The coffin of Seti I

SetiIcoffin.jpg (59336 bytes)
Seti I was found in one of his original coffins (CG61019) but it remains undetermined whether this was his outer or second-innermost coffin. At some point, the original outer surface of this coffin had been entirely removed. (This indicates that it had probably been entirely gilded, and that this gilt surface was removed by thieves rather than by the restorers, who, in other cases where they had stripped coffins of their gold foil coverings, left inscriptions and names intact.) The restorers remodelled the face of Seti's coffin and painted the the whole coffin white, with details and inscriptions in black.

Original Burial: In KV 17

Restorations: As the series of linen and coffin dockets associated with his mummy attest, Seti I did not rest easy in his beautiful tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The burial required several restorations prior to the removal of the king's mummy to the k3y of Inhapi, and, finally, to DB 320. The first of these occurred during Year 6 of the period of whm mswt ("renaissance" or, literally, "repetition of births.") A second restoration of the burial in KV 17 took place in Year 10 of Smendes I, and Reeves dates a third restoration to Year 15 of Smendes I, when the mummy of Ramesses II was cached with his father's in KV 17. A fourth restoration occurred on Year 7 2 prt 16 of Psusennes I.

Reburials: Seti I was finally removed from KV 17 on Year 10 4 prt 17 of Siamun, and cached in the k3y of Inhapi three days later. Here he lay until at least Year 11 of Shoshenq I, when he was moved with the other mummies cached in Inhapi's tomb to DB 320 at the time of Djedptahiufankh's burial.

Coffin Dockets:
(i.) Year 6 2 3ht 7 of whm mswt/Herihor: "Yr 6 2 3ht 7. The day the vizier...high priest of Amon-Re king of the gods Herihor commanded to renew the burial (whm (kr)s) of king (nsw) Menmaatre l. p. h., son of Re Setmer(en)ptah, by the agent Herenamenpenaef and the youth Prepayit"

(ii.) Year 10 4 prt 17 of Siamun/Pinudjem II: "Yr 10 4 prt 17 of king (nsw) Siamun. Day of bringing king (nsw) Menmaatre-Setmer(en)ptah l. p. h. out of his tomb that he might be taken into the high place (k3y) of Inhapi which is a great place (st c3t), by the prophet of Amon-Re king of the gods Ankhefenamun son of Baky, and the god's father of Amon-Re king of the gods, third prophet of Khonsemwast-Neferhotep (scribe) of offerings of the house of Amon-Re king of the gods, sm-priest of the temple of Usermaatre-setepenre in the house of Amun, general of Tasetmerydjhuty, scribe and chief agent Nespakashuty son of Bakenkhons. Afterwards Mut, the one having the authority over the great place (st wrt), said: That which was in good condition in my care, there has been no injury to it in the bringing out from the tomb in which they (sic.) were in order to take them into this high place (k3y) of Inhapi which is a great place (st c3t) and in which Amenophis rests."

(iii.) Year 10 4 prt 20 of Siamun/Pinudjem II: "Yr 10 4 prt 20. Day of taking the god into his place in order to rest in the mansion of eternity (hwt nhh) (in which) Amenophis...is...by the god's father Amun, overseer of the treasury Djedkhonsiufankh; the god's father of Amun...; the god's father of Amun, third prophet of Khons..."

Linen Dockets:
(i.) Year 10 of Smendes/Pinudjem I: "Linen which he high priest of Amon-Re king of the gods Pinudjem son of Piankh made for his father Khons in yr 10"

(ii.) Year 6 of Psusennes I/'King' Pinudjem I/Menkheperre: "Linen which the high priest of Amon-Re Menkheperre made for his father Amun (in) Yr. 6"