Description of the attraction
The remote and barren Valley of the Kings was the necropolis of the New Kingdom pharaohs. All pharaohs, beginning with Thutmose I, built tombs deep in the Theban Hills, hoping to avoid the robbery of the treasure graves. But only the tombs of Yuya and Tuya, as well as the tomb of Tutankhamen, were not robbed. The latter - the most famous of the 62 tombs of the Valley of the Kings - was found in 1922 by the English archaeologist Howard Carter. Scientists were amazed at the riches found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. A significant part of the objects found there were made of pure gold, including the coffin of the pharaoh. The tomb itself, in contrast to its contents, was very modest, perhaps because it was built in a hurry due to the sudden death of the pharaoh.
The tomb of Seti I amazes with skillfully executed bas-reliefs and gilded paintings. The burial chamber with a ceiling in the form of a starry sky stands out especially. The construction of this tomb is rather complicated: there are many halls, staircases and galleries.
The entrance to the tomb of Thutmose III is located at a height of 30 meters, so you first need to climb the stairs, then go down. The location of the tomb did not save it from looting. Only the pharaoh's sarcophagus has survived from the furnishings. The walls of the tomb are painted with rows of figures from the Book of the Dead - a "guide" to the afterlife.
The huge tomb of Amenophis II was plundered during the reign of the pharaohs. The walls of the six-column hall are decorated with the text "Book of the Dead" with illustrations. Nine sarcophagi with the mummies of the pharaohs were found here.
The tomb of Ramses IX is very long and high. On the walls of the corridor are depicted scenes for the plots of hymns to the god Ra - the god of the Sun. The ceiling of the room in front of the burial chamber is painted in the form of a starry sky with the image of the goddess Nut.
Please note that only a few tombs are open for visiting at the same time.
