Prince Kha Um Wast is the first restorer in history, as he implemented his father Ramses II’s plan to restore the monuments of his ancestors. He was considered the first restorer in history. He is the fourth son of King Ramses II of the 19th dynasty and the chief priest of Ptah in Memphis. He died before his father and was interested in restoring temples as well as reviving religious rites. He was famous in historical times for his wisdom. He died in 1225 BC.
He was a priest with many titles during his life, including the keeper of secrets and the chief builder. He also had a fondness for magic and excelled in chemistry and architecture, which enabled him to restore many monuments and gained great fame among King Ramses II, who was chosen by his father to be the crown prince Merneptah took over the rule after his father. He made every effort to revive the ancestors’ heritage, and he was famous for being a researcher in antiquities in the past, rather than being a restorer of antiquities, which he was fond of, and who preserved the monuments that had been neglected. He wasted his time and money in undertaking projects aimed at repairing those monuments.
Description of the tomb of Prince Kha Um Wast:
Inside the tomb, and when the visitor enters, he sees Pharaonic inscriptions for the god Ptah in his cabin, and after him a drawing of Ramses the Third worshipping the god Thoth, and after him other inscriptions with Anubis, and to the left of the room there is a vestibule and inscriptions of Isis, Nephthys and Nate. Anubis and engravings on the back wall with Isis and Nephthys, while on the right there are engravings of Ramesses the Third, worshipping Ptah to the god Geb, Shu and the god Atum.
Prince Khaum Wast filled the desire to renew and restore the monuments of the kings of Upper and Lower Egypt, which had deteriorated due to various circumstances.
The monuments restored by Prince Khaum Wast:
He restored the pyramid of Djoser and the tomb of Shepskaf and the pyramid of Sahure, repairing what had been destroyed and renovating it, and the sun boat of King Ney, and he quickly took care of writing the name of the king on his monument to perpetuate his memory, after the completion of the restoration work.