TT188

Tomb TT188, located in the necropolis of El-Khokha in Thebes in Egypt, is the tomb of the Steward and King's Cupbearer Parennefer. It has been excavated by the Akhenaten Temple Project.

It is one of the few tombs in the Theban necropolis that was carved and decorated solely during the early years of the rule of Akhenaten. The tomb is decorated with sculpted scenes, some of which were painted. The scenes were all badly damaged and the name of Parennefer was carefully removed. The decoration includes harvest scenes, the presentation of temple-staves at the inauguration of Akhenaten, and an award scene showing Parennefer before the royal couple. In the tomb Akhenaten goes by his initial name Amenhotep (IV).

The scenes in the tomb may be the first to show Queen Nefertiti. An unnamed royal woman accompanies Akhenaten as he worships the Aten and sits besides the king in a scene showiwing Parennefer before his king and queen. The queen is thought to be Nefertiti.

The scenes in the tomb of Parennefer show some of the earliest examples of Amarna style depictions. The figures show the rounded form that will become typical in Amarna art, and courtiers are shown bending from the waist with their arms hanging down.