Senmut’s Tomb

Senmut’s Tomb was built between c.1500-1493 BCE, at Deir el-Bahri, Mortuary Tomb Complex, opposite Luxor, Egypt.

It is located next to the main entrance of the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Building work on the Tomb ended suddenly in 1493 BCE, leaving the Tomb unfinished and so it was never used, possibly because Senmut was disgraced.
The Tomb consists of a long corridor of descending steps leading to a first chamber, which connects to second chamber.
The walls of the first chamber are covered in Religious Texts, mostly versions of the Pyramid Texts.
The ceiling is covered in the oldest Egyptian astronomical map ever to be found, listing the constellations and their stars, and the planets in the Egyptian night sky.

Senmut, also spelt Senenmut, was the architect for Queen Hatshepsut (1473-58 BCE).
Senmut built Queen Hatshepsut‘s Temple here, which has a relief showing the story of the expedition to the Land of Punt, which brought back such exotic Goods as Elephants and Giraffes shown in the relief.

The Astronomical Ceiling of Senmut’s Tomb.
This is the oldest Egyptian record of an astronomical map of the constellations.
The Constellations of the Egyptian night sky are depicted in reverse and Mars appears to be missing.
The map is divided into a northern section and southern section.

Senmut’s Tomb entrance, next to Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple: