Today a Boat ride to The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings in Upper Egypt contains many of the tombs of pharaohs

from the New Kingdom, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great.

The Valley Of The Kings is the royal necropolis known in ancient times as "the

Place Of Truth." It is located on the Western Bank with the Mountain Of Thebes

providing a natural pyramid in the background. Very few of the tombs are open to

the public and the ones that are open are only open on a rotating annual basis to

avoid extensive damage from the frequent tourist viewing and restoration work to

be done. The tombs were hune out of solid limestone and flint rock.

Not all tombs are open and officials occasionally close particular tombs for

restoration. The style of the tombs did undergo changes throughout the New

Kingdom and one should try to see examples from the span of 500 years that the

Valley was in use.

The tomb of Tuthmose III is at the far end of the East Valley and is one of the

earliest in the Valley. Its burial chamber is in the shape of a cartouche (oval-

shaped) and its inscriptions are interspersed with stick figures. The climb up the

modern metal staircase outside and then the descent into the tomb will give you a

very good physical workout - but it's worth it!

King TUTankhamun

Horemheb's tomb shows a transition through to the Ramesside-style of tombs.

Just a little further down the main path is the tomb of Ramesses III. While in a

state of ruin deep within (the burial chamber is off limits), it is definitely worth a

visit and one of the small side chambers contains the famous paintings of two

blind harpists.

Ramesses VI's tomb has a magnificent burial chamber in which lie the broken

remains of the large stone sarcophagus. Along the length of the chamber's ceiling

are two images of the sky goddess Nut which depict both the swallowing and

rebirth of the sun disc. Adjacent to Ramesses VI's tomb is that of Tutankhamun