The Tomb of Rekhmire - Tombs of the Nobles

Rekhmire held the highest position of Vizier during the reigns of Tuthmosis 111 and his son Amenophis 11. His tomb can be found in the tombs of the Nobles.

A judge is a straight thinking direct man, and Rekhmire’s Tomb symbolizes this with its sombre reversed T shaped design. The walls detail Rekhmire’s position and responsibilities as a judge, on entering the 66ft long and narrow vestibule I turned to the left to see a court in process with prisoners being brought before the court by the police.

Rekhmire offers advice on the walls of his tomb on the qualities necessary to hold the position of a Judge: ‘know how to inspire fear and make yourself respected. He who is held in awe is a good judge, but the true function of a judge is to practice justice, if you fear him too much then there must be something wrong with him’ On the installation of a judge he advises; ‘see to those things that can be justly accomplished, do justice to everyman, a judge has a visible face, the water and the wind bear witness to his deeds which none can be aware of’.

On the wall opposite the court scene are five rows of interesting paintings of the conquered nations bringing their tributes to Egypt that Rekhmire must record and report to the king, At the top from the lands of punt their people bring incense trees and baboons, the living animal representing the god of magical words Thoth, beneath them follow the Mediterranean peoples wearing kilts and carrying decorative vases and pots in the shape of animal heads, they bring silver and lapis lazuli, a little monkey is shown cheekily climbing up the neck of a giraffe as the Kushittes of Africa escort cattle and leopards they carry the large eggs of the Ostrich and the feathers used for the royal fans Tusks of Ivory are balanced over their shoulders and in their hands they bring precious stones and gold, The Syrians with their neat pointed black beards all dressed in long white gowns bring a young elephant and brown bear, carts weapons and magnificent striding white horses.
Finally slaves from all nations Following these scenes across the wall I enter through the doorway directly facing the door I find myself in a very long and narrow chapel like a hallway or corridor, the right hand side represents the funeral aspect and events, with beautiful musicians playing their instruments at the funeral feast, while the opposite wall details the depth of his power and position and the work he was responsible for as he supervised all the work in the Temple of Amun and its workshops, the craftsmen are busy making bricks, blowing glass, making gold, and under Rekhmire’s Instructions making a sphinx and cutting a seated colossal statue of Tuthmosis. As I progress down the narrow chapel the gradient of the ceiling rises to a great height giving the impression of mountain, Rekhmire had reached the top of the mountain when he became Vizier, he virtually controlled the land when Tuthmosis 111 was on Campaigns, which was for most of his reign as he was a Pharaoh determined to bring other nations under the submission of Egypt with his military force once again. At the end of the chamber looking up to the top of the wall a hole is cut that probably held the statue of Rekhmire where he would sit on his own throne looking down on his achievements in life.