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Ramose's tomb 212 at Deir el-Medina

Ramose is one of the best-documented officials in Deir el-Medina. Although he was not born in the village, he became one of the richest men who ever lived there. He was the son of lady Kakaia and a retainer Amenemhab (someone who carried messages to officials in the Theban area). Ramose was born around 1314 BC (Booth,2006,185). He must have attended scribal schools before becoming a scribe at the temple of Tuthmosis IV. He then moved to Deir el-Medina, where he married Mutemwia, "the lady of the house, whom he loves". He was appointed "Scribe of the Tomb" by Vizier Paser in year 5 of Ramses II (O.CGC 25671). He served in this position at least until year 38 of Ramesses II (O.CGC 25809) (Davies, 1996, 98).

As Ramose and Mutemwia were continually unable to conceive a child, they prayed to various deities associated with childbirth and fertility. Stela 50066, now in Turin, is dedicated to Qudshu, the Asian goddess of love. There are many stelae and statues recording their pleas, but the couple remained childless. In the end they adopted Kenherkhepshef, like Ramose, probably a newcomer to the village, as an apprentice who would take the role of the eldest son, take over Ramose's profession and perform funeral rites for them c. 1314 BC (Booth,2006,185).
Ramose's family occupied a house in the northern part of the village. He also owned some land outside Deir el-Medina and there are 3 decorated tombs attributed to him - TT7, TT212 and TT250.
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The pictures below, taken by Andy Peacock during our visit to Deir el-Medina in 2005, show the surviving niche cut into the rock on the slopes of the western cemetery. It was located at the rear of the chapel of Ramose's tomb complex, which was later assigned the number TT212. The chapel and the courtyard have not survived, only the niche remains.
 
A detailed account of the surviving niche, with photographs and descriptions of the western and northern walls and the vaulted ceiling, as well as the partially reconstructed agricultural scene, can be found at
http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/artisans//ramose_7-212-250/e_ramose_7-212-250_02.htm
E60_Tomb_at_Deir_el-Medina-2.jpg
Preserved scene from the vaulted ceiling, showing Ramose standing with his arms raised in the gesture of worship, before the seated god Re-Harakhte.
The western wall of the niche shows Ramose kneeling and worshipping the rising sun.
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Photography © Andy Peacock 2005-2007
To view and browse the digitised version of The Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Reliefs and Paintings, (also known as Porter & Moss or TopBib) for this tomb, go to
http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/topbib/pdf/pm1-1.pdf#page=327
Material for the Bibliography is gathered from an ever-expanding range of multi-lingual sources, encompassing both specialist and semi-popular Egyptological and Near Eastern publications, periodicals, museum guides, exhibition and auction catalogues, together with the growing wealth of web resources. The Bibliography also analyses a range of unpublished manuscripts, including those housed in the Griffith Institute Archive. Published in May 2014 by the Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, the volumes are constantly revised and augmented.
Sources:
1. Davis, Benedict G.: Genealogies and personality characteristics of the workmen in the Deir
el-Medina community during the Ramesside period. Thesis submitted in accordance with the
requirements of the University of Liverpool for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Liverpool : University of Liverpool, February 1996.
2. Booth, Charlotte: People of Ancient Egypt
Stroud : Tempus, 2006.
3. http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/artisans//ramose_7-212-250/e_ramose_7-212-250_02.htm
Further bibliography
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