Who is Ay

Image © kairoinfor4u.

Ay's tomb is the most important tomb so far discovered in the less well explored Western Valley of the Kings. Numbered WV23 (occasionally KV23) it is open to visitors but requires a separate ticket.

The decoration is similar to that in KV62, Tutankhamun's tomb, but the tomb is considerably bigger. As Ay's reign was so short (he reigned for little more than 3 years), the relatively large tomb could clearly not have been prepared during his reign: he must have taken over a tomb prepared for an earlier pharoah (or possibly a very senior queen). Sometimes the previous occupants of tombs were disinterred and reburried in a smaller tomb, or in a group, leaving the new king in possession of a fine tomb and burial goods for his own tomb, but it is more likely that WV23 had not been used before the burial of Ay's mummy. That would suggest that it was probably originally prepared either for Tutankhamun or for Akhenaten. It is known that Akhenaten started construction of a tomb in the Western Valley of the Kings before moving to Akhetaten (Amarna) where he had a new royal tomb constructed. Most commentators however feel it is more likely that Ay usurped the tomb intended for Tutankhamun which begs the question, who was KV62 oriiginally dug for?