The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is located in the heart of a hill and is the final resting place of the great pharaohs of Egypt’s new empire (1570-1070 BC). The extraordinary Valley of the Kings served as a royal burial ground for the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties of pharaohs and privileged noblemen from the 16th to the 11th century BC.

The Valley is considered one of the most valuable monuments of the ancient world for its cultural and historical importance. It contains about 63 rock-hewn tombs and chambers that vary in size and are decorated with beautiful scenes from ancient Egyptian mythology and images of their daily life that provide information about their history, culture, and religious beliefs during this period, but unfortunately they were objects of many robberies by looters and grave robbers.

Throughout past, this Valley has been a mecca for archaeological exploration since the late 18th century, and its tombs and burial sites continue to stimulate research and interest to this day. In 1979, it was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Where is the Valley of the kings?

It is located on the western bank of the Nile, facing the modern city of Luxor in the center of the Theban necropolis. The highest point of Theban hill is pyramidal in shape when viewed from the valley entrance.

Therefore some Egyptologists and archaeologists believe that it must have inspired its selection to become the Valley of the Kings. It is divided into the west and east, where most royal tombs are located.

The History of Valley of the Kings

The Valley is home to the familiar names of ancient kings and queens, as it contains the remains of pharaohs such as Ramses (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X), Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I and the famous young king Tutankhamun.

The first pharaoh buried in the Valley of the Kings was Thutmose I, while the last pharaoh was Ramses X. It also contained powerful nobles, including his wives and children. Their tombs show the luxury these pharaohs enjoyed, and the writings on the wall detail much information about their lives.

The Most Famous Tombs in Valley of the kings Egypt

One of the most famous tombs in the Valley of the Kings is the Tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, sometimes called King Tut, which was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. Tut’s tomb is a significant discovery because the mummy of the young king was so intact. The tomb was packed with incredible artifacts, including the fully preserved mummy of King Tut, a solid gold inner coffin, a chariot, the famous golden mask, and much more. The tomb contained several chambers, the most important of which were; the burial chamber and the treasure chamber.

The Tomb of Tuthmosis III

is considered one of the oldest tombs and is located at the far end of the eastern Valley. The burial chamber is oval and decorated with unique inscriptions and excellent figures.

The Tomb of Ramses III

contains the famous paintings of two blind harpists, while the Tomb of King Amenhotep I teaches us that building the tomb closer to the Nile River was common practice. This practice of separation was likely a move to avoid plundering their final resting places and the destruction of their legacy.

The Tomb of Ramses VI

has a magnificent burial chamber, the ceiling decorated with hieratic graffiti, and images of the sky goddess Nut swallowing and giving birth to the sun.