Aye (KV23)
Aye is one of the mysteries or secrets from the last part of the 18th dyn. Some say he was
related to the queen Nefertiti, wife of Ankh-n-Aton, maybe the father or an uncle. But that he
was important and a highranking official that is clear. After the death of Ankh-n-Aton, he
stayed in power behind the boy-farao Thut-Ankh-Aton, who changed his name into as we
know him Thut-Ankh-Amon. During his reign, probably Aye started to build a tomb for
himself in the Valley of Kings, which indecates that he really was a very rich and powerful
person. Only very few were able to do that, but then suddenly the King dies and no
preperations were made for a tomb. Probably Aye has altered his tomb to make it suitable for
the dead king. Then Aye succeeded the deceased farao and became farao, while his friend
Horemheb stayed commander over the armies. Aye married the young widow to justify his rights for the
throne.
After a short reign he dies, and Horemheb succeeded him, by marrying, yes, again the young
widow of Thut-Ankh-Amon. Why? After the Aton-disaster, there was no family left to
succeed, nor had the young Thut-Ankh_amon any children and the dynasty was already
ended in fact.Why Aye chose this particular site as burial place? Probably he followed the preveous
tradition of his predecessor Amonhotep 3 in the Western Valley. His mummy was never discovered.
Status: Open, no glass, since June 2003 its no longer allowed to take pictures
click foto to enlarge
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Last updated 9 decembre 2010 by Paul Biesta
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