Whose Tomb?
“One of the best moments in the lifetime of an archaeologist is to reveal the answer to a mystery.” —Dr. Zahi Hawass, world-renowned
archaeologist and Egyptologist
Tomb of an Ancient Egyptian
Descend into a recreation of the longest, deepest, and most complete of any tomb in the Egyptian Valley of the Kings. Analyze the intricate details of the tomb walls, explore the burial chamber, and work together as a family to solve key challenges. Whose tomb is this? Where might the mysterious tunnel lead? All of the investigations are based on the real site.
- Find a Cartouche! Could this be a pharaoh's tomb? Help archaeologist Dr. Hawass by finding cartouches in the tomb's passageway.
- Put the Sarcophagus Together. The tomb was robbed and the sarcophagus lid was broken. Piece it back together to find out where the mummy is.
- Help Excavate the Mysterious Tunnel! This mysterious tunnel has never been fully excavated. Where might it lead? Help clear out the rubble and repair the walls.
See the tomb!
The tomb of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Seti I is the longest, deepest, and most complete of any tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Its entrance is marked by a steep descent cut deep into mountain bedrock. All of the tomb's narrow passages and 11 magnificent rooms and chambers are covered with exquisite decoration in which figures are both carved into the rock in bas-relief and then painted.
Opening the real tomb of Seti I exposes it to humidity, which can be damaging to both the rock and the tomb and its decoration, so the real tomb of Seti I is closed to the public. The museum's accurate representation of portions of it for National Geographic Treasures of the Earth will offer children and families an opportunity to explore and discover an extraordinary archaeological site that is otherwise inaccessible, even to those who visit or live in Egypt!
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Who Is Dr. Zahi Hawass?
World-renowned archaeologist and Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass is Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, the department charged with the care and protection of all Egyptian monuments and museums.
Dr. Hawass directed excavations at Giza, Saqqara, and in the Valley of the Kings. He is credited with many major discoveries including the Cemetery of the Pyramid Builders and the Valley of the Golden Mummies. Dr. Hawass is a longtime friend of The Children's Museum and has been instrumental in the development of and research behind many of the museum's exhibits.
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Dr. Zahi Hawass is Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, the department charged with the care and protection of all Egyptian monuments and museums. He is credited with many major discoveries. And is a longtime friend of The Children's Museum.
Opening the real tomb of Seti I exposes it to humidity, which can be damaging to the rock, the tomb, and its decoration. The museum's accurate representation of it for National Geographic Treasures of the Earth will offer families an opportunity to explore and discover an extraordinary archaeological site that is otherwise inaccessible.
The tomb of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Seti I is the longest, deepest, and most complete of any tomb in the Valley of the Kings. All of the tomb's narrow passages and 11 magnificent rooms and chambers are covered with exquisite decoration in which figures are both carved into the rock in bas-relief and then painted.
The halls and rooms leading up the chamber depict Seti being introduced to various gods and goddesses-a mythic ritual meant to allow his successful crossing to the afterlife.
The last feature of the tomb long puzzled archaeologists and Egyptologists: A tunnel that leads away from the burial chamber.
In 2007, Dr. Hawass took on the challenge of excavating the tunnel-shoring it up with metal supports and adding a small pulley car to remove rubble.
Set I was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh-the son of Ramses I and the father of Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great. Although the precise dates of his rule are uncertain, most scholars believe he took power between 1294 and 1290 B.C. and died in 1279 B.C.
