it would be feared that the spirit of Neskhons might wish to direct malignant influences from the Netherworld toward her royal husband and offspring. Aidan Dodson surmises that something must have been "amiss" between them at the time of her death. (AoE, p. 70.) This strange protective spell may hint at an unknown tradition in which mothers who died in childbirth were believed to harbor resentment toward the babies whose births had taken their lives, and also toward the fathers who helped produce them. This, of course, is pure speculation. But it does appear that Neskhons had died during, or soon after. giving birth (cf. above.)
    Neskhon's outermost coffin (CG61030) was intact, and close examination revealed that it had originally been made either for her aunt Isiemkheb, who had been married to Menkheperre-A (cf. Kenneth Kitchen, TIP, 474f.), or for the sister-wife of Pinudjem II, also named Isiemkheb, who had been buried in end chamber "F" of DB320, probably close to Neskhons (cf. Andrzej Niwinski, JEA 74, [1988] 226ff. and mummy #CG1093 below.) Neskhons' inner coffin and coffin board had been appropriated from this same Isiemkheb and had their gilded hands and faces removed in antiquity. (Source Bibliography: AoE, p. 70; CCR, 110ff.; BSFE 74 [1975], 27; DRN, 201, 207, 213, 218, 219, n. 68; JARCE 16 [1979], 49ff.; JEA 41, 83ff; MiAE, 242, 316, 330, ill. 399; MR, 566ff., 578 f., 590ff.; RM, 107ff.)  

Other Burial Data
Original Burial: In DB 320 (in end chamber "F".) Reeves states that Neskhons predeceased her husband (Pinudjem II) and dates her burial to Year 5 of Siamun 4 smw 21 based on a wall docket found at the bottom of the entrance shaft to DB 320 (see Wall Docket translation below.) (Source Bibliography: DRN, 256.)

Wall Docket (from bottom of entrance shaft of DB 320): Year 5 4 smw 21 of Siamun (or Amenomope? Osochor?/Pinudjem II?: "Year 5 4 smw 21. Day of burial (krs) of the chief of ladies Neskhons, by the god's father of Amun, overseer of the treasury Djedkhonsiufankh son of...; the prophet of Amon-Re king of the gods Ankhefenamen; the elder (?) Nespay...; the god's father of Amun, chief of the army Nespakashuty. The seals which are upon this place: the seal of the overseer of the treasury Djedkhonsiufankh; the seal of the scribe of the treasury Nes..." (Source Bibliography: DRN, 237, #36; JEA 32 [1948], 26; MR, 520f. [facs., transcr.]; RNT, 251 [24]; TIP, 422 [68.])

Isiemkheb-D (c. 990?-969? B.C. Dated to reign of Pinudjem II.) 
21'st Dynasty
Provenance: DB 320
Discovery Date: 1881
Current Location: Cairo Museum CG61093
Biographical data
See Isiemkheb-D's coffins

Details: Because of its remarkable state of preservation, the mummy of Isiemkheb-D has never been unwrapped. Maspero erroneously reported that the mummy had been plundered in antiquity (an error repeated by Dewhacter) probably due to the existence of a heart scarab mistakenly attributed to her which was illustrated in the 18'th century De origine et usu obeliscorum of G. Zoega. (Daressy also mistakenly attributes this scarab to Isiemkheb-D but in all probability it originally belonged to the another woman named Isiemkheb who had been married to Menkheperre-A.)
    X-rays taken by Harris and Weeks reveal a small number of articles still in situ beneath Isiemkheb-D's Osiris shroud and bandages. Harris and Weeks specifically mention a small amulet on Isiemkheb-D's neck, another on her right arm, and one on her forehead (cf. the leather amulet thong found on Maatkare's head.) X-rays also reveal that Isiemkheb-D suffered from arthritis of the knees and tooth decay. She was found in her original double coffin set (CG 61031). Although the outer coffin was intact, the inner coffin and coffin board had their gilded hands and faces missing. (See photo of intact outer coffin lid below left.) Isiemkheb-D was found with a number of grave goods: a leather shrine, a stand with four copper vessels, provisions of various sorts, broken shabti boxes, an Osiris figure, a papyrus, and canopic jars. (Source Bibliography: ASAE 20 [1920], 17f.; BSFE 74 [1975], 32, n. 31; CCR, 134ff.; DRN, 201, 207, 213, 257; JARCE 16 [1979], 49ff.; MiAE, 78, 91, 132, 175, 231, 242, 316, 330, ills. 138, 430; MR, 577, 584ff.; RM, 106 f., pl. 80; XRA, 3F13-3G8; XRP, 50, 51, 173.)

