the Valley of the Kings Great treasure of ancient Egypt One of the most important historical places and one of the most visited sites of tourism of the most important historical destinations in ancient Egypt. It houses Sixty-two tombs adorned with colored murals and inscriptions with hieroglyphs that are hundreds of years old and surrounded by sharp, white, rocky mountains that are among the important tourist destinations in Egypt. It lies to the west of the Nile in the Luxor area and was a cemetery for the ancient Egyptian state of the New Kingdom from the 11th century BC to the 16th century BC
Instead of building colossal pyramids like those in Giza or elsewhere in Egypt, the New Kingdom rulers built underground tombs in secretive locations that were meant to prevent their possessions from being plundered by thieves. Many of these tombs have unfortunately been robbed since ancient times, but the remaining decorations still tell amazing tales and convey fascinating stories of beliefs regarding death, the afterlife, and the traveling of the spirit of man. As one of Egypt’s biggest tourist attractions, this unique site lures millions of visitors yearly, and gives people an unforgettable opportunity to take a peek into ancient Egypt.
The History of the Valley of the Kings
The valley of the kings was created to serve as the burial ground for pharaohs in the reign of Thutmose I. Pharaoh wanted to avoid the pyramids, instead choosing a remote location where the natural protection provided by the surrounding mountains, coupled with the ancient pyramids of pyramid shape that the summit of the ancient pharaoh of the mountain, symbolized that the king was one with the ancient gods and their gods.
Kings of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties have been buried in the valley including most of Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses III.
These kings chose artists and craftsmen to create tombs deep within the valley of the rock to provide the ultimate resting place for them and their family members. The artisans meticulously designed these elaborate tomb complexes to portray scenes and illustrations from the various ancient texts of religion. These texts of religion describe the sacred journeys the ancient kings have made after their demise to obtain immortality, for instance the Book of Gates, the Book of the Dead, and Amduat. The tombs, no matter how carefully sealed, many were later looted during the ancient Egyptian times, but as recent explorations continue to this day the discoveries continue and make the Valley of the Kings one of the world’s most inspiring places.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb
The story that relates to the valley of the kings better than all others is that King Tutankhamun. British archaeological, Howard Carter discovered King Tutankhamun’s resting place in the valley of kings in 1922. This was the greatest archaeological discovery of the modern age.
Most other tombs discovered in the valley of the kings were already robbed, and contain only very little treasure, whereas King Tutankhamun’s tomb is one of the only few to be undisturbed, containing several thousands of gold pieces, jewelery, and household items. This treasure gave historians insights into ancient Egyptians life like no other find before it. Visiting the King Tutankhamun’s tomb gives visitors the opportunity to experience one of the greatest historical archaeological discoveries and even experience what this great Pharaoh went through as it appears to still give the visit some form of spiritual effect on its visitors, although most of King Tutankhamun’s treasures have been removed to museums to ensure their preservation and protection.
Tombs in the Valley of the Kings
Many of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings are awe-inspiring in their design and ornamentation. Among the very best are the Tomb of Seti I, which has been lauded as one of the most stunning royal burials ever to have been unearthed, boasting remarkable painted decorations and a long passage to a series of well-appointed chambers, and the Tomb of Ramesses VI with its incredible ceiling depicting detailed astrological and religious scenes in vibrantly hued pigments.
There are also the reliefs in the Tomb of Ramesses III and the great size of the burial chamber and impressive hieroglyphic inscriptions in the Tomb of Merenptah, amongst many others. Since not all tombs are open simultaneously to enable conservation efforts, there is the opportunity to experience something different on each visit.
Visiting the Valley of the Kings
Visiting The Valley of the Kings is the absolute highlight of a visit to Luxor and one of the truly unforgettable travel experiences that anyone visiting Egypt should look to have. It is quite literally one of the world’s best known archaeological attractions that attracts thousands of people daily from around the globe eager to witness the incredible underground burial chambers of Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs. The site itself is very well managed, and this ensures a fairly stress-free experience, all the while managing to protect the sensitive tombs that are such an important testament to history.
Once at the site and you have purchased your admission ticket at the visitor centre, you will want to walk towards the site of the archaeological area, though be prepared, as a walk to reach the tombs themselves can take a good while.
To ensure this journey to the main excavation site is swift and comfortable, you can opt to take an electric train that runs to the valley of the kings and carries tourists to the heart of the excavation area. For the basic admission ticket, you can get access to a few tombs that are open to the public on the day you’re visiting (to try and protect the tombs from damage, they rotate which ones are open throughout the year). For visits to some of the more significant of the valley’s tombs, such as Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramesses V & VI, you’ll need to buy an additional ticket on top of the admission ticket, which for lovers of Egyptology or ancient Egypt, is well worth the added expenditure for their stunning imagery, preservation and historical significance.
Why the Valley of the Kings Remains One of Egypt’s Greatest Attractions
One of the top attractions of Egypt, the Valley of the Kings is nothing less than one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, and a shining example of the religious and political achievements of ancient Egyptians. For over 500 years it was the resting place of the pharaohs and wealthy nobles of the New Kingdom. In the hieroglyphs of tomb after tomb and hallway after hallway we can still follow the life and journey through the afterlife of rulers like Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, and the most celebrated pharaoh of all – Ramses II.
The Valley of the Kings is also a world-class example of engineering. These complex burial chambers were carved into the very flesh of the limestone cliffs, turning solid rock into intricately decorated tombs. The painted scenes within them depict pharaohs meeting the gods on their way to the afterworld and describe spells and incantations needed for this safe transition. Luxor Day Trips offer unforgettable experiences exploring Egypt’s ancient wonders, stunning Nile landscapes, and rich Nubian culture.