Tomb 353 - the tomb of Senenmut (courtier of Hatshepsut)

This was Senenmut's second tomb (his first, tomb 71, was situated quite conspicuously on top of the Sheikh Abd el-Gurna Hill and has suffered a great damage over the ages) - both tombs were sited on the West bank at Thebes. This second tomb has survived without much damage probably due to its more hidden location beneath the the precincts of the Djeser-Djeseru (the great Deir el-Bahri temple of Hatshepsut). It was discovered in 1927 - unfortunately quite empty.
Tomb 353 consists of three chambers all linked by descending stepped passageways:

Chambers B and C have been finished but not decorated, Chamber A has designs sketched on the walls and the ceiling:
The walls show various spells and liturgies to help Senenmut's journey to the Underworld, there are also representations of Senenmut, his brother Amenemhat and the Pharaoh Hatshepsut. A false door faces the entrance from the quarry.
The ceilling is perhaps the most interesting part of the tomb:

- it is the earliest known astronomical ceiling in Egypt. On the ceiling is shown a calendar recording lunar months, depictions of the northern constellations and the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Unfortunately the positions of the planets, details of the months have been found to be inacurate to allow to be used as dating tool for chronological uses.