Prince Amenherkhepshef, the ninth on the list of sons of Rameses III was given the titles of 'king's scribe' and 'great commander of the cavalry', as well as the more common "king's son of his body whom he loves'. His father and grandfather were Pharaohs, and carried Y-DNA haplogroup E1b1a.
This fact debunks 7 stereotypes and tropes about ancient Egypt:
(1). The “Non-African” Trope: The association of Y-DNA haplogroup E1b1a with the royal lineage of ancient Egypt, including Prince Amenherkhepshef, and his father and grandfather, demonstrates a strong connection to African ancestry. Haplogroup E1b1a is widely found among African populations, which counters narratives that attempt to distance ancient Egyptians from Africa and portray them primarily as Middle Eastern or European.
(2). The “Egypt as Isolated and Separate from Africa” Trope: The acknowledgment of African haplogroups within Egypt’s royal line reaffirms that ancient Egypt was deeply rooted in Africa, challenging views that depict Egypt as culturally and ethnically distinct or separate from its African neighbors.
(3). The “Egyptian Elite Were Non-African” Stereotype: Claims suggesting that the Egyptian elite were primarily of “non-African” origin are contradicted by evidence showing that Pharaohs, including Rameses III and his descendants, carried Y-DNA haplogroups associated with African heritage. This challenges misconceptions that only non-Africans ruled Egypt while Africans were relegated to subordinate roles.
(4). The “All Foreign Influence” Trope: The emphasis on Egyptian royalty as culturally and genetically African highlights the indigenous origins of their power and achievements, rejecting tropes that overemphasize foreign influence or the idea that Egypt’s grandeur was derived from external sources like the Levant or Europe.
(5). The “Egypt as a Monolithic Entity” Trope: Recognizing the complexity of lineage, titles, and roles within Egypt, including military and scribal leadership, underscores that ancient Egyptian society was multifaceted, with its leaders holding diverse roles reflecting a sophisticated and evolving civilization. This goes against the stereotype of Egypt as a static and monolithic culture.
(6). The “Royal DNA is less important than Commoner DNA” Trope: The genetic evidence from Pharaohs like Rameses III carrying Y-DNA haplogroup E1b1a demonstrates that DNA testing of royal or elite remains holds far greater historical and cultural importance than random DNA tests from broader populations. Royalty often had significant influence on culture, politics, and societal structures, making their genetic heritage a critical reflection of historical identity, lineage, and connections. Random tests lack this historical depth and cannot reveal specific ancestral influence or legacy.
(7). The “Tanned Skin Tone” Trope: This depiction and narrative further debunk the trope that ancient Egyptians deliberately used brown to depict tanned skin based on foreign Cretan art conventions. Unlike the symbolism-driven art of Crete, Egyptian representations, like that of Prince Amenherkhepshef, consistently used reddish-brown to depict native Egyptians, reinforcing their African heritage and challenging claims that intentionally misinterpret symbolic art conventions to deny Egypt’s African roots.
By bringing in the genetic evidence and the diversity of roles within royal titles, this narrative counters oversimplified depictions of Egypt’s racial and cultural identity, emphasizing its African roots and internal complexity.
Tomb:
QV55 is located at the western end of the main Wadi, and is oriented along a Northeast-Southwest axis, similar to QV 52 and QV 53. A long entry Ramp(A) leads into chamber (B) with a side chamber (Ba) to the north. Chamber (B) is followed by burial chamber (C) with side chamber (Ca) to the north and ends in a low-ceilinged rear chamber (D). This rear chamber (D) contains a granite Sarcophagus. The entry ramp has modern masonry Steps replacing the previous wooden steps. Extensive sunken relief painted plaster survives throughout the tomb. Though once evidently boldly colored, the general appearance is now abraded and the colors appear somewhat faded.
QV 55 belongs to Amenherkhepshef, the ninth on the list of sons of Rameses IIIat Medinet Habu. There he is given the name of Rameses-Amenherkhepshef and is listed as having died, something which probably occurred before year 30 of the reign of Rameses III. He should not be confused with his predecessor, Amenherkhepshef, son of Rameses II. He was given the titles of 'king's scribe' and 'great commander of the cavalry', as well as the more common "king's son of his body whom he loves'. Nowhere is he given the title 'king's eldest son.' Judging by the location of his tomb, it is believed that he was a son of queen Tyti, whose tomb (QV 52) is in the same area. He may not even have been buried in the QV but in KV 13, where excavations revealed a re-carved sarcophagus of Tausertwith his name. A partial stelae showing his image was found at the Sanctuary to Ptahand Meretseger, probably an ex-voto by craftsmen who worked on his tomb, and a relief from Karnak and a fragment of a stela from Deir el-Medina also bear his name.
Ernesto Schiaparellifollowed the trace of the ancient dam and found the upper part of the entrance ramp to the tomb in 1904. At its discovery, part of the plastered wall, which originally sealed the entrance, remained in situ. The tomb was empty except for a few funerary objects and an unfinished sarcophagus. The sarcophagus was found in corridor C, but was re-located to Chamber D to allow passage through the narrow space. The Italian mission also constructed surround walls and a vaulted cover over the entrance and installed a heavy metal door. Elizabeth Thomas(1959-60) noted that the entrance had been re-sealed with plaster after thieves had broken through, and Guy Lecuyot suggests that the tomb location was lost during the Third Intermediate Period. The Franco-Egyptian Mission carried out investigations in the tomb in 1988. Currently the tomb is open to visitation, except for side chambers (Ba) and (Ca) that are closed off. Glass barriers, fluorescent lighting, and wooden flooring have been installed. Previously, low wooden barriers were used. There are no barriers around doorway leading into the burial chamber and in chamber D.
LOCATION
Valley of the Queens, Main Valley
West Bank, Luxor
Elevation: 117.166
Northing: 97,899.465
Easting: 93,859.378
Modern governorate: Qena
Ancient nome: 4th Upper Egypt
Surveyed by TMP: Yes
OWNER
Prince Amenherkhepshef
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