The Valley of the Kings in Luxor

The Valley of the Kings in Luxor:

Kings Valley:

It is a wadi (valley) on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (modern-day Luxor), at the heart of the Theban necropolis. There are two main sections: the Eastern Valley, which contains most of the royal tombs, and the Western Valley, also known as the Valley of the Monkeys.

With the discovery of a new chamber in 2005 and two additional tomb entrances in 2008, the Valley of the Kings is known to contain 65 tombs and chambers, ranging in size from the simple pit tomb KV54 to the complex tomb KV5, which itself houses over 120 chambers for the sons of Ramses II. It was the principal burial site for the most prominent royal figures of the New Kingdom, as well as many privileged nobles. The royal tombs are adorned with traditional scenes from Egyptian mythology, providing insights into the burial practices and afterlife beliefs of the time. Almost all the tombs appear to have been opened and plundered in antiquity, yet they still give an impression of the wealth and power of the Egyptian pharaohs.

The area has been of interest to Egyptologists and archaeological researchers since the late 18th century, and its tombs and burials continue to spark research and fascination. The Valley of the Kings gained significant attention following the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. In 1979, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the rest of the Theban necropolis. Today, research, excavations, and conservation are ongoing in the area, and a new visitor center has recently opened.

History:

The Theban hills are dominated by the peak of al-Qurn, known to the ancient Egyptians as Ta Dehent, or "The Summit." It has a pyramid shape that likely references the pyramids of the Old Kingdom, more than a thousand years before the first royal tombs were carved here. Its isolated location also restricted access, and a specialized burial police force (the Medjay) was able to protect the necropolis.

Although the iconic pyramid complex on the Giza Plateau has become a symbol of ancient Egypt, most tombs were carved into rock. Most pyramids and mastabas contain sections cut into the ground, and Egypt has complete rock-cut tombs dating back to the Old Kingdom.

After the defeat of the Hyksos and the reunification of Egypt under Ahmose I, the Theban rulers began constructing elaborate tombs that reflected their newfound power. The tombs of Ahmose I and his son Amenhotep I (their exact locations are unknown) were likely located in the Dra' Abu el-Naga necropolis from the 17th Dynasty. The first royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings are thought to be those of Amenhotep I (although this identification is also debated) and Thutmose I, whose advisor Ineni recorded in his tomb that he had advised the king to place his burial in an uninhabited valley (possibly KV20 or KV38).

"I myself was engaged in excavating the rock-cut tomb of His Majesty; no one saw or heard it."

Primary burials took place in the valley from around 1539 BC to 1075 BC. It contains at least 63 tombs, beginning with Thutmose I (or possibly earlier, during the reign of Amenhotep I) and ending with Ramses X or XI, although non-royal burials continued in usurped tombs.

Despite its name, the Valley of the Kings also contains the tombs of prominent nobles, as well as the wives and children of nobles and pharaohs. Only about twenty tombs actually hold the remains of kings. The rest are remnants of nobles and royalty, along with unmarked pits and embalming caches. By the time of Ramses I (around 1301 BC), a separate Valley of the Queens was being constructed.

Exploring the Valley:

The Valley has been a major focus of modern Egyptological research for the past two centuries. Previously, in antiquity (particularly during Roman times), it was a tourist destination. This area illustrates the changes in the exploration of ancient Egypt, from looting in antiquity to systematic archaeological excavations throughout the Theban necropolis. Despite the exploration and research described below, only eleven tombs have been fully documented so far.

Many tombs bear graffiti left by ancient tourists. Jules Baillet identified over 2,100 examples of Greek and Latin graffiti, along with smaller numbers in Phoenician, Cypriot, Lycian, Coptic, and other languages. The majority of ancient graffiti can be found in KV9, which contains nearly a thousand examples. The earliest clearly dated graffiti is from 278 BC.

In 1799, members of Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt (particularly Vivant Denon) mapped and planned famous tombs, documenting the Western Valley for the first time (where Prosper Jollois and Édouard de Villiers du Terrage located the tomb of Amenhotep III, WV22). The Description de l'Égypte includes two volumes (of a total of 24) dedicated to the Theban region.

European exploration of the Theban area continued into the 19th century. Early in the century, the area was visited by Giovanni Belzoni, who worked for Henry Salt and discovered several tombs, including that of Ay in the West Valley (WV23) in 1816 and Seti I (KV17) the following year. At the end of his visits, Belzoni declared that all the tombs had been found and nothing remarkable remained. Around the same time, Bernardino Drovetti, the French consul and great rival of Belzoni and Salt, was also active. John Gardner Wilkinson, who lived in Egypt from 1821 to 1832, copied many inscriptions and artworks in the tombs open at the time. Although the deciphering of hieroglyphs was incomplete during Wilkinson’s stay in the valley, he created a chronology of New Kingdom rulers based on tomb inscriptions and introduced the numbering system for the tombs that remains in use today.

In the latter half of the century, efforts to preserve rather than just collect antiquities increased. Auguste Mariette’s Egyptian Antiquities Service began exploring the valley, initially with Eugène Lefébure in 1883, followed by Jules Baillet and Georges Bénédite in early 1888, and finally Victor Loret in 1898–1899. Loret added 16 more tombs to the list and studied several previously discovered tombs. Georges Daressy also conducted research on KV9 during this period.

When Gaston Maspero was reappointed director of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, the nature of exploration in the valley changed again. Maspero appointed British archaeologist Howard Carter as chief inspector of Upper Egypt. Carter discovered several new tombs and excavated others, including KV42 and KV20.

In the early 20th century, American explorer Theodore M. Davis obtained a concession to excavate in the valley. His team (mainly led by Edward R. Ayrton) discovered several royal and non-royal tombs (including KV43, KV46, and KV57). In 1907, they uncovered a possible Amarna cache in KV55. After finding what they believed to be remnants of Tutankhamun's burial (artifacts from KV54 and KV58), Davis announced that the valley was fully explored, and no further burials would be found. His 1912 publication, The Tombs of Harmhabi and Touatânkhamanou, concluded with the comment: "I fear that the Valley of the Kings is now exhausted."

After Davis' death in early 1915, Lord Carnarvon obtained a concession to excavate the valley and hired Howard Carter. Following a systematic search, they discovered Tutankhamun's actual tomb (KV62) in November 1922.

Various expeditions continued to explore the valley, significantly expanding knowledge of the area. In 2001, the Theban Mapping Project designed new signage for the tombs, providing information and plans for the open tombs.