However, notably missing from the tomb was the body of King Thutmose II himself. Discovered in 1881 at a site officially designated as TT320, or more commonly referred to as the Royal Cache, located in Deir el-Bahari, across from Luxor in Egypt. The mummified remains were unwrapped by the renowned Egyptologist Gaston Maspero, who observed a striking resemblance to Thutmose I (his father) and officially identified the remains as those of Thutmose II on July 1, 1886. According to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, it is believed that Thutmose II’s body was moved to this cache after his original tomb was pilfered by tomb raiders.
The reign of King Thutmose II remains shrouded in mystery with conflicting accounts regarding its duration. Some historical sources claim he ruled for a period of 13 years, from 1493 until his passing in 1479 B.C., while others assert a much shorter reign of only three years starting in 1482 B.C. Complicating matters further, the Aegyptiaca, a third-century Greek historical text about Egypt penned by the Egyptian priest Manetho, introduces the notion that following Thutmose I’s demise, “he was succeeded by his son Chebron, who ruled for 13 years.” This alternate moniker could potentially be a Hellenized version of the royal prenomen Aakheperenre, a name that Thutmose II might have assumed.
The ambiguity surrounding King Thutmose II’s history adds an element of intrigue to this recent discovery. Apart from the sheer excitement of unearthing a previously unknown tomb after a century, the significance of it being linked to this specific pharaoh raises the prospect of finally unraveling the enigmatic details of his disputed reign.
Described by experts as being in a state of disrepair primarily due to exposure to floods shortly following Thutmose II’s demise, the tomb likely suffered significant damage, prompting the relocation of many of its original contents. Despite the challenges posed by the tomb’s condition, the team remains resolute in their determination to continue the survey efforts, in hopes of unearthing further insights and shedding light on this intriguing chapter of ancient Egyptian history.
