[2025 Qesm Al Wahat Al Khargah Attraction] Travel Guide for Tumba KV14 de Tausert y Sethnajt (Updated Aug)

#holidayitinerary Entering KV14 feels like stepping into an underground palace. The first corridors whisper feminine grace—delicate carvings of Tausret as Pharaoh beside gods. Then, abruptly, the art shifts: deeper chambers roar with Setnakhte’s militaristic propaganda, his cartouches hammered over Tausret’s like a conqueror’s graffiti. The air grows colder as you descend toward the pillared hall, where goddess Nephthys stretches her wings across a ceiling smothered in stars. At the burial chamber, the haunting emptiness echoes with what could have been—a queen’s dream stolen by a warlord. Key Sections & Must-See Details (Top to Bottom: Entrance → Well Chamber → Pillared Hall → Burial) Tomb Section Highlight What to Decode Best Viewing Tip Upper Corridor Tausret’s Coronation Queen as Pharaoh (rare!) offering to Ptah; erased cartouches near door lintel. 7–8 AM (sunlight reveals erasures) Well Chamber Setnakhte’s Takeover Gods re-carved to face Setnakhte; Osiris’ green skin painted over Tausret’s gold. Flashlight on left wall Pillared Hall Astronomical Ceiling Constellations + decans (star clocks); Nut arched beside winged Isis. Lie on floor + gaze up Burial Chamber Shattered Sarcophagus Quartzite fragments carved with djed pillars (Tausret’s) vs. war scenes (Setnakhte’s). Circle room counter-clockwise Side Chamber "Secret" Cartouches Tausret’s original name hidden behind debris (right wall, knee-height). Ask guard politely to point Pro Tips for an Insightful Visit Timing & Light Strategy: Dawn Advantage: Enter 6:30–7:30 AM—low sun exposes erased cartouches in upper corridors. Avoid Midday Crowds: Tour groups flood 9:30 AM–12 PM; visit late afternoon (3–4 PM) for solitude. Torch Essential: Reveals Setnakhte’s recarving work (500-lumen warm LED ideal). Crowd-Beating Route: Pre-Breakfast Run: KV14 → KV9 (7:45 AM) → KV2 (9 AM). Avoids all tour bus waves. Heat Refuge: Deepest sections stay cool—save for peak midday (12–2 PM). Decode the Power Struggle: Cartouche Clash: Tausret: 𓇳𓁧𓂓𓏏𓍞𓊖 (often chiseled out) Setnakhte: 𓇳𓋴𓊵𓏏𓊪𓄂𓂝𓏏𓏭 (bolder, layered over hers). Artistic Tells: Tausret’s Style: Slim figures, floral borders. Setnakhte’s Style: Muscled warriors, chaotic battle scenes. Guide Wisdom ($35): Essential to understand: Why Setnakhte buried Tausret in KV14 but desecrated her images. Astronomical ceiling’s link to the heliacal rising of Sirius. Tomb Etiquette: No Backpacks: Carry sideways to avoid scraping walls in narrow passages. Respect Erasure: Never touch damaged sections—fragile pigment flakes off. Footwear: Sturdy soles—steep descent + gravel floors. Hidden Details Most Miss Tausret’s Ghost Cartouche: Faint outline under Setnakhte’s name in Well Chamber (left wall, waist-high). Builder’s Grid Lines: Red ochre guidelines for artists (visible near burial chamber ceiling). Pigment Layers: Lapis blue under Setnakhte’s war-green—proving Tausret’s original color scheme. Roman Graffiti: "Titus was here" carved near

#summervacay 🏺 Recommended Tombs in the Valley of the Kings (Standard & Extra Tickets) If you're visiting the Valley of the Kings with a standard ticket (which includes entry to 3 tombs of your choice, excluding Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses V & VI), I highly recommend: KV8 (Merenptah): A massive, atmospheric tomb with a deep burial chamber and impressive remains of a huge sarcophagus. Great art and often overlooked. KV14 (Tausret & Setnakht): A dual tomb built for a queen and usurped by a king. Unique layout, rich decoration, and fascinating political history. KV2 (Ramses IV): Easy to access, beautifully decorated, and often less crowded. Features great ceiling art and a spacious layout. For those willing to purchase one additional ticket, make it KV9 (Ramses V & VI). It's an absolute highlight of the Valley: grand scale, dazzling astronomical ceiling, and stunning scenes from key funerary texts. It’s not on the standard ticket, but well worth the small extra fee. ✅ Summary Table (Optional to include) Ticket Type Recommended Tombs Highlights Standard (3 Tombs) KV8 (Merenptah), KV14 (Tausret & Setnakht), KV2 (Ramses IV) Size, variety, rich history, vivid decoration Add-On Ticket KV9 (Ramses V & VI) Celestial ceiling, superb preservation, theological art

#summervacay KV14: Tomb of Tausret and Setnakht - Description Unique Feature: One of the largest tombs in the valley and the only one definitively built for a queen (Tausret) that was later usurped and expanded for a king (Setnakht). Original Owner: Tausret (Twosret), the last ruling pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty (c. 1188–1186 BC). She was the wife of Seti II and stepmother/grandmother(?) of Siptah. After Siptah's death, she ruled alone briefly. Second Owner: Setnakht (Userkhaure-setepenre), the founder of the 20th Dynasty (c. 1186–1184 BC). He seized power after Tausret's death, likely ending a period of instability. He took over her nearly complete tomb, significantly expanded it downwards, and buried her within it (likely in the original chamber). Location: Valley of the Kings (East Valley), near the main path, not far from KV13 (Bay), KV15 (Seti II), and KV47 (Siptah). Discovery: Known since antiquity. Layout: Complex and unusual due to its dual ownership: First Part (Tausret's Original Plan): A relatively standard queen's tomb corridor style, descending through two corridors and a well shaft room (unfinished) leading to an antechamber and a pillared burial chamber (J1). Tausret was likely buried here. Second Part (Setnakht's Expansion): Setnakht had a new, deeper axis cut downwards from the well shaft room. This descends steeply through two long corridors and another chamber to a second, much larger burial chamber (J2) designed for a king. This chamber housed Setnakht's sarcophagus. Decoration: Features vibrant, well-preserved painted reliefs. Scenes include Tausret before deities (later altered to Setnakht in many places), Setnakht before deities, and important funerary texts (Litany of Ra, Amduat, Book of Gates). The ceiling of the second burial chamber (J2) has a stunning astronomical depiction. Sarcophagi: Both original quartzite sarcophagi remain in situ: Tausret's outer sarcophagus in Chamber J1 and Setnakht's massive outer sarcophagus in Chamber J2. Setnakht's is particularly impressive. Pro Tips for Visiting KV14 Check Accessibility & Lighting: KV14 is often open but can sometimes close for conservation or if there's water damage (rare, but happened historically). Confirm it's open before trekking specifically for it. Lighting is generally good, but a small flashlight can enhance details. Prepare for Depth & Descent: To reach Setnakht's burial chamber (J2), you descend a long, steep staircase cut deep into the bedrock after the initial Tausret section. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes with good grip. The return climb back up requires moderate fitness. Appreciate the Scale & History: Take time to grasp the tomb's unique story – built for a powerful queen, usurped and expanded by a new dynasty's founder. Notice the changes in decoration where Setnakht replaced Tausret's names/figures. Focus on the Details: Astronomical Ceiling (J2): Marvel at the intricate paintings of constellations and deities on the ceiling of Setnakht'