Valley of the Kings

At first glance, the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings, appears to be nothing more than a sun-blasted gorge of generic red rock, but beneath all of its dust lie the tombs of 63 of Ancient Egypt’s most important pharaohs. The Valley of the Kings served as a burial chamber for the Kings, their families, and their possessions for nearly 500 years, from the 16th to the 11th centuries BC. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979, along with the rest of the Theban Necropolis.

When was the Valley of the Kings discovered?

The tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and all of his treasures, discovered by Howards Carter during an excavation expedition in 1922, is one of the most important tombs discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Since then, tourists from all over the world have been drawn to the Valley of the Kings as the treasures discovered have travelled the world on a tour to spread the news that this very important discovery for the history of our civilization was discovered in the Valley of the Kings. Excavations continue in some areas of the Valley of the Kings to this day, and a rotation system is in place for visitors to visit the tombs while restoration procedures are in place to recover the tombs that were discovered.

Where is the Valley of the Kings located?

The Valley of the Kings is located near Luxor on the west bank of the Nile River. It is the most well-known site for its unique tomb collections and breathtaking ancient ruins. Because of its location, it is one of the most popular places to learn about ancient Egyptian history. The abundance of discoveries in the Valley of the Kings has kept archaeologists busy for nearly two centuries. If all of the tombs here were open to visitors, it would be nearly impossible to visit them all, but thankfully, such a monumental task is no longer a possibility for you.

Why was Valley of the Kings built?

The ancient Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife and preparations for the next world included the construction of tombs. The ancient Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife, where they were promised to live forever and pharaohs were promised to ally with the gods. That is why Mummification was necessary to preserve the body of the deceased in order for his eternal soul to awaken and live again in the afterlife. The ancient tombs also contained all of the deceased’s belongings, as it was believed that they would require them once they awoke to live eternal life.

According to Salima Ikram, a professor of Egyptology at American University in Cairo and a National Geographic grantee, the ancient Egyptian pharaohs buried many items in their tombs, including furniture, clothing, and jewelry. However, it is still unknown why they were not buried with any books.
The most intriguing fact was that the tombs contained a variety of foods and beverages, such as wine and beer, as well as precious objects meant to aid the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. Favored companions and servants of the pharaoh were also buried with them.

Exploring the Valley of the Kings

To allow for a continuous cycle of upkeep and restoration, the tourism authorities only open a few of the tombs at a time. Regardless, there will always be several impressive tombs open. Take care to follow your guide’s or guidebook’s advice on which ones to enter. The most well-known tombs are not always the most impressive, and a ticket to the Valley of the Kings only allows you to visit three of them. It is necessary to purchase a separate ticket to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb, which may be a disappointing sight, especially given the additional cost.

The Valley of the Kings was the main burial place for most of the royal pharaohs during the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt (1539-1075 B.C.). Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II were among the most famous pharaohs buried there. There are also the royal tombs of most of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties’ queens, high priests, and other era elites. Remember that Tutankhamun was a minor pharaoh whose tomb was made famous by the fact that it was the only one in the valley discovered with its contents still inside, not by the grandeur of his tomb in comparison to the others. These items are now on display at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum.

you can visit Valley of the Kings during your Nile Cruise trip between Aswan and Luxor with Al Sahel Travel.