The Coffin and mummy of Seti I

 Inscription on the coffin

The identification of the mummy was made by three separate hieratic inscriptions on the coffin lid. These inscriptions state that before coming to rest in DB320, Seti I was also kept in the tomb of Princess Inhapi and the tomb of Amenhotep I (these inscriptions mention the names of Herihor and Siamun (Year 16) ).

 Who was Seti I ?

Like his father, Ramesses I, Seti was a military commander and on becoming pharaoh he set out to restore Egypt's empire back to the vast glory days of the Tuthmosis kings almost a century before.
Inscriptions on Karnak show the details of him campaigning into Palestine and Syria. He took 20,000 men and reoccupied abandoned Egyptian posts and garrisoned cities. He made peaceful terms with the Hittites and then continued to take control of coastal areas along the Mediterranean, he also continued to fight across Palestine.
A second campaign led him to Kadesh (a stela commerated his victory there), his son and heir Ramesses II campaigned with him.
Within Egypt itself Seti I had many building projects, amongst others these included : Karnak (converted the court between 2nd and 3rd pylons into a huge Hypostyle Hall, and at Abydos he built a vast mortuary complex.
His Chief Wife was Tuya who was also the mother of Ramesses II, as well as two daughters - Tia and Hentmire.
The mummy of Seti I indicates that he was in his sixties when he died. Buried with him in his original tomb were over 700 ushabti figures. His tomb in the Valley of the Kings was the most splendid (both in size and decoration) of all the kings buried there.