Other Burial Data:
Original Burial: Due to the numerous grave goods found with Isiemkheb-D, and the intact condition of her mummy, it is highly likely that DB 320 was her original place of burial. (Source: DRN, 257.)
Post-Interment Activity: Salima Ikram and Aidan Dodson theorize that Isiemkheb-D's inner coffin and coffin board were probably subjected to pilfering by members of Pinudjem II'nd's burial party, who took advantage of the high priest's burial to steal some funerary items from one of his wives. (Source: MiAE, 330.)  If this is the case, then we know the date at which the pilfering occurred: Year 10 4 prt 20, the date of Pinudjem II'nd's funeral as recorded on the Wall Docket at the bottom of DB 320's shaft entrance. We also know the names of the people who took credit for the high priest's burial: Djedkhonsiufankh, a treasurer (probably associated with the Karnak temple complex); Nespakashuty, a military scribe and necropolis inspector; Pediamun, son of Ankhefenkhons, who bore the intriguing title "chief of secrets"; a priest of Amun whose partly illegible name contained the three syllables "...enamun"; and a man named Wennufer. These men were also given the title "god's father of Amun," and were evidently very important people. They were accompanied at DB 320 by Bakenmut, a royal scribe from "The Place of Truth", i.e. the Valley of the Kings; and two chief workmen from the necropolis named Pediamun and Amenmose. (See Wall Docket translation in 21'st Dynasty Gallery I, given in Pinudjem II's entry.) 
    It is, of course, conceivable that these men were corrupt officials and avaricious necropolis employees just like the ones named in the Tomb Robbery Papyri of the late XX'th Dynasty. But why would they be willing to leave their signatures in a tomb they had just violated? Perhaps the men who gave their names and titles on the DB 320 wall inscription did little of the actual work involved in laying the mummy of Pinudjem II to rest. This could have been delegated to a crew of workers, who took advantage of the moment to engage in some acts of petty pilfering. It is also possible that Isiemkheb-D's burial had not yet occurred at the time of Pinudjem II's interment. Edward Loring argues that she outlived her husband and dates her death to a time no earlier than Year 13 of Siamun or even of Psusennes I (TRC, 74. See the entry for Nestanebtishru below for more details about Loring's chronology.) If Loring is correct, then Isiemkheb-D's coffins may have been desecrated by the members of her own burial party years after the interment of Pinudjem II. (Source Bibliography: DRN, 257; MiAE, 330; TRC, 74.)

Photo Credit: top photo: RM, pl. LXXX; photo of mummy with underside of coffin lid: MR1 (Cairo, 1881) reprinted in KMT [3:4] 47.; photo of outer coffin lid: Denver Museum of Nature & Science . For  high resolution images of Isiemkheb-D see the University of Chicago's Electronic Open Stacks copy of Smith's The Royal Mummies (Cairo, 1912,) Call #: DT57.C2 vol59, plate LXXX.

Source Abbreviation Key

Nestanebtishru (c.990?-977? B.C. Precise dating uncertain.)
Late 21'st Dynasty--Early 22'nd Dynasty
Provenance: DB 320
Discovery Date: 1881
Current Location: Cairo Museum CG61096
View Nestanebtishru's coffins and canopics

Biographical data: Daughter of Pinudjem II and Neskhons (see above.) Nestanebtishru is often said to have been wife of the Fourth Prophet of Amen, Djedptahiufankh (see below.)

