The Egyptian Minister of Tourism has described it as the most important discovery since 1922. An unprecedented archaeological discovery has shaken the world of Egyptology: researchers have discovered the tomb of Thutmose II, a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty who ruled 3,500 years ago. This discovery marks the first time in more than a century, since the tomb of Tutankhamun was found, that the final resting place of a king of ancient Egypt has been found. The burial site was located in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis and surprised experts, who initially believed it to be that of a royal wife. The dimensions, design and inscriptions confirmed that it was a pharaoh: the elusive Thutmose II, predecessor of Tutankhamun and a key figure in the royal lineage.
Where was the tomb of Thutmose II found and why is it so important?
The discovery was made by the New Kingdom Research Foundation, in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. After 12 years of excavations, the team found a monumental staircase and a burial chamber decorated with scenes from the Amduat, a religious text reserved exclusively for pharaohs. The tomb was found in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, according to the New Kingdom Research Foundation. The discovery solves a centuries-old mystery: the location of the tomb of Thutmose II, whose existence was known but had never been located. Until now, it was believed that his tomb was located near the Valley of the Kings, and not in the Western Valleys, which reconfigures the archaeological map of the region.
Who was Thutmose II, the pharaoh who lived in the shadow of his dynasty?
Thutmose II ruled between 1493 and 1479 BC. He was the husband of Hatshepsut, one of the few female pharaohs, and father of Thutmose III. Although his reign was brief and overshadowed by more dominant figures in his family, this discovery puts him back at the centre of Egyptian history. The alabaster fragments found in the tomb, engraved with his name and that of Hatshepsut, confirm his identity. Evidence also suggests that a flood damaged his original tomb, which would explain why his whereabouts remained unknown for centuries.
Thutmose II, the pharaoh who may have been more powerful than Ramses II
Some historians consider that Thutmose II was more powerful than Ramses II due to his lineage and the context in which he ruled: he was part of the 18th Dynasty, the most influential of the New Kingdom, and his reign gave rise to key figures such as Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, who expanded Egyptian territory and consolidated its hegemony. His role as a link in this succession of great leaders may have been decisive in establishing the foundations of Egyptian power before the time of Ramses.
