Who Was Tyti?
Tyti is believed to have been the wife of Ramesses III and the mother of Amenherkhepshef and Khaemwaset. Her tomb’s splendid size and decorations indicate her royal position in the era. Also, though many places have referred to her as the King’s Daughter and Chief Royal Wife, her exact position in the royal court of Ramesside is still unclear.
Queen Tyti's Tomb
Tyti's tomb is designated QV52 and lies towards the south of the Theban Hills. QV52 has many similarities with QV55 and QV 44, the burial places of Amenherkhepshef and Khaemwaset respectively. This is uncommon in Egyptian tombs, indicating a possible relationship between the three.
Decorations Of QV52
The decorative pattern of all three tombs, QV52, QV55, and QV44, is similar, featuring colorful figures painted on a grey and white background. Some scenes are also painted on a yellow base. An interesting feature is the many representations of Tyti in the paintings and scenes. In some art, she's represented as a young girl or a teenager, and in others, as a middle-aged woman, which can be seen in the dress and makeup she is wearing in the scenes. The contrast shown between the younger woman and the older one is striking.
The paintings were once splendid, but they've been damaged through the years. The entrance to the first corridor has texts depicting the queen’s titles. In another scene, Tyti is seen worshipping Ptah, and another painting shows the queen holding two sistrum (ancient Egyptian stringed instruments) in front of Re-Harakhty.
The ceiling of the burial chamber is decorated with white stars painted delicately on a golden background, another scene is seen in which Anubis and a lion are seen protecting the queen’s tomb. The scenes share a striking similarity with those seen in the tomb of Khaemwaset, however, they are less persevered than that tomb.
More About Tyti's Tomb
The tomb of Tyti is comparatively smaller in size than most other royal tombs of the 20th dynasty and later reuse has caused considerable damage to the same. The tomb of Tyti in the Valley of the Queens is a splendid structure; she has been shown in front of gods in a hair styled with side locks, a style that young women of that era followed.
Relief Work Featured In QV52
Tyti's tomb was abandoned and reused as a stable for donkeys but nonetheless, it is still in a fairly well-preserved state. The limestone relief decoration is painted in rose and is very beautiful to look at.
