Ramose

Vizier reigns of Amenophis III and Akhenaten, c.1417-1375 BC.

    Ramose was Governor of Thebes and Vizier under *Amenophis III and also served his son *Akhenaten (Amenophis IV) during the early years of his reign when Thebes was still the capital. Thus, he lived through the period of transition when Amenophis IV was introducing his revolutionary worship of the sun-disc, the Aten. Ramose's tomb is situated at Sheikh Abd el Qurna, Thebes, and it was excavated and restored by Mond; it is of great interest both historically and artistically because it is one of the few monuments that represent this transitionary period before Amenophis IV (*Akhenaten) left Thebes to found his new city of Akhetaten (Tell el Amarna).

    The wall-scenes in the tomb vividly contrast traditional art and the new art forms introduced under *Akhenaten; most of the reliefs depict Amenophis IV in the conventional style but there is a dramatic change in the scene that shows the king and his queen, *Nefertiti, standing on a balcony, beneath the sun-disc and its descending rays, presenting Ramose with gold collars. This scene is typical of the so-called Amarna art, both in terms of the subject matter, which is parallelled in scenes at Amarna, and in the representation of the figures; these appear in the near caricature style of Amarna art which distorts the human figure.

    The tomb was unfinished and the fate of Ramose (along with other Theban officials who held positions of authority before the Court moved to Amarna) is unknown.

BIBL. Davies, N. de G. The tomb of the Vizier Ramose. London: 1941; Aldred, C. Akhenaten, King of Egypt. London: 1988.

Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David

* * *

(fl. 1300–1240 BC)

   Chief scribe of the Deir el-Medina community. Son of Amenemheb and Kakaia. He previously served at the mortuary temple of Thutmose IV and was appointed to Deir elMedina in year 5 of Ramesses II. He was still in office in year 38. He appears to have been one of the wealthiest members of the community and had three tombs(numbers 7, 212, and 250) built for himself and his dependants. He and his wife, Mutemwia, were childless and adopted Kenherkhepeshef, who succeeded to Ramose’s office.

   See also Hesunebef; Kha; Paneb; Sennedjem.

Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier