Image: Patricia Mora Photography
Only a few hours remain before the close of the 2025 archaeological campaign. The team has made the most of the weekend to rest and recharge for the very little that is still left to do, which nonetheless carries, of course, a very special significance.
The end of the campaign means, on the one hand, leaving everything properly packed away, stored, and ready so that it will not cause any problems for the ghafirs or guards of the necropolis over the coming year. On the other hand, it also means leaving behind many shared experiences, with colleagues and local workmen with whom we have enjoyed ourselves and worked hard, and that is always a difficult “goodbye.” Over the coming months we will feel, as lovers of ancient Egypt like to say, the “sting of the Egyptian scorpion” (others speak of the “curse of the pharaoh”), which compels one to keep thinking about this country and to return as soon as the opportunity allows. Be that as it may, the end is drawing near, and the team is preparing to give its very best tomorrow and to enjoy these final hours together.
The day off was used by different members of the team to visit various sites in the area, go for a walk, do some shopping, or simply recover their strength. Some, like our moudir, took the opportunity to build up energy and try to shake off a cold that had left him knocked out for several days. In addition, our conservator Reed left the hotel last night to fly back to Scotland, so we will be one team member short for tomorrow’s campaign closure.
Some members of the team took the opportunity to visit the temple of Amenhotep III and have a look at the smaller alabaster colossi erected just a week ago. We also visited the nearby tombs of Sennefer (TT 96) and Rekhmire (TT 100), where we enjoyed the beauty of these monuments and discussed the iconographic and textual programmes of both tombs. To the exceptional depiction of grapevines on the ceiling of Sennefer’s tomb is added the wide range of scenes showing the work of the vizier Rekhmire, the stages of his Opening of the Mouth ritual, and even the gifts brought from foreign lands—all of which remind us of the power and charisma wielded by these officials of the New Kingdom.
After enjoying a peaceful day in which we were able to carry out many different activities, only the final day of work in the tombs of Ipi and Djari remains tomorrow… inshaa’allah, may it be a great day and may we be able to bring this campaign to a close in the best possible way.
