The Coffin of Ahmose I

The body's identity was written both on the coffin in hieroglyphs and by an hieratic note written on the bandages. (The name of Amenhotep I was also present as was the name of Pinudjem II (Year 8) - in whose reign the body was re-wrapped).

The coffin was made of cedar wood, which was repaired in the 21st dynasty, however, all inlay from the coffin and wig areas, and most of the gold from the coffin had been removed.

Like most of the other coffins which held the Royal mummies from the cache, this was not the original coffin belonging to Ahmose I.

 Who was Ahmose I?

Ahmose succeeded his brother, Wadi-Kheperre Kamose, the last king of the 17th Dynasty at Thebes - both were sons of Seqenenre-Ta'o II and Queen Ahhotep.

Ahmose began his reign by continuing the war that had claimed the life of his father (and possibly that of his brother too), and succeeded in driving the Asiatic enemy (the Hyksos) back to their stronghold of Avaris (a city in the north of Egypt, in the Delta).

After putting the city to siege, Ahmose saw the surrender of the city in 1532BC. The remaining Hyksos fled to Syria followed by Egyptian forces intent on destroying their hated foe.

Ahmose relinquished control of his forces there to return to Egypt to quell a revolt in the territories by Nubians. Ahmose sailed down to the Third Cataract where he was victorious in defeating the local tribesmen there. He then installed a Viceroy of Nubia to control the southern boundaries.

Ahmose was then able to return to Egypt to restore the government after the long years of rule by the Hyksos and their domination and division of the wealth of Egypt. He had to rebuild canals, dikes and irrigation systems, re-organisation of the tax system followed as well as encouraging trade from outside Egypt.

As an act of gratitude for his victories, Ahmose donated several precious gifts to the temple of Amun at Karnak, this began the rise of Amun and just as importantly the rise of the High Priests as major political figures in ancient Egypt.

The family of Ahmose I

His chief wife (and sister) was Ahmose-Nefertari, he also married Inhapi and an untitled women called Kasmut.

Merytamun (eldest daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari, died young)

Tair (daughter of Kasmut)

Satamun (2nd daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari, died while a child)

Sapair (eldest son of Ahmose-Nefertari, died young)

Saamen (2nd son of Ahmose-Nefertari, died while a child)

Aahhotep ( 3rd daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari, Queen)

Amenhotep I (3rd son of Ahmose-Nefertari, King)

Satkames (4th daughter of Ahmose-Nefertari, died aged approximately 30)

Henttameh ( daughter of Inhapi)

Ahmose (daughter)