Elizabeth Thomas (Egyptologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Thomas
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| Born | March 29, 1907 |
| Died | November 28, 1986 (aged 79) |
| Education | B.A. University of Mississippi (1937), M.A. University of Chicago (1948) |
| Alma mater | University of Mississippi University of Chicago |
| Occupation | Egyptologist |
| Known for | Egyptologist |
Elizabeth Mary Thomas (born March 29, 1907 – died November 28, 1986) was an American Egyptologist. An Egyptologist is a person who studies ancient Egypt.
She worked in the Theban Necropolis, a famous burial ground near Luxor, Egypt. Her job was to record and publish plans of tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. These valleys are where many ancient Egyptian pharaohs and queens were buried.
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Early Life and Education
Elizabeth Thomas was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1907. She grew up in Granada, Mississippi, with her two older brothers. Elizabeth started college in 1924. After a break, she went back to school.
She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from the University of Mississippi in 1937. In 1935, before finishing her degree, she traveled to Egypt for the first time. She spent a lot of time exploring the ancient tombs.
After her trip, Elizabeth began studying Egyptology in 1938. She went to the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. There, she learned about ancient Egyptian language and culture. She also studied other subjects, like the Hebrew language.
World War II Service
During World War II, Elizabeth Thomas paused her studies. From 1942 to 1946, she served in the Army Signal Corps. She worked as a cryptographer, which means she helped decode secret messages.
After the war, she returned to her studies in 1948. She wrote her master's thesis about the beliefs of ancient Egyptians found in the Pyramid Texts. These texts describe how Egyptians thought about the universe. She received her Master of Arts (M.A.) degree that same year.
Exploring Ancient Tombs
Elizabeth Thomas returned to Egypt many times between 1948 and 1960. She focused her research on the royal tombs. These were the burial places of kings and queens.
Her first trip to Egypt in 1935 was with a tour company called Thomas Cook & Sons. This was to ensure her safety. However, she soon realized the tour didn't visit all the places she wanted to see. It also didn't give her enough time to study the ancient monuments.
So, she decided to explore on her own. She hired transportation and guides to help her travel safely in the desert. In early 1938, she spent a lot of time in Luxor. She visited and studied the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. While there, she met other Egyptologists, Charles F. Nims and his wife Myrtle Nims.
Important Discoveries and Research
Elizabeth Thomas made important contributions to Egyptology. She was known for her careful research.
Queen Hatshepsut's Tomb
Thomas studied the KV60 tomb, which was discovered in 1903. This tomb was believed to belong to Queen Hatshepsut's wet nurse. A wet nurse is someone who breastfeeds and cares for another's child.
Elizabeth Thomas believed that one of the mummies in this tomb was actually Queen Hatshepsut herself. She noticed that the mummy's left arm was placed over its chest. This arm position often meant the person was royalty. However, she could not fully prove her idea at the time.
In her book, The Royal Necropoleis of Thebes, she wrote about her theory. She wondered if Thutmose III, Hatshepsut's stepson, might have secretly buried Hatshepsut in this simple tomb.
The tomb was later lost and then found again in the 1980s. In 2007, Dr. Zahi Hawass, a famous Egyptian archaeologist, announced exciting news. DNA testing confirmed that the mummy was indeed Queen Hatshepsut! This proved Elizabeth Thomas's hunch was correct.
The Tomb of Ramses II's Sons
Before much was known about another tomb called KV5, Elizabeth Thomas had a strong feeling about it. She suspected that this large tomb might have belonged to the many royal children of Ramses II. Ramses II was one of Egypt's most powerful pharaohs.
Her idea was even mentioned in an old report about tomb robberies. These robberies happened centuries after the tomb was built. Later, archaeologists found that tomb robbers had left KV5 in ruins. But enough remained to show that Elizabeth Thomas's guess had been right all along.
See also
- In Spanish: Elizabeth Thomas para niños
