Yuya & Tuya Museum scale replicas

Thuya and her husband Yuya were the parents of Tiye, the great queen of the 18th Dynasty king Amenhotep III, one of ancient Egypt’s most successful rulers. Their tomb, discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1905, was a phenomenal find, and included many of its original luxurious contents. The mummies of Yuya and Thuya themselves were found too, both wearing beautiful gilded masks made of cartonnage (layers of linen stiffened with gypsum or plaster).

Yuya and his wife Tjuyu were the parents of Tiye, the great queen of the 18th Dynasty king Amenhotep III, one of ancient Egypt’s most successful rulers. Their tomb, discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1905, was a phenomenal find, and included many of its original luxurious contents. The mummies of Yuya and Tjuyu themselves were found too, both wearing beautiful gilded masks made of cartonnage (layers of linen stiffened with gypsum or plaster).

The shabti of Yuya is a funerary figurine placed in the tomb to serve the deceased in the afterlife. According to ancient Egyptian belief, these figures would magically perform agricultural and labor tasks on behalf of their owner when called upon. Such shabtis ensured that Yuya could enjoy eternal life without the burden of work.

The canopic box of Yuya and Thuya was designed to house the canopic jars that contained the embalmed internal organs of the deceased. Carefully decorated with protective deities and sacred symbols, the box served as an important element of the burial equipment. It ensured the preservation and divine protection of the organs, which were essential for the deceased’s rebirth in the afterlife.

This Ba-bird statuette from the tomb of Yuya depicts the soul as a human-headed hawk, combining personal identity with the power of flight. The carefully modelled face, framed by a short wig and beard, contrasts with the vividly patterned wings, which emphasize movement and renewal. A heart amulet hangs at the bird’s neck, an uncommon feature that reflects Yuya’s high status. In front of the claws is an offering table in the form of the hetep sign, topped with loaves. Together, these elements express the Ba’s freedom to move between worlds while receiving nourishment essential for eternal life.