After Pococke, Tomb Plans of the Kings at Thebes Valley of the Kings Layout, Egypt, 1776, Print

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Title: Tomb Plans of the Kings at Thebes – Valley of the Kings Layout, Egypt 1776 : This 1776 architectural … Read more Title: Tomb Plans of the Kings at Thebes – Valley of the Kings Layout, Egypt 1776 : This 1776 architectural engraving presents a series of floor plans of royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings near Thebes (modern Luxor), providing an early European attempt to systematically document the layout of these underground burial chambers. Numbered Plate XXXI, the image is from the Dutch edition of Richard Pococke’s travel account, one of the earliest illustrated works to bring the structures of ancient Egypt to Western scholarly attention. The print features five main ground plans, each showing the long, narrow, and progressively descending axial structure characteristic of New Kingdom royal tombs. These plans illustrate the typical layout: a sequence of corridors leading into larger halls and the eventual burial chamber at the far end. Some include side chambers and pillared halls, revealing variations in design from tomb to tomb. In the upper section of the plate, there are inscriptions in both Greek and Egyptian scripts, possibly copied from actual wall markings Pococke encountered during his exploration. A small vignette drawing of a sarcophagus or stone chest is labeled with letter a, along with a sample of hieroglyphs, adding a philological and antiquarian element to the architectural survey. The Dutch caption reads, "Grondteekeningen van de Begraafplaatsen der Koningen te Thebe," which translates to "Ground plans of the burial places of the kings at Thebes." These diagrams are some of the earliest printed European efforts to study and record the layout of royal tombs, which were often hidden within the cliffs of the Theban necropolis and accessible only through narrow passageways. This engraving appears in *Beschryving van het Oosten en van eenige andere landen* ( of the East and Some Other Lands), translated and annotated by Ernst Willem Cramerus and published in Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in 1776. Condition report: Very good condition. Minor age toning and faint edge wear, especially on the right. Central vertical crease from original binding. Strong plate mark and sharp detail. Verso blank. Framing tips: Frame in a black or deep brown wood with an ivory or parchment mat to highlight the precision of the tomb layouts. Suitable for collectors of architectural history, early Egyptology, or travel illustrations. Technique: Engraving Maker: Unknown engraver after Richard Pococke, Netherlands, 1776 See less