Details: The mummy of Nestanebtishru was unwrapped by Gaston Maspero on June 30'th, 1886. (Go here and here for more photos of Nestanebtishru taken by Emile Brugsch in 1886, reproduced in MA [1958,] 125-126.) G. E. Smith refers to her mummy as "one of the finest specimens of the embalmer's art in the XXI'st Dynasty," and noted that the earlier mistake of "over packing and distending the face" has not occurred here. He describes Nestanebtishru as a "haughty, Bourbon-like lady" and states that the sawdust (or "powdered wood") used to stuff her body cavity still emits a "strong, pungent aromatic odour." Like other aristocratic ladies of her period, Nestanebtishru's body had been colored with yellow ochre in imitation of the yellow coloration given to elite women in wall paintings. Reeves states that no valuable objects were found among the mummy wrappings, but notes that an impression of an embalming plate can be discerned, apparently in the hardened resins used by the embalmers. (Smith had also noted this impression and concluded that an embalming plate had originally covered the embalming incision.) Reeves concludes that this object (probably made of gold) could only have been stolen by those responsible for originally wrapping the mummy because the indentations which it made were beneath the wrappings that Maspero removed in 1886. There was also a linen docket written in hieratic on Nestanebtishru's shroud, which indicated that it had been woven for her by her alleged step mother Isiemkheb (D?) (see Linen Docket translation below.)
    Nestanebtishru was found in her original double coffin set (CG61033.) Both inner and outer coffins and coffin board were intact but the outer coffin had been covered with a black tar-like substance that dried into a hard coating which obscures most of the decorative motifs and inscriptions. Although undoubtedly placed on the coffin in antiquity, this black coating may have sustained modern damage which has given the coffin its current battered appearance. (For more about the coffins of Nestanebtishru, click here.)
    Nestanebtishru's other burial equipment included copper vessels, damaged shabti boxes, an Osiris figure, a papyrus (see photo from EMbm, 4) and canopic jars. A shabti inscribed for Nestanebtishru from DB320 was recently sold by Expertissim, an online art dealership based in Paris (see photo of this shabti at right.) There is also a shabti of Nestanebtishru in a private collection (see photo from CP, 177, where no data concerning the identity of its owner is given) and another DB320 shabti of Nestanebtishru that was acquired by the Medelhavsmuseet in Stockholm in 1976 (Medelhavsmuseet Bulletin, Stockholm 11, 1976, 65-73, which notes the acquisition of a "blue-glazed shawabti of Nestanebasheru, the daughter of Pinodjem II" and gives the museum catalogue number as MME 1975:72.) Whether these shabtis were found by Brugsch in situ in DB 320 and then stolen by workers clearing the tomb or stolen earlier and sold on the antiquities market by the Abd el-Rassul's remains an open question. One of Nestanebtishru's rather crudely made copper vessels is in the collection of the Petrie Museum and may be seen here. (Source Bibliography: CCR, 196ff.; CP, 17; DRN, 191, 201, 207, 213, 218 n. 57; EM, 118f.; EMbm, 4; MiAE, 316; MR, 579f.; RM, 109ff.)

Other Burial Data: 
Original Burial: In DB 320? Reeves does not specify where Nestanebtishru was found in DB 320, but, due to her relationship with Pinudjem II and Neskhons (who were her father and mother) she was probably laid to rest with them in end chamber "F" (cf. TRC, Plan 09.) Reeves, given his assumption that the restorers would not rebury a mummy unless its original tomb had been robbed, infers from the unplundered condition of Nestanebtishru's mummy and coffins that DB320 was her original place of burial. Edward Loring, however, notes the presence of possible water damage to her coffins and shabti boxes which would indicate that Nestanebtishru had originally been buried elsewhere. (TRC, 73.)
      Reeves contends that Nestanebtishru's burial was one of the last original burials in DB320, and dates it to a Year 13 of an unspecified ruler based on the linen docket found on her mummy (see Linen Docket translation below.) Since Nestanebtishru's linen docket inscription cannot be positively attributed to any particular reign with confidence, its dating to an unspecified Year 13 is not extremely helpful. Edward Loring, however, argues that the Isiemkheb referred to in the docket on Nestanebtishru’s wrappings could only be Isiemkheb-D, and goes on to propose that the only date range that could possibly be assigned to her donation of linens for Nestanebtishru’s burial would be either Year 13 of Siamun or of Psusennes I. (TRC, 74.) If Loring's interpretation of the date given on this docket is correct, then it would be highly unlikely that Nestanebtishru had been married to the Djedptahiufankh found with her in DB320 as is commonly assumed. (See the Original Burial section for Djedptahiufankh's entry below.) Loring's dating would also contradict the theory of Ikram and Dodson who propose that Isiemkheb-D's funerary equipment was disturbed by members of Pinudjem II's burial party (see Isiemkheb's entry above.) According to Loring's chronology, Isiemkheb-D would still be alive at the time of Pinudjem II's burial. (Source Bibliography: DRN, 191, 257; TRC, 73.)

Linen Docket Translation: Year 13 of (identity of ruler uncertain) Siamun? Psusennes I? "Linen for Min, Horus and Isis which the first great one of the harem Isiemkheb made in Yr 13" (Source Bibliography: DRN, 239; MR, 579; RNT, 259 [19] which Reeves notes is "in error.")

Photo Credit: Top photo by Emile Brugsch, 1886. From MA (1958,) p. 125; photo of shabti from Expertissim; bottom photo of mummy from RM, pl. LXXXVIII. For high resolution images of Nestanebtishru see the University of Chicago's Electronic Open Stacks copy of Smith's The Royal Mummies (Cairo, 1912,) Call #: DT57.C2 vol59, plates LXXXV, LXXXVI, LXXXVII, LXXXVIII.

