Valley of Kings
Egyptian Temples & Tombs | April 7, 2010Valley of Kings (‘Wadi el-Muluk’ in Arabic) is a valley in Egypt which is home to tombs of several pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom dating back to Ancient Egypt. The tombs were constructed over 500 years between 16th century to 11th century BC. The valley is located on the West bank of the Nile, across of the modern day Luxor and beneath the peak of the pyramid-shaped mountain Al-Qurn. The widespread Egyptian religious culture of ‘death and the afterlife’ is best reflected by the Valley of Kings and other mausoleums and monuments existing in the necropolis of West Bank. The cemetery and the tombs have been given class security yet the onslaught of grave robbers could not be averted. The site remains open for the public from 6 am to 5 pm during summer and 6 am to 4 pm during winter.
History:
Valley of the Kings was in use from 1539-1075 BC. The valley features about 60 tombs, ranging from Thutmose I to Ramses X or XI. Besides, the pharaohs, the valley also had tombs of the favourite nobles as well as those of the wives and children of the pharaohs and the nobles. Valley of Queens was also set up around the time of Ramses I (1300 BC).
Features:
- Valley of Kings is separated into East and West Valleys, with most of the important tombs located in the East Valley.
West Valley has only one tomb, tomb of Ay (Tutankhamen’s successor) open for public viewing.- Burials like that of Amenhotep III (these are still unexcavated and hence not accessible for public)
- Each discovered tomb in Valley of the Kings has been allocated a sequential ‘KV number’ while those in the Western Valley are known by the WV equivalent for identification convenience. The KV tombs range from KV1 (of Ramesses) to KV62 (of Tutankhamen). KV5 is the largest of the tombs. It contains at least 67 burial chambers.
- Most of the open tombs in the valley are located in the East Valley and most tourists visit these sites.
- KV62, the tomb of King Tutankhamun is the most significant. The tomb was discovered by Howard Carter. It was the last major discovery in the valley.
Tombs of East Valley:
KV1 Tomb of Ramesses VII, KV2 Tomb of Ramesses IV, KV3 Tomb of an unnamed son of Ramesses III, KV4 Tomb of Ramesses XI and others.
Tombs of West Valley:
WV22 of Amenhotep III, WV23 of Ay, WV24, WV25, WVA
Deir el-Bahri:
This tomb is located in the cliffs overlooking Hatshepsut’s temple at Deir el-Bahri and contained an astounding mummy cache.
Accommodation:
- Iberotel Luxor
- Pyramisa Isis Hotel & Suites Luxor
- Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
- El Luxor Hotel
- Sheraton Luxor Resort
Tourist information:
It is always advisable to consume plenty of water while visiting Valley of Kings. Even if you forget to carry water, do not forget to buy it from the nearby visitors’ centre. Particularly during the summer months, drinking inadequate water can cut short an otherwise fantastic experience. Sunglasses and sunlotions are also essential during the trip. One should also carry sturdy shoes for descending into the tomb. It is also advisable to bring flashbooks, pens and notebooks.
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The area has been a focus of archaeological and egyptological exploration since the end of the eighteenth century, and its tombs and burials continue to stimulate research and interest.
In modern times the valley has become famous for the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun (with its rumours of the Curse of the Pharaohs), and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. In 1979, it became a World Heritage Site, along with the rest of the Theban Necropolis.
Exploration, excavation and conservation continues in the valley, and a new tourist centre has recently been opened.