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 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.

  click foto to enlarge



since june 2003 no cameras allowed

Back to Kingsvalley Home

Last updated 12 february 2004 by Paul Biesta