The Upper Precinct is reached by going north from the Ramesseum along the east side of the hill. The precinct is entered by the south gate, from which there are paths to the various tombs.
Above the hill from Enene's Tomb is the highest row of tombs. There is a fine view from the top of the Ramesseum and the Colossi of Memnon, extending across the Nile to Luxor and Karnak; to the left are the desert hills, with the temples of Deir el-Bahri at their feet.
Uphill again to No. 82, the Tomb of Amenemhot, Granary Superintendent, Scribe and Steward to User, Vizier under Tuthmosis Ill. On the rear wall, to the left, is a fine painting of a banquet, with musicians; below, a bull fight. Corridor: left hand wall, funeral rites, the mummy's journey to Abydos; right hand wall, funeral banquet, with musicians and offering bearers.
A breach in the wall leads from the Tomb of Tjenen into the Tomb of Amenhotep (No. 75), Second Prophet of Amun in the reign of Tuthmosis IV. On the wall to the left of the entrance are craftsmen working for the temple and surveyors; on the opposite wall gifts made to the Temple of Amun (statues, a harp, a pillared hall, vases); to the right of the entrance the funeral banquet; on the opposite wall the dead man escorted to the Temple of Amun at Karnak (the facade of which, with flagstaffs and statues, is shown on the right) and greeted by the priestesses of Amun, his relatives.
Up the hill from Sennofer's tomb, to the right, is No. 84, the Tomb of Emunedjeh, an official under Tuthmosis III. In the first chamber are representatives of the lands of the South and the North bringing tribute to the King; in the second chamber (on the right) the dead man hunting.
Farther north of the Tomb of Senmut, downhill, is No. 60, the Tomb of Entefoker, Vizier in the reign of Sesostris I (12th Dynasty). This is the oldest tomb in the cemetery. A long corridor leads into a chamber containing a niche, in front of which is a badly damaged life size statue of Senet, the dead man's wife. The paintings on the walls of the corridors show the old fashioned style of the Middle Kingdom to which they belong. Right hand wall: catching birds in a net; hunting in the desert; cooks and bakers at work; the dead man and his wife inspecting New Year gifts brought to them. Left hand wall: the mummy's journey to Abydos; funeral rites; dancing girls and musicians.
Farther up the hill is No. 86, the Tomb of Monkheperre-senob, High Priest of Amun in the reign of Tuthmosis III. The only paintings are in the first transverse chamber. Right hand entrance wall: carriage builders, herds of cattle being brought in. Left hand entrance wall: harvest scenes. On the wall to the right of the door into the corridor: Asiatics bringing tribute, including a Keftiu (Cretan) with a curious goblet.
A little way north of the Tomb of Tjenen is No. 71, the Tomb of Senmut, Chief Architect and favorite of Queen Hatshepsut, who was responsible for building the great Temple at Deir el-Bahri. This tomb, of great historical interest, is unfortunately in an advanced state of ruin. At the right hand end of the rear wall, under a protective roof, are three Keftiu (Cretans) carrying curiously shaped vases; above, a frieze of Hathor heads.
From the crest of the hill we descend towards the north to No. 74, the Tomb of Tjenen, "Chief Scribe of the soldiers" in the reign of Tuthmosis IV. On the rear wall of the first chamber, to the right, the dead man is seen inspecting various tributes brought to him; in the lower row, horses; to the left, the dead man reviewing his troops (including drummers with their drums on their backs).
Close by, to the north, is the much mutilated Tomb of Tjenen (No.76), "Fan bearer on the right hand of the King" (Tuthmosis IV). On the rear wall, to the right, the dead man is depicted conducting into the presence of the King representatives of Asiatic nations bringing tribute.
Lower down is No. 65, the Tomb of lmesib, an official of the Temple of Amu n at the end of the 20th Dynasty. The tomb was originally constructed during the 18th Dynasty, but lmesib had the old reliefs covered over with stucco on which new scenes were painted.
From the forecourt we enter a transverse chamber with six 16 sided pillars, from which a long vaulted corridor leads to the niche for the dead man's statue. The paintings in the main chamber, which are much faded, depict festal barques bearing the name of Ramesses IX, gold utensilsand (on the left hand wall) the King making offerings to the sacred barque of Amun and the statues of his ancestors. Fine decorated ceiling.
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Sheikh Abd el-Qurna - Subterranean Chambers of Sennofer
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