Source Abbreviation Key

Djedptahiufankh (c. 990?/969?-935? B.C. Precise dating uncertain.)
Provenance: DB 320
Discovery Date: 1881
Current Location: Cairo Museum CG 61097
View Djedptahiufankh's coffins here

Biographical data

Details: The mummy of Djedptahiufankh was intact when found in DB 320, and was partly unwrapped by Maspero on June 29'th, 1886. At that time, Maspero found the figures of two serpents (made of some unspecified material) on the neck of the mummy, and also a lotus flower, which had been wrapped in the folds of linen. He also discovered a heart scarab on the mummy's chest along with a silver figure of a hawk with spread wings. 
    Twenty years later (on Sept. 5'th, 1906) Smith removed some of the remaining bandages and discovered numerous amulets and other items of jewelry. Very thin gold rings were found on Djedptahiufankh's fingers and toes, and were probably used, in place of string,  to keep gold finger and toe covers in place. (See color photo of these rings below, Photo credit: Patrick Landmann, ACI/Science Photo Library.) Smith found many carnelian objects on the left arm: a  uraeus, a serpent's head, an Ab amulet, a lotus bud, a barrel-shaped object, and an object of unknown significance shaped somewhat like the letter "Y." 
    In some manner attached to these, Smith also found a scarab and a wedjet made of a mottled black and white stone; two lotus buds, another scarab, and a djed amulet made of light green stone; a broken object of undetermined significance; and a "boomerang"-shaped object with a figure of Thoth engraved upon it. The embalming plate had been fashioned out of a copper alloy material, identified by Smith as bronze, and had the usual wedjet fashioned on it in raised relief. 
    Djedptahiufankh's mummy lay in a double coffin set (CG 61026) which had originally belonged to an individual named Nesshuenopet. The coffin board had also originally belonged to another person whose identity is unspecified. The outermost coffin had its gilded left hand missing. Otherwise, the coffins and coffin board were intact.
    Djedptahiufankh was found with three shabti boxes, an Osiris figure, and a papyrus. There were also three different inscriptions on his wrappings (see Linen Docket translations below.) (Source Bibliography: CCR, 200ff.; DRN, 201, 207, 212; MR, 572ff., 590, 592; RM, 112ff.; XRA, 4D11-4E6.)

Other Burial Data:
Original Burial: In DB 320, at a time Reeves establishes as being no earlier than Year 11 of Shoshenq I. If this date for the burial of Djedptahiufankh is correct, then it is highly unlikely that he had been married to Nestanebtishru (see above) as is often claimed. Edward Loring, based on his interpretation of the linen docket found on Nestanebtishru's mummy, believes that she had died in Year 13 of either Siamun or Psusennes I. (TRC, 74.) If Djedptaiufankh had been Nestanebtishru's husband, he would have outlived her by either 22 or 41 years depending on the ruler to whom we assign the Year 13 date inscribed on her linen docket. Djedptahiufankh's mummy appears to be that of a young man and it therefore seems unlikely that the Nestanebtishru found with him in DB320 was his wife.
      Reeves contends that necropolis officials took advantage of the burial of Djedptahiufankh to transfer the mummies from the tomb of Inhapi to DB 320, thereby implying that Djedptahiufankh's was the last original burial in the tomb prior to the caching of the other mummies. Reeves' dating of this burial to no earlier than Year 11 of Shoshenq I is supported by a stylistic analysis of Djedptahiufankh's coffins and coffin board, which are of late 21'st or early 22'nd Dynasty derivation. (Source Bibliography: DRN, 257; TRC, 74.)

Linen Docket Translations:
(i.) Year 5 of Shoshenq I/Iuput: " Noble linen which the dual king (nsw bity) lord of he two lands Hedjkheperre son of Re lord of appearings Shoshenq-meramun made for his father Amun in Year 5; noble linen..." (Source Bibliography: DRN, 239; MR, 573 [transcr.]; RNT, 253 [31].)

(ii.) Year 10 of Shoshenq I/Iuput: "Noble linen which the dual king (nsw bity) lord of he two lands Hedjkheperre son of Re lord of appearings Shoshenq-meramun made for his father Amun (in) year 10; noble linen which the high priest of Amon-Re, great chief of the army Iuput, true of voice, king's son of the lord of the two lands Shoshenq-meramun, made for his father Amun (in) Year 10" (Source Bibliography: DRN, 239; MR,  573 [transcr.]; RNT, 253 [32].)

(iii.) Year 11 of Shoshenq I/Iuput:

Photo Credit: Both photos from Patrick Landmann, ACI/Science Photo Library
For  high resolution images of Djedptahiufankh see the University of Chicago's Electronic Open Stacks copy of Smith's The Royal Mummies (Cairo, 1912,) Call #: DT57.C2 vol59, plates LXXXIX, XC, XCI, XCII, XCIII (for close up of jewelry on wrist.) See Flickr member dustinkeirstead's color photo of Djedptahiufankh's mummy as it appears today in the Royal Mummy Room of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. For a color close-up view of Djedptahiufankh’s face, click here. (Photo credit: Patrick Landmann ACI/Science Photo Library.)

Source Abbreviation Key