The Valley of the Kings, also called the Valley of the Gates of the Kings, looks like a sun-kissed red rock gorge. However, beneath all the dust are the tombs of 63 of the essential pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt. From 500 BC to 1600 BC, people looked up to the Valley of the Kings. It was used as a cemetery, and kings, their families, and their possessions were buried there. In 1979 it and the rest of the Theban necropolis were included in the list of World Heritage Sites.
When and who found the Valley of the Kings?
Howard Carter found the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun and all his treasures in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. It is one of the most important tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Since then, tourists worldwide have come to visit the Valley of the Kings because of this discovery. This is because the treasures found there went around the world to spread the idea that this significant discovery for the history of our civilization was made there. Some parts of the Valley of the Kings are still being excavated, and there is a system in place for visitors to tour the tombs while restoration work is underway to recreate the shape of the graves.
How do you get to the Valley of the Kings?
The Valley of the Kings is located on the western side of the Nile near Luxor. It is the most famous place for its unique collections of tombs and stunning ancient ruins. This makes it one of the best places to learn about ancient Egypt because of its location. Archaeologists have been interested in the Valley of the Kings for nearly 2,000 years because of everything they find there. If all the tombs were open to visitors, seeing them would be almost impossible. Fortunately, you won’t have to do something that hard.
Why did the Pharaohs build the Valley of the Kings?
The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife and were preparing for the next world by building tombs. The ancient Egyptians had strong beliefs in the afterlife, where they were told that they could go on with their lives and that the pharaohs would be able to work with the gods. For this reason, mummification was essential to preserve the body of the deceased alive so that his eternal soul could return to life in the afterlife. In the past, people put all the deceased’s belongings in their tombs because they thought they might need them when they came back to life after death.
The ancient Egyptians would put many things in their tombs, such as furniture, clothes, and jewellery. What is not clear is why there were no books buried with them.
The most exciting thing about the tombs was that they were filled with food and drink, such as wine and beer, and valuables believed to help the dead pass to the next world. The pharaoh’s favourite friends and servants were also buried with them.
Getting to know the Valley of the Kings:
Tourism officials only allow a few tombs to open at a time so that maintenance and repairs can be done all the time. Regardless, there are always at least a few great tombs open. Be sure to listen to your guide or guides about which entrance to use. The most famous graves aren’t always impressive, and a Valley of the Kings ticket only allows you to see three tombs. You need separate access to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb, which may not be worth the extra cost if you don’t like what you see.
During the New Kingdom period in ancient Egypt (1539-1075 BC), most royal pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings. Tutankhamun, Seti I and Ramesses II were the most famous pharaohs buried there. You will also find the tombs of high priests and other important people from the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties. Keep in mind that Tutankhamun was not a very important pharaoh. His tomb is famous because it is the only one in the valley whose contents have been found, not because it is larger than the others. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo now displays these objects.
Tip: Before you go to the Valley of the Kings, get a ticket from the ticket office on the West Bank. Tickets for all West Bank attractions can only be purchased at this office, and they cannot be purchased at any of the interests.
