The Tomb Robbers and Pyramid Traps of Ancient Egypt

That death equalizes all living beings is a proven fact. Nothing is truer than the saying “the dead to the hole and the living to the bun,” yet we all know that not all “holes” are the same. The tombs of pharaohs, governors, and other notables in Ancient Egypt were an irresistible temptation for grave robbers. These elite tombs, filled with riches meant to accompany their owners on their journey to the afterlife, became powerful magnets for those seeking fortune.

The treasures within these tombs represented a life-changing opportunity for those audacious enough to try to steal them. But what kind of people became tomb robbers in Ancient Egypt? Were they unsavory characters risking their lives and souls, or were they simply impoverished individuals pushed by desperation?

The Cost of the Afterlife

In Ancient Egypt, preparing for the afterlife required wealth. Not everyone could afford a grand burial structure, such as a pyramid or mastaba, or the elaborate embalming and burial rites reserved for the elite. For most Egyptians, this kind of lavish burial was an unattainable luxury. Tomb robbers were primarily drawn by the priceless items interred with the deceased. Amulets, jewelry, and even objects of gold and silver served as symbols of status and wealth, meant to ensure a smooth passage to the afterlife (source).

Despite the reverence for the dead, tomb robbing became a constant struggle between the living and the deceased’s defenders. This conflict would ultimately lead to an arms race between tomb robbers and the Egyptian architects, who devised increasingly intricate methods to protect these sacred places (source).

Tomb Security and the First Guardians

During Egypt’s Old Kingdom, tombs and pyramids were well-known locations, and many were looted soon after burial. It wasn’t until the New Kingdom that pharaohs developed new methods of safeguarding their remains. Thutmose I, a pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1506 BC-1494 BC), was among the first to relocate his burial site to the Valley of the Kings. He feared that looters would desecrate his remains, stripping him of his access to the afterlife (source).

To make theft more difficult, the pharaohs in the New Kingdom began to hide their tombs in more isolated and difficult-to-reach places, like the Valley of the Kings. The Valley, located west of Thebes, is a secluded area, challenging to navigate due to its labyrinthine network of hills and rocks. This strategic location was chosen to deter grave robbers, a measure that required intruders to cross harsh terrain just to reach the tomb entrances (source).

The physical isolation of the Valley, however, was just one layer of defense. The architects of the time constructed the tombs with blind corridors, false entrances, and hidden chambers to confuse robbers. Additionally, specialized guards known as the Medjay, Nubian mercenaries revered for their skills in archery, were tasked with protecting these sacred sites (source).

The Ialu Fields: Egypt’s Concept of Heaven

The ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife was a continuation of earthly pleasures, extending beyond death to a paradise known as the Fields of Ialu, a verdant haven where souls could live in peace. This view of the afterlife motivated Egyptians to protect the bodies of the deceased, as bodily preservation was seen as necessary for existence in the next world. Since grave robbing threatened this ideal, Egyptians took extreme measures to prevent tomb desecration (source).

Ingenious Maze-Like Tomb Architecture

With each new dynasty, Egyptian tomb design became more intricate to protect against tomb robbers. During the Middle Kingdom, the traditional slab system for accessing the main chamber was replaced by a complex gate system. Even so, robbers quickly adapted, finding ways to bypass these systems. Egyptian architects responded with blind corridors, hidden doorways, and mirrored passageways intended to thwart intruders.

The Workers of Deir el-Medina

The primary suspects in tomb robberies were often the workers themselves, those who had constructed the tombs and knew the locations of its treasures. These workers, confined to a village called Deir el-Medina, lived under strict supervision and isolation from the outside world to prevent the spread of knowledge regarding tomb locations (source). Despite these precautions, tales of insider robberies were common, and some workers risked severe punishment by using their knowledge of tomb construction for personal gain.

The Maze of Death

In an effort to further protect tombs, Egyptian architects designed maze-like passageways, false doors, and deep wells within the tombs. These wells served dual purposes: they prevented flooding of the tombs and acted as traps for robbers, who would fall to their deaths while attempting to reach the burial chamber (source).

The final resting place of a pharaoh was often designed to mislead robbers. Architects would create elaborate false chambers to make robbers believe they had reached the main burial site, when, in reality, they had only scratched the surface of the tomb. The true burial chamber was often hidden behind walls or concealed entrances, guarded by deadly traps (source).

The “Mafia” of Gurna

The village of Gurna, located at the edge of the Valley of the Kings, was infamous for its inhabitants’ skills in tomb robbery. Known as the “Egyptian gangsters” of the time, Gurna’s residents developed an uncanny ability to locate and plunder graves, avoiding punishment by concealing their activities and operating a vast network for distributing stolen artifacts (source). This “mafia” became so adept at covering their tracks that Egyptian authorities occasionally resorted to blackmailing suspected tomb robbers to recover looted items.

The 19th Century: Antique Shopping in Luxor

In the late 19th century, wealthy Western collectors visiting Luxor sparked a new wave of tomb robberies. Objects of great cultural and historical value, including preserved papyri and mummies, began surfacing on the black market. The Egyptian Antiquities Service discovered the hidden royal cache of mummies in Deir el-Bahari, near the Valley of the Kings, in the late 1800s, spurred by Western interest in acquiring Egyptian relics (source).

The Consequences for Grave Robbers

The Egyptians reserved severe punishments for tomb robbers, believing that the desecration of a body could prevent the deceased from reaching the afterlife. Those caught robbing graves often faced harsh consequences, including beatings, mutilation, and sometimes execution. The most severe punishments were reserved for those who defiled a pharaoh’s remains, with the offender’s name erased from public records to ensure they could not reach the afterlife (source).

The Egyptians placed great faith in curses to deter looters. Many tombs were inscribed with dire warnings to intruders. The curse on Tutankhamun’s tomb famously warns, “Death will come swiftly to anyone who dares to disturb Pharaoh’s eternal rest” (source).