The Valley of Kings

The Valley of Kings

Scholars and adventurers have been interested in this holy cemetery for hundreds of years because it is full of history and myth. The Valley whispers stories of pharaohs, gods, and the afterlife through its hidden tombs and complicated hieroglyphics. It invites us to discover the secrets of a bygone age. 

What is the Valley of Kings?
● It is a Long narrow valley in Upper Egypt, located west of the Nile River. Almost all the kings (pharaohs) of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties (1539–1075 BCE), from Thutmose I to Ramses X, were buried there. It was a portion of the old city of Thebes. Situated in the hillsides above Deir El-Bahari, the 62 known tombs vary in design and ornamentation.

Why was the Valley of Kings built?
● To safeguard the lavish burials of the New Kingdom kings (circa 1539–1075 BCE), a groundbreaking plan was devised to conceal their tombs within a secluded valley nestled in the western hills beyond Deir El-Bahari. Within this location, pharaohs, along with numerous queens, selected high-ranking officials, and several sons of Ramses II, found their final resting places in tombs intricately hidden within the mountainside.
● The walls were covered with painted and sculptured scenes showing the deceased king among gods, particularly the gods of the underworld, and with illustrated magical writings meant to guide him through the netherworlds, like those found in funerary papyri. This literature was many and depicted different, if not necessarily opposing, ideas of the afterlife in which the monarch had to face challenges and overcome dangers. 

The purpose of Tombs:
● Constructing tombs was integral to the ancient Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and their preparation for the journey to the next world. Pharaohs were assured of divine alliances and the continuation of their existence in the afterlife, a conviction deeply ingrained in ancient Egyptian culture. 
● Mummification of the deceased was deemed essential to safeguard the body and facilitate the eternal awakening of the spirit in the hereafter. As it was believed that the departed would require their belongings for an everlasting existence, the tombs also served as repositories for all their possessions.

Valley of King’s Tombs:
● Tutankhamun's modest tomb, shielded from destruction by a mound of rock chips poured down from a later Ramesside tomb and situated on the valley floor, remained intact. The remarkable artifacts unearthed from Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, now on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, vividly illustrate the opulence of a pharaoh's burial during the peak of the empire.
● Queen Hatshepsut's burial chamber, designated as tomb number 20, holds the distinction of being the longest in the complex. Stretching approximately 700 feet (215 meters) from its entrance to the inner chambers, this elaborate cave descends 320 feet (100 meters) deep into the rock.
● Tomb Number 5, the biggest and most complicated tomb in the Valley of the Kings, was made to hold the tombs of many of Ramses II's sons. Ramses II was the greatest king of the 19th dynasty and ruled from 1279 to 1313. The uppermost of the tomb's two levels has a central hall with columns and many hallways that lead to dozens of rooms. 

Each discovery unveils a piece of Egypt's rich history. The Valley of the Kings stands as a testament to the ingenuity, spirituality, and enduring legacy of one of the world's most fascinating civilizations.