Rock-Cut Tomb Of Pennut, Viceroy Of Nubia Under Reign Of Ramses VI

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Many ancient monuments have been rescued from rising waters of powerful Nile River.

One of them is rock cut 'Tomb of Pennut', which is situated in Aneiba (Aniba), Lower Nubia, approximately 140 miles south of Aswan, in the south of Egypt.

In the 1970s some of the best and most colourful of the scenes were stolen. Tomb of Pennut. Lake Nasser, Egypt. Image credit: Dennis Jarvis - CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED

Today, Aneiba (or Mi’am) does not exist. It was flooded by the Lake Nasser but in times of Ramses VI, it was  an important administrative center of Lower Nubia and the seat of governor and higher officials. The city's  Horus temple dates back to the Middle Kingdom. The cult of Horus of Mi'am was not limited to his city but like all other Horus it was widespread throughout Nubia.

The current location of the tomb of Pennut is  on the shore of Lake Nasser, on the site of the new Amada.

Pennut, Viceroy of Kush was a prominent figure also known as “King’s Son of Kush”. This prominent Egyptian official lived at the time of Ramses VI (1143-1136 BC) and was supervisor of the province of Aneiba,  the seat of governor and higher officials.

Egyptologist Professor George Steindorff (1861-1951) found the tomb during the excavations at the second raising of the Aswan Dam.

Inside the tomb of Pennut. Photo credits: travel-tour-guide.com

While studying the tomb, he found that Pennut served under Ramses VI, the fifth ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt. His office was “Deputy of Wawat”, Chief of the Quarry Service” and Steward of Horus, Lord of Mi’am” and he was an important Nubian figure.

See also:

Kingdom Of Nubia: Pyramids And Priceless Secrets Of A Civilization Forgotten By History And Neglected By Archaeology

Taharqa – The Most Powerful Of The Black Pharaohs

Ancient Great City Of Napata In The Kingdom Of Kush

Two of his relatives also held high positions of “Treasurer of the Lord of Two Lands of Mi’am” and another was “Scribe of the white House and Mayor of M’am”.

However, their tombs have never been discovered.

The tomb of Pennut, a small, well-preserved structure with the entrance leading into a chamber 6.5 m (21ft) wide by 2.8 m (9ft) deep).

King's Son of Kush depicted in the tomb of Pennut in Aniba. Dates to the 20th dynasty. Ramesses VI. From Lepsius Denkmaler Abt 3, Band 7, Page 230

The tomb of Pennut (with a small offering chapel and a niche at the rear) was found decorated with the cartouches of the Pharaoh Ramses VI,  carved on the walls of the chapel and many reliefs depicting how the Viceroy and members of his family used to adore various gods in front of other officials, and other important events and personalities from the Viceroy’s life.

One relief in his tomb shows Pennut himself receiving the gifts from Ramses VI form of two silver vessels.

The tomb of Pennut was rescued by UNESCO's project, it presently is located opposite Qasr Ibrim, some 25 miles away from its original site.

There are also scenes associated with the afterlife. The tomb has several well-preserved and informative inscriptions.

Although very old, Pennut’s tomb is not only beautiful but also famous for its inscriptions authored by Pennut. The inscriptions give us a picture of the Nubian official’s life including records of the boundaries, offerings and presents given to Ramses VI.

In the tomb, there is also text recording Pennut’s donation of a statue of Ramses VI to the temple of Horus in Aneiba and funding made by him on behalf of agricultural lands